Horse racing is one of the oldest and most popular sports in the United States, and it’s no surprise that many Marylanders are interested in betting on horses. Maryland has a rich history with horse racing, and there are a variety of different ways to legally bet on horses in the state. In this article, we’ll discuss where you can bet on horses in Maryland, the types of bets available, and other important information you need to know before you start betting.
Betting at Maryland Race Tracks
The most common and traditional way to bet on horses in Maryland is at one of the state’s four major race tracks. Maryland has two thoroughbred race tracks – Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course – and two harness racing tracks – Ocean Downs and Rosecroft Raceway. All four tracks offer live racing and on-site betting.
At the race tracks, you can place a variety of different types of bets, including win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta. Each of these bets has different odds and payouts, so it’s important to do your research and understand the different types of bets before you start betting.
Off-Track Betting
If you’re unable to make it to the race track, you can also bet on horses at one of Maryland’s off-track betting (OTB) facilities. OTB facilities are located throughout the state and allow you to bet on horses at racetracks across the country, including major tracks like Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, and Santa Anita Park.
Like at the racetrack, you can place a variety of different types of bets at OTB facilities. However, the most popular type of bet is the pari-mutuel bet, which is a pool-style system where all of the money wagered goes into a shared pot. The odds for each horse are determined by the amount of money wagered on each horse, and the payouts are determined by how much money is in the pot.
Online Horse Racing Betting
Another option for betting on horses in Maryland is online horse racing betting. There are a variety of online horse racing sites that allow you to bet on races from all over the world. These sites usually offer a variety of different types of bets, including win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta, as well as exotic bets like quinella and pick 3.
It’s important to do your research before betting online to make sure that the site is legitimate and that your funds and personal information are secure. Additionally, it’s important to note that online horse racing sites are only available to people who are 18 or older, so you must be of legal age to bet online.
Mobile Horse Racing Betting
If you’re looking for a more convenient way to bet on horses in Maryland, you may want to consider mobile horse racing betting. Mobile horse racing betting allows you to bet on horses from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. You can place a variety of different types of bets, including win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta, as well as exotic bets like quinella and pick 3.
Like online horse racing sites, it’s important to do your research before betting on mobile to make sure that the site is legitimate and that your funds and personal information are secure. Additionally, you must be 18 or older to bet on mobile, so you must meet the legal age requirement.
Conclusion
Betting on horses in Maryland is a fun and exciting way to experience the thrill of horse racing. Whether you choose to bet at the track, at an OTB facility, online, or on your mobile device, there are a variety of different ways to legally bet on horses in the state. Before you start betting, it’s important to do your research and understand the different types of bets, as well as the legal age requirements for betting.