What is Off-Track Betting?

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Off-Track Betting

The grandfather of modern sports betting is widely regarded to be gambling on horse racing, and it grew quickly with the introduction of off-track betting.

After many decades, the centuries-old pursuit of betting on horse races received a big boost when it became legal to bet on horses from locations away from the track. This is now what we know as off-track betting.

What is Off-Track Betting?

Off-Tracking Betting Location in Bay Ridge Brooklyn

Off-track betting is a term recognized in the sports industry as wagering on horse racing at a location other than the physical site of those races.

The first off-track betting locations opened in New York in the early 1970s, long before online horse race betting.

To begin with, off-track betting was only at specific physical locations away from the track. Now, it includes online betting thanks to a relaxation in gambling laws.

The abbreviation “OTB” (off-track betting) is the industry standard for the term. While “OTB” also represents “off the board” betting, for our purposes in this article we are using “OTB” to mean “off-track betting”.

How Does OTB Differ from Betting at a Racetrack?

Off-track betting differs from gambling at race tracks in that the customer is not at the track itself. They can either wager at one of the best horse racing betting sites, or at a traditional OTB location.

While the odds are the same, the experience is vastly different. At the track, you can see the horses warm up and soak in the atmosphere, which might help to inform your wagering decisions.

At the OTB, you’re likely to be able to sit down and have a meal – or at least a drink – while considering your betting options.

Simply put: You’re not at the track, you are “off-track” as you make your betting decision.

Is Off-Track Betting Available Online?

Before the turn of the century – when the internet was still in its formative stages – you had to be physically inside a restaurant or bar that fulfilled the requirements of an off-track betting facility.

The first online betting option debuted in 1999, called TVG, and it’s still going strong today. Betting online in any legal location away from the race track certainly can be defined as off-track betting and now leads physical OTB locations in terms of money wagered.

There are a myriad of sites that allow you to place your horse racing wagers through various devices such as your mobile phone. Modern sportsbooks can take your wager from tracks worldwide.

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Bets Available at OTB Locations

While betting at an OTB, you are able to access most, if not all, of the wagering options available on the menu offered at the track.

The odds are around the same, as are most of the choices available. These markets include:

Exotics:

Parlays such as:

  • Daily Double
  • Pick Three

This is just a small selection of the huge array of markets available. Off-track betting gives millions of people the ability to wager wherever they are, it’s no wonder why it’s so popular.

States that Offer Off-Track Betting

There are approximately 40 states that allow a form of off-track betting, online or in person. Each state has provisions and restrictions on various wagers.

There are only 10 states in the US that do not offer off-track betting. According to a 2023 Philadelphia Inquirer story, these are:

  • Alaska
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Maine
  • Mississippi
  • Nevada
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Texas
  • Utah

All the other states in the US allow some form of off-track betting.

If you’re looking to get into the sport and off-track betting, you can learn how to bet on horse racing with our handy guide.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Off-Track Betting

Off-Track Betting
Image: vegaseddie/Flickr

The primary advantage of off-track betting is convenience. Unless you live in close proximity to a racetrack, you will be able to find an OTB closer to home.

The convenience of off-track betting online is obvious: If you are in a state in which horse-race gambling is legal, you can place wagers, watch races on television and enjoy payouts without ever leaving your home.

You don’t even have to learn how to bet at the horse track, navigating jargon and the crowds.

Another huge advantage is found in the larger betting pools. For the bigger international races, everyone on the globe can participate and drive up the dollar amounts to be paid to the winners.

The disadvantages have to do with the experience itself.

Being at the race track can be an enjoyable, immersive day in the sun. Watching the horses parade in their warm-up routines, seeing the jockeys resplendent in the colors of their clients and hearing the race call as you hear the hoofbeats on the track are unique to sports.

There’s nothing quite like hearing the roar of the crowd on the home stretch.

FAQs

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Jay Dieffenbach
Sports Betting Expert
Jay Dieffenbach
Sports Betting Expert

Jay is a Sports Betting Writer at Techopedia.com, and has been working in US sports for more than 20 years. He's worked for Daily Racing Form, the Arizona Republic, The Athletic and FanDuel among other sports and gambling positions.