Kentucky Derby Betting Sites

Are you looking to bet on the Kentucky Derby online? If so, then you’ve come to the right place to find a list of the best Kentucky Derby betting sites and so much more. Whether you’ve got experience betting on the big race or are brand new, we’ve got you covered.

We’ve packed this guide with all of the details you’ll need to know to find the perfect betting website for your unique needs. Up first, we’ll get things started by showcasing our selections for the top Kentucky Derby betting sites. After that, we’ll provide you with the information you need to know about bet types, betting on the race, frequently asked questions, and more.

Are you ready to bet on the Kentucky Derby now? If so, then you don’t want to miss our list of recommendations below. Here, you’ll find our collection of the top Kentucky Derby betting websites. We’ve scoured the internet with the end goal of bringing you a list of the best of the best. If you’re looking to bet on the race online, these are the operations you’ll want to use. You can learn more about why we’ve selected these gambling websites in the next section below if you’d like some color regarding our process.

Visit Site
1.

Rating 4.5/5

125%

up to $2,500

  • Elite brand
  • Long-running site
  • Widely available
Visit Site
2.

Rating 4.5/5

50%

up to $1000

  • Highly established brand
  • Hugely popular among bettors
  • Lightning-fast payouts
Visit Site
3.

Rating 4/5

125%

up to $1,250

  • Excellent game variety
  • Esports betting available
  • Low bonus rollover
Visit Site
4.

Rating 4/5

50%

up to $1,000

  • Great banking options
  • Quality sportsbook
  • Credit card deposits
Visit Site
5.

Rating 4/5

100%

up to $500

  • Tailored for different players
  • Excellent software
  • Transparent and trusted
Visit Site
6.

Rating 4/5

100%

up to $1,000

  • Adjustable bonuses
  • Easy navigation
  • Good mobile site
Visit Site
7.

Rating 4/5

50%

up to $1,000

  • Trusted brand among bettors
  • Great site for new bettors
  • High jackpots in casino
Visit Site
8.

Rating 4/5

50%

up to $1,000

  • Reliable site
  • Financial betting
  • Banking options
Visit Site
9.

Rating 4/5

50%

up to $500

  • Unique sports prop bets
  • Reliable customer service
  • Quick payouts

There’s a chance some of you might not be ready to dive into betting on the race just yet. If you’d like to learn other things such as how to bet on the Kentucky Derby or types of derby bets, be sure to stick around and check out everything this page has to offer. Once you’re ready to find the perfect gambling site to use for your Kentucky Derby betting, you can come back to our list of suggestions featured above.

If you don’t have a ton of time, you might want to use the links below to skip ahead to different sections on this page. But if you’re looking to get the most out of our guide on Kentucky Derby betting sites, you’ll want to check out everything so that you don’t miss out on any of our essential tips and details.

Finding the Best Kentucky Derby Betting Sites

If you don’t already have a spot to do all of your online Kentucky Derby betting, you’re probably wondering how you can go about finding the best ones. The path of least resistance is to simply select one of the choices from our list of recommendations above. We’ve spent lots of time checking out all available options, and we’re confident these operations are the top spots for you to bet on the Kentucky Derby.

However, we understand some of you may want to check out options yourself to determine which one you might use. Below, we’ve included a list of criteria with critical areas of importance as we looked for the top Kentucky Derby betting sites. Check these out and be sure to keep each of these in mind as you hunt for the online sportsbook to call home for all of your derby related wagers.

Selection of Kentucky Derby Wagers

One of the first things we checked out as we were looking for the top Kentucky Derby betting sites was the available selection of race-related wagers. Ideally, it’s nice to be able to place all of your derby wagers in one spot so that you don’t have to bounce around. On our list of suggestions above, you’ll find tons of betting options for the big day. As you go about hunting for an online sportsbook to use for betting on the Kentucky Derby, make sure they offer you all of the types and options you desire.

Competitive Lines

Just because a Kentucky Derby betting site offers an extensive collection of race-related wagers doesn’t mean that’s the one you should use. For us, it’s also essential we’re getting a good bang for our buck when we place our bets on the big race. One of the top things we scrubbed our list of recommendations for was competitive lines and odds, and you’ll want to do the same. By working with an online sportsbook offering excellent lines, you’ll end up earning higher profits on your winning wagers.

Safety

One of the most important things you should keep in mind at all times as you search for a Kentucky Derby betting website is your safety. Unfortunately, not all online sportsbooks are trustworthy operations. Because of this, you’ll need to do your research to ensure you work with one who you know will keep you protected. If you work with one of our top picks above, you’ll be working with one of the most secure operations in the industry.

Historical Reputation

Something else you’ll want to check into is the historical reputation of any gambling website you’re considering. As we did our research looking for the top Kentucky Derby betting websites, we made sure our recommendations all had a long and stable past without any significant hiccups. You’ll want to do the same so that you don’t end up using an operation that’s brand new or has a rocky past.

Promotions and Bonuses

As you hunt for a Kentucky Derby betting site, make sure to also check into the bonuses being offered by any operation you’re considering. With online gambling, there’s often a potential to score some large welcome bonuses along with promotions which are specific to the big race itself. Your goal should be to find an online sportsbook that allows you to maximize your bonus-earning potential.

Customer Support

Quality customer service and support is vital to us. While you hope you’ll never need help from the Kentucky Derby sportsbook you end up using, it’s always a possibility. As you look for the ideal online gambling site to call home for all of your horse racing betting needs, make sure to test out their support. You’ll want to see how easy it is to reach their team and if they provide you with helpful and quality answers.

Ease of Use

Finally, the one other vital area you should investigate for any potential gambling website you’re considering is the site’s ease of use. When you’re betting on the Kentucky Derby, it’s essential you can get it done quickly and without any headaches. That way, you can get back to enjoying life. Try out the website for yourself to see how easily you can navigate things and find what you’re searching for.

Mobile Compatibility

While this may not apply to everyone reading this page, it will apply to many. If you’re interested in betting on the Kentucky Derby from your phone or tablet, make sure you locate an online sportsbook which allows you that flexibility. We’re big fans of mobile sports betting, which is why each one of our recommended Kentucky Derby betting sites will enable you to enjoy the convenience it brings to the table.

Types of Kentucky Derby Wagers

Sportsbooks like to keep things interesting for their clients, which is why Kentucky Derby betting sites are often tasked with coming up with numerous betting options for an event. In this section, we’ll look at some of the most common ways to wager on the event.

Outright Winner

To gain a payday on this wager, the bettor must correctly choose the winner of the race. This bet offers a larger payout than the “place” or “show” options. If made at Churchill Downs, the minimum required wager is $2.

Future Winner

This is also a bet on the winner of the race, but it’s often made months in advance before the field is even set. Since so much uncertainty surrounds the event at this stage, it’s common to see larger payouts (such as risking $100 to win $2,000).

Sire Future

This option allows punters to wager on world-class sires months before the race occurs. If one of their offspring wins the Kentucky Derby, then the punter receives a hefty payout.

Place

If you bet on a horse to “place,” then you’re predicting that he’ll finish in first or second place.

Show

The punter collects a payout if their horse finishes in the top three.

Exacta

The bettor chooses two horses to finish first and second, but he must also predict the exact order. This offers a greater payout because of the degree of difficulty. There’s also the option to “box” the bet, which means the order doesn’t have to be exact (thereby
reducing the payout).

Trifecta

This option is harder than the exacta because the bettor must choose three horses and predict the exact order they’ll finish in. This offers an even bigger payout, as the odds are heavily stacked against the bettor. A less profitable option is to “box” the bet, which
removes the need to predict the exact order.

Prop Bets

These wagers allow oddsmakers to exercise a certain amount of creativity because they don’t deal with the specific winner of the race. Instead, options might include one of the following: the over/under on the length of the National Anthem, the over/under on the official
winning time, and the number of words in the name of the Derby winner.

Easiest Bets to Win

With so many options to choose from when it comes to Kentucky Derby bet types, many of you might be wondering which of these wagers are the easiest ones to win. Below, we’ve included a list of the bet types which have the highest chances of winning when you’re betting on the big race.

  • Show
  • Place
  • Outright Winner

One key thing worth pointing out is that although the bet types listed above are the easiest ones to win when betting on the Kentucky Derby, they also tend to pay out less than more challenging wagers like a trifecta or exacta. Part of the reason other bet forms often pay out more is because the chances are lower that you’ll win the bet. As you think about what types of bets you want to make on the race, be sure to consider the full risk vs. reward picture.

Biggest Upsets in Kentucky Derby History

1913

Donerail – This 91-1 underdog captured the win in 1913, returning $184.90 on a $2 wager. To date, he remains the biggest long shot to claim victory at the event.

1982

Gato Del Sol – Running with a relatively weak field, this colt surged from last place and took the 1982 win despite odds of 21-1.

1992

Mine That Bird – Everyone had already crowned Arazi the winner of the 1992 race, but this 17-1 underdog had other ideas. Arazi, meanwhile, would finish in eighth place.

2005

Giacomo – Despite a lackluster prep race, this colt defied the 50-1 odds to claim victory. He won by just half a length over another long shot named Closing Argument, while favorite Bellamy Road finished seventh.

2009

Mine That Bird – While he never won a race after the Kentucky Derby, this 50-1 underdog pulled off a shocking 2009 win by a distance of 6 ½ lengths.

2018 Kentucky Derby Recap

In 2018, the favored horse going into the race was Justify. To the delight of his owners and all of the sports bettors who selected him as the winner, Justify ended up winning the race by 2.5 lengths while dominating the rest of the field.

To many, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear the favored horse ended up winning the race. However, there are a couple of key things which made Justify’s win a relatively unique one. For starters, he was the first horse in over 135 years to have won the Kentucky Derby without having raced as a two-year-old. Another interesting fact is that only one other horse has won the race in the past 100 years with just three career starts. In short, Justify practically came out of nowhere and ended up being a complete rock star during the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby.

Those of you who closely follow the horse racing scene probably know what happened next. Justify went on to win both the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes to become the 13th horse in history to win the much cherished Triple Crown award.

If you’d like to read more details about the 2018 Kentucky Derby, be sure to check out the official recap from the Derby’s main website.

Betting on the Upcoming Kentucky Derby

Are you planning to wager on the Upcoming Kentucky Derby? If you are, you’re not alone. In 2018, it’s estimated over $2 million was legally wagered on the big race according to an article published by Money Magazine. If you’re planning to get in on the action, we’ve included some key details here which you can use to get yourself started. Check these out so you can get the ball rolling with wagers as soon as you’re ready.

Key Details

  • Date: Saturday, May 4th
  • Location: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
  • Best Places to Bet Online: Check out our chart of top Kentucky Derby betting websites at the top of this page
  • Bet Timing: You can begin placing wagers now on the big race. As it gets closer to the day of the Derby, more betting options will become available

Additional Resources

While you’re here, we wanted to provide you with easy access to some of our other most popular pages which might be helpful to you as you prepare to bet on the Kentucky Derby. Check out the included links below, and be sure to explore the ones that can help you continue to expand your knowledge of betting on the big race.

glossary
Horse Racing Glossary

If you’re not sure what the difference is between a filly and a gelding, you’ll want to check out our horse racing glossary that’s linked below. On this page, we’ll fill you in on all of the need-to-know terminology that surrounds horse racing betting.

Horse Racing Betting Sites

Are you a regular horse racing sports bettor? If so, then don’t miss the page linked below. This page will showcase our top picks for the best all-around horse racing betting sites. Each of these selections will be an ideal fit for you no matter if you’re betting on the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, or any other horse racing event.

Calculating Betting Odds

One of the toughest parts of betting on horse racing and other sports is getting a good grasp of understanding betting odds. Below, we’ve added a link to our page about calculating betting odds so that you can learn everything you’ll need to fully understand all of the odds on your future Kentucky Derby wagers.

Bankroll Management

If you’re new to sports betting, one of our best resource pages is the one linked below which is focused on bankroll management. On this page, we’ll help you learn about these plans, and we’ll coach you on how you can create a custom bankroll management plan to help you get the most out of your available Kentucky Derby betting dollars.

Wrap-Up

We hope our guide about Kentucky Derby betting sites has been able to equip you with all of the knowledge you were hoping for and then some. If you’re a newcomer to our website, be sure to take some time to see what else we have to offer. As you look around, you’ll find we’ve got lots of other helpful guides, tips, and reviews about gambling. Thanks for stopping by, and good luck with all of your Kentucky Derby bets!

Frequently Asked Questions

Jim Beviglia
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About Jim Beviglia
Jim Beviglia has been a gambling writer at LegitGamblingSites.com since 2018. During that time, he’s written just about every type of article related to gambling, including reviews of betting sites, guides to popular casino games, betting tips on both casino and sports betting, sports and casino blog posts, and game picks. In addition to online gambling, one of Jim’s other major interests is music. He has been doing freelance work for various music sites and magazines for two decades. Among his outlets past and present are American Songwriter, VinylMePlease, Treble, and The Bluegrass Situation. Jim has also written five books on music that were published by Rowman & Littlefield.