TwinSpires Horse Racing Review & Racebook Features

TwinSpires is an impressive online racebook owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated. The Kentucky Derby organizer created TwinSpires as a pari-mutuel betting site in 2007. It is now the leading racebook in the United States, allowing bettors in dozens of states across the country to wager on thoroughbred, harness and Quarter Horse racing from around the world.

Churchill Downs Inc. is based in Lexington, Kentucky. Alongside Churchill Downs - the home of the Kentucky Derby - it also owns Fairgrounds, Presque Isle, Ocean Downs, Arlington, Turfway Park and Miami Valley Raceway.

It launched an online sportsbook brand called BetAmerica after the Supreme Court overturned a federal sports wagering ban in 2018, but it then decided to fold BetAmerica into the stronger TwinSpires brand. It means that TwinSpires now offers a high-quality online sportsbook and casino along with its comprehensive racebook in several states. This TwinSpires review focuses on the horse racing section of the online gambling site, but it is a strong all-rounder.

Pros	Cons
Live streaming	Fees imposed on credit card and debit card deposits
Comprehensive coverage of US and international racing	Narrow choice of withdrawal options
A wealth of high-quality features

You can access the TwinSpires website from many different states. Just choose “Racing” at the top of the TwinSpires page. Alternatively, you can download a TwinSpires mobile app for iOS and Android operating systems. You will be presented with a list of upcoming races, and then you will see tabs for featured races, carryovers and so on. The site also provides a wealth of expert picks, features and bonuses.

You can click the “Bet Now” option at the top of the page to access a list of the day’s races. Separate options include results, replays, scratches, changes and calendar. You will find basic information on each racecard, and then you can access detailed information if you so desire. Click on any selection to add it to the bet slip, whereby you can choose win, place, show and so on, or create exactas, trifectas, superfectas or multiple bets.

It is relatively straightforward to sign up for a new account at TwinSpires:

1. Visit the homepage, choose “Racing” and click “Join Now.”
2. Enter your name and email address. Type in BET200 as your bonus code to claim the $200 welcome bonus offer.
3. Provide your address information.
4. Choose a username, password, security question and answer, and enter your date of birth and the last four digits of your SSN to complete the process.

A KYC process may require you to upload a scan of government-issued photo ID and a utility bill. You can then deposit funds using your betting account to place wagers on a wide range of tracks. If you already have a sports betting or casino account with TwinSpires, use that to register for a horse racing account, as duplication can cause both accounts to be locked.

You have several deposit methods at your disposal when funding a TwinSpires account, but we should point out that it often charges for deposits. For example, you must pay a $5 fee for credit card and PayPal deposits, $3.95 for a MoneyGram money order, and so on.

You can deposit for free, but you must choose ACH. Payments will then be handled by EZMoney, and you can deposit $10 to $9,999 per transaction. Free deposits are also available if you pay in cash at a Churchill Downs Inc. property, or send a wire transfer of at least $1,000.

Twinspires Racebook is the first operator to offer deposits through Apple Pay for all iOS App users. Simply log in, tap the option and deposit through Apple Pay. There are, however, a $5.00 processing fee and a couple of limits, $500 daily, $3,000 weekly and $5,000 monthly.

You have a narrow selection of withdrawal options at TwinSpires. You can opt for a check, which will be mailed within five business of the payout request, making it a very slow method. Funds can be sent directly to your bank account via EZMoney, or you can use PayPal if you have used it as a deposit method. In-person withdrawals may also be made at Churchill Downs properties.

TwinSpires will give you a welcome bonus worth up to $200 when you register for a new account. You must use the TwinsSpires offer code BET200 during the registration process to claim this offer. Bonus money will then be released in increments of $100 for every $400 wagered. New customers must therefore deposit $800 of their own money to claim the full $200 in bonus money. You have 30 days in which to hit that $800 mark, and this bonus offer cannot be combined with other promotions.

There are various ongoing bonuses to claim at TwinSpires too, along with sports betting bonuses, casino bonuses and a loyalty program. You will be suitably rewarded for regularly betting at TwinSpires.

TwinSpires offers an impressive mobile app. You can download it from the Apple App Store, where it has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 after receiving more than 50,000 user reviews or download it directly from the mobile website if you have an Android device. The app benefits from high-quality software, providing a seamless user experience, an effective bet slip, reliable live streaming and a wealth of features, including handicapping tools, picks and live programs with regularly updated information, results and news.

You will be enrolled in the TwinSpires Elite loyalty program when you sign up for an account. You start out as a bronze member, but you can work your way up to silver, gold and platinum. TwinSpires will give you 4 points for every $1 wagered at one of the Churchill Downs Inc. properties - Churchill Downs Racetrack, Fairgrounds, Presque Isle, Ocean Downs, Arlington, Turfway Park or Miami Valley Raceway - and 1 point for every $1 you wager on races at all other tracks. These points can be redeemed for free bets and other rewards.

TwinSpires covers major horse racing events and niche action from around the world daily. These are the key types of bets available to anyone with a TwinSpires account:

• Single - a wager on the horse to win a particular race, with payouts decided on a pari-mutuel basis across the United States.
• Exacta - a bet on the horse that will win the race and the horse that will finish second, in that precise order.
• Quinella - this bet requires you to choose two horses, and they can finish first or second in either order.
• Trifecta - a bet on the winner, the second placed horse and the third placed horse, in that exact order.
• Superfecta - you must pick the first four horses past the post, in that exact order.
• Place - a bet on a horse to finish either first or second in a race.
• Show - a wager on a horse to finish in the first three places
• Across the Board - this is essentially three bets: one on the win, one on the place and one on the show.
• Daily Double - a multiple bet on the horses that will win two separate races on the same day. Both must win for the bet to pay out.

There are plenty of extra wagering options available on an upcoming race at TwinSpires, including exacta and trifecta boxes and wheels. You can also create Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 and Pick 6 bets featuring multiple races and check out head-to-head betting between specific horses.

Horse races in the United States are settled using pari-mutuel track odds. This means that all the money wagered on a race goes into a pool. The racebook and the racetrack take a cut, and the remainder is shared between those players with winning tickets. The size of your payout is relative to the size of the bet you placed.

TwinSpires runs a range of exciting handicapping contests and cash tournaments each week. You generally must buy into these contests, and there are some large cash prizes up for grabs if you make astute selections on featured races.

The TwinSpires racing site offers several exciting features designed to elevate the overall user experience. They include a detailed news section, which features details of big upcoming races such as the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and free picks from renowned handicappers, plus handicapping software, a calendar, a scratches section and details of changes and carryovers. These are some of the other features available:

TwinSpires Live Streaming

TwinSpires offers live streaming video coverage of racing at thoroughbred, harness and Quarter Horse tracks worldwide, free for anyone that registers an account. The TwinSpires TV platform is fantastic, providing a high-definition video experience on any mobile device, tablet, laptop or desktop. You can rapidly switch between up to five different races on the dashboard. Alongside the live racing video coverage, you can also enjoy video clips and race replays.

Extensive Database of Stats

TwinSpires provides its customers with an extremely comprehensive database of stats. The site product includes BRIS Super Stats as part of a fully-integrated thoroughbred database. You can click on any horse, jockey, trainer, sire or dam to view the record. BRIS Super Horse Stats are free for all TwinSpires members, but there are also pro options that you can check out.

Past Performance Program

You will be able to download a PDF of past performances, insider picks and power plays on a day of racing by simply placing a bet with TwinSpires. Members can choose from popular Bristnet.com products, including quick play, condensed, premium and ultimate PowerPoints. Ultimate PPs include speed ratings, pace figures, Prime Power and Class ratings, pedigree information and in-depth jockey and trainer stats. Contact the customer service team if you need any help accessing this information.

BetShare

The TwinSpires Bet Share feature allows you to create wagers and split the cost with your friends. Start by building a bet as normal at the TwinSpires website. Then click on the “Bet Share” icon on your bet slip. It will allow you to choose how many ways you would like to split the bet, and it will create open shares, which can be claimed by your friends. You can also reserve shares for yourself. When the bet has been shared, you can enjoy the live video streaming together and share in the fun

The user experience is excellent at TwinSpires. Navigation is simple, and there are lots of helpful shortcuts to upcoming races, featured races and so on. It really goes the extra mile in providing customers with information, including news, picks, insight, analysis, video clips, stats and much more. Everything is laid out in a user-friendly manner. Casual bettors can enjoy a simple experience, while serious bettors can delve into really detailed stats, so it suits everyone.

Placing bets on horse racing is legal for anyone aged 18 or older in most states. TwinSpires, which is owned by Churchill Downs Inc. in Kentucky, is not available in all of them, but TwinSpires customers are accepted in all these states:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• California
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• New York
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

The TwinSpires sports betting site is available in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Colorado and Tennessee, while the online casino is also available in Michigan and Pennsylvania. TwinSpires is expected to expand into more states in the not too distant future.

TwinSpires offers customer service on a 24/7 basis via live chat. Many online gambling sites do not provide customer support overnight, so this is a key selling point for TwinSpires. You can alternatively call between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. ET, or email for non-urgent questions. The FAQ section is huge and sprawling, so it can take a little while to find what you are looking for, but it is packed full of information. The representatives are friendly and helpful, and waiting times are generally pretty short.

Click the “Wager Responsibly” tab at the bottom of the website for information about identifying problem gambling. There are also tips to help you bet in a responsible fashion, along with links to helpful organizations. It does not provide options like time outs, deposit limits and so on, but they are available in the sports betting and casino sections of the site.

TwinSpires makes an excellent choice for anyone that wants to bet on horse racing. It provides several high-quality features that you cannot find at rivals like TVG, and the user experience is excellent. The welcome bonus is not overly generous, but there are lots of great promotions for existing customers. The charge on credit card deposits is certainly unwelcome, but it is not an issue if you just use ACH. Overall, TwinSpires is a great racebook with superb customer service, broad betting limits, a strong security record, reliable live streaming and an impressive app.