Reviewed by , 
Fact checked by
Updated on: Apr 1, 2026

Whether you’re looking for off track betting near me, a dedicated parlour, a simulcast venue, or an online racebook to bet from anywhere, we bring you a comprehensive resource for all 2026 off track betting locations in the US, alongside our recommended online betting sites.

Below you will find a complete guide to US off track betting, covering where to bet, how OTB wagering works, the main venue types, and the key information you need to place a wager.

Best online OTB sites in 2026

What is Off Track Betting?

Off-track betting allows customers to place pari-mutuel horse racing wagers at licensed premises without having to attend the race live at a track.

The system was first introduced in 1971, with New York hosting the first ever legal OTB. For interstate bets, the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 provides the legal framework. The act requires consent from tracks, horsemen and racing commissions, while contracts and state law determine revenue shares.

Off-track-Betting-near-me

How does Off Track Betting work?

Put simply, OTB betting is a physical buying process, and works in the same way as buying something from a shop.

Start by checking the OTB’s race program or screens for the track abbreviation, race number, post time and horse number.

At the teller window, state the bet in standard order - track, race, amount, wager type and selection, for example, “Del Mar, race five, $2 to win on number seven.” For an exotic wager, give each runner or combination clearly.

Horse-Racing-countdown_

Wagers enter the same pari-mutuel pools as bets placed elsewhere, with final odds determining returns.

OTB costs vary by venue and state. Pari-mutuel takeout is deducted from the wagering pool before winning payouts are calculated, while some OTBs may also use surcharges or admission fees. For example, New York law applies a surcharge to certain off-track winnings, so we recommend checking the rules at the specific venue before betting.

Online racebooks use the same basic pari-mutuel wagering structure, but allow bettors to fund an account and place eligible wagers without visiting an OTB in person.

Off track horse betting locations

Browse the list below to find an OTB location near you and enjoy the thrill of live horse racing. If there isn’t one conveniently close, no need to worry, our top-rated offshore sportsbooks make it easy to join the action from anywhere.

Off Track Betting Arizona

Arizona has OTB locations conveniently spread throughout the state, giving horse racing fans plenty of options for a fun-filled day betting on the ponies. Whether you prefer the charm of a historic racing facility like Turf Paradise in the off-season or the lively vibe of a hip sports bar, there’s something to satisfy even the most discerning horseplayer.

Off Track Betting California

California offers countless options for horse racing enthusiasts, with something for everyone no matter where you live in the Golden State. Whether you prefer wagering on simulcasts at iconic tracks like Santa Anita or Golden Gate Fields, or soaking up the action at a smaller OTB such as the OC Tavern, you can’t go wrong.

Off Track Betting Florida

Florida is home to palm trees, great weather and well over a dozen different locations where horse racing fans can play the ponies. No matter where you are in the Sunshine State, you’ll find a nearby spot to get in on the action, and with Florida’s long racing season and year-round simulcasting, the excitement never stops.

Off Track Betting Illinois

Illinois may be best known for Chicago’s famous pizza, but the state is also home to quality Off Track Betting locations and several prestigious racetracks, such as Hawthorne Race Course and Fairmount Park. With a wide range of OTB bureaus, many offering excellent dining options, you’re never far from the action.

Two-Horses-Jumping-in-a-Off-Track-Race

Off Track Betting Kentucky

Kentucky is practically synonymous with horse racing, and there’s always a way to join the excitement. From watching live action beneath the famed Twin Spires of Churchill Downs to spending an afternoon with friends at a conveniently located Off Track Betting venue, the state offers endless options for racing fans.

Off Track Betting Louisiana

The excitement in Louisiana goes far beyond Bourbon Street. For horse racing fans, Off Track Betting facilities are conveniently located throughout the state, many offering food and drink specials alongside other gaming options. Louisiana is also home to some of the nation’s most popular racetracks, showcasing world-class racing.

Off Track Betting Massachusetts

The horse racing landscape in Massachusetts is evolving, with several locations across the state where fans can enjoy the action even when live racing is out of season. And in Boston, a city famous for its diehard sports culture, the passion for horse racing is no exception.

Off Track Betting Minnesota

Minnesota is home to dozens of sports bars offering Off Track Betting, along with two popular racetracks, Canterbury Park and Running Aces Casino & Racetrack. The state has taken a progressive approach to gaming, giving horse racing fans plenty of options to enjoy the action.

Off Track Betting New Jersey

New Jersey has long been one of the most progressive states when it comes to gambling, and Off Track Betting is no exception. With locations across the state, fans can watch and wager on races from around the country, while many OTB venues also offer quality dining and other gaming options, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

Off Track Betting New York

New York truly offers something for every horse racing fan. While the history of Off Track Betting in the state has been tumultuous, a recent revival has delighted local enthusiasts. Today, numerous OTB bureaus are conveniently located across the state, which is also home to some of the nation’s most historic and iconic racetracks.

Off Track Betting Ohio

While Off Track Betting opportunities in Ohio may not be as widespread as in some states, fans still have solid options. Whether it’s Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, or Harness racing, bettors can enjoy the action at comfortable OTB bureaus known for their convenient locations and great customer service.

Off Track Betting Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has one of the most thriving horse racing betting industries in the country. With several racetracks that operate virtually year-round, there is always live racing excitement as well as conveniently located options for Off Track Betting situated throughout the state. No matter where in the state you are, you can find a fun way to spend your day.

Off Track Betting Texas

Everything is bigger in Texas, including Off Track Betting. The Lone Star State boasts several major racetracks along with smaller venues that keep wagering action going year-round. While Texas has been slower to match some of the more progressive states, it is rapidly embracing both OTB facilities and online racebooks.

Types of OTB venues

Not all OTB locations are the same. Before placing a bet, it’s worth understanding the different types of OTB venues and what to expect before visiting.

See our guide to the different types of venue below. 

Dedicated OTB betting parlours

Pub, bar & restaurant OTBs

On-Track simulcast wagering

A dedicated OTB parlour is a licensed facility created primarily for pari-mutuel wagering as opposed to secondary features inside another business.

Dedicated OTB betting parlours typically provide multiple race feeds, form information, teller windows and self-service terminals. Because wagering is its core operation, a parlour often carries the widest selection of domestic and international simulcasts and maintains specialist staff.

Dedicated sites also tend to remain more stable from year to year, although licensing and schedules can still change.

Privately owned pubs, bars and restaurants provide simulcast wagering through agreements with licensed racetracks and approval from the relevant state regulator.

Betting screens, terminals or teller stations operate alongside the venue’s normal food and drink service, creating a more social alternative to a traditional betting parlour.

However, wagering depends on the host business remaining open and maintaining its racing agreement. A sale, closure or change of concept can therefore end the location’s OTB operations.

Whilst live racing is the core business of racetracks, many also offer OTB, allowing bettors to place wagers on races staged elsewhere. This includes betting on days when no live racing is scheduled at the venue.

Customers watch simulcast feeds and place pari-mutuel bets through the track’s windows, machines or approved mobile system.

Although these facilities form part of the racetrack rather than operating as standalone OTBs, their practical function is the same. They generally carry a broad selection of tracks and the complete wagering menu available for each approved simulcast.

OTB betting bonuses & promotions

Whilst the physicality of in-person OTBs can be an attractive option, online OTB websites offer bettors an advantage when it comes to online betting bonuses, wagering rebates and reload offers.

Put simply, these promotions are a standard feature when wagering online. In contrast, in-person OTBs rarely offer bonuses for deposits.

Minimum deposits, eligible wagers, expiry dates and rollover requirements vary between operators, so check the current terms before claiming an offer.

See our Best Online OTB site list above for the most up-to-date offers.

Play Online Now
Bovada Review
BONUS $250
Play Now in Bovada

Off Track Betting calendar 2026

The 2026 off-track betting calendar covers the year’s headline thoroughbred, Quarter Horse and harness races in North America and leading international jurisdictions. 

Major OTB networks and full-service online racebooks may carry wagering on the events listed below, subject to local availability and signal agreements.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

- Pegasus World Cup

- Pegasus World Cup Turf

- Prix d’Amérique
- Risen Star Stakes

- Saudi Cup

- February Stakes

- Fountain of Youth Stakes
- Rebel Stakes

- Santa Anita Handicap

- Champion Hurdle

- Queen Mother Champion Chase

- Stayers’ Hurdle

- Cheltenham Gold Cup

- Golden Slipper

- Louisiana Derby

- Florida Derby

- UAE Derby 

- Dubai Golden Shaheen

- Dubai Turf

- Dubai Sheema Classic

- Dubai World Cup
- Blue Grass Stakes

- Santa Anita Derby

- Wood Memorial

- Grand National

- Apple Blossom Handicap

- Queen Elizabeth Stakes

- Chairman’s Sprint Prize

- Champions Mile

- Queen Elizabeth II Cup
- Kentucky Oaks

- Kentucky Derby

- 2,000 Guineas

- 1,000 Guineas

- Preakness Stakes

- Lockinge Stakes

- Irish 2,000 Guineas

- Irish 1,000 Guineas

- Elitloppet

- Tokyo Yushun

- Prix du Jockey Club
- Epsom Oaks

- Coronation Cup

- Epsom Derby

- Belmont Stakes

- Metropolitan Handicap

- Prix de Diane

- Queen Anne Stakes

- King Charles III Stakes

- Prince of Wales’s Stakes
- Ascot Gold Cup

- Commonwealth Cup

- Coronation Stakes

- Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes

- Stephen Foster Stakes

- Irish Derby

- Takarazuka Kinen

- Coral

- Eclipse Meadowlands

- Pace July Cup

- Rainbow Futurity

- Irish Oaks

- Haskell Stakes

- King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes

- Adios Pace Goodwood Cup

- Sussex Stakes  
- Arlington Million

- Whitney Stakes

- Hambletonian

- King’s Plate

- Juddmonte International

- Yorkshire Oaks

- Nunthorpe Stakes

- Pacific Classic

- Travers Stakes
- All American Futurity

- Irish Champion Stakes

- Woodbine Mile

- E.P. Taylor Stakes

- St Leger Stakes

- Irish St Leger

- Little Brown Jug

- Pennsylvania Derby

- Cotillion Stakes
- Canadian International

- Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

- Kentucky Futurity

- Champion Stakes

- Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

- British Champions Sprint Stakes

- Breeders Crown

- Cox Plate

- Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

- Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

- Breeders’ Cup Distaff

- Breeders’ Cup Turf

- Breeders’ Cup Mile

- Breeders’ Cup Sprint

- Breeders’ Cup Classic

- Victoria Derby
- Melbourne Cup

- Champions Stakes at Flemington

- Clark Stakes

- Japan Cup

- Hollywood Derby

- Matriarch Stakes

- Del Mar Turf Cup
- Cigar Mile

- Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity

- Champion of Champions

- Hong Kong Vase

- Hong Kong Sprint

- Hong Kong Mile

- Hong Kong Cup

- Arima Kinen

- Tokyo Daishoten

OTB Minimum Betting Age by State

The minimum age for off track betting depends on the state and type of wagering. Age 18 is permitted for pari-mutuel horse racing in many states, but bettors should not assume the rule is the same nationwide.

For example, Arizona requires bettors to be 21 to wager on horse racing, while North Carolina requires customers using licensed advance deposit wagering services to be at least 21. We recommend checking the relevant state regulator and the individual OTB or racebook before placing a wager.

Alabama varies by racing jurisdiction - Birmingham and Macon use 19, while Greene and Mobile use 18.

Arizona, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada and Texas require bettors to be 21.

Racinos and online racebooks may impose stricter age limits than the underlying racing law, particularly where casino gaming is offered.

Bettors should verify both state requirements and the individual venue or operator’s rules before visiting an OTB or opening an account.

Off Track Betting FAQ

What is off track betting?

Off track betting IS wagering on a horse race from somewhere other than the track hosting it.


Licensed OTB facilities show live simulcasts, accept pari-mutuel bets and connect wagers to betting pools for races staged elsewhere in the US or internationally.


 

Is off track betting legal in the US?

Yes, off track betting is legal in many parts of the US.


Availability depends on state law, and wagers must be placed through licensed facilities. Interstate betting is also governed by the federal Interstate Horseracing Act and its consent requirements.

How does off track betting work?

Bettors select a track, race, wager type, stake and horse before placing the bet with a teller or terminal.


The wager enters a pari-mutuel pool, and the ticket confirms the selections. Payouts depend on the final odds after takeout.

Can I bet on the Kentucky Derby at an OTB?

Yes, licensed OTBs accept wagers on the Kentucky Derby.


The venue must carry the Churchill Downs simulcast signal and offer the relevant betting pools. Bettors should confirm availability beforehand and arrive early because Derby Day attracts heavy demand.

What is the minimum age for off track betting?

The minimum age for off track betting is usually 18, but state requirements vary.


Some jurisdictions set the threshold at 19 or 21, while individual venues may apply stricter entry rules. Bettors should verify local regulations and bring valid identification.

Can I bet on horse racing online instead of visiting an OTB?

Yes, online horse racing betting is available in states that permit advance deposit wagering.


Licensed racebooks accept pari-mutuel bets through funded accounts, providing access to many of the same tracks and markets without requiring bettors to visit a physical OTB.