No live racetrack — Wisconsin’s pari-mutuel industry wound down and the last track closed in 2009.
Online wagering is legally unsettled — state law neither clearly authorizes nor prohibits online horse betting, and apps that accept Wisconsin customers typically hold out-of-state licenses. The racebooks below are the ones our team rates highest for Wisconsin bettors, judged on track coverage, rebates and the welcome offer.
You must be 18+ to bet the horses in Wisconsin, with racing overseen by the Wisconsin Division of Gaming. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Best Wisconsin Horse Racing Betting Sites
Our top-rated advance-deposit wagering (ADW) apps for Wisconsin bettors. Tap to open the operator’s official sign-up page. 18+. Terms apply.
Note: Wisconsin has not formally regulated online horse-race wagering. The sites below are licensed out of state and accept Wisconsin residents; always check the operator’s terms before you deposit.
- ★ EDITOR’S PICK
AmWagerEditor’s pick★ 4.8 / 5100% First Deposit Match up to $50 · Promo Code AMWAGERDeposit $50, bet $50, get $50 in bonus wagering credits
Wisconsin has had no pari-mutuel track since 2009, but AmWager's terms list the state as open, so players can bet close to 500 tracks, including nearby Hawthorne and Canterbury Park, with pool wagering, race replays and current and historical results. Every wager earns Rewards points.
Key terms: New AmWager customers only; first deposit only; Bet the amount of your first deposit (up to $50) within 30 days of opening the account; Show bets, cancelled and refunded wagers don't count; Bonus credits land within seven business days and expire after 30 days; winnings from them are cash. Full terms apply — see our AmWager review. Please play responsibly. -
TwinSpiresBest for coverage★ 4.7 / 5$200 Sign-Up Bonus · Promo Code BET200$100 in bonus cash for every $400 you wager, up to $200
TwinSpires, Churchill Downs Inc.'s racebook, accepts Wisconsin players and streams live races and replays on its website and app. It is the official wagering home of the Kentucky Derby, with Rewards points on every wager.
Key terms: Wager $800 within 30 days of opening your account to earn the full $200; Bonus paid in $100 increments for every $400 wagered; Show wagers don't count; bets count once the race is official; Credited within 10 business days; one per household. Full terms apply — see our TwinSpires review. Please play responsibly. -
NYRA BetsBest for big meets★ 4.5 / 5$25 Free Bet + $200 Deposit Match · Promo Code CUP25A free bet on sign-up, then 100% of your first deposit matched up to $200
NYRA Bets accepts Wisconsin players, with free live video, HD coverage of Saratoga and Belmont Park and up to three streams at once. Box, key and position-swap tools make exotic tickets quick to build.
Key terms: $25 free bet credit on sign-up; unused credit is removed after 14 days; 100% match on your first deposit up to $200, made within 30 days of opening the account; Wager twice your deposit within 30 days to unlock the match; Show bets, futures, phone wagers and cancelled bets don't count. Full terms apply — see our NYRA Bets review. Please play responsibly. -
OffTrackBetting.comDeposit match★ 4.2 / 5100% First Deposit Match up to $200 · No Promo Code neededBonus released from your Bonus Wallet at 10% of every wager
OffTrackBetting.com lists Wisconsin as a state it currently serves, for players 21 and over. It pays OTB Cash Rewards on wagers, win or lose, and streams live video from many tracks to funded accounts.
Key terms: OTB matches 100% of your first deposit, up to $200; The bonus sits in a Bonus Wallet and 10% of each completed wager is released to your account; One per household; past OTB account holders not eligible; Not available in CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, KY, MD, MN, MT, NY, WA, WV, WY or some Florida ZIP codes. Full terms apply — see our OffTrackBetting.com review. Please play responsibly. -
Iron BetsRebates★ 4.1 / 550% Deposit Bonus up to $300 · No Promo Code neededHalf your first deposit added to your bonus account
Iron Bets Racing names Wisconsin among its 30 states, with free race video and replays, Iron Rewards cash back on wagers and lower-takeout bets under its Iron Values banner.
Key terms: 50% of your first deposit, up to a $300 bonus ($600 deposit for the maximum); 10% of each wager is released from the bonus account once the race is official; One bonus per email or mailing address; 18+ (21+ in AL, ND, WA). Full terms apply — see our Iron Bets review. Please play responsibly. -
HorseplayNew racebook★ 4.1 / 5100% Match on Your First Credit Purchase · Promo Code HORSEBETDeposit and buy gameplay credits for the first time to claim the match
Horseplay is open to Wisconsin players aged 21 and over, but it is not a conventional racebook: credits place pari-mutuel bets on real races, with results revealed through slot-style games. It suits casual players more than handicappers.
Key terms: New Horseplay customers; applies to your first credit purchase; Must be 21+ to play; Available in AL, CA, CO, DE, FL, KS, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, VT, WI, WY. Full terms apply. Please play responsibly.
Horse Racing & Betting in Wisconsin
No live racetrack — Wisconsin’s pari-mutuel industry wound down and the last track closed in 2009.
Online wagering is legally unsettled — state law neither clearly authorizes nor prohibits online horse betting, and apps that accept Wisconsin customers typically hold out-of-state licenses.
There is no live race meet in Wisconsin.
More on Racing in Wisconsin
Wisconsin was once a thriving area for live horse racing. There were at one time five active tracks in the state. Today, all five are gone and none have been in operation since the end of 2009.
However, since there still is a law on the books allowing for pari-mutuel wagering, the online horse betting market is prominent in the land of the Cheeseheads. There is a rich selection of advance deposit wagering, which enables online and telephone betting on horse racing from around the world in the state.
There is still some Wisconsin harness racing at fair locations around the state, although wagering is not offered on the races. One-day meets are conducted at the Iowa County Fair in Mineral Point in June, July, and September, and at the Vernon County Fair in Viroqua in September. The Barron County Fair in Rice Lake operates a two-day meet in July.
Wisconsin bettors have access to well-known horse betting platforms like AmWager, TwinSpires, NYRA Bets, OffTrackBetting.com and Iron Bets.
Horse Racing History
The Milwaukee Mile, a well-known automobile racetrack on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Fair, has played host to IndyCar, NASCAR, and ARCA events. However, its roots were as a horse racing track that opened in 1876.
Marathon Park in Wausau held its first harness race in 1868. By the 1950s, lights were added to allow for night racing but in 1958, harness racing was dropped in favor of auto racing. In the late 1960s, harness racing returned but by the early 1990s, it disappeared completely when the track was removed from the site.
Wisconsin Horse Betting Snapshot
You can’t bet on live horse racing at tracks in Wisconsin, but you can legally wager online thanks to long-standing pari-mutuel laws. While all five former racetracks closed by 2009, Wisconsin remains friendly to advance deposit wagering (ADW), making online and phone betting the main way to play.
There is still fairground harness racing at events like the Barron County Fair and Iowa County Fair, but wagering is not allowed at these meets.
How to Bet on Horse Racing
New to the windows? Start with the straight bets. A win bet needs your horse to finish first; place pays if it runs first or second; show pays for first, second or third. They are the cheapest way to learn the game.
From there come the exotics, where the real payouts live. The exacta asks for the first two home in order, the trifecta the first three, and the superfecta the first four. Multi-race bets — the daily double, Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 6 — string winners together across races, and the Pick 6 jackpot can roll into life-changing money. Our guide to exotic bets walks through each one, and the beginner’s guide to betting on racing covers the basics end to end.
How to Start Betting on Racing in Wisconsin
- Pick a racebook and sign up.
Tap a “Visit” button above to open an ADW account. You must be 18+ and within state lines where required.
- Claim the welcome offer and deposit.
Fund the account by debit card, bank transfer or PayPal and activate any new-customer bonus before your first wager.
- Find a race and place your bet.
Browse the day’s cards, read the form, pick your horse and bet type, and confirm. Watch the live stream and collect if you win.
Wisconsin Horse Racing Betting Sites and Apps (November 2026)
- AmWager
- TwinSpires
- NYRA Bets
- OffTrackBetting.com
- Iron Bets
- Horseplay
1/ST BET, TwinSpires and 1/ST BET Pro (formerly DRF Bets) are among the top horse-wagering platforms in the state.
Wisconsin Horse Racing Betting FAQs
Is Off-Track Betting legal in Wisconsin?
Yes, OTB is legal here.
How old must you be to bet on horses online in Wisconsin ?
The minimum gambling age in Wisconsin is 18 years for off-track betting and pari-mutuel horse wagering.
Which racetracks run in Wisconsin?
No live racetrack — Wisconsin’s pari-mutuel industry wound down and the last track closed in 2009.
Which apps can I use in Wisconsin?
Our top-rated picks are listed above. Online wagering is legally unsettled — state law neither clearly authorizes nor prohibits online horse betting, and apps that accept Wisconsin customers typically hold out-of-state licenses.
What is the biggest horse race in Wisconsin?
There is no live race meet in Wisconsin.