A Guide to Horse Betting in Washington State
There is no doubt that the internet has been one of the most important inventions in the history of the world. It has transformed our lives in a positive way and enabled us to become more closely connected than ever.
This is not only in a business sense but also in our personal lives. Of course, the positive impact of the internet is also being felt now in how we stay entertained in our spare time.
If you live in Washington state, one activity that the internet has opened up to you is betting on horse racing via mobile apps or desktop internet sportsbooks. If you are interested in giving it a try, it is worth finding out more about it before diving in. But what should you know about horse betting in Washington state?
Betting on horse racing is legal in Washington
Many people in Washington state get confused by the laws around online sports betting and horse race betting. This is understandable as it can take a while to untangle! While placing sports bets in person at certain tribal casinos is allowed, online sports betting is not legal – apart from betting on horse racing. This means that you can get involved with horse betting legally online if you wish.
Where can people in Washington bet on horse racing?
Sports fans in Washington can use platforms such as the TwinSpires horse betting sportsbook to place legal wagers. Platforms like this have become popular for many reasons. Firstly, they are very convenient and make it simple to bet on races from your own home. Online betting platforms have also become popular in the state because they offer competitive odds, lots of markets, and plenty of races to wager on.
When you also add in bonuses for customers to enjoy, great customer support, and the platforms themselves being fully regulated to operate, it is easy to see why this is the main way people bet on horses in Washington.
If you also use handy mobile betting apps, you can place online horse racing bets on the move. The development of Android and iOS apps, in particular, has lent itself to online horse betting very well.
What do you need to know when horse betting in Washington?
Once you have found a safe app or sportsbook to bet with online, it is worth getting to know some of the basics about horse betting before starting out. For most people, this comes down to knowing how to read a racecard.
The horse’s recent form is certainly key because this gives an indication of how well it might do in its next race. Some cards might also show the form of the jockey and yard, which is also vital for the same reasons. It is also worth looking deeper into the racecard to see how the horse you want to bet on has performed in similar conditions and class.
If they have also won at the same course and distance before, normally shown with a CD next to their name on the card, this is also a good sign. Most racecards will also show if a horse is wearing a hood or blinkers. This can be a key piece of information because some horses perform better with these on.
How do odds and markets work for online horse betting in Washington?
The other two crucial things are to gain an understanding of our odds and which bets you can make. In simple terms, odds show not only how likely your bet is to win but also the payout you will receive.
In the USA, odds for horse racing are normally shown as fractions. Although you might see Moneyline odds with a + or – by the number in other US sports, fractional odds still seem to be most common for horse betting. This could be something like 2/1, where you would get $30 back from a $10 bet, this includes your $10 stake and $20 in winnings.
When it comes to bets that gamblers in Washington can make, the most widely seen is a Win bet. This has you winning if your horse comes first. Each-day bets are also popular and have you rewarded if your horse wins or comes in the top few places. Parlays are another bet you see at most sportsbooks and have you combining multiple individual bets into one for a bigger payout.
Horse betting in Washington state
The sports betting picture across all US states is not always easy to navigate and Washington is a good example. Although sports betting at authorized land-based tribal casinos is possible, only horse betting can be done online. If you need to find out more about how this all works before getting involved, the above should help.
