Kentucky Derby Best Online Betting Sites 2025
The Kentucky Derby is the best betting race of the year. Run every year since 1875, thoroughbred horse racing experts and casual fans alike get excited to watch the greatest two minutes in sports. It is the first jewel of the Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. And, whether the winner is a long shot like Rich Strike or a more favored horse like American Pharoah, it is always a thrilling event.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby will be run on Saturday, May 2: After reading this Kentucky Derby betting guide, you’ll have everything you need to know to handicap and pick a Kentucky Derby winner like an expert!
Best Kentucky Derby Betting Sites at MyTopSportsbooks
You have many choices for where to bet on the Kentucky Derby. Some people bet from racetracks or off-track betting (OTB) locations, though more and more people are enjoying the convenience of betting it from home. These are the best sites for betting on the Kentucky Derby according to the experts here at MyTopSportsbooks:
BetUS
With a history dating back to 1994, BetUS has offered online betting for over three decades and continues to be one of the best options to bet on the Kentucky Derby as well as other sporting events all year long.
Especially if you love to bet on the go, BetUS is a great option. The betting interface is seamlessly optimized for mobile, meaning you can open their website on your phone and get quick and easy access to everything you’re used to betting on your computer, as well. That includes the Kentucky Derby as well as the full range of other sports, eSports, casino wagering, and poker. You still get access to rich data in a simple format, making it easy to bet smart no matter where you are.
It’s easy to sign up at BetUS, and it just takes a couple of minutes.
You have several choices for how to fund your account at BetUS. Those include Visa or MasterCard debit and credit cards, as well as a full range of cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin are all accepted, and BetUS has specialized customer support to make it as easy as possible to fund your account with crypto.
Once you have funded your account at BetUS, you can build your Kentucky Derby bankroll with great bonus offers. Those include a sports betting bonus of up to $3,125, including $2,500 in sports betting bonuses and another $625 just for branching out and playing some casino games. BetUS also offers an impressive bonus for re-upping your sports betting account, a 50% match up to $10,000. BetUS also provides a $2,000 crypto welcome bonus, as well as as $2,500 bonus on the next two cryptocurrency deposits.
If you bet things other than the Kentucky Derby or other sports on BetUS, you can earn even more bonuses. There is a $3,000 casino welcome bonus, as well as a refer-a-friend bonus of up to $1,000 in sports, and up to another $1,000 for any casino betting they do.
You can trust BetUS. Not only do they have an over 30-year track record of being a leader in online betting, but they are licensed and regulated. Their headquarters are in Costa Rica and they are licensed and regulated by the government of Mwali in the Comoros. This requires adherence with standards of fairness, transparency, and more.
At BetUS, your data is secure. They implement security measures such a strong SSL encryption for data in transit, as well as measures to protect data in place, including firewalls and intrusion detection systems to keep cyber threats out.
Furthermore, customer support at BetUS is excellent. With live chat, email, and telephone support available at all hours of the day, BetUS is ready to help whenever you have a question about betting the Kentucky Derby or anything else online.
With huge bonuses and over three decades of experience, BetUS is an excellent choice for online Kentucky Derby betting, as well as all kinds of online betting on sports, casino games, and more.
BetOnline
BetOnline is one of the original online betting sites, since it began offering online horse racing and sports betting in 2001. The site has expended over the years to add more sports as well as casino gaming, and it remains one of the most popular and most trusted online betting options. It is a great choice for betting the Kentucky Derby, as well as horse racing and sports all year long.
BetOnline is an especially strong option if you are looking for the best betting odds online. Not only do they post up-to-the-minute odds as markets shift through the seasons, they are well known for their odds boosts. So, make sure to check BetOnline’s offerings for the Kentucky Derby regularly, and be ready to bet if they have an odds boost on the horse you want to play!
Signing up with BetOnline is easy, and it takes just a few minutes to set up your account and get ready to bet on the Kentucky Derby.
With a minimum deposit of $10, you can quickly and easily get your account funded whether you are a lower-stakes player new to betting, or if you are an experienced high roller. BetOnline offers a full range of deposit options including all major credit cards, bank wire, cashier’s checks, money orders, person-to-person transfers, cryptocurrency funding, and more. No matter how you like to pay online, you’ll find an easy way to get ready to bet the Kentucky Derby online at BetOnline.
In fact, BetOnline’s cryptocurrency funding options make it the best option for US players who want to fund their account with Bitcoin, according to our review team!
BetOnline also offers excellent bonuses for players. For players who bet sports including horse racing, there is a 50% bonus up to $1,000 as a welcome. As you keep betting at BetOnline you can take advantage of a $250 racebook bonus, as well as a 7% rebate on losing bets, benefits you’ll never get at the track.
If you bet things other than the Kentucky Derby, BetOnline has you covered, too. You an also take advantage of a $1,000 casino welcome bonus as well as a $1,000 poker welcome bonus. There is also a sports reload bonus of $250, a crypto reload bonus of $350, or a $200 refer-a-friend bonus – yes, BetOnline will pay you just to bet the Kentucky Derby and other events with your friends!
BetOnline is a trusted and regulated site. Located in Panama, it has access to markets all around the world, and it is regulated by the Panama Gaming Commission to ensure fair gaming practices and financial transparency. Data is protected by strong SSL encryption while in transit between bettors and their servers, and they take other strong measures to protect data saved on their servers from intrusion and tampering. In short, you can rest easy when you play at BetOnline.
With all these benefits being offered at a site that has been trusted by players for almost a quarter of a century, BetOnline is an excellent choice for online betting for the Kentucky Derby!
Bovada
According to our reviewers, Bovada is the best US sportsbook option!
A fixture of the online betting world since 2011, Bovada had a proven track record of being one of the best online betting sites out there. It was originally launched as a U.S-focused version of the Canadian betting mainstay Bodog, and has been at the forefront of online betting innovation since then. It now offers a full range of betting options including horse racing, sports betting, and casino wagering.
It takes just a few minutes to get started at Bovada, to create your account, fund it, and start betting!
You can deposit to your Bovada account using your Visa or MasterCard credit card, cash via e-wallets or peer-to-peer transfers like MatchPay, as well as cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, LiteCoin, Bitcoin Cash, or Bitcoin SV. With reasonable minimums ($10 for cryptocurrency, $20 for other methods), it’s easy for both recreational and high-stakes players to start betting the Kentucky Derby at Bovada.
Bovada offers a great range of player bonuses that help you accelerate your bankroll even faster. Some of the most popular sports betting bonuses include a $250 welcome bonus, a $750 crypto welcome bonus, a $100 referral bonus, and a $1,250 crypto reload bonus. As you bet the Kentucky Derby and other events, these can help your bankroll rise even faster than with just winning bets alone.
If you bet things other than horse racing and sports, you can also take advantage of a $3,000 welcome bonus, a $3,750 crypto welcome bonus, a $500 poker bonus, and a $1,000 casino bonus of up to $1,000, redeemable on your first three deposits. These are all exciting ways to build your betting bankroll fast!
And, once you’re signed up, you can enjoy a clean, simple, and straightforward betting experience. Events and odds are easy to find, and odds update in real time. And, Bovada offers futures wagering on the Kentucky Derby and other major horse races, making it an excellent place to bet not even on the day of the Run for the Roses, but in the weeks and months leading up to it.
Bovada is one of the best in the world for customer service and relations. Players can depend on quick withdrawals, typically between 24 and 48 hours after a request. Their dedicated 24-hour customer support also makes sure player concerns are addressed no matter when those questions arise.
Based in Costa Rica and licensed through the Union of the Comoro, Bovada is an established and trusted name in online betting. While betting online your data is protected by advanced SSL encryption, and the company takes other security measures such as firewalls and advanced intrusion detection systems in order to protect data in its possession. You can be confident, when betting through Bovada, that your data is secure and your bankroll and winnings are safe.
Bovada is one of the best options for betting the Kentucky Derby as well as horse racing and sports all year long. Sign up today, take advantage of your welcome bonus, and get ready to enjoy a top-class betting experience.
MyBookie
If you are looking for the best promotions available for the Kentucky Derby and beyond, look no further than MyBookie: the US sportsbook with the best promotions, according to our expert reviewers!
MyBookie has been a go-to online wagering site since 2014. It began with a focus on easy access and customer service, and those remain touchstones today. With an intuitive online sportsbook experience, fully responsive mobile web design, great bonuses, and trustworthy payments, MyBookie is one of your best options for betting the Kentucky Derby online.
Joining MyBookie is easy, and it just takes a few minutes to join the site and claim your bonuses.
You have many options for funding your MyBookie account. The minimum deposit is just $25, making MyBookie accessible no matter your preferred betting stakes. Options include Visa, MasterCard, ACH, eCheck, and wire transfer through bank accounts, person-to-person payments, as well as cryptocurrency deposits using popular currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. No matter how you like to pay online, you’ll have a way to play at MyBookie.
Those bonus offers at MyBookie are some of the best in the industry. Those include a 50% bonus up to $1,000 with 10x rollover, as well as a 10% bonus up to $200 with a super low 1x rollover, meaning you have choices based on your betting style. Other bonuses include a 150% reload bonus, a 200% refer-a-friend bonus (with no limits to your referrals!), a $750 casino bonus, a 5% cash bonus for cryptocurrency deposits, and special “Bet & Get” rewards.
Especially if you play the Kentucky Derby or bet on horse racing all year long, take note of the 8% rebate at the MyBookie racebook. This means, win or lose, you get 8% of the money you bet on races back into your bankroll. You make money through MyBookie just by betting horse races!
Customer service has always been a priority at MyBookie. There is 24/7 live chat and telephone chat, which offer help whenever you need it. They also have an email support address for less pressing matters, and you will typically get a response within a day. There are also dedicated account managers for high-stakes players, and sometimes support staff will offer special bonuses and promos just for asking!
MyBookie is a safe, secure, and regulated online betting option. It is based on Costa Rica, and is license by the Curacao eGaming Commission. This ensures the site adheres to fairness and security standards. All data transmitted between you and the site is encrypted with industry-standard SSL, and data in their possession is protected by firewalls, intrusion detection systems, constant vulnerability monitoring, fraud detection systems, and other industry-standard security measures. This means you can sign up, deposit, and wager with confidence.
MyBookie is a great option for betting the Kentucky Derby, and other horse racing and sports events all year long. Sign up, and enjoy some of the best bonuses in the world of online betting!
BetNow
Our experts love BetNow for its broad range of betting markets, meaning it is a great option not only for betting on the Kentucky Derby, but on a full range of sporting events all year long.
BetNow has been a fixture of the world of online betting since 2015. A decade ago it focused exclusively on the sportsbook, though now it offers sports, horse racing, video casino, and live-dealer casino games.
If you like sports betting, you’ll love the Build Your Own feature at BetNow. If you don’t see a prop that you want to wager on, you can select a sport, a player, a bet type, and a statistic, and BetNow will give you betting odds. This gives you a personalized experience that you won’t find elsewhere, and ultimate control over your online betting.
It’s easy to get set up at BetNow, and in just a few minutes, you can have your account set up and funded.
With a minimum deposit of $10, everyone can get in on betting the Kentucky Derby, sports, and casino games at BetNow. Deposit options include Visa, MasterCard, and American Express credit or debit cards, bank transfers, as well as Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash transfers. You get the same great betting experience no matter how you deposit, so choose your favorite and get playing!
BetNow offers great bonuses to all players. Those include up to 200% in welcome bonuses, cash reload bonuses up to $500, as well as bonuses of up to $200 to refer friends to the site. There are three kinds of reload bonuses available: they all top out at $500, but you can choose an offer based on percentage and rollover. A 15% bonus has a lighter 3x rollover, a 20% bonus requires 4x rollover, and a 25% bonus comes after a 5x rollover. This is a great range of options depending on your betting style.
You can trust BetNow to hold your account and your betting bankroll securely. BetNow is licensed by the Anjoun Union of the Comoros, which sets compliance standards for fairness, transparency, and security. All data is encrypted using strong SSL when being transmitted between you and the site, and measures including firewalls, intrusion detection systems and more are in place to protect data at rest against unauthorized access.
Customer support is easy at BetNow, as well. Players get 24/7 service through their phone and live-chat support, as well as an email address with which to contact them for less urgent matters. Live chat is excellent for quick support matters, while more deep and detailed questions are great to refer to BetNow by phone. No matter how you seek support, agents are helpful, attentive, and ready to assist – in English or Spanish!
With all of these options available, BetNow is a great option for betting the Kentucky Derby online as well as wagering on all kinds of sports throughout the year. Especially if you like to bet a wide range of sports and lines, this may be your perfect place to play!
Everygame
Everygame opened its doors in 1983 and has offered online sports betting since 1996. In fact, if you ever bet at Intertops? They’re now called Everygame, calling attention to their standout online sportsbook! With almost 30 years in the online betting space, and over 40 years in business, Everygame is one of the go-to sites for trusted online betting.
It takes just a few minutes to get your account created, funded, and ready to bet the Kentucky Derby online at Everygame.
Everygame offers a wide range of deposit options. The minimum is $10 using the Ecopayz payment platform or $20 on others. There is no ceiling for a wire transfer deposit as well, meaning everyone from low-stakes newbies to the most experienced high-rollers are welcome at Everygame. Deposit options include Visa, MasterCard, bank transfer, e-wallets, as well as cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin. Everygame also accepts a market-leading assortment of world currencies to fund accounts including US Dollars, Canadian dollars, Euros, British pounds, Chinese Yuan and more.
Everygame offers several bonuses that can help players build their bankrolls. The sportsbook signup bonus is a 100% incentive up to $500, and the refer-a-friend bonus is up to 35% commission on each player you refer. Everygame also offers periodic bonuses specific to horse racing, so make sure to watch for those.
If you like playing casino games, the Everygame bonus structure is even better. Use the bonus code SIGNUP1000 to get a 125% match up to $1,000 for your first deposit. They extend the welcome bonus to your next four deposits as well, up to a $2,000 bonus for the fourth deposit with the site. If you like playing casino games as well as betting on the Kentucky Derby or other sports, Everygame is a great option. They also offer exciting seasonal promotions that make new deposits all year long even more lucrative.
Once you’re signed up and funded, you’re ready to bet through Everygame’s intuitive, fast site on either desktop or mobile.
Everygame offers 24/7 customer support as well, in both English and German. there is 24/7 support via both live chat and the telephone. And, unlike many sites that tend to take a day or more to respond to email, Everygame usually answers email queries in just an hour or two.
Everygame is based in Antigua and Barbuda, and regulated under the jurisiction of the Curacao eGaming Authority. This means the site must adhere to strict standards for fairness and security, and you can rest easy with your betting account at Everygame. Data in transit is secured with strong SSL encryption, while data at rest is behind comprehensive firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other measures to shut out attempts at unauthorized access to accounts and data. When you bet at Everygame, your data is safe.
If you are looking for a trusted and well-established option for betting the Kentucky Derby as well as other horse racing and sports all year long, Everygame is an excellent option.
BookMaker
If you like to get your Kentucky Derby bets and sports bets in as early as possible, look no further than BookMaker, who has built a reputation on setting betting lines quickly. This gives you a chance to get in underneath the public at large and claim your overlays!
BookMaker has offered sports betting since 1985, meaning they are one of the longest-standing and most trusted companies in the business. They were one of the first offshore sportsbooks to launch an online platform, and are particularly well-loved by high rollers for their big betting limits.
It’s easy to get registered with BookMaker. Just head to their site, set up your account, and make your deposit.
Though BookMaker is a mainstay for high-rollers, players at all levels can use it. It is particularly friendly to cryptocurrency players, with a $10 minimum (their lowest) and a $50,000 deposit maximum (their highest) if you use crypto. They also offer deposits via Visa, MasterCard, person-to-person transfer, and bank wire transfer.
BookMaker also offers a full range of bonuses, including one of the best racebook rebates in the game. Rebates pay on all wagers, not just losses, meaning you are paid for every bet you make. That includes a 3% payback on all win, place, and show wagers – a rebate rate that rises to 8% on all exotic wagers made through BookMaker! On Kentucky Derby day and all year long, these are great payoffs.
BookMaker highly encourages playing with cryptocurrency, with a 20% cash bonus up to $500 for crypto players. Sports betting bonuses include a 100% cash bonus up to $400, a reload bonus between 10% and 20% cash back, and up to $500 per person you refer to the site.
BookMaker also offers great perks in its BetPoints Rewards Program. The gold level provides a 10% reload bonus to $400, platinum at 15% reload bonus to $600, and diamond a 50% bonus to $800. Each of these levels also offers points that are redeemable for cash back, with higher membership levels offering more generous cash back payments through the program.
If you have questions about betting through BookMaker, 24/7 customer service is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. There are many ways to contact them by phone including dedicated lines for the racebook, sportsbook, casino, and even cryptocurrency inquiries. Phone is best, though they also have live chat and email options for support.
Your data and your bankroll are secure with BookMaker. Personal and financial information are stored on secure servers, and require a PIN code to access while getting customer support. There are state-of-the-art fraud detection systems in place to prevent unauthorized access to accounts, and to mitigate any suspicious activities.
BookMaker is a great place to bet the Kentucky Derby online, as well as to wager on horse racing and sports all year long. Especially if you bet with cryptocurrency, or you love to bet exotics like exactas, trifectas, superfectas, or multi-race sequences, BookMaker could be your best option to bet the Derby online.
Sportsbetting.ag
Sportsbetting.ag has existed since 1991. The company began with online casino and poker betting, and moved into the world of online sports betting in 2012. Since then, the company has fully integrated its online betting experience, making it a great option for people who enjoy betting a wide range of things..
Sportsbetting.ag offers a full range of sports, including excellent racebook bonuses on the Kentucky Derby and horse racing all through the year. Signing up for it is easy, taking only a couple of minutes of your time.
Funding your betting account is easy as well. In fact, Sportsbetting.ag offers one of the broadest ranges of deposit options in the online betting world. They take all major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and even Discover. Money orders, bank wires, and cashier’s checks are permitted. So are person-to-person transfer, multiple e-wallet platforms, and a broad range of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more. And, with a minimum deposit of $10 (with the Skrill and Ecopayz e-wallets) and no maximum deposit on either Skrill or a bank wire, you have all the account funding flexibility you could need.
Sports betting bonuses at Sportsbetting.ag include a 50% sports betting bonus up to $250, and a $250 reload bonus. There is also a 100% bonus for first-time cryptocurrency deposits.
Though sports betting is in the name, don’t be fooled. This site offers a full range of online wagering options as well. If you enjoy casino wagering, there are great options at Sportsbetting.ag as well. On the casino side, first-time deposits are matched up to $1,000, and they offer reload bonuses as well.
The betting interface is smooth. Though there is not a separate mobile app, the website is fully responsive, with an easy-to-navigate mobile interface at the same website you’re accustomed to visiting if you bet from your computer. It includes easy-to-navigate menus, live sports betting, and trending events and wagers right there on the home page.
Customer support is easy at Sportsbetting.ag. You can get help 24 hours a day in both English and Spanish. You can get help via the phone or live chat at any time of day, as well as email support during business hours. They are also known to respond to inquiries via social media, so that can be a good way to get in touch with them as well.
You can bet with confidence at Sportsbetting.ag. The site is based in Panama City, Panama, and is regulated under the Panama Gaming Control Board. The company follows industry best practices for data security and is subject to regular audits, meaning you can play with confidence. All data in transit is encrypted using advanced SSL, and data is on regularly audited servers that are regularly monitored for vulnerabilities, threats, and signs of attempts for unauthorized entry. This means you can rest easy, knowing that your data and bankroll are protected.
Sportsbetting.ag offers a full range of betting options, so make sure to visit and see if it is the best place for you to bet the Kentucky Derby online in 2026!
XBet
XBet may be a new face in the world of online sports betting, but our experts love what they see and have rated it the best new sportsbook!
XBet was launched in 2007, originally focusing on the sportsbook but adding casino games to the mix as well. With intuitive design, competitive odds, and forward-thinking features, it is an excellent choice for the modern bettor who wants to bet the Kentucky Derby online.
Registering for XBet is simple, and takes just a few minutes. Then it’s time to fund your account and get ready to play!
XBet allows deposits via Visa, MasterCard, person-to-person payment, or cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin. Minimum deposits are as low at $25 with crypto; credit cards require a deposit of at least $50 to start, with person-to-person payments allowed only at the level of $100 or higher.
Most important for horse racing bettors is the generous racebook rebate. Whether you’re betting the Kentucky Derby or a random race on a Monday afternoon, XBet gives you a 7% rebate on all action in the racebook. That means, win or lose, XBet pays you real money for playing the races – and better yet, XBet pays rebates at midnight every day, unlike other sites that only pay rebates weekly. Especially if you like the classic win, place, or show bets, this is a great betting offer.
In the sportsbook, XBet offers a bonus of 50% up to $500 when you sign up to play, as well as a 25% bonus up to $250 when you reload your sportsbook balance. XBet also offers separate casino bonuses, including a 200% bonus up to $500, but that requires a 40X rollover, so it only appeals if you plan on doing a lot of casino gaming alongside betting horse racing and sports.
The user interface at XBet is excellent, with intuitive menu options and layouts, true live sports betting, as well as smooth graphics and interfaces that make you feel like you’re right at the casino. The mobile interface and graphics are incredibly fast, whether you’re on WiFi or a mobile network, meaning you can have the excitement of the Kentucky Derby or any sporting event right in your hand from anywhere.
As for customer service, you can get it 24 hours a day in both English and Russian. You can get immediate assistance via phone or assistance within just a few minutes via the live online chat feature. There is also an email address, though responses can take up to 48 hours. XBet offers individual account managers for high-volume bettors, too, so that can be a great feature if you like to bet a lot.
XBet is licensed and regulated, with headquarters in Cyprus and a license from the Curacao eGaming Commission. This ensures XBet is bound to trust and transparency rules. Data in transit is protected with industry-standard SSL encryption, while data on XBet systems is behind firewalls and intrusion detection systems, safeguarding it from attempts at unauthorized access. It is a safe and well-trusted place to keep your bankroll and bet on the Kentucky Derby and other sports online.
If you’re looking for a slick and modern interface for your online wagering, XBet could be your perfect fit.
Kentucky Derby Bonuses, Offers and Promotions for 2025
Each online betting site offers a range of bonuses, offers, and promotions available to players. Some sites offer Kentucky Derby bonuses as the Run for the Roses gets closer, others offer horse racing bonuses more generally, and other sites depend on sportsbook bonuses to attract Kentucky Derby bettors.
These are the types of bonuses typically offered by online betting sites, as well as the pros and cons to these kinds of bonuses.
| Bonus Type | Pros | Cons |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Usually the most generous bonus offered by an online betting site | You can only cash it once, since it is for original sign-ups |
| Deposit Bonus | Typically not as generous as a sign-up bonus | You can keep cashing these over and over again as you keep playing and putting money in your account |
| Horse Racing Rebates | If you bet the Kentucky Derby or other horse races, these don’t have rollover, but are based on any individual bets you make | Read the fine print: some sites offer rebates on all bets, while others only do rebates for losing bets. Rebates may also vary based on bet type, with exotics offering more than straight win-place-show. |
| Referral Bonuses | These require no deposits to your account | These require you to recruit your friends to bet online. |
| Cryptocurrency bonuses | These are typically more generous than sign-up or deposit bonuses for other methods of account funding. | These require you to learn how to use crypto exchanges, buy crypto, and fund the account through a crypto wallet. |
What do we look for when we analyse the 2025 Kentucky Derby Sportsbooks
For the best betting race of the year, it is important to have the best Kentucky Derby odds from a trusted sportsbook. Finding the best place to make your wagers can be difficult, and it helps to have expert analysis and insight.
We have vetted the best online sportsbooks to find ones that are trustworthy, easy to use, and always offer the best Vegas odds. Every site we recommend has these basics, and offers a way to sign up and get betting within minutes. You can sign up and feel confident that these sportsbooks will give you the best odds and help make your Kentucky Derby betting online experience as fun and profitable as possible!
Every site offers different bonuses, so it can pay dividends to figure out which one has the best bonuses for you, or to sign up for multiple sites to take advantage of different features that benefit different bets you like to make. All of the sites we recommend offer appealing and attainable bonuses, so once you have found the best one for you, you can start playing with confidence!
How to Start playing at the Best Betting Sites for the 2025 Kentucky Derby
It is easy to start playing at the best betting sites for the 2026 Kentucky Derby!
Each site has its own sign-up process, but every site we recommend has a quick and easy sign-up process that should have you signed up with a fully funded account within minutes.
Once you have chosen the best Kentucky Derby betting site for you, click the “Bet Now” button for that sportsbook on our guide to the best sportsbooks for US bettors. Follow the site’s instructions for creating an account, choosing a bonus, and making a deposit – and if there’s a sign-up or bonus code on our website, don’t forget to enter that when you sign up for the site.
Then you’re all set to bet the Kentucky Derby as well as horse racing, sports, and even casino games all year long.
How to Bet on the Kentucky Derby — Top 5 Tips to Win
To bet on the biggest race of the year, you need to know the best Kentucky Derby betting sites and odds. However, it also helps to be a smart handicapper. Consider these tips and strategies that will help you make an educated decision on what odds you think a horse truly has. In order to make Kentucky Derby best bets, we strongly advise taking our tips on board.
That way, if you find a top sportsbook that is offering you better odds than you think the horse should have, you can feel confident about betting on them!
Pedigree
Some horses are bred to sprint, and some horses are bred to run longer distances. The Kentucky Derby is a mile and a quarter. That makes it one of the longer races on the American racing calendar. So, you want a horse whose sire (father) and dam (mother) either did well racing long distances or have produced offspring that show good stamina.
Running Style
It pays to consider the running style of the Kentucky Derby horses. Some horses are frontrunners who only run good races from on or near the lead. Others are closers, horses who sit near the back of the pack early but pass horses down the stretch.
Look at their Kentucky Derby prep races and find out each horse’s running style. If the Kentucky Derby has a lot of horses who like to go the lead, then those frontrunners will probably go too fast, get tired, and let the closers run them down. If most of the horses like to sit further off the pace, then it’s worth finding good Kentucky Derby odds on a horse who likes the lead.
Trainers and Jockeys
Some of the trainers and jockeys (or “connections”, in horse racing speak!) have had a lot of top three-year-olds over the years and been to the Kentucky Derby a lot of times. Some are new to horse racing’s biggest stage. This has several effects on the odds.
Sometimes, you can have a little more confidence in a longshot horse whose prep races may not be as impressive because his trainer or jockey has so much experience winning the Kentucky Derby. Other times, a horse who may not have the right record or pedigree can be bet to too-short odds because of their connections. Keeping this in mind can help you find value in your wagers!
Stay Cool Under Pressure
The most exciting two minutes in sports betting can really burn your nerves. Some of the hardest bettors can even crumble under this pressure cooker. Having your head on straight and staying logical is one of the trickiest parts of making a good Kentucky Derby bet.
One way to keep your cool is to have a solid idea of the different horses, trainers, and jockeys before the horse race starts. Read the past performances, and research how they have done in the Kentucky Derby and other major races before. This will give you a strong anchor as things the winds of the race start to blow.
Kentucky Derby Betting Odds Movement
Keep in mind that Kentucky Derby betting odds are not static. When later prep races are finished or news comes out about different horses, their Kentucky Derby odds move. This means it is worth it to follow the latest news and keep an eye on how the odds move. It requires maintenance, but you can be rewarded with the very best Kentucky Derby bet payouts!
Las Vegas Kentucky Derby Odds
You may be asking, how early can you bet on the first jewel of the Triple Crown? The answer is that even though Churchill Downs in Louisville only lets you bet the race on Kentucky Oaks day and Derby day, Kentucky Derby betting begins weeks or even months in advance at online sportsbooks! So, if a horse’s pedigree or race form impress you well before the Kentucky Derby, you can lock in the best price with a Kentucky Derby future wager online.
Kentucky Derby odds change as the race gets closer and horses keep training toward the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
These are the Kentucky Derby betting odds on contenders near the top of the market:
| Kentucky Derby Winners Odds 2026 |  |  |  |
| Journalism | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Sovereignty | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Sandman | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Rodriguez | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Burnham Square | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Luxor Cafe | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Citizen Bull | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Grande | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| East Avenue | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Publisher | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Tiztastic | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Neoequos | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Final Gambit | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Remember that odds may change until post time, but you can lock in the best prices just by placing your wager!
Kentucky Derby Odds Explained
In online betting for Kentucky Derby, you will see odds in three major formats depending on the sportsbook you choose. Here is an explanation of the different formats:
- American (+500): These are similar to what you see in American sportsbooks when betting other sports, and denote how much you win, but do not take into account getting back your initial stake. +500 means that for a winning $1 bet, you win $5. Add back your $1 initial stake, for a total of $6.
- Fractional (5/1): These are similar to what you see for a win bet at a racetrack. 5/1 denotes, in fractional form, how much money you win, but not your initial stake. So, for a winning $1 bet at 5/1, you get back $5 in profit plus your $1 stake, for a total of $6.
- Decimal (6.00): Decimal odds reflect both the winnings and the returned stake together in one number. So, a winning $1 bet with 6.00 decimal odds means you get back a total of $6: including the $5 profit plus the $1 initial stake.
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