The Preakness Stakes is one of the marquee horse races of the year, featuring thoroughbred horses running at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
It is the second big race in the Triple Crown, sandwiched between the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.
This means that it’s a time for action for horse racing enthusiasts, making it imperative to find the best betting site while placing a wager on this exciting competition.
Benefits of Betting on Preakness Online
Betting on the Preakness at one of the top online horse racing betting apps truly optimizes the user experience. You’re able to put in your bet from the comfort of your own home on your desktop, laptop, or mobile device, making it a much more convenient process.
This is so much more convenient than venturing out to the track and waiting in line to place your wager. Even if you’re watching the race live, it’s easier to put your bet in online and then enjoy the competition.
These sites have an abundance of information to guide you in your choice, including past performance data. This is available at your fingertips, something you won’t find when placing a bet in-person.
You’re also able to customize your experience, toggling between basic and advanced interfaces to suit your needs. You won’t have to spend too much time learning about the different bet types because this information is easily accessible online.
Betting online even enables you to take advantage of the lucrative bonuses and promotions offered by these sites. They’re vying for your support, so these offers are there to entice you to register for an account. However, it’s extremely helpful, as it’s a great way to build your bankroll.
Lastly, placing a bet online positions you to secure any rewards offered in the site’s loyalty program. These can be redeemed for perks once you’ve racked up enough points.
Deciding between in-person or online horse racing betting is an easy choice, so sign up for an account today and place your bets on The Preakness Stakes!
Best Preakness Betting Sites
Be sure to select the best betting site for Preakness because that will not only make it more fun but put you in a better position for a profitable venture.
Below you’ll find the best sites for Preakness betting.
TVG Horse Racing App
TVG is a popular horse racing site run by FanDuel Group, which operates one of the most successful sportsbooks and daily fantasy sports sites in the country. You can feel secure depositing funds into such a reputable brand in horse racing.
The site includes a comprehensive selection of betting markets from races both in the United States and across the world. You’ll find live odds and handicapping tips from industry experts that really help guide you towards a successful experience.
The site is easy to navigate with an engaging interface that features bright colors and images that make it look more appealing. They are offering a lucrative 50% deposit bonus to new players, making it the perfect time to join for Preakness betting.
TwinSpires
TwinSpires is a renowned operator run by Churchill Downs, which hosts the famed Kentucky Derby. It’s got an extensive array of betting options with a robust VIP rewards system that can be redeemed for useful perks.
Whether you’re a beginner or veteran to horse racing, TwinSpires has you covered. You’re able to alternate the interface between several different options, such as basic, advanced, and more. There is also handicapping advice to guide you towards your choice. Simply put, you’ll never feel overwhelmed using this website.
You’ll even be able to look at past performance data, giving you valuable information as you decide which horse to take. The site provides new players with a signup bonus that provides you with bet credits after you satisfy wagering requirements, which is a terrific way to build your bankroll.
DRF
DRF is another one of the leaders in the horse racing betting industry, offering a user-friendly platform with everything you’ll need for your wagers, including numerous bet types and a sleek interface.
You’re able to observe past performance data as you choose your horse at dozens of tracks across the globe. It’ll be easy to navigate the site because of its organized layout.
They’re currently offering a helpful new-player offer with a first-deposit match, which puts you in a great position for a strong start as you make your Preakness wagers.
How To Pick the Best Preakness Betting Sites
It’s important to establish a framework to determine what you’re looking for in a Preakness betting site. Here are a few factors to consider:
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses put you in a position to succeed because they add bet credits to your balance.
First deposit bonuses that are matched at 100 percent are preferred because these free bets are immediately added to your account once you’ve put money into your balance.
Be sure to check in on the wagering requirements because sites will have stipulations involved with the bet credits. For example, you may need to rack up a certain amount of cumulative wagers before you can use these free bets.
Promotions
Check in to see if the site has any promotions related to Preakness. Even if they’re general offers that can be applied to this race, these are still desirable.
For example, some operators offer bet backs, where you are rewarded with credits if your outright winner finishes second in the race. This is valuable because it acts as insurance for your bet.
Promos give you more value on your bets, making them important to seek out.
Bet Types
Bet types are vital because you want to have as many selections as possible at your disposal.
This means that you’ll want to check that the site offers the following types: Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pick-3, and Pick-5.
The more bet types that you have, the more enjoyable the experience because it gives you a chance at more action.
User Interface
Horse racing can be overwhelming to newcomers because there is so much information involved.
This is why the user interface is especially important when choosing a site. You want to have the ability to customize the layout to cater to your needs.
For example, beginners can choose a “Basic" layout at TwinSpires, making it much easier to navigate the website.
Handicapping Advice
There are so many horses to choose from, so you need as much help as you can get. This is why handicapping advice must be sought out when selecting your site.
Past performance data can show you how the horse has performed in recent races or on different tracks. Blogs from industry experts can provide insights to guide you in your wager.
The best horse racing sites have this feature on their page, so be sure that this is included.
Payment & Support
You want the payment process to be as convenient as possible, so there should be numerous options for both deposits and withdrawals.
Customer support must be available on a few platforms to ensure that any issues are resolved promptly.
Live chats are preferred for any queries because you’re able to speak with a representative in short order.
Best Preakness Bets You Can Make
When betting on the Preakness, the best way is to start by choosing three horses that you think can win the race.
Pick one of these horses as your favorite and bet “across the board" to Win, Place, or Show. This means that you’ll be rewarded depending on their top-three finish, with more if they’re in first and less if second or third. This type of wager is expensive, where you stake more than you win, so you don’t want to use it on all three horses.
From there, you can put less money on your favorite horse to win the race. That way, you won’t miss out on a nicer payday if your selection ends up in first place. You could also include your other two horses in this selection.
- Read our Preakness best bets.
You might choose to go with a Trifecta, where you can choose your three horses in the order that you think they’ll finish. You can even opt to make separate Trifectas featuring different combinations of top three ranks among your horses.
Remember though, since this is a longshot bet, you should put less money on it. I would suggest avoiding Superfectas in Preakness because it requires you to correctly choose the top four.
Limiting your choices to three horses is the way to go because if you start to pick too many, it’s going to be difficult to be profitable.
Betting Site Offers to Keep in Mind
There are several betting site offers to consider, such as the following:
No Deposit Bonus
No Deposit Bonuses or free bets are when sites provide you with bet credits without requiring you to fund your account. These are often smaller numbers, ranging from $5 to $20.
This offer is usually provided as a loyalty reward or as a small bonus used in conjunction with a more lucrative promo, like a first-deposit match.
First-Deposit Bonus
First-deposit bonuses are offers where your initial deposit is matched up to a maximum amount. This can be a 100% bonus, where your deposit is doubled, or other denominations like 50 percent.
These are usually larger offers, often maxed out around $200 to $250.
Second-Chance Bet
Risk-free bets are promos where your first bet is refunded if it loses, up to a certain amount. This can be reimbursed as one free bet that matches your initial wager, or it can be used in smaller denominations — the latter is preferred.
It’s a good way to build your bankroll because it eliminates some of the financial risk involved with horse racing betting.
Bet & Get
Bet & Get is a bonus where you are given bet credits if you place a wager on a certain event as a way of drawing interest.
For example, an offer could be “Bet at least $50 on Preakness, get a $10 free bet." This is a great offer because you’re rewarded just for participating.
Where Can I Legally Bet on Preakness Online?
You can bet on Preakness online in the following states:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Why You Should Avoid Illegal Betting Sites
Make sure to steer clear of illegal betting sites for the following reasons:
- Customer support is unreliable, making it challenging to speak to a representative or address any concerns.
- You won’t find the same type of lucrative promos or welcome bonuses.
- The payment process is inefficient and untrustworthy, with limited options and hidden identity on your bank statement, since the site is illegal
- You may also experience slower withdrawal times
- The odds can be pricey and do not align with the market
Choose More Than One Preakness Betting Site
Make sure to choose more than one site when betting on Preakness because this sets you up nicely for success.
For one, it enables you to compare odds on the horses or bet types. Perhaps your Trifecta offers a better payout at one site compared to the other. This is important because every dollar counts.
Most importantly, joining multiple sites grants you access to several welcome bonuses. You can combine these bet credits to really build up your balance.
Remember to try to max out these offers because they can only be used once. I would suggest joining a few sites during the Preakness because you might even find some specific offers that cater to this tournament.