This is our guide to Pennsylvania online horse betting: the licensed racebooks, the state’s thoroughbred and harness tracks, the races worth circling, and how ADW wagering actually works in the Keystone State.
Pennsylvania online horse betting is legal and busy. The Keystone State licenses advance deposit wagering (ADW) providers, which has allowed the leading horse racing operators to offer their products to residents alongside the state’s sportsbooks and online casinos.
There are numerous options for horse betting in Pennsylvania, as people also have the option of wagering in person at racetracks and off-track betting parlors. Online racebooks add every major US track and a wider menu of exotic bets, which is why most regular players hold at least one ADW account. The statutory minimum age for pari-mutuel wagering in Pennsylvania is 18, though some ADWs set a higher house rule (AmWager, for example, requires 21+).
In this article 12 sections
- Pennsylvania horse racing betting: quick facts
- Is online horse betting legal in Pennsylvania?
- Horse betting sites in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania’s best horse betting apps
- Pennsylvania horse racing tracks
- Local and major horse betting events in Pennsylvania
- Types of horse racing bets in Pennsylvania
- How ADW betting works in Pennsylvania
- Taxes on horse racing winnings in Pennsylvania
- Responsible gambling
- Pennsylvania horse racing betting in 2027
- Elsewhere
Pennsylvania horse racing betting: quick facts
| Quick facts | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Online horse betting (ADW) | Yes |
| Law | Act 7 of 2016 (ADW licensing) |
| Regulator | Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission |
| Legal age | 18 (AmWager: 21+) |
| Thoroughbred tracks | Parx Racing, Penn National, Presque Isle Downs |
| Harness tracks | Harrah’s Philadelphia, The Meadows, Pocono Downs |
| Signature race | Pennsylvania Derby, $1 million, September at Parx |
| Sports betting and online casino | Also legal, regulated by the PGCB |
Is online horse betting legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Act 7 of 2016 restructured the State Horse Racing Commission and created a licensing regime for advance deposit wagering providers, and Pennsylvania’s regulations (7 Pa. Code Chapter 197) require a license to conduct account wagering. That makes Pennsylvania a fully regulated ADW state rather than a grey area.
Racing sits apart from the rest of Pennsylvania gambling. The Gaming Control Board licenses casinos, online casinos and sportsbooks; the State Horse Racing Commission, part of the Department of Agriculture, oversees the tracks, the purses and pari-mutuel wagering, including ADW accounts.
Horse betting sites in Pennsylvania
Here are the main Pennsylvania online horse betting sites:
- AmWager. Our racing partner serves Pennsylvania, with pari-mutuel wagering on tracks across North America and a 21+ house rule.
- TVG (PABets). Residents of the Keystone State register at TVG’s Pennsylvania platform. It does have minor limitations but still offers a strong product, plus the TVG broadcast network.
- TwinSpires. Churchill Downs’ racebook provides a polished site with deep betting markets and its own handicapping content.
- NYRA Bets. Offers a broad selection of tracks, races all over the world and the New York Racing Association’s own Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct cards.
Read our AmWager review Visit AmWager →
Pennsylvania’s best horse betting apps
Here are the best Pennsylvania horse racing apps:
- AmWager. A straightforward wagering app built for pari-mutuel players, covering tracks across North America.
- TVG. Great functionality and an interface that is easy to move around, with the TV network built in. Available for iOS and Android.
- NYRA Bets. A simple yet effective app for iOS and Android with access to a diverse range of tracks.
- TwinSpires. A quality product for finding races and building exotics without issue, on iOS and Android.
Pennsylvania racebook bonuses
ADW sign-up offers change often and are smaller than sportsbook welcome deals, because pari-mutuel takeout leaves operators less margin. Expect rebates on wagers, first-deposit matches with rollover, and loyalty points rather than big bonus-bet bundles. Check each racebook’s current terms before you deposit. We list partner offers in the cards at the top of this page only when they are confirmed.
Pennsylvania horse racing tracks
Pennsylvania runs both thoroughbred and standardbred (harness) racing, and every track also hosts a casino.
Thoroughbred tracks:
- Parx Racing in Bensalem, Bucks County. Open since 1974, it plays host to elite thoroughbred racing, including the Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion Stakes, and a casino opened on the premises in 2009.
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course near Harrisburg. The venue opened in 1972 and launched a casino in 2008. It runs night racing through much of the year, which gives evening wagering options for Pennsylvania bettors.
- Presque Isle Downs near Erie, the Churchill Downs-owned track whose casino is also bet365’s route into Pennsylvania.
Harness tracks:
- Harrah’s Philadelphia in Chester.
- The Meadows (Hollywood Meadows) in Washington County, south of Pittsburgh. Its casino holds the license behind DraftKings’ Pennsylvania sportsbook.
- Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, near Wilkes-Barre.
Local and major horse betting events in Pennsylvania
There are major races in Pennsylvania that capture attention locally and nationally.
- The Pennsylvania Derby. A $1 million race for three-year-olds held every September at Parx Racing. It has seen elite horses triumph, including McKinzie and 1990 Preakness Stakes winner Summer Squall, and it is a key prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Pennsylvania online horse betting sites carry it alongside every other graded stakes on the card.
- The Cotillion Stakes. A $1 million race for three-year-old fillies, run at Parx in late September or early October. It serves as a pointer for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and draws leading trainers and jockeys.
Beyond the home tracks, Pennsylvania players use ADW apps for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes, Saratoga’s summer meet and the Breeders’ Cup.
Types of horse racing bets in Pennsylvania
For anyone horse betting in Pennsylvania, these are the main wagers:
- Win. You bet on the horse to win the race.
- Place. Back a horse to finish in the top two.
- Show. Back a horse to finish in the top three.
- Exacta. Pick the first and second finishers in the correct order.
- Trifecta. Pick the first, second and third finishers in the correct order.
- Superfecta. Pick the top four in order.
- Daily Double and Pick 3 to Pick 6. Pick the winners of consecutive races.
How pari-mutuel payouts work
Pari-mutuel means you bet against other players, not the house. Every dollar bet on a race goes into a pool; the track takes its takeout, and the rest is split among winning tickets. So if you put $10 to win on a horse at 4-1 when the gates open, you collect about $50 (your $10 back plus $40), but the final price can move until the race starts. That’s why the tote board keeps changing, and why big Pennsylvania Derby fields can offer generous exotic payouts.
How ADW betting works in Pennsylvania
Sign up with a licensed racebook, verify your identity and fund the account by online banking, debit card or PayPal where offered. Your money sits in the account and you bet from that balance, which is the “advance deposit” in ADW. Pari-mutuel wagers placed through the app go into the same pools as bets made at the track.
Unlike sportsbook apps, ADWs are licensed by the racing regulator rather than the PGCB, and they are a separate product from Pennsylvania sports betting: your FanDuel Sportsbook account, for example, does not include racing pools.
Taxes on horse racing winnings in Pennsylvania
Yes, you pay tax. Pennsylvania treats gambling winnings as taxable income under its flat 3.07% personal income tax, and you must report winnings on your federal return too. For larger pari-mutuel payouts, especially long-odds exotic tickets, the racebook can withhold federal tax and issue a W-2G form. Keep your account statements; they are your record of wins and losses.
Responsible gambling
Set a budget before the first race and stick to it; every licensed racebook offers deposit limits and self-exclusion. If betting stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER, free and confidential 24/7.
Pennsylvania horse racing betting in 2027
Pennsylvania Derby day returns to Parx
The $1 million Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion are fixtures of the September calendar at Parx, and both remain key Breeders’ Cup preps. Expect the 2027 edition to anchor the state’s biggest betting weekend for racing.
Night racing at Penn National
Penn National’s evening cards give ADW players a steady stream of races after the big East Coast tracks finish. Watch the 2027 condition books for dates and stakes schedules.
Casino money and purses
Pennsylvania purses are fed partly by casino revenue, and the state’s gaming debates, including the July 2026 Supreme Court ruling that skill games are illegal slot machines, are worth watching for any knock-on effect on racing funds.
What is the best horse racing betting site in Pennsylvania?
It depends what you bet. AmWager, which is our partner, pairs a long list of US and overseas tracks with live video and an easy bet slip. TwinSpires, owned by Churchill Downs, has deep handicapping content, TVG and FanDuel Racing add television and streaming coverage and NYRA Bets is the home of Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct wagering. Plenty of Pennsylvania horseplayers hold two accounts and pick whichever has the better rebate or video for a given race.
Can you bet on horse racing online in Pennsylvania?
Yes. ADW racebooks are licensed under Act 7 of 2016, and you can place a wager from anywhere within the state.
What is the legal age for horse betting in Pennsylvania?
The statutory minimum is 18, but some racebooks set 21 as a house rule. AmWager requires customers to be 21 or older.
Is AmWager legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes. AmWager accepts customers in Pennsylvania for pari-mutuel wagering on tracks across North America.
Can you bet in person in Pennsylvania?
Yes. You can bet at Parx, Penn National, Presque Isle Downs, Harrah’s Philadelphia, The Meadows and Pocono Downs, and at off-track betting parlors.
Do I have to pay tax on horse betting winnings in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Winnings are taxable under Pennsylvania’s flat 3.07% income tax and federal tax, and big pari-mutuel payouts can trigger federal withholding and a W-2G.
