Virginia Horse Racing Betting – Find The Best Virginia Horse Racing Betting Sites

Virginia is one of the most important horse racing states in the US. As pioneers of horse racing more than 100 years ago and developing some of the finest thoroughbreds to grace the track, Virginian residents certainly do enjoy the occasional flutter.

Read on to learn all about betting on horse racing in Virginia and which bookies will offer you the best experience imaginable.

Ranking The Top 10 Betting Sites For Horse Racing In Virginia

There are many betting sites in the US and abroad that offer horse racing betting in Virginia. However, only the very best make our top lists. The bookies in our top 10 offer the very best horse racing features and tick all the boxes of a safe and trusted betting platform.

1. BetOnline – Best Online Virginia Horse Racing Betting Site
2. XBet – The Most Secure Virginia Horse Racing Betting Platform
3. Bovada – Best Mobile App for Virginia Horse Racing Betting
4. MyBookie – Serious International Racing Coverage in Virginia
5. BetUS – Live Streaming of Virginia Horse Racing
6. BUSR – Low Bonus Rollovers for Virginia Horse Racing Betting
7. Sportsbetting.ag – User-Friendly Virginia Horse Racing Betting Site
8. BetNow – Super Competitive Horse Racing Promotions in VA
9. TwinSpires – Follow Picks from Horse Racing Experts in Virginia
10. TVG– More than 300 Racetracks to Enjoy in the US

Reviewing The Best Virginia Horse Racing Betting Sites

Our top 5 Virginia horse racing betting sites are placed that high for a reason. But what makes them so very special? Check out our reviews of all the amazing horse racing features of these leading bookies.

1. BetOnline – Best Online Virginia Horse Racing Betting Site

BetOnline is without a doubt the complete horse racing package in Virginia. In terms of horse racing features and general online betting excellence, this bookie is unrivaled. They’ve been around for more than 2 decades, and it truly shows.

BetOnline allows you to leverage classic mode that can track up to five races at any one time in a sort of condensed view. Switch it up and leverage a smaller window with a wagering tool for immediate horse racing betting. Finally, the form guide is unparalleled at BetOnline – you can just deep-dive right into an individual race and sift through loads of statistics and form data that ensures you make the most researched decision possible.,

BetOnline is so well optimized for mobile betting and both iPhone and Android users will be pleased. We also really liked the Conditional Wagering option that means your bet won’t be taken if it doesn’t hit your required price. If you change your mind, you can also cancel your racing wager before the race begins.

But how big is BetOnline? Well, the racebook provides races at more than 600 global racetracks and includes a full market range. This Virginia horse racing betting site is the complete package with outstanding payment options – including cryptocurrencies – and regular bonus promotions.

Welcome Bonus Offer:

New users from Virginia can access a sports welcome offer of a 50% matched deposit up to $1,000. Just use the promo code BOL1000. There is a 10x rollover requirement to clear this bonus.

To register an account and grab your hefty welcome offer, simply click the link below.

2. Xbet – The Most Secure Virginia Horse Racing Betting Platform

Easily one of our favorite bookies in Virginia, Xbet offered a racebook to the US market for almost 20 years. Since 2003, that racebook has continued to grow and today provides an expansive range of events that reaches far beyond the US. The international coverage at this Virginia horse racing betting site is immense and includes races from Asia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and many parts of Europe – we were pleased to see markets for France and Germany.

Xbet is one of the simpler websites you’ll find in Virginia and that means an easy race card to use as a beginner. The market range is excellent too with extended bet types like Exacta wagers and meetings even included Daily Doubles and Pick Bets. Unlike some racebooks, you can even leverage the sportsbook to create parlay wagers.

The security features are above and beyond at this Virginia horse racing betting site with support for 5 great cryptocurrencies and high-end 256-bit SSL encryption. This bookie is on the faster side of withdrawals too with an average processing time of less than 48 hours. There are also many promotions to claim and they can all be found on our Xbet review page.

Welcome Bonus Offer:

This Virginia horse racing betting site has a smaller welcome bonus of $500 in the form of a 100% matched deposit. The rollover requirement is rather small though at 10x.

To access one of the most streamlined horse racing betting platforms in Virginia, just head to the link below.

3. Bovada – Best Mobile App for Virginia Horse Racing Betting

There is no brand quite as iconic for online gambling in the US as Bovada. This Virginia horse racing betting site has some of the best betting lines for casual punters that we have ever had the privilege to test. The lines at Bovada aren’t great for favorites and that means seasoned punters can leverage great value on outside picks.

The coverage in the racebook is great but the international range isn’t quite up to the bar that has been set by BetOnline and Xbet. However, if US racing is your ticket, then Bovada has you more than covered. Virginia residents looking for an advantage will relish in the Bovada racing promotions like regular enhanced odds and the occasional money-back guarantee – although this Virginia horse racing site typically saves these promos for major race days like the Virginia Gold Cup.

Bovada offers separate apps for its gambling platforms – one for casino gaming, another for poker, and one for sports betting which includes the racebook. This means you can avoid all the clutter that sometimes comes from using a major betting site. Deposit minimums are low too – typically just $10 – which is perfect for new punters and withdrawal requests can take just 24 hours too.

Welcome Bonus Offer:

New punters heading to Bovada for the first time can use the promo code CAWELCOME100 to take advantage of a $1,000 welcome bonus. The rollover requirement is a low 10x and with the matched deposit being 100%, you’re getting excellent value.

To take advantage of this welcome offer, simply sign up by clicking the link below.

4. MyBookie – Serious International Racing Coverage in Virginia

MyBookie is known for its bizarre sportsbook that offers incredibly unique events such as betting on the existence of aliens. However, this Virginia horse racing betting site is also an outstanding provider of racing odds and international coverage. Horse racing odds at MyBookie are highly consistent and horses for every single race are very well priced – you might not find the best price all the time at MyBookie but you’re unlikely to find a bookie for consistent overall.

There is both US and international racing coverage but it’s that overseas coverage that really shines through – you can even bet on races in the Middle East. You’ll find the usual promotions at MyBookie like enhanced odds and rebates, but as per usual, they are reserved for major racing days. Like Xbet, this Virginia horse racing betting site is on the simpler side of web design and new punters will have no problem navigating through the racebook.

Welcome Bonus Offer:

Virginia residents signing up to MyBookie for the first time can access a 100% double deposit bonus of up to $1,000. Just make a deposit of at least $50 and use the promo code MYB100. You’ll need to rollover this bonus 10x to clear the funds.

To sign up for one of the more unique bookies in Virginia, just head to the link below.

5. BetUS – Live Streaming of Virginia Horse Racing

This Virginia horse racing betting site seems to put the most effort into promoting its racebook and the amazing features on offer. Before you even look for your first race, you’ll be faced with highlights of the day’s upcoming races from around the world.

This bookie offers some of the biggest promotional offers in the industry and on a daily basis, you’ll be able to access money-back offers for racing bets. BetUS offers morning lines odds so that you can get a heads up on the likely price of horses and the market coverage ranges from the basics to mixed bets like Trifectas, Doubles, and Pick Bets. However, some lower-profile races may suffer from fewer markets at BetUS.

Another huge advantage of this Virginia horse racing betting site is BetUS TV. This platform features tons of form guides, race highlights, previews, and even live streaming on races – all of this is free with an active BetUS account.

Welcome Bonus Offer:

BetUS offers one of the biggest welcome bonuses for betting on horse racing in Virginia. New players can claim a 125% sports bonus of up to $3,125. It’s a double bonus with the sports component adding up to a maximum of $2,500 while the casino part is worth up to $625. The sports rollover is a low 10x, but the casino bonus must be wagered 30x.

To sign up and claim this truly massive bonus offer, just click the link below.

More on gambling in Virginia…

Learn about all types of online gambling in Virginia in our expert guides below:

• Virginia Sports Betting
• Virginia Real Money Online Casinos
• Virginia Online Poker
• Virginia Online Gambling

Comparing The Best Sites For Horse Racing Virginia Has To Offer

The best Virginia horse racing betting sites have a lot in common. They’re all brilliant and worthy in their own rights. But how can a new punter tell which bookie is right for them? We’ve compared our top selections based on a few key features that all Virginia horse racing sites do exceptionally well.

Horse Racing Odds

One of the most important factors during our review of horse racing in Virginia is that of odds. No matter how good the markets are or how many events are covered, if the horse racing odds have no value, then there is no point placing a wager. Remember no matter how good the odds are at a Virginia horse racing site; no operator is going to offer the best odds for every single race.

We noted three bookies that cannot be ignored when it comes to horse racing betting odds – Bovada, BetOnline, and Xbet. For the majority of races during our reviews, we recorded that BetOnline offered the best odds most consistently. For those looking at US and Virginia-based races, BetOnline was especially consistent, and the margins were incredibly low.

Our favorite alternative to BetOnline is Bovada – that’s because they offered some exceptional value on real long-shot bets. So, you might not choose Bovada for consistently chasing the favorites, but this Virginia horse racing site is ideal for going after the underdog.

Horse Racing Betting Markets

One of the biggest draws of betting on horse racing in Virginia using an online bookie is the range of markets available. You’ll want to pick a betting site that offers the best range and should include more than just the usual win, place, show. Make sure you can place advanced wagers like an Exacta, Trifecta, and a Superfecta.

All of the Virginia horse racing betting sites on our list offer a wide range of markets and we would highly recommend any of our top 5.

Live Horse Racing Betting

Some sports are just perfect for live betting and horse racing is certainly one of them – especially a longer race where quarter way into the race, the favorites may turn out to be utter busts. That means you need a Virginia horse racing site that is fast, seamless, and incredibly responsive. You want odds that dynamically shift in quick response to the state of the race.

For live horse racing in Virginia, you’ll likely want to head to Xbet or MyBookie. Both these bookies leverage the same platform, and that platform simply works. It’s fast, responsive, and very easy to follow. There are no unnecessary bells and whistles, and the odds shift quickly.

Horse Racing Betting Promotions

Online casinos and sportsbooks are renowned for the exciting and lucrative bonuses on offer. Welcome bonuses are the offer that really draws a new player in, and you don’t necessarily want to go after the biggest one of the market – be sure to consider the quality of the bookie’s horse racing offerings and the rollover requirements of the promotional offer.

We think BetOnline has the best welcome offer in the business overall. That’s because the bonus funds are of good value and the rollover requirement isn’t too excessive – bigger bonuses are available elsewhere but you’re unlikely to clear them.

At BetOnline, you can claim a welcome bonus of up to $1,000 with a low rollover of 10x. Some other bookies like Xbet and MyBookie offer horse racing rebate bonuses for existing customers too.

Special Features for Horse Racing

Some bookies have that little special something that truly stands them apart from any other Virginia horse racing site. For some it’s outstanding betting picks, for another it may be live streaming. Now we feel like all our top picks are on par with each other for special features, but BetOnline is extra special with its interactive form guide and BetUS is the only Virginia horse racing betting site to offer live streaming.

User-Friendly Design

Looks are important when it comes to betting on horse racing in Virginia. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to place a wager on a betting site that is cumbersome, visually unappealing, and generally difficult to navigate. If a site doesn’t look good and isn’t easy to navigate, it is not going to keep up with a hefty session having a good old-fashioned punt.

MyBookie and Xbet have the most simple and plain looking webpages which isn’t a knock at them but rather a sign that these sites are perfect for no-nonsense horse racing betting. However, Bovada is by far the best-looking Virginia horse racing betting site. This bookie is wonderfully simplistic but equally as elegant too – new and experienced punters will have no problem navigating this racebook. Bovada also offers a dedicated sport betting app and the same elegance applies within.

Live Streaming

Many betting sites focused on markets in Europe and Asia have become rather renowned for offering live streaming – some even live stream major cricket, soccer, and tennis matches alongside horse and greyhound racing. Live streaming is certainly a feature we’d like to see Virginia horse racing betting sites adopt in the future but to date, only BetUS have something to offer in this department as an offshore gambling site.

BetUS TV has been known to live stream several sports including horse racing from both the US and UK/Ireland. You’ll also be able to check out prediction shows with racing picks for most major racing events like the Belmont Stakes or the Virginia Gold Cup. In the US, both TVG and TwinSpires offer live streaming of horse racing in Virginia.

Check out some of the key features of the best Virginia horse racing betting sites below:

How To Choose The Best Virginia Horse Racing Betting Sites

We’ve identified some of the best and brightest features of the leading horse racing sites in Virginia, but how can a new punter quickly tell a great bookie for a poor one? It’s quite simple really. Below are a number of important requirements that any high-quality Virginia horse racing site will do exceedingly well.

Brand Recognition

Reputation and brand recognition is a quick and easy sign of a reputable Virginia horse racing betting site. You want to see a bookie with loads of excellent reviews and a provable history. For example, Bovada and BetOnline have been in the US market for more than 2 decades.

This factor is particularly important for those new to betting as a trusted name brand can help you ensure you select a bookie that contains all the other important features. For those really uncertain, every bookie on our top 10 list has a stellar reputation and is a trusted brand in Virginia.

Payment Methods

You’re going to be spending quite a bit of time making deposits and, hopefully, making plenty of withdrawals. We are talking about real money horse racing in Virginia after all. How you perform transactions at a horse racing betting site is very important and you’ll want to make sure your preferred payment method is supported.

Our best advice is to pay attention to any fees and check the average withdrawal times. Try and avoid using any payment methods that charge any significant fees, especially for deposits.

Safety & Security

You’ll be investing your hard-earned money and handing over some personal data like your address, banking details, and identifying information when playing at a Virginia horse racing betting site. So, you’ll need to make sure the security features are top-notch at the bookie of your choosing. Punters need to look out for SSL certificates, a legitimate license from a reputable regulator, and be sure to consult customer reviews.

Another quick tip for new players is to make sure your username and password are different from any other credentials you may use online.

Speed & Design

Horse racing is a fast-paced event. It’s not like baseball that goes on for hours. You want your Virginia horse racing betting site to be especially fast and responsive. You don’t want to be struggling to navigate the platform and you’ll have a better experience if the website is pleasant to look at. Most bookies can be explored without signing up, so have a play around before you make the final decision.

Customer Service

Hopefully, no issues will ever arise while betting on horse racing in Virginia, but it can happen. Many punters overlook this factor as they think they’ll never need any assistance. However, if a payment goes awry or the bookie goes down for a spell, you’ll need to contact a responsive and active support team.

Thankfully, we consider this factor for our best bookie lists, and the horse racing sites in our top 10 offer helpful customer service in the form of 24/7 availability via multiple channels.

Overall Value

What you’ll be looking for is a Virginia horse racing betting site that has a good combination of all these features. This combination will contribute to a bookie that is of outstanding overall value. Most of the top horse racing betting sites should do all of the above features well and so if a bookie is lacking in just one department, you could safely disregard that operator as lacking in overall value.

It can all be a bit to remember so before you sign up to a Virginia horse racing betting site, see how they stack up against our table of important factors towards a bookie of value.

Is Horse Racing Betting Legal In Virginia?

Horse racing betting is legal in Virginia. Pari-mutuel betting was legalized back in 1988 and the famous Colonial Downs received the first state racetrack license in 1994. The legality of online horse racing betting is a little mixed though. VA Codes dictates that horse racing betting sites must secure a license from the Virginia Racing Commission before they can offer services to Virginian residents.

Some services like TVG do so. However, offshore gambling sites like BetOnline are based overseas and have not secured such a license. Therefore, gambling using these sites is actually unauthorized and could result in a Class III misdemeanor.

Horse Betting Guides State by State

Virginia Horse Racing Betting Guide – How To Bet On Horse Races In Virginia

Horse racing betting in Virginia offers a huge array of wagering options that extends to both land-based and online platforms. First and foremost, you always have track betting in which you head to the racetrack and bet on races at a meeting or other races via simulcast.

However, online gambling sites in Virginia are going to provide you with the biggest range of races and that includes races from countries like Australia, Ireland, South Africa, and the UK. These betting sites offer lucrative welcome bonuses to take advantage of, specific racing promotions, and a wider range of markets to choose from.

Signing up to a Virginia horse racing betting site takes a few minutes and you could be real money wagering in mere moments.

Check Out Our Popular Horse Racing Guides

How Does Horse Racing Betting Work in Virginia?

Horse racing betting in Virginia isn’t any different from any other state that supports legal betting. You simply need to pick a meeting and then a race to place a wager on. For example, in Virginia, you could start with the Virginia Derby.

Betting on Virginia horse racing requires research to be consistently successful. Thankfully, many online betting sites will provide tools to assist in your research such as form guides – these are like little background checks on each horse, detailing their records and how they race under certain conditions.

As soon as you have made your selection, place a bet using either a race card at the track or from using the bet slip at a Virginia horse racing betting site. There are loads of unique markets to choose from like an Exacta, Place, or Show and it’ll take some experience to get used to some of the advanced bet types.

Virginia Horse Racing Betting Explained

There is no better way to quickly get the hang of betting on horse racing in Virginia than by looking at a race card.

Straight away you can see all the horses in that particular race and boxes which allow you to choose either a win, place or show bet for each horse. You’ll also see the morning line odds initially provided ahead of the race. All you need to do is check the boxes to select your preferred bets and then add them to your bet slip.

Making multiple selections in the same race won’t build an accumulator or parlay wager either. Now simply confirm the wager to place the bet.

Horse Racing Betting Odds

When it comes to making money betting on horse racing, odds are going to be the most important factor to consider. Betting odds of value is where you are going to make the most amount of money and that means looking for low margins too. BetOnline and Bovada both offer exceptionally low margins but there are a few more things to consider – the type of odds you’ll be chasing.

There are three distinct horse racing betting odds online and we’ve got a quick-fire guide for you below.

Fixed Odds for Horse Racing Betting in Virginia

A growing way to bet on horse racing in Virginia and certainly a method used by many casual sports punters chasing a hot tip. Fixed odds are set by the bookie and are common among almost every other sport. These odds may be displayed as either Moneyline, fractional, or decimal depending on your chosen bookie and preference.

Pari-Mutuel Betting in Virginia

The most common way to legally bet on sports in the US and a very popular way to bet on horse racing in Virginia. Pari-Mutuel betting is a form of betting in which you bet into a pool and a dividend is generated at the end of the race based on two factors – those factors being the total amount wagered within the pool and how many people entered the pool.

Pool Betting on Virginia Horse Races

A different form of pari-mutuel wagering, Pool Betting is basically the same but is more common for exotic wagers such as exacta and trifecta wagers.

What Are The Different Types of Horse Racing Bets?

There is more than one way to bet on a horse. In fact, there is plenty. Each has its benefits and some bet types certainly favor those with a deep knowledge of horse racing. Below are some of the most popular bet types found at online Virginia horse racing betting sites.

Win

The simplest of all horse race bets. This is a wager on which horse will finish first in a race. The horse must place 1^st for the bet to be a winner.

Place

A place means to finish 1^st or 2^nd. So, this is a bet on a horse to either finish 1^st or 2^nd. The order doesn’t matter. The payout will be the same regardless of whether the horse finishes 1^st or 2^nd.

Show

A show is a bit like casting a wide net. This wager simply requires your selection to finish anywhere in the top three. The order doesn’t matter, and the payout won’t differ if they finish first.

Exacta

An Exacta bet is a wager in which you correct bet on the two horses to finish 1^st and 2^nd in that correct order.

Trifecta

An extension of the Exacta, a Trifecta is a wager on three horses to finish in the top 3 spots in the exact order.

Superfecta

This wager is all about precision. A Superfecta is a wager where you pick the exact order of the first four spots of a single race.

Daily Double

This is just a wager in which you must correctly pick the winners of the first two races of a meeting.

Pick 3/4/5/6

Essentially an extension of the Daily Double, this bet includes the number of races per pick number.  So, for example, a Pick 3 wager would require the winners of the first three races at that meeting while a Pick 4 would need the winners of the first four races.

Virginia Horse Racing Betting Terms

Horse racing has a lot of terms and phrases that are quite unique to the sport and new punters may be confused when they hear them. These terms are used incredibly often, and you’ll likely need to know at least a few to really get by. We think the following Virginia horse racing betting terms are among the most common and important for new punters to remember.

• Across the board– This is a wager on a single horse to win, place, and show
• At the post – This is the start of the race.
• Blinkers/Blinders– The headgear that is worn by a horse to restrict their field of view which in turn, helps them concentrate on the track
• DeadHeat – This is the name used to describe two or more horses finishing a race at the same time.
• DQ– this means a horse that’s been disqualified
• Exotic bet – Any bet that is not a win, place, or show is known as an exotic bet. Think an Exacta or Superfecta.
• Furlong– 1/8^th of a mile
• Length– Distance that horses are measured in as they cross the line. You’ll hear phrases like, “she won it by 2 lengths”.
• MorningLine – Handicappers provide an estimate of what the odds on each horse will be before the race commences.
• Odds– The price that you get when betting on a horse or market. These odds could be fixed or determined by a pool.
• Pari–Mutuel– A bet that forms a pool of money and is distributed evenly to those who win the race using a simple calculation.
• Purse– This is how much money that can be won by the horse owners or trainers for a single race.
• ToteBoard – A board that contains the odds for that race and is a staple of any racetrack.
• Wager– another word for a bet. To place a wager is complete a bet.

Virginia Horse Racing Betting Calculator

Now, you’ll never really need to calculate horse racing odds on your own because online sportsbooks are going to do the legwork for you. However, with complex betting systems and betting pools, you may not see the final odds until the pool is counted or until a race has finished.

Thankfully, there are ways to work out horse racing betting odds for yourself. Honestly, the easiest way is to use an online betting calculator that can take your wager amount and the implied probability to give you betting odds and a likely payout. You could also use morning line odds as a rough guide to what the price and odds are likely to be – and these predictions are generally quite accurate.

How To Calculate Horse Racing Betting Odds

The odds are calculated when a race has completed. It is a calculation of the amount of money in the betting pool and it considers the number of people who have entered a bet into the pool. Let’s take a $2,000 pool for which 40 people placed wagers. The $2,000 would simply be divided by 40 punters to get a dividend of $50 which would be paid out based upon how many units each punter wagered. For example, 0.5 units would mean the person receives a $25 payout.

Virginia Horse Racing Odds Chart:

To simply things for new punters, we have created a table of common odds that you’ll encounter at Virginia horse racing betting sites. Check out the table to see how a $2 bet would net a return at different odds.

Virginia Horse Racetracks

Virginia is known for its steeplechase races which don’t need formal racetracks. To this day many steeplechase events are held each year in Virginia, and these take place in an open field such as the Foxfield Spring held in a part of Charlottesville.

There are still 3 main racetracks including Great Meadows in The Plains, where the Virginia Gold Cup is held, and the Colonial Downs which today is a very modern racetrack with a casino, bars, restaurants, and plays host to many different events such as live concerts.

Virginia horse racing at Colonial Downs is arguably the most popular racing in the state but you don’t always need to be there to place a bet – Virginia horse racing otb (Off Track Betting) sites can be found at various bars and restaurants like The Windmill Off Track Betting And Sports Grill in Collinsville.

The History of Horse Racing In Virginia

There is a long-standing horse racing history in Virginia and we have a quick rundown for you in our table below.

Virginia Horse Racing Schedule 2023

While you’ll find plenty of races running throughout the year in Virginia, there are a few races that stand out. The four major race days below are some of the most prestigious race days in the state.

Virginia Gold Cup Previous Winners

We’d love to provide some details on the upcoming Virginia Gold Cup – such as betting odds, horses, and jockeys, but it’s still a bit early for such information to be available. Instead, we have provided the previous five Virginia Gold Cup winners at this prestigious horse racing event in Virginia.

Comparing Betting At The Racetrack With Online Horse Racing Betting

It’s an entirely different beast betting at an actual Virginia racetrack when compared to that of an online Virginia horse racing betting site like BetOnline. We wouldn’t go as far as to say one is better than the other but betting online is really the best way to make the most money possible.

That’s because at the track you’ll be able to access fewer betting opportunities, betting sites, and simulcast machines will generally give you a single price and dividend and that’s all you’re dealing with. However, leveraging a few Virginia horse racing betting sites online allows you to shop around and find the best value. You’ll have far more control over your choice of odds.

Here is a table for a quick rundown on the advantages and disadvantages of betting at both the track and online in Virginia.

General Terms and Conditions at Horse Racing Betting Sites in Virginia

Punters only need to be 18 years of age or older to start betting on horse racing, either at the track or online. When you open a new account at a Virginia horse racing betting platform of your choosing, you’ll be offered a welcome bonus. These offers are exciting but also come with some rather important terms and conditions to consider.

The most important of these are the rollover requirements.

Rollover Requirements

A rollover requirement is how much bonus money needs to be wagered in order for that money to be released as real winnings. It is depicted as a multiplier of your bonus amount such as 10x, 15x, or 20x. Rollover requirements also have time limits, typically 14 or 30 days.

A $2,000 bonus with a rollover of 10x means that you would need to wager $20,000 before you can claim your bonus funds as real money winnings. This can through completed over many bets and there may be restrictions on the type of bets you can make.

Virginia Horse Racing Betting Bonuses

Head to the promotions section of any Virginia horse racing betting site to see what bonuses they are offering before you register an account. Besides welcome bonuses, you’ll also regularly find excellent horse racing free bets and cash rebates too.

Welcome Bonus

This is the bonus offer you’ll see when you register an account. It’s typically the biggest bonus you’ll be offered at a Virginia horse racing betting site and is usually a matched deposit bonus. For example, at BetOnline, you could see a 100% matched deposit bonus of up to $1,000.

Free Bet

Sometimes referred to as a Risk-Free bet in horse racing circles, this offer allows punters to make a bet without any risk. How this kind of bonus works is the Virginia horse racing site will front the cost of the bet – typically quite small, like $2 – and if the bet wins, you’ll get the profit, minus the stake amount.

Cashback/Rebate/Money-back

These are all kinds of bonuses in which money is returned to you in some way when your bet loses. They can come in many forms are there are usually specific terms and conditions such as the type of qualifying horse racing bet and a limit to how much they will payout.

Enhanced Odds

Enhanced odds are a promo offered to existing players and can be accessed from sign up. It is an increase on the odds for a specific horse or market during that promotional period. Due to the enhancement of the odds, you’ll often find a limit on how much you can wager.

Virtual Horse Racing Betting in Virginia

What if there are no races on right now to wager on? Well, several Virginia horse racing betting sites have begun offering virtual sports. These are Random Number Generated horse races with high-end graphics to represent the race. It’s just like betting on a real race, only the event looks like a video game.

The best virtual horse racing can be found at Bovada and you’ll find races on a regular basis.

Virginia Horse Racing Betting Apps

A huge advantage of Virginia horse racing betting online is that you don’t need to be in one place. All the bookies on our top 10 list offer mobile apps or their webpages are highly optimized to be used on mobile devices like an iPhone. With mobile horse racing betting apps, you can bet on both US and international races in the palm of your hand.

Virginia Horse Racing Betting Apps for iPhone

In the past, iPhone horse racing betting apps were fairly limited and for the longest time, only Bovada provided a real app to speak of for offshore gambling. Thankfully, times have changed, and most Virginia horse racing betting sites offer a mobile app.

Also, these bookies are highly optimized for mobile devices and the sites will operate perfectly on your safari browser. However, TVG offers the first legal horse racing betting app in the US and boasts more than 300 racetracks from around the world.

Virginia Horse Racing Betting Apps for Android

You’ll find more horse racing betting apps for android devices than you will on iPhone due to a more open-sourced store. Some bookies choose to offer their app via a QR code as Google Play is often strict about gambling apps. However, once again, Bovada has its top sports app up for download in the Google Play store and TwinSpires offers mobile live streaming.

How To Start Betting At Horse Racing Sites In Virginia?

Getting started with horse racing betting in Virginia is super-easy and the best bookies have really streamlined the registration process. Using BetOnline as our example, we’re going to walk new punters through registering an account and placing their first bet.

Step 1: Open an account

You’ll need to be a registered user to place horse racing bets at BetOnline. Just click Join Now from the homepage and follow all the prompts to complete your registration. You’ll also be guided through your first deposit and be able to claim your welcome bonus too.

Step 2: Find the Racebook

When you are all set and ready to go, log in at BetOnline and click on Racebook. Here you’ll find all the available horse racing events to wager on.

Step 3: Select a Race

Navigate through the racebook and choose a race that you wish to bet on. Clicking on an event will reveal the available bet types and all horses involved. You can search by race type, track, and meetings too.

Step 4: Place your first bet

Now, simply pick a horse to bet on. There are many different types of bets you could make, but for simplicities sake, it may be easier to begin by picking either a winner or a place bet. These are the easiest to understand when they appear in the bet slip to the right of your BetOnline screen.

Step 5: Submit and wait

When you are happy with your bet choice, hit Submit and now wait. Good luck and hopefully your first wager will get up!

Other Types of Gambling in Virginia

The best Virginia online horse racing sites on our list offer much more than just an excellent racebook. They also feature comprehensive sportsbooks covering US leagues such as the NFL, NHL, and NBA, but also tons of international events such as European soccer. Not a bad feature if you’d like to bet on the Cavaliers.

Besides sports betting, Virginia horse racing betting sites also boast huge online casinos too. We are talking about everything from classic table games to hundreds of varied slot titles. There are even live casino platforms that allow punters to play with real-life dealers and include games such as blackjack, baccarat, and roulette.

What Is The Best Site For Horse Racing Betting In Virginia?

With such a long and proud history of horse racing in Virginia, it really is no surprise that the sport is so popular in the Old Dominion. Virginia residents have several ways to bet on horse racing including online betting sites and simply heading to the racetrack. It’s quite clear that many Virginia horse racing betting sites are exceptional, but BetOnline is the clear standout for going to extra mile to please punters.

Use the link below to register a new account at BetOnline and start betting on horse racing with up to $1,000 in bonus funds.

Virginia Horse Racing FAQ

Does Colonial Downs have slot machines?

Yes, it does. There are currently more than 2,200 slot games provided by the likes of AGS, IGT, and Exacta.

Who owns Colonial Downs?

Since the tracks’ original launch in 1997, Colonial Downs has seen several owners over the years. It is currently owned by the Colonial Downs Group who in turn is owned by Peninsula Pacific Entertainment which bought the racetrack in 2019.

Is Colonial Downs still open?

Yes, it is. Colonial Downs temporality shut down between 2014 and 2019 due to a dispute between the racetrack owner and the Virginia Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association. The Downs was purchased by Peninsula Pacific Entertainment and racing resumed in 2019.

What states allow horse racing?

Horse racing is legal in 41 states in the US. That does mean that the majority of the country allows their residents to have a flutter on the ponies. However, whether you can bet online varies quite a bit between the various states.

How long is the Colonial Downs track?

There are two tracks at Colonial Downs. The Secretariat Turf Course is 1 1/8 miles long while the outer dirt oval 1 1/4 miles long.