TVG
Owned by FanDuel, TVG is one of the most-used horse racing ADW platforms in the US. Live race streaming, deep tracks worldwide, and mobile-friendly app. Welcome bonuses for new accounts vary by promotion cycle.
Horse Racing Betting in Missouri
Parimutuel horse race wagering has been legal in Missouri since 1980 under Amendment 7. There are no active racetracks in the state today, but Missouri residents can legally bet on out-of-state races through licensed advance deposit wagering (ADW) platforms.
Is horse racing betting legal in Missouri?
Yes — though the practical reality has shifted over the years. Voters approved Amendment 7 in 1980, authorizing parimutuel wagering on horse races in Missouri. The intent was to revive the in-state racing industry. Several tracks operated briefly through the 1980s and 1990s, but all have since closed. Today, Missouri has no live racing operations.
Despite the absence of live tracks, Missouri residents can legally place wagers on races across the country and around the world via advance deposit wagering (ADW) platforms — federally regulated under the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978.
Top horse racing ADW platforms for Missouri bettors
TwinSpires
The official wagering platform of the Kentucky Derby. Owned by Churchill Downs Inc., TwinSpires offers live streaming and deep handicapping tools. Strongest Triple Crown coverage of any ADW.
NYRA Bets
The official ADW of the New York Racing Association — Belmont, Saratoga, Aqueduct. Offers Triple Crown and major-stakes coverage with live streaming and rebates on certain tracks.
Xpressbet
Owned by 1/ST (Stronach Group). Strongest in California and Maryland racing. Cash-back rebates available for higher-volume bettors.
AmWager
Multi-track ADW with strong international coverage. Often offers tighter rebates and sharp handicapping data integrations.
Common horse race bet types
Straight bets
- Win — bet the horse to finish first
- Place — bet the horse to finish first or second
- Show — bet the horse to finish first, second, or third
Exotic bets
- Exacta — pick the first two finishers in exact order
- Trifecta — pick the first three finishers in exact order
- Superfecta — pick the first four finishers in exact order
- Daily Double — pick the winners of two consecutive races
- Pick 3 / Pick 4 / Pick 6 — pick winners across multiple consecutive races
Parimutuel vs. fixed odds
Horse racing in the US uses parimutuel wagering — all bets of a given type go into a pool, the track takes a fixed percentage (the "takeout"), and the remainder is split among winning bettors based on their stake. Final odds are not known until the race starts and pools close.
This is fundamentally different from sports betting at Missouri sportsbooks, where odds are fixed when you place the bet. With parimutuel wagering, late money can shift the final payouts dramatically — a horse listed at 5/1 in early betting may close at 2/1 after heavy late support.
Major US racing events
- Kentucky Derby (first Saturday in May) — the most-bet US horse race
- Preakness Stakes (third Saturday in May) — second leg of the Triple Crown
- Belmont Stakes (early June) — Triple Crown final leg
- Breeders' Cup (early November) — championship weekend across multiple divisions
- Travers Stakes (late August at Saratoga) — premier mid-summer race
- Pegasus World Cup (late January at Gulfstream) — opens the year's calendar
Future of Missouri horse racing
There has been periodic discussion of reviving live racing at a Missouri track, often tied to potential casino-track combinations. As of 2026, no live racing operations are confirmed for the near term. Bettors interested in supporting Missouri-based racing can advocate through state-level industry groups; for now, ADW is the legal path to wagering on horse races.
Responsible play in horse racing
Horse racing is among the highest-variance forms of legal wagering. Even sharp handicappers lose 50-65% of straight bets. Approach horse racing with the same discipline as sports betting: budget per session, track results, never chase losses. The resources on our responsible-gambling page apply equally to racing.