Horse Racing Betting In New Jersey

The Garden State is a very pro-gambling state and that includes the ability to bet on horse races in New Jersey. This style of gambling is better known as pari-mutuel wagering, which is a style that pays its winners out of a communal pool. This is the only way for people to bet on horse racing in New Jersey. Betting on the ponies has been available in the state since the 1800s and legislators have no desire to remove this hobby from their residents and voters.

If you’re not familiar with the aspects of pari-mutuel wagering or you’d like to learn a little more, this page can act as a guide. It will go over the horse racing betting laws in New Jersey, while also providing useful information on racetrack locations and pari-mutuel wagering options. For those who are interested in online horse racing betting websites, we include reviews of two of our favorite online racebooks. Everything you need to know about horse racing betting in New Jersey is right here on this page.

Best Online Horse Racing Betting Websites

New Jersey doesn’t have any restrictions in place when it comes to using online gaming sites. With hundreds of different horse racing betting websites right at the tips of their fingers, New Jersey residents may find it hard to find the racebooks that offer them everything they want. In order to help with that, we’ve gone ahead and reviewed two of the most outstanding online horse racing betting sites.

Best New Jersey Racebooks - 100% Trusted + Safe

Can I Legally Bet On Horse Racing In New Jersey?

Residents of the state of New Jersey can legally bet on horse racing events held both in- and out-of-state. According to New Jersey Statutes Title 5, Chapter 5, all forms of pari-mutuel wagering – including off-track betting and simulcast wagering – are completely within the purview of state law. There are no federal laws that prohibit New Jersey residents from betting on horses, either.

Residents will also be happy to note that using an online horse racing betting site is also legal. New Jersey, like many states, has not seen fit to pass any laws that have to do with betting on horse racing online. For those interested in using an online horse racing betting site rather than traveling to a local track, we’ve included recommendations on a couple of our favorite legal online horse betting sites at the bottom of this page.

Where Can I Bet On The Triple Crown In New Jersey?

With two of the three Triple Crown racetracks within driving distance, many New Jersey residents who are fans of horse racing should be excited to know that they can now wager on it as well. Licensed off-track betting venues and simulcast locations will have odds on all three legs of the famous competition, as will many betting sites that accept NJ residents.

The three legs of the Triple Crown take place on the first Saturday in May, the third Saturday in May, and the third Saturday after that, either the first or second week in June. First up is the Kentucky Derby, in Louisville, followed by the Preakness Stakes, in Baltimore, and it ends with the Belmont Stakes, in Elmont. There have only been 13 Triple Crown winners in the series’ entire history but two of those have happened recently after a nearly 40-year lull.

What Wagering Options Do I Have For Betting On The Horses?

In pari-mutuel betting, wagers can fall into one of two categories. You have your “straight” bets and your “exotic” wagers. Straight bets include win, place, or show bets. This means you can choose an outright winner (win), bet on two horses to come in first or second place (place), or three horses to finish third, second, and first (show). It doesn’t matter what order the horses finish in, just that they are one of the first three horses to finish the race. You can easily make a profit off of these bets, but payouts on straight bets are not as good as the payouts on exotic wagers.

Exotic wagers consist of bets that require bettors to choose the exact finishing order of up to four horses in a single race. There are exactas (first two horses), trifectas (first three), and Superfectas (first four). If even one horse is out of order on your bet slip, your entire wager is considered a loss. That’s why the payouts are so much better on exotic wagers – there’s a much bigger chance of failure. But how does that saying go again? High risk, high reward? One lucky fan at the Kentucky Derby hit a $120 superfecta wager, profiting them over $28,000, so don’t consider it impossible.

Are There Any Racetracks In New Jersey?

There are actually a few racetracks for sports betting in New Jersey. These locations can be found along the coast and are registered and licensed pari-mutuel betting facilities that are overseen by the New Jersey Racing Commission. You can legally and safely bet on your favorite races here and these tracks will also host simulcast racing events for residents to bet on as well. But keep in mind, the options are limited compared to the number of races you can wager on at an online horse racing betting site. The tracks in New Jersey are:

• Freehold Raceway (the oldest track in the United States)
• Monmouth Park
• Atlantic City Race Course
• Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment