Connecticut Horse Racing Betting
Pari-mutuel horse racing wagering is legal in Connecticut for fans 18 and older. Although Connecticut lacks live race tracks, fans have two legal ways to bet on horse races held elsewhere:
- Licensed Racebook Apps
- Off-Track Betting Facilities (OTBs)
Continue below for BettingUSA’s recommended Connecticut horse racing betting sites, a list of licensed OTBs, and an introduction to state pari-mutuel wagering laws.
Connecticut Horse Racing Betting Sites
$200 Welcome BonusTwinSpires Offer Code: BET200
Void where prohibited. Terms and conditions apply. Offer for TwinSpires Racing only. See TwinSpires.com for details. Must be 18+ (21+ where applicable). For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
$150 Deposit BonusAmWager Promo Code: BUSA150
Promotional offer valid and continues until further notice.
Open to new AmWager account holders who have not previously opened an AmWager account. Individuals may only have one (1) AmWager account and may only qualify for a signup promotion one (1) time.
The First Deposit Match Bonus promotion applies to the first deposit made; any subsequent deposits will not apply.
The amount of the first deposit will determine the amount of the bonus and bets that must be placed to earn the bonus. For example, to qualify for the maximum bonus of $150 an initial deposit of $150 is required and total bets must equal $150 or more within 30 days of sign up. Cancelled wagers and refunded wagers are not eligible and will not be counted towards the promotion.
The total promotional wagering credits will be credited to the AmWager account in a single deposit within seven (7) business days of meeting the betting requirements for this promotion. Any promotional wagering credits deposited to a player’s account must be wagered and cannot be withdrawn from the account. Any winnings from those wagers are cash and can be withdrawn.
Any portion of the promotional credits unused expires after 30 days.
Account must remain in good standing to be eligible for all promotions. Returned deposits during the promotional period will cancel eligibility to receive promotional wagering credit.
Limit one promotional offer per household.
50% up to $300Iron Bets Racing Promo Code: BUSA
18/21+, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Most major online horse racing betting sites accept Connecticut customers and cover hundreds of racetracks. Prominent online racebooks like TwinSpires, AmWager, and DRF Bets provide access to pari-mutuel wagering pools at race tracks in the United States, Australia, Japan, and elsewhere.
Reputable Connecticut horse racing betting sites are the most convenient option for most players because they’re available statewide and cover a vast range of tracks worldwide. Legal horse racing betting apps also welcome new customers with registration bonuses and ongoing rewards.
Online Racebooks in Connecticut
- Twinspires
- AmWager
- DRF Bets
- Caesars Racebook
- Xpressbet
- NYRA Bets
- 1/ST Bet
- TVG
- WatchandWager
- Iron Bets Racing
- MyWinners.com
MyWinners.com, a division of Sportech LLC, has an exclusive pari-mutuel wagering license in Connecticut through the Department of Consumer Protection.
However, there’s considerable debate over the validity of Connecticut’s advance deposit wagering laws and Sportech’s monopoly, so other online racebooks also offer their services in Connecticut. This page discusses that debate in more detail below.
Connecticut Horse Race Tracks
Connecticut has no active horse racing tracks, but two New York race tracks are within a reasonable driving distance, depending on where one starts.
Monticello Raceway
204 Route 17B
Monticello, NY 12701
Monticello Raceway is about an hour and a half northeast of Danbury and offers year-round daily standardbred racing in the afternoons. Visitors can also visit the nearby Resorts World Catskills casino for table games, slots, poker, plentiful dining, and hotel accommodations.
Yonkers Raceway
810 Yonkers Ave
Yonder, NY 10704
Depending on traffic, Yonkers Raceway & Empire City Casino is roughly an hour and a half southeast of New Haven.
The facility offers year-round standardbred racing, thousands of casino games, and four restaurants. The race track is home to multiple high-profile stakes races, including the Yonkers Trot, Art Rooney Pace, and Messenger Stakes.
Connecticut Off-Track Betting
Connecticut legalized off-track betting in 1976 and initially granted the Division of Special Revenue a monopoly over OTB wagering.
Connecticut privatized and sold the OTB business to Autotote Enterprises in 1993. Sportech Ventures purchased the company from Autotote in 2010 and now runs all OTBs in Connecticut under the “Winners” brand.
There are now nine Winners OTB locations in Connecticut:
- Winners Bradley: 11 Schoephoester Road, Windsor Locks, CT 06096
- Winners New Britain: 160 East Main Street, New Britain, CT 06051
- Winners Hartford: 121 Brainard Road, Hartford, CT 06114
- Winners Manchester: 103 Tolland Turnpike, Manchester, CT 06042
- Winners Milford: 89 Roses Mill Road, Milford, CT 06460
- Winners Norwalk: 24 Burnell Boulevard, Norwalk, CT 06800
- Winners Sports Haven: 600 Long Wharf Drive, New Haven, CT 06511
- Winners Stamford: 268 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT 06901
- Winners Waterbury: 155 Thomaston Avenue, Waterbury, CT 06710
Connecticut Greyhound Racing
Greyhound racing is legal in Connecticut, but the last dog racing track closed two decades ago.
Plainfield Greyhound Park operated from 1976 to 2005, while Shoreline Star Greyhound Park ran from 1995 to 2006. Declining attendance and revenue led to both greyhound tracks closing, ending live greyhound racing in Connecticut.
Lawmakers have introduced bills to formally prohibit greyhound racing in Connecticut, but none have made it through the legislative process. However, a lack of authorized greyhound tracks effectively bans greyhound racing in Connecticut.
Connecticut Online Horse Racing Betting Law
Connecticut law permits pari-mutuel wagering but seemingly prohibits advance deposit wagering (online horse racing betting).
Nonetheless, the Department of Consumer Protection granted Sportech LLC a license to offer online horse racing betting in 2012. Sportech LLC has been the state’s monopoly operator of off-track betting facilities since 1993 and remains the only operator approved to conduct pari-mutuel wagering.
However, out-of-state operators, including Churchill Downs (TwinSpires) and Xpressbet, offer pari-mutuel wagering in Connecticut despite the prohibition.
Both operators have fought the ban for years, arguing that Connecticut’s exclusive contract with Sportech LLC violates state and federal law. The Department of Consumer Protection disagrees but has been unable to force either operator out of Connecticut.
Neither side has budged from its position over the course of the protracted legal debate, but the status quo remains favorable for fans: bettors can use Sportech LLC or multiple other pari-mutuel wagering operators that hold licenses in other states.
Readers can read an overview of the debate and see Connecticut’s horse racing laws below:
- The Legality of Connecticut ADWs: CT Office of Legislative Research
- CT Law on Horse Racing Betting: CGS Chapter 226
- CT Thoroughbred Wagering Regulations: Conn. Agencies Regs. § 12-574-A14
- CT Harness Wagering Regulations: Conn. Agencies Regs. § 12-574-B14
Connecticut Horse Racing FAQ
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.