Off Track Betting: OTB Sites And Locations In Every State

Off-track betting is the practice of betting on horse races from locations other than the hosting racetrack.

Off-track betting facilities (OTBs) can be standalone facilities or even race tracks that offer wagers on races held elsewhere. For example, a track that doesn’t have any live racing on the schedule for the day can still open its doors and offer simulcast wagering on other tracks’ races.

In either case, OTBs make wagering on horse races convenient for fans who don’t live close to the host race tracks.

The term “off-track betting” most often refers to placing wagers in-person at OTBs, but people occasionally use it as a reference to betting via advance-deposit wagering websites (ADWs).

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How OTB Betting Works

Betting on horse races at OTBs is a simple matter of selecting a race, horse, type of wager and visiting the betting window to request the bet.

OTBs offer wagering on many race tracks, so bettors need to specify which track and race they want to bet on. Next, bettors should specify an amount to wager, the type of bet, and the horse (using the program number, not the horse’s name).

For example, a bettor who wants to place a $10 show bet on a horse running at Tampa Downs would say this to the teller:

“I’d like to place a wager on Tampa Downs, race number four. Ten dollars to show on horse twelve.”

This is an easy-to-understand request in language the teller understands.

In exchange for your $10 bet, the teller will hand you a ticket containing the details of your order, including the date, time, and potential payout if your horse wins.

Most OTBs earn money in one of two ways. Some collect a 5-6% surcharge on every wager. Others charge a daily entrance fee instead of the percentage fee. You won’t pay extra for the racetrack or OTB’s cut – that’s already built into the price.

Off Track Betting Sites And Apps

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The most convenient way to bet on horses is to do it online. In roughly three dozen states, bettors can download legal off-track betting apps or visit OTB websites to place wagers from anywhere inside state lines.

In addition to convenience, online OTB sites offer significantly more track coverage. Similarly, online OTBs can show an unlimited number of races live because they aren’t limited by physical space constraints.

The best OTB sites provide international race results, odds for upcoming races at hundreds of tracks globally, daily picks, and handicapping advice from experts in the field. Every decent horse racing betting site offers live streaming video and race replays, but the best also provide supplementary broadcasts featuring analysts who break down past results and share predictions for upcoming races.

Promotions and rewards programs are additional perks bettors won’t find at in-person OTBs. The best online OTBs offer generous deposit bonuses to new customers, wagering rebates paid as cash, and more.

States With Off-Track Betting Facilities

Below is a list of off-track betting locations in all states.

Alabama OTBs

Birmingham Race Course Casino

Arizona OTBs

Arkansas OTBs

California OTBs

Colorado OTBs

Connecticut OTBs

Authorized OTBs

Delaware OTBs

Florida OTBs

Idaho OTBs

Greyhound Park and Event Center

Illinois OTBs

Off-track betting available at race tracks and OTBs:

Indiana OTBs

Iowa OTBs

Kentucky OTBs

Louisiana OTBs

Maine OTBs

Maryland OTBs

Massachusetts OTBs

Michigan OTBs

Minnesota OTBs

Mississippi OTBs

Nebraska OTBs

Nevada OTBs

Simulcasting and pari-mutuel wagering available at many sportsbooks.

New Hampshire OTBs

The Brook Racebook

New Jersey OTBs

New Mexico OTBs

New York OTBs

Five organizations operate dozens of off-track betting facilities across New York. See the links below for a list of OTBs managed by each organization:

North Carolina OTBs

North Dakota OTBs

Sky Dancer Casino Racebook
Sidestreet Grille and Pub
Rumors Sports Bar

Ohio OTBs

Oklahoma OTBs

Oregon OTBs

Authorized OTBs

Pennsylvania OTBs

Rhode Island OTBs

Bally’s Tiverton Racebook (possibly closed)
Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Racebook

South Dakota OTBs

Triple Crown Casino OTB

Texas OTBs

Virginia OTBs

Washington OTBs

Washington Off-Track Betting
Off-track betting available at race tracks and OTBs

West Virginia OTBs

Wisconsin OTBs

Potawatomi Casino OTB (closed until further notice)
Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells OTB (closed until further notice)

Wyoming OTBs

Off-track betting available at authorized OTBs

Off-Track Betting FAQ

Legal advance-deposit wagering sites offer the best off-track betting experience. Betting sites such as TwinSpires, TVG, and AmWager have been involved in horse racing for decades and hold licenses in multiple states.

Most states impose a minimum age of 18 to bet on horse races in-person at OTBs or online at ADWs. However, bettors must be 19 or older in Alabama and 21 or older in Texas.

Off-track betting shops (OTBs) offer real-money horse racing wagering on races held around the country.

Each OTB operator has contractual relationships with the host tracks to offer pari-mutuel wagering on their races. All wagers taken at OTBs comingle with bets taken at each track to provide true track odds to bettors no matter their locations. In addition, hose tracks provide live racing video (simulcasting) to OTBs so bettors can watch as they wager.

Yes. OTBs offer wagering on the nation’s most prominent horse races. Some even host Kentucky Derby betting watch parties.

Yes. Off-track betting is legal in most states.

Readers can see the list of OTBs by state on this page to find the off-track betting locations near where they live.

Wes Burns Co-Founder / Gambling Industry Expert

Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of BettingUSA.com. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.