Massachusetts Horse Race Betting Apps in 2023

Although sports betting still isn’t legal in Massachusetts, there is an option for wagering enthusiasts: horse race betting.

Yes, online betting on horse races is legal in Massachusetts. Residents can bet on local races on Plainridge Park Casino, the only operating track in the state, or on races throughout the country.

There are several reputable online options for interested gamblers.

TVG Racing

TVG Racing is probably the most well-known option, offering odds on races from around the world in a streamlined platform. It’s offering a new user promo of up to $200 back on your first single-horse win bet.

The online platform features a running menu on the left that features all the races around the world about to happen, and you can live stream them all. There’s also information pages on every single track TVG has odds for, as well as a “Today’s Popular Races” section on the home page for novice bettors looking to find good action.

AmWager

AmWager is another solid option, and it’s offering new users a $300 deposit match promo. AmWager claims to get updates results 60 times faster than its competition (we have no way of verifying that). Its online platform is a bit less newcomer-friendly than TVG, but it’s loaded with races from around the world and a huge variety of ways to wager, and you can live stream all races.

DRF Bets

DRF Bets might offer the best new user promo, giving bettors a free $10 bet, a free formulator, and a deposit match up to $250. It offers a user-friendly online platform with expert picks and an easy toggle option between horse racing and live harness racing. Like TVG and AmWager, DRF allows users to stream all its races from around the world.

But let’s look ahead a bit. When overall sports betting is inevitably legalized in Massachusetts, sportsbooks will flock to the Bay State for licenses. That means a pair of excellent horse race betting apps could make their way to the state: BetMGM Horse Racing and Caesars Racebook.

BetMGM Horse Racing is up and running in three states: Florida, Louisiana, and Ohio.

Caesars Racebook, jointly created by Caesars Sportsbook and NYRA Bets, launched in June and is live in Florida, Ohio, and Indiana. NYRA Bets is a legal operator in 30 states, but Caesars Racebook will need approval from regulators in each state before residents can use it.

How to Register at BetMGM Horse Racing and Caesars Racebook

First, you’ll need to download the respective apps at the App Store (iPhone users) or the Google Play Store (Android users).

The second step is supplying personal information such as your name, date of birth, email address, mailing address, and Social Security number. Once registered, the final step before making your first bet is to fund the account. Typical options include debit/credit card, PayPal, wire transfer, eCheck, and more, but be sure to check online for the most current updates as these payment methods can change.

BetMGM Horse Racing and Caesars Racebook Welcome Bonuses

BetMGM Horse Racing offers a 100% first deposit match up to $200. Caesars Racebook is offering new users a 100% first deposit match up to $500. We expect that both will have welcome offers in the future to entice new Massachusetts users.

Always be sure to understand the terms and conditions for a new user sign-up promotion. For example, NYRA’s offer requires you to play through twice the value of the bonus amount. So, if you maxed out with a $200 bonus, you would need to bet through $400 before it was treated as cash. BetMGM also has a great track record of welcome bonuses, so we’ll keep you updated here on any future developments.

BetMGM Horse Racing and Caesars Racebook — Market Depth and Variety

BetMGM Horse Racing gives users access to more than 200 race tracks across the world. The list of tracks includes but is not limited to:

• Churchill Downs, 700 Central Ave, Louisville, KY 40208
• Saratoga Race Course, 267 Union Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
• Keeneland, 4201 Versailles Rd, Lexington, KY 40510
• Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014
• Gulfstream Park, 901 S Federal Hwy, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
• Belmont Park, 2150 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY 11003
• Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, 2705 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901
• Santa Anita Park, 285 W Huntington Dr, Arcadia, CA 91007
• Kentucky Downs, 5629 Nashville Rd, Franklin, KY 42134
• Fair Grounds Race Course, 1751 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70119
• Aqueduct Racetrack, 110-00 Rockaway Blvd, Queens, NY 11420
• Pimlico Horse Race, 5201 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215
• Laurel Park, 198 Laurel Race Track Rd, Laurel, MD 20725
• MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Rd, Northfield, OH 44067
• Yonkers Raceway, 810 Yonkers Ave, Yonkers, NY 10704
• Woodbine Racetrack, 555 Rexdale Blvd, Etobicoke, ON M9W 5L2, Canada
• Ascot Racecourse, High St, Ascot SL5 7JX, United Kingdom
• Epsom Downs Racecourse, Tattenham Corner Rd, Epsom KT18 5LQ, United Kingdom
• Flemington Racecourse, 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031, Australia
• Aintree Racecourse, Ormskirk Rd, Aintree, Liverpool L9 5AS, United Kingdom
• Meydan Racecourse, Al Meydan Rd – Nad Al Sheba – Nad Al Sheba 1 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
• Longchamp, 2 Rte des Tribunes, 75016 Paris, France

You’ll also be able to bet on the biggest races in the industry, including all of the Triple Crown events:

• Kentucky Derby, 700 Central Ave, Louisville, KY 40208
• Preakness Stakes, 5201 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215
• Belmont Stakes, 2150 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY 11003
• Breeders’ Cup, Location rotates between several sites
• Travers Stakes, 267 Union Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
• Dubai World Cup, Al Meydan Rd – Nad Al Sheba – Nad Al Sheba 1 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
• Melbourne Cup, 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031, Australia
• Grand National, Ormskirk Rd, Aintree, Liverpool L9 5AS, United Kingdom
• Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, 2 Rte des Tribunes, 75016 Paris, France
• Cheltenham Festival, Evesham Rd, Cheltenham GL50 4SH, United Kingdom
• Pegasus World Cup, 901 S Federal Hwy, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
• Saudi Cup, XQPM+9VP, Riyadh 13645, Saudi Arabia

Caesars Racebook features races from more than 250 tracks around the world, including Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, Del Mar, Santa Anita, Keeneland, Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Harrah’s Philadelphia, and Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs.

BetMGM Horse Racing and Caesars Racebook Mobile Apps

The BetMGM Horse Racing mobile app gives you much more than the ability to just bet on horse racing. Its live streaming component helps set it apart. Check out what’s happening on the racetrack, at the paddock, and in the winner’s circle.

Live streaming is also available for international races like Royal Ascot, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, The Grand National, and Melbourne Cup. Even if you don’t have a horse in the race, this is a valuable perk when you consider that not every international race is available on US television.

Race replays are available on the app at BetMGM Horse Racing. You can also download past performances to help make more informed bets on that day’s racing card. Handicapping experts dole out their top three picks — win, place, and show — for each race under the Track Master tab.

The Caesars Racebook app has many of the same features available at BetMGM. Users will have the ability to watch race replays and soak up handicapping tips. A desktop version of Caesars Racebook will allow users to watch and wager on computers, as well.

BetMGM Horse Racing — Overall Grade (4.7/5.0)

The BetMGM Horse Racing app checks in with an overall grade of 4.7 out of five stars.

The live streaming coverage is a bonus, as is the number of betting options. The functionality of the app is superior, and the easy-to-use bet pad allows you to wager in seconds. We love the TrackMaster handicapping tips and the ability to do your own research on past performances when using the app. There’s also live betting available for select races.

The app’s availability is limited to just three states: Florida, Louisiana, and Ohio. This is an area that could be improved upon in the future as 41 states allow legal online horse race betting. Overall, though, the BetMGM Horse Racing app provides everything you’ll need as far as resources to help you win at the track.

Caesars Racebook — Overall Grade TBD

Caesars Racebook just launched June 1 of this year, so we still need to dive into a little bit more before posting a grade. Similar to BetMGM Horse Racing, Caesars Racebook is available only in Florida, Ohio, and Indiana.

Available Bets at BetMGM Horse Racing and Caesars Racebook

The BetMGM Horse Racing app and Caesars Racebook app both offer the following types of wagers:

Pari-Mutuel Betting

Pari-mutuel betting is the standard for wagering on horse races around the world.

Don’t think of it like betting against the house, but rather competing against your fellow gamblers. All of the money for each betting market in a horse race is kept in the same pool. Winners divide the spoils from the pool based on how much they bet and how much total money was wagered on the race for that market.

Win, Place, and Show Bets

You’ve probably heard the expression “win, place, and show” before. What does it mean? Well, a win is a win. But if you’re betting on a horse to place, it’ll need to finish second. Wagering on a horse to show means it needs to finish third.

Exactas, Trifectas, Superfectas

An exacta requires you to pick the first and second horses in the right order, a trifecta is the first, second, and third horses in the correct order, and a superfecta is the first four horses in the proper order. This is no easy task. Bettors will often “box” these bets to include every possible running order, but they pay for the privilege.

Daily Doubles

There are typically two daily doubles on each race card. You need to pick the winner in back-to-back races. The early double will usually be races one and two with the late double coming near the end of the day’s scheduled races.

Pick-Three, Pick-Four, Pick-Six

These are all variations of the same type of bet: picking winners in consecutive races.

Are BetMGM Horse Racing and Caesars Racebook Legit?

Yes.

Both are licensed and legal horse racing apps. Both apps are backed by blue-chip brands that have established stellar reputations in the sports betting industry. With a licensed app, you can rest assured that your money and personal information will be safe. State gaming commissions oversee their business dealings and protect customers’ interests. A licensed operator will also have to show proof of minimum cash reserves on hand.

We mention these things for a good reason. If you’re considering opening an account at an illegal sportsbook, we strongly advise against doing that. They are unregulated and can be unsafe when using less-than-optimal digital security systems. The last thing you need is your cash or personal information high-jacked by hackers.

Massachusetts Horse Racing Apps FAQs