Knowing how to bet on the Kentucky Derby starts with understanding your options. Choosing the right Kentucky Derby betting sites makes placing your wagers easy, secure, and worthwhile.
While many books offer horse racing year-round, the Kentucky Derby draws truly national interest. It is the most popular horse racing event for North Americans to bet on, and many place their first horse racing bet on Kentucky Derby odds. If you're new to betting on the ponies, our guide to the 2026 edition of the Run for the Roses on Saturday, May 2, has you covered on how and where to bet on the Kentucky Derby.
How to bet on the Kentucky Derby with sportsbooks
| Betting App | Where is it legal? | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
 |
CO, IL, IN, KY, MD, NY, OH, VA, WV, WY, NV, which also includes the William Hill app in NV | Claim 10 100% Boosts With 'COVERSBONUSDYW' |
 |
AZ, CO, IL, IN, LA, MD, MA, MI, MO, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY | $250 Bonus Bets |
 |
FL, LA, MT, NH, NM, OH, OR, RI (+ more select states) | Claim $100 |
 |
Canada*  |
$50 or $1,000 Bonus Bets |
*Promotions not available in Ontario, Canada.
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Quick Start: How to Bet in 5 Simple Steps
If you want the fastest way to get started betting on the Kentucky Derby, here’s the process:
- Choose a sportsbook or betting app
- Check the latest odds and Kentucky Derby post positions
- Deposit funds (most accept small amounts)
- Find the Kentucky Derby race
- Pick your horse
- Select your bet type and confirm
Caesars
Bet $1, Get 10 100% Profit Boosts
Code: COVERSBONUSDYW
You can bet on the Kentucky Derby with the Caesars Sportsbook app in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Nevada, which also includes the William Hill app.
The Caesars Sportsbook promo code COVERSBONUSDYW is available to eligible new accountholders who register, deposit at least $10, and place a qualifying first real money wager of at least $1. Once that first bet is placed, regardless of whether it wins or loses, Caesars will credit your account with 10 100% Profit Boost tokens. Each token can be applied to any wager of $25 or less, effectively doubling your potential profit on that bet.
To illustrate how the boosts work in the context of the Derby, imagine you place a $25 wager on Commandment to win at +800 odds. Without a boost, a winning bet would return $200 in profit. Apply one of your 100% Profit Boost tokens and that profit jumps to $400. If the bet loses, you simply move on and use one of your remaining nine tokens on another wager, such as a pick on Further Ado or a longshot like Chief Wallabee in an exacta.
There are a few key terms to keep in mind before claiming this offer:
- Your first wager must be a qualifying wager or you will lose eligibility for this promotion entirely.
- Profit Boost tokens cannot be used on wagers with odds of -500 or shorter.
- Boosts do not apply to Super Boosts, Round Robin wagers, or bets placed with bonus funds or Reward Credits.
- You must place your first qualifying wager within 30 days of opening your account.
- Each boost token applies to wagers of $25 or less.
With a wide-open Derby field and value potentially lurking in the 6-1 to 15-1 range, these 10 boost tokens give new users a meaningful edge when spreading action across multiple contenders or exotic wagers.
FanDuel
Bet $5, Get $250 If It Wins
If new bettors sign up for a new FanDuel Sportsbook account in a state where it's legal, they can win $250 bonus bets with a $5 first bet on any sport, including the Kentucky Derby, in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
No FanDuel promo code is required to claim this welcome offer, making it one of the most straightforward sign-up bonuses in legal sports betting. The process is simple: place a $5 real money wager on any available FanDuel market, and if that bet wins, FanDuel will credit your account with $250 in bonus bets within 72 hours of settlement. With the Kentucky Derby drawing one of the deepest fields in years, new users have plenty of options to place that first wager.
Here is a closer look at the key terms and conditions for this offer:
- Download the FanDuel Sportsbook app to be eligible for the welcome bonus.
- Make a minimum deposit of $5 into your new account.
- Place an initial $5 real money wager on any available market, including Kentucky Derby betting markets.
- If your $5 bet wins, $250 in bonus bets will be credited to your account within 72 hours.
- Bonus bets are valid for seven days after issuance.
- If you win using a bonus bet, the bonus stake is not returned as part of your winnings. For example, if you use a $100 bonus bet at +100 odds and win, you receive $100 in withdrawable cash, not $200.
For example, if you place your $5 bet on Renegade to win the Kentucky Derby and he crosses the wire first, you will pocket your winnings from that wager and receive $250 in bonus bets to use across the FanDuel platform. If Renegade comes up short in the 20-horse field, you simply do not receive the bonus, but you are still free to continue betting. The offer rewards winning right from the start, making it ideal for bettors who have done their homework on the Derby's deep and unpredictable field.
DraftKings
Bet $5, Get $100 Instantly
The DraftKings promo code offer is straightforward and requires no code to activate — it applies automatically once you meet the qualifying requirements. New users must make a minimum $5 deposit and place a qualifying wager of at least $5 at odds of -500 or longer on any sports betting market, including Kentucky Derby futures or race-day bets. Win or lose that first wager, DraftKings will reward you with four $25 bonus bets totaling $100.
For example, if you place a $5 bet on Renegade to win the Kentucky Derby and he crosses the wire first, you collect your winnings plus receive your four $25 bonus bets. If Commandment surges past him in the stretch and your ticket is a loser, you still receive the same $100 in bonus bets — making this offer appealing no matter how the 20-horse field sorts itself out. The bonus bets arrive within 72 hours of your qualifying wager settling, giving you plenty of time to use them on other markets.
Here is a quick breakdown of the key terms and conditions to keep in mind:
- Minimum $5 deposit and $5 qualifying wager required
- Qualifying wager must be placed at odds of -500 or longer
- Four $25 bonus bets ($100 total) issued win or lose
- Bonus bets delivered within 72 hours of wager settling
- Bonus bets expire seven days from issuance
- Stake is not included in any winnings derived from bonus bets
- Offer expires May 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
With a deep Kentucky Derby field featuring speed horses like The Puma threatening to push a hot early pace and stalkers like Chief Wallabee and Emerging Market lurking, there are plenty of compelling angles to target with both your qualifying bet and any subsequent bonus bets. Post position, trip, and track conditions could all play a decisive role, making this one of the more intriguing wagering opportunities of the year.
bet365
Bet $10, Get $50 or a $1K First Bet*
The bet365 bonus code for new customers in Canada is COVERS365. Once the code is applied and your account is created, deposit a minimum of $10 and place a qualifying wager to unlock $200 in bonus bets. Note that Illinois users receive a slightly different offer: Bet $10, Get $150 in bonus bets under the same general structure.
Here is what you need to know about how the offer works heading into the Kentucky Derby:
- New customers only; minimum $10 deposit required
- Qualifying bet must include at least one selection at odds of -500 or greater
- Bonus bets must be claimed via the bet365 app within 30 days of registration
- Qualifying bets must settle within 30 days of claiming the promo
- Bonus bets expire seven days after being credited to your account
- Bonus bet wager is excluded from any returns; only profits are withdrawable
- Cashed out bets, pushes, and no-action bets do not count toward the requirement
- New users in Pennsylvania and New Jersey also receive 50 bonus spins
For example, if you place $10 on Renegade to win the Kentucky Derby and the colt holds off the closing runs of Commandment and Further Ado, you collect your winnings plus receive $200 in bonus bets. If Renegade gets caught in traffic and your bet loses, you still receive $200 in bonus bets to deploy across other markets. Either way, the offer gives new users a meaningful bankroll to explore the full depth of the Derby card and beyond.
*Promotion not available in Ontario, Canada.
How to place a bet on the Kentucky Derby
There are two ways to place a bet on the Kentucky Derby: either in person at a racebook or track or online via a digital race and sportsbook such as FanDuel Racing.
Online
The majority of U.S. states and all Canadian provinces allow legal online betting on horse racing. To bet on horse racing online, you must sign up with a racebook and deposit into an account before placing any bets. From there, you can sort the daily races by tracks, race numbers, individual horse numbers, and bet types.
In-person
When placing an in-person bet on horse racing, you need to have cash in hand to make the wager as well as know the track name, race number, horse number, and type of bet you wish to place.
Kentucky Derby bet types
There’s more to Kentucky Derby betting than just picking one horse to win. Top betting apps and sites offer a wide variety of wagers, giving bettors plenty of exciting options to play on race day. Here are some of the most popular bet types:
These wagers usually offer the lowest risk and are recommended to new bettors. The next level up, just outside of regular basic bets, would be your exotic bets: placing a wager on more than one outcome, whether it is betting on more than one race or betting on the consecutive finishers in a single race.
Win bet 
A win bet is the simplest bet you can make in horse racing. You are simply picking the horse you think will cross the finish line first.
Place bet or
A Place wager is betting on a horse that you think will finish in first or second. If the horse you bet finishes in one of the two top spots, you collect the amount shown in the place column. This bet is less risky than a Win bet, but also offers a smaller return.
Show bet or or
A Show bet is a wager on a horse to finish within the top three positions. If the horse shows (finishes first, second, or third), this is a winning bet. The payout is exactly the same, even if the horse finishes first or second.
Exacta +
An Exacta bet tasks the bettor with predicting the winning horse and the second-place finisher in that exact order. You can also "box" an exacta with two or more horses, but at an increased cost. A $2 exacta box with two horses would be $4, since you're betting two combinations. A three-horse exacta box would cost $12 per $2 wagered, since you're now covering six combinations.
Trifecta + +
A Trifecta bet is similar to an Exacta wager, except you are betting which Kentucky Derby horses you think will finish in the top three positions in that race in that order.
Superfecta + + +
With a Superfecta bet you are selecting the top four finishers in the race in order. This is the hardest of the single-race exotics and yields the highest payouts.
Super high-five + + + +
As the name suggests, a super high-five requires bettors to correctly predict the exact finishing order of the top five horses. It’s a long shot, but the potential payout can be massive.
Final thoughts
Learning how to bet on the Kentucky Derby doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with the basics, stick to simple bets, and enjoy the experience.
The Derby is as much about fun as it is strategy, so whether you’re betting $5 or $50, having a plan makes all the difference.
How to bet on the Kentucky Derby - FAQs
Yes. There are a number of legal and authentic online racing books, which allow you to withdraw funds directly to your bank account.
There was a record $165.5 million bet on the 2019 Kentucky Derby. That was a 10 percent increase from 2018 which held the previous record of $149.9 million.
The lowest Win bet you can make is for $2. For the exotics, depending on where you play, many offer a 0.10 Superfecta wager at some betting locations.
You can bet on the upcoming Kentucky Derby as early as the day after the prior year's Derby. As the Kentucky Derby is limited to three-year-olds only, the early favorites are the horses having standout two-year-old campaigns.
You can place your wagers until the gates open. Once you hear, “and they're off" the window is officially closed. Soak up as much information in the post parade and loading the gate as you can. Knowledge is power.
