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TwinSpires Horse Race Betting Review

Written by: Bill Krackomberger
Fact-checked by: James Whitelock
Updated January 16, 2024
10 min read
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Overall Rating

21+ | Terms and conditions apply
Rating by categories:
4/ 5

User Experience

4.5/ 5

Features

4.5/ 5

Promotions

4/ 5

Deposits & Withdrawals

5/ 5

Customer Support

How We Rate
Affiliate Disclaimer
21+
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Do you Recommend TwinSpires?
% of WSN users recommend TwinSpires

With more and more legal online sportsbooks popping up across the country, one type of sports betting has been ahead of the game - horse betting.

Betting on horse racing online is a fast-growing industry, but there are a few sites that really stand out as market leaders. TwinSpires is definitely one of the best sites to bet on horses in the US. It has a robust website and a dedicated mobile app available to well over 100 million US residents.

In this review, I'll explain what exactly makes TwinSpires such a good option for betting on horse racing legally in the United States.

I've have examined everything TwinSpires has to offer, including:

  • The different sports and types of bets available.

  • Bonuses for new and existing members.

  • The legal situation surrounding horse race betting in the US.

I'll also provide helpful guides for signing up, claiming your bonuses, and depositing and withdrawing your funds.

Best Horse Racing Sites

TwinSpires

4.4/5

$200 Sign-Up Offer

21+ | Terms and conditions apply

TwinSpires at a Glance

TwinSpires bonus promo codeNone
Welcome bonus$200 Sign-up Bonus
Physical racetrackChurchill Downs, Louisville, KY
Website URLhttps://www.twinspires.com/

TwinSpires was created in 2007 as the official online betting site of the Churchill Downs betting company. The site and app are both multi-state, meaning that they are available in multiple states around the US, and they also feature betting on races from multiple states and even on races from tracks around the world.

Some of the main things to know about TwinSpires are:

  • The site features a wide variety of betting types.

  • You can bet on races at hundreds of tracks from around the world, with five continents represented on the site.

  • In addition to betting, you can watch many of the races live as they happen, directly on the site or app.

  • TwinSpires is fully licensed, regulated, and legal in 39 US states.

If you are a fan of betting on horse racing, TwinSpires is a must-have on your phone. The sheer number of race tracks available, the range of bets and the convenience of betting on the go mean you'll never have to miss an opportunity.

Even if you're not a huge fan of horse racing but enjoy sports betting, TwinSpires could be your gateway into that world. It's quite likely that you live in a state where betting on sports isn't legal, but betting on horse racing is a simple and legal option.

I'm a big fan of TwinSpires, and in the following sections I'll explain why.

Where You Can Bet Using TwinSpires

TwinSpires is currently available in 39 states.

Remember, you can download the app, access the website and create an account from anywhere but you must be physically in one of the legal states to place a bet.

It’s also important to note that TwinSpires is always expanding its availability and this list is likely to be added to, so remember to check back for updates.

Here is the full list of states in which TwinSpires is currently legal and available:

  • Alabama

  • Arizona

  • Arkansas

  • California

  • Colorado

  • Connecticut

  • Delaware

  • Florida

  • Idaho

  • Illinois

  • Indiana

  • Iowa

  • Kansas

  • Kentucky

  • Louisiana

  • Maryland

  • Massachusetts

  • Michigan

  • Minnesota

  • Missouri

  • Montana

  • Nebraska

  • New Hampshire

  • New Mexico

  • New York

  • North Dakota

  • Ohio

  • Oklahoma

  • Oregon

  • Pennsylvania

  • Rhode Island

  • South Dakota

  • Tennessee

  • Vermont

  • Virginia

  • Washington

  • West Virginia

  • Wisconsin

  • Wyoming

TwinSpires Software and Mobile Betting App

I really like how the website doesn't overwhelm beginners with too much information. It's straightforward and easy to use.

On the homepage, you'll find the latest offers at the top, and the upcoming races are listed below in chronological order. This makes it super simple to log in and bet on a race starting in the next minute or two.

Even if you go to other pages, you'll always see the "Up Next" races in a small panel at the bottom of the screen. This way, you can easily find the next race to bet on.

The menu at the top of the screen stays the same. If you're looking for a specific race, you can choose "Bet Now" to see the full calendar of races, as well as results, replays, and carryover information.

When you're not on the homepage, you can hover over any menu option to see a drop-down menu that helps you navigate the site.

Other options on the top menu include:

  • "Offers" where you can find all the current bonuses and offers.

  • "News" with the latest race information.

  • "Handicapping" where you can buy picks from experts.

  • "Support" with lots of helpful information for players.

All this info is nicely condensed on the TwinSpires app, which works just like the website. Check out the best sportsbook apps.

Having a detailed support section is especially helpful for new players, and our experts were impressed with the abundance of resources available.

How to Place a Bet on TwinSpires

To place a bet, simply navigate to the race of your choice and click on the horse you want to bet on. You have the option of making a “Quick Bet”, which places the bet there and then, or a “Save Bet” which adds it to your Bet Slip for further consideration.

The Bet Slip allows you to add multiple bets and decide exactly what kind of bet you would like to place – singles, combinations, multi-race combinations, and loads more. I found the Bet Slip to be intuitive and really useful for creating whatever bet I wanted. The Bet Slip works exactly the same way on the app, too, which is great.

TwinSpires also allows you to watch live races and highlights of previous races, both on the website and the app. All I had to do is select the play button icon and choose what I wanted to watch.

Another usefull feature, which works great on both platforms, is the ability to save certain races or tracks for the future by clicking the star icon beside the track. This allows me to come back to the tracks on a different day.

Both the website and app work really well and have a similar format. I especially love how functional the app is for betting and watching races while on the go.

Software and App Highlights

  • Slick and logical layout for both the website and app.

  • The races starting soonest are the most prominent, making it easy to log in and find a race to bet on in the space of a minute.

  • The Bet Slip works really well for creating whatever kind of bets you want to make.

  • Lots of information and support available directly on the site and app.

  • Watching live coverage really takes the online betting experience to the next level, especially being able to do so on your phone.

  • Favorites feature, which allows you to personalize the whole experience.

Things to Improve

  • For some reason the drop down menus, which appear when you hover the mouse over the menu bar, doesn't always work properly on the homepage of the website. This glitch can be annoying.

  • The handicapping service is a useful feature, but I would like to see it given less prominence in the menu. With so much information on the site, a more concise layout would be better.

Bonuses and Deals at TwinSpires

Most online sportsbooks offer signup bonuses to entice new users to register and TwinSpires is no exception. As well as sign up bonuses, ongoing promotions and offers are a great way to keep users engaged. After reviewing a ton of sports betting websites, it’s interesting to see how horse racing makes for some really interesting promotions.

I'm genially impressed with the bonuses and deals on offer from TwinSpires. The promotions are valuable and can make a genuine difference for new and current users.

It’s common for these promotions to change over time, but below I listed current available offers:

$200 Sign Up Offer

This is TwinSpires’ main sign-up bonus. Once you fulfill the terms and conditions, you will be credited with $200 in bonus cash. Like most bonuses that award free cash, there are some strings attached.

In order to unlock your $200 in bonus bets, you must wager $800 within 30 days of opening your account. This means it will probably take a little while to unlock the bonus bet, and you’ll need to have a run of good luck to unlock the entire bonus without topping up your account with your own money.

With slightly lower wagering requirements, this bonus could be a bit more friendly to beginners. In general, though, it’s hard to argue with free bonus bets.

Trifecta Tuesday

Trifecta Tuesday gives you 15% profit boost on your successful trifecta wagers made on Tuesday, just as the name suggests.

Regular Promotions

This is one area TwinSpires really excels. I found dozens of short-term promotions that can give you a huge edge if you take advantage of them regularly.

Examples include money-back offers if there is a certain outcome in the race (like your horse falls), enhanced odds on combination bets, free picks from the handicapper for certain races, specific race profit boosts, and many more.

TwinSpires like to create specific promotions for the biggest races, so make sure you check out their bonus page before you bet on the most high profile races on the calendar.

Kinds of Bets and Race Tracks Available

I found that TwinSpires is really competitive both in terms of the range of bets available and the number of tracks you can bet on.

Featuring tracks from all around the world, TwinSpires ensures there's always something to bet on when you log in. The site's video feature even lets me watch many of my bets live as they unfold. It's fantastic to be able to bet on and watch races from different parts of the world, all from the comfort of home.

TwinSpires offers a vast menu of bets that caters to a wide range of gamblers. Whether you're a beginner or prefer sticking to what you know, you can choose a horse to win, place (finish first or second), or show (finish first, second, or third).

The "Quick Bet" feature is perfect for win bets and is a great way to keep things simple initially. As you add multiple selections to your Bet Slip, you'll discover even more options. Single-race combinations like exactas, trifectas, and superfectas are easy to create using TwinSpires software.

For those seeking more complexity, multi-race combinations like daily doubles, pick 4, pick 6, and even pick all are available. According to our experts, TwinSpires has everything experienced bettors need, and beginners can find plenty to learn along with helpful guides in the support section.

Options for Deposits and Withdrawals

Having a variety of options for deposits and withdrawals is important. It's frustrating when you attempt to cash out only to find that your preferred method isn't available. Our experts were pleased with the range of options on TwinSpires, noting better choices for depositing than withdrawing overall.

Additionally, using a fully legal and regulated site like TwinSpires ensures that, regardless of the method chosen, your money is secure and protected.

Throughout the tests, our experts encountered no issues with either depositing or withdrawing from TwinSpires. The entire process is straightforward, fast, and easy.

Here is a list of all the methods available for both depositing and withdrawing on TwinSpires:

Deposit Options

  • EZ-Money (Bank Transfer)

  • PayPal

  • Deposit via Online Bill Pay

  • MoneyGram

  • PayNearMe

  • Green Dot @ The Register

  • Visa

  • MasterCard

  • In-Person at Certain Race Tracks

  • Check

  • Money Order

  • Wire Transfer

Withdrawal Options

  • Check via Mail

  • EZ-Money (Bank Transfer)

  • PayPal (If you deposited via PayPal)

  • In-Person at Certain Race Tracks

Banking Methods Comparison

I've created this table to help you compare the different transaction options and processing times at TwinSpires

MethodDepositWithdrawalProcessing TimeMinimum DepositMax DepositFees
EZ-Money (Bank Transfer)YesYesInstant$10$100 for first deposit, $1,000 afterwardsNo
PayPalYesYesInstant for deposits, 3-5 days for withdrawals$10$500 per dayNot from TwinSpires
Deposit via Online Bill PayYesNoInstant$10None from TwinSpiresNo
MoneyGramYesNoInstant$10Varies$3.95
PayNearMeYesNoInstant$10$500 per 24 hours$3.99
Green Dot @ The RegisterYesNoInstant$20$500 per 24 hours$4.95
VisaYesNoInstant$10$500 per day$5
MasterCardYesNoInstant$10$500 per day$5
In-Person at Certain Race TracksYesYesInstant$10NoneNo
CheckYesYesWithdrawals mailed the next business day$10None from TwinSpiresNot from TwinSpires
Money OrderYesNoProcessed immediately but varies depending on mail time.$10None from TwinSpiresNot from TwinSpires
Wire TransferYesNoUp to 24 hours$10None from TwinSpires$10 for deposits under $1,000,
no fees for deposits over $1,000

Signup and Registration

TwinSpires has made the sign-up process easy.

It only takes a couple of minutes to go through the process and it's simple enough even for beginners.

To sign up with TwinSpires, just follow the following steps:

  1. Choose the “Join Now” option from the top right-hand side of the home screen.

  2. On the first screen, you need to provide your full name, email address, and cell phone number. You can choose whether to receive alerts about your bets to your email, or messages to your phone. When have put in the information, click “NEXT”.

  3. On the next screen, you will need to provide your full address, as well as your date of birth and four digits from your SSN. This information is used to confirm your identity. Remember that all the information you provide to TwinSpires is secure and protected and will not be shared with any third parties.

  4. On the last screen, you can choose your username and password.

  5. This screen is also your opportunity to include an offer code, which gives you a welcome bonus. Remember to use our links to sign up to make sure you are getting the most valuable bonus possible.

  6. The final step is to click “Create Account” to confirm that you agree with all the terms and conditions.

As you can see, the process is very straightforward. Once your account has been created and your identity verified, you can deposit using one of the methods described above, and start betting straight away.

Security and Gaming License

TwinSpires is subjected to strict and unique regulations in each of the 39 states in which it’s available. This means that the company works closely with the dedicated regulatory bodies in each state to make sure that the site operates legally.

If TwinSpires is available in your state, it means the site has received a gaming license from the local gaming commission.

This also means that you can trust TwinSpires with all of your personal information, funds, and banking details since if anything happens they would be held accountable by the government bodies. All data of this nature is private, and will not be shared with any third parties. Similarly, your money is protected and safe when it is in your TwinSpires account.

This is a major difference between using sites like TwinSpires and betting using unregulated offshore sites. With offshore sites, there is always the danger that you will not be able to withdraw your winnings. This is never something you need to worry about using TwinSpires.

I'm completely satisfied with TwinSpires from a security point of view and have no hesitation in recommending the site.

Customer Support

I found the customer support at TwinSpires to be really detailed and helpful.

The 'Support' button is always visible in the menu at the top of the screen, and when I click on it, I get several options to troubleshoot any problems I may encounter.

They also have a long list of FAQs on various topics and even search by keyword. Many times, I found answers to common issues in FAQ section.

If I couldn't find an answer, there are options at the top of the screen to contact TwinSpires directly, either via phone, email, or instant chat. I personally found the instant chat to be the best option. I only had to wait less than a minute for an agent to respond, and they answered all my questions professionally and effectively.

In addition to customer support about practical issues, the 'Support' section contains lots of helpful information and tips about horse racing and betting in general. If you're a beginner and not familiar with some expression or type of bet, chances are you can find the answer in the FAQs section.

Overall, in my opinion, the customer support at TwinSpires ticks all the boxes.

Things TwinSpires is Doing Right

Having gone through the entire site with a fine-toothed comb, I found a lot to like about TwinSpires.

The website and the app share all the same functionality, and they both make it easy to bet on horse racing from the comfort of your own home or on the go.

TwinSpires is constantly adding new features and refining existing ones too, so I have high hopes for the future.

Here are a few of my favorite things about TwinSpires:

  • The menu of bets and a number of racetracks is very impressive. Experienced bettors will find everything they want and beginners will have a great opportunity to learn and improve.

  • The software is very functional and makes the user experience really smooth. Features like the intelligent bet slip and the ability to save your favorite race tracks by clicking on the star really elevate the betting experience over other sites.

  • TwinSpires understands that there is a lot of information and jargon for beginners to get their head around, and has provided plenty of customer support, guides and tips. There is even the on-site handicapping service if users want to pay for picks.

  • Being able to watch live races on the app is an incredible feature and makes the whole experience even more exciting.

  • We like the regular promotions and bonus bets on the biggest races.

Things TwinSpires Could Work On

No site is perfect, and I found a couple of ways the TwinSpires could improve:

  • The sign-up bonus requirements are a bit too strict, especially compared with some of the other promotions on the site. I would love to see TwinSpires create a more generous and inclusive bonus for new users.

  • The number of options for withdrawing could be expanded on.

  • The glitch on the home screen, which means the drop-down menus don’t appear, is irritating.

TwinSpires User Ratings

Review SiteRatingNo. of Reviews
Apple App Store3.5/5512
Google Play Store2/5350
TrustpilotN/AN/A

TwinSpires Company History

TwinSpires is owned by Churchill Downs, one of the biggest betting companies in the US and the owner of the famous Kentucky Derby. The company has been around in some form for over 100 years, but it wasn’t until 2007 and the advent of online horse race betting that TwinSpires was created.

TwinSpires was designed to be Churchill Downs’ official online betting site. Since it was affiliated with one of the most recognizable betting companies in the US, TwinSpires quickly grew in popularity. The site became even more extensive in 2010 when Churchill Downs acquired Youbet.com.

The advances in technology allowed TwinSpires to expand its range of services even further over the following years, most notably with the introduction of live-streaming video.

Today, TwinSpires is available in 30 states in the US. The site features tracks from around the world and is growing every day.

Sign Up and Start Betting on TwinSpires Now

I have no hesitation in recommending TwinSpires. For horse race betting, it really comes down to either TwinSpires, TVG, or BetAmerica, and I consider that TwinSpires is a bit ahead when compared to competition.

Online sports betting is growing every day in the US, but betting on horses online is still far more widely available. If you don’t live in a state with legal sports betting, I definitely recommend betting on horses as an alternative.

TwinSpires has made itself suitable for both beginners and experienced players. There are loads of racetracks and interesting kinds of bets available, but also plenty of guides and support to be found on the site too.

Even if you’re not interested in learning about the more complicated side of things, it’s easy to just stick to simple bets with the Bet Now option.

The ability to watch races live on the platform is an amazing feature. The regular promotions are a great addition to keep users interested. I love the customer support, and I'm happy with the banking side of things, too.

Although there are a few minor details with the platforms could improve, overall, my TwinSpires experience is a super positive one.

Make sure to use our links when you sign up, so that you get the best possible bonus.

Similar Sportsbooks to TwinSpires

Horse Race
Betting Site
TwinSpiresTVGBetAmerica
Rating⭐ 4.4/5⭐ 4.2/5⭐ 4/5
Bonus$200 SIGN-UP BONUS$250 SIGN-UP BONUS$200 SIGN-UP BONUS
 Top
Features
✔ Live streaming and
instant replays✔ Exclusive rewards
program✔ Huge variety of bets
✔ $25 referral bonus ✔ Picks from horse
racing experts ✔ Live streaming in HD
✔ Huge variety of bets ✔ Great mobile app ✔ Beginner friendly
States
License In
Currently licensed
in 39 states.
Currently licensed
in 32 states.
New Jersey,
Pennsylvania,
Indiana
Payment
Methods
EZ-Money
PayPal
Deposit-Online Bill Pay
MoneyGram
PayNearMe
Green Dot@The Register
Visa
MasterCard
In-Person
Check
Money Order
Wire Transfer
Visa
MasterCard
BetCash
Green Dot MoneyPak
PayPal
PayNearMe
TVG Prepaid Card
Money Order & Checks
Wire Transfer
Deposit with Cash
at the Track
Visa
MasterCard
PayPal
ACH Transfer
Online Banking
PayNearMe
PlayPlus Prepaid Card
Skrill
Cash at the cage
Support24/7
Instant Chat
Email
Phone
Email
Phone
Live Chat
Email
Phone

FAQs

Is TwinSpires legal to bet with?

Can you bet on mobile with TwinSpires?

Do you have to be in one of the legal states to bet with TwinSpires?

Does TwinSpires offer a no deposit bonus or free bets?

Does TwinSpires have good odds?

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AUTHOR

Bill Krackomberger

186 Articles

Billy “Krackman” Krackomberger has made his living as a professional sports gambler for nearly three decades. You have seen him on ESPN, Gaming Today, and SiriusXM. His connections in the sports gambling industry run all the way to the top. His bets move the lines and regularly have him banned from books for being too sharp. Email: [email protected]

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