Trusted Kentucky Derby Betting Sites in 2024
The Kentucky Derby — noted as the most exciting two minutes in sports — stands as the highlight of the horse racing season, creating more bets on horse racing betting sites than any other event throughout the year.
Mystik Dan won this year's 'Run for the Roses' in a photo finish. Place your bets for 2025 at FanDuel Racing — the top legitimate Kentucky Derby betting site for the initial stage of the Triple Crown.
Best Kentucky Derby betting sign-up offers
We've identified the best Kentucky Derby welcome offer for new bettors. If you are physically present in a state with legal online horse race betting, you can now claim the following bonus from FanDuel Racing, with no FanDuel Racing promo code required:
$500 No Sweat First Bet
Terms and conditions apply to all bonuses and promotional offers. No FanDuel promo code required.
Betting on the Kentucky Derby in Canada
Of the top betting sites in Canada, we recommend using BetVictor, Pinnacle, and 888sport for your Derby wagering.
100% Bonus up to $600
No code required
Best Odds, High Limits
100% Bonus up to $500
Code: COVERSBONUS
How to bet on the 2024 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby bets should be as well-researched as any other type of sports bet. Refer to our relevant guides to learn how to bet on the Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby odds
Our Kentucky Derby odds page provides you with updated odds, a look back at closing odds, and the post position of previous winners.
Kentucky Derby picks
With the field and post positions set, our horse racing experts reveal their highly-anticipated Kentucky Derby picks.
Kentucky Derby favorites and contenders
Take a look at the top Kentucky Derby favorites and contenders in 2024.
Kentucky Derby horses
Learn more about this year's roster of Kentucky Derby horses and check back frequently for expert analysis.
Terms and conditions apply to all bonuses and promotional offers.
Reading Kentucky Derby odds
Although some U.S. sportsbooks may use American odds, Kentucky Derby odds are typically displayed as fractions.
Fractional odds (ex. 10/1) can be interpreted by taking the numerator (the top number), dividing it by the denominator (the bottom number), and multiplying the sum by the amount you wish to bet.
For example, if you wagered $100 on 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan at his final odds of 18/1, you would've walked away with $1,800.
18 / 1 = 18
18 x $100 = $1,800
When the denominator is "1," fractional odds are easy to calculate. However, sometimes you'll see a "2" or maybe even a "5" here. In this case, follow the same formula to calculate potential winnings. For example, placing a $100 wager on 9/5 odds would suggest you’re in line to win $180.
9 / 5 = 1.8
1.8 x $100 = $180
Check out our odds calculator to switch between fractional, decimal, and American odds and calculate potential Kentucky Derby payouts.
Popular Kentucky Derby bet types
There's more to Kentucky Derby betting than simply picking a single horse to win. Trusted Kentucky Derby betting sites offer odds for a wide range of online wagers, giving handicappers plenty of exciting bets to sweat on race day. Here are some of the most popular choices:
Straight bets
Kentucky Derby bettors can get started with straight bets. These straightforward wagers — win, place, and show — allow you to choose a horse to win the race outright or finish in the top two or top three.
Win bet
If you're confident a thoroughbred can earn a victory in the first leg of the Triple Crown, you can pick it to win the race outright.
Place bet or
For a lesser payout, you can bet that a horse will finish in either first or second place. This type of wager leaves you some wiggle room in the event of a photo finish.
Show bet or or
Go with a show bet if you think your colt, gelding, or filly will come in first, second, or third place. You'll have much better odds here, so expect a significantly smaller payday.
Exotic bets
While it can certainly be fun to sweat straight bets, exotic wagers take Kentucky Derby betting to another level of excitement. The following bet types involve choosing two or more horses and can result in much more lucrative winnings.
Exacta +
Predict the first and second place horses in order, and you have yourself an exacta. This type of wager is more difficult than a win or place bet but will offer a bigger reward should you win.
Trifecta + +
A trifecta wager asks you to pick the first, second, and third-place finishers of the Kentucky Derby in order.
Superfecta + + +
To win a superfecta wager, you'll have to correctly identify the first four horses to complete the race in order.
Super high-five + + + +
Predictably, a super high-five calls on bettors to pick the exact order of the top five horses. While a tall order, the reward here is substantial, to say the least.
How we rate Kentucky Derby betting sites
Trusted Kentucky Derby betting sites should check all of the boxes. We recommend apps and websites that are safe, reliable, and feature-rich. The following criteria should be top of mind when choosing where you place your Kentucky Derby wagers:
Bonuses and promotions
The best betting sites engage new users with generous sportsbook promos. Some Kentucky Derby betting sites may even feature special offers for the big event.
Mobile betting
Our recommended Kentucky Derby betting sites also have responsive and intuitive mobile sports betting apps for iPhone and Android devices. Rest assured that you can enjoy that you can deposit, wager, and enjoy the action anywhere in legal states.
Customer support
We vouch for horse racing betting sites that give users various ways to reach out to customer support agents. Accessible and reliable live chat, email, and phone support are necessary.
Banking and payout speed
You value your bankroll — and so should the betting site you've chosen to trust with your cash. The best Kentucky Derby betting sites vie for the title of best sportsbook for payouts in 2024 to ensure you have quick access to your funds when the Derby concludes.
Security and trust
When betting on the Kentucky Derby, you want to use a reputable website with a long-standing track record of treating customer information with confidentiality and care. The trusted Kentucky Derby betting sites featured above are licensed and regulated at the state level and do their part to ensure your personal details are stored safely.
Legal Kentucky Derby states
While sports bettors can enjoy some form of online or retail wagering in 38 states (+ DC), horse racing enthusiasts have even more legal options if they cannot physically be at Churchill Downs for the event. Refer to the table below to see if horse race betting is legal in your state via the FanDuel Racing app.
State | Legal horse racing | FanDuel Racing |
---|---|---|
Alaska | ||
Alabama | ||
Arizona | ||
Arkansas | ||
California | ||
Colorado | ||
Connecticut | ||
DC | ||
Delaware | ||
Florida | ||
Georgia | ||
Hawaii | ||
Idaho | ||
Illinois | ||
Indiana | ||
Iowa | ||
Kansas | ||
Kentucky | ||
Louisiana | ||
Maine | ||
Maryland | ||
Massachusetts | ||
Michigan | ||
Minnesota | ||
Mississippi | ||
Missouri | ||
Montana | ||
Nebraska | ||
Nevada | ||
New Hampshire | ||
New Jersey | ||
New Mexico | ||
New York | ||
North Carolina | ||
North Dakota | ||
Ohio | ||
Oklahoma | ||
Oregon | ||
Pennsylvania | ||
Rhode Island | ||
South Carolina | ||
South Dakota | ||
Tennessee | ||
Texas | ||
Utah | ||
Vermont | ||
Virginia | ||
Washington | ||
West Virginia | ||
Wisconsin | ||
Wyoming |
Blacklisted Kentucky Derby betting sites
See all blacklisted sportsbooks
Some offshore betting sites claim to be legal Kentucky Derby wagering platforms. However, these sites are not regulated or licensed in the U.S. and have been known to treat customers poorly. We strongly recommend steering clear of these blacklisted betting sites at all costs.
- Allegations of withdrawal issues
- No license information available on site
- Poor customer service
- Multiple reports of slow payments
- Allegations of non-payments
- Risk of account closure simply for winning bets
- Reports of confiscated winnings
- Slow customer support response times
Best betting sites by sport
Interested in the best betting sites for other sports? We've identified and highlighted the top operators for each of the following sports:
Kentucky Derby betting sites FAQ
Yes. You may legally wager on the Kentucky Derby on a mobile device, desktop computer, or tablet. Wagering on horse racing is easy with any of the above trusted Kentucky Derby betting sites.
If you live in a state with legal online horse racing betting, you may wager on the 150th running on one of the Kentucky Derby betting sites above.
Covers strongly recommends FanDuel and the FanDuel Racing app for Kentucky Derby betting.
Yes, you can bet on the Kentucky Derby on FanDuel or the FanDuel Racing app.
No, DraftKings does not have a horse racing section on its website or mobile app. However, states with access to DK Horse may place horse racing bets online.
An award-winning author at just six years old (it’s true!), Jeff has parlayed his early-life accolades into a prominent role in the iGaming content space with Covers. He now leads a talented team of expert betting analysts and sportsbook reviewers focused on delivering world-class experiences to North American bettors.
Jeff joined the Covers team full-time in 2021 and has since played a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s content strategy and providing accurate, timely coverage of burgeoning legal sports betting markets like New York, Ohio, and Ontario. He is passionate about providing comprehensive, transparent, and unbiased betting analysis and giving Covers readers the confidence they need to come to their own conclusions when deciding how and where to bet online.
Jeff primarily bets on NFL, MLB, and NHL player props, but he is always looking for value in futures markets. If Jeff could only use one betting app, it would be bet365, but he’s also a big fan of DraftKings, FanDuel, and Sports Interaction. He is a strong proponent of line shopping and never, ever chases losses.
Jeff holds a BBA from St. Francis Xavier University. His work has been featured in Newsweek and referenced in news media outlets like the Calgary Herald, Financial Post, and Toronto Sun. He was previously an independent NHL prospects writer and has crafted over 200 articles and guides across the sports, iGaming, e-learning, and LMS software industries.