TwinSpires Review

TwinSpires Racebook Review

TwinSpires is an American-based racebook owned and operated by the renowned Churchill Downs, Inc. 

TwinSpires offers local and international horse racing markets on thoroughbred, quarter-horse, and harness races.

The website and app are available in all 50 U.S. States. Users can wager on races at over 150 tracks throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Dubai, Australia, and many other countries.

TwinSpires provides a spectacular live streaming option for nearly all races so players can instantly take in their betting action on the respective race they wagered on. 

This feature is advantageous for casual and advanced bettors since horse racing doesn't receive an overwhelming amount of viewing attention apart from the Triple Crown races.

TwinSpires is also unique compared to a sportsbook because they offer in-depth analysis and handicapping education from industry experts.

Unlike many platforms in the wagering industry, TwinSpires' written and video content is genuinely informative, allowing novice bettors to understand the basics instead of being pushed towards low percentage plays prevalent in the sportsbook industry. 

It's important to note that TwinSpires and horse racing, in general, are predicated on a concept called "Parimutuel Betting." 

Parimutuel betting is when all wagers go into a pool, and the pool is shared equally amongst those with the winning bet. 

So, instead of betting against the house with fixed odds, this style allows the pre-race odds to fluctuate until the race begins - which is not always ideal - just something to keep in mind. 

Overall, TwinSpires is one of the premiere racebooks in the United States, and we'll provide you with further information about them below.

Racebook Locations

TwinSpires is available in all 50 U.S. states for mobile and online users and has retail locations at the infamous Churchill Downs and various locations for affiliate users throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, and Kentucky.

Online Betting Experience

TwinSpires offers a website for laptop and desktop users and a mobile app.

Website Experience

TwinSpires' website is a fantastic offering that is well-designed and organized. 

While no live betting is featured in horse racing, TwinSpires instantly provides users upon entering the website with an "Up Next" ribbon, allowing prospective bettors to explore live tracks and the races offered in real-time. 

This feature is nice since bettors are likely to visit the website to bet on a race coinciding with their log-on time, eliminating the need for an exhaustive track search. 

Below this feature, users will find a banner touting a promotion such as Pick-4 or the $200 sign-up bonus. 

If interested, bettors can immediately claim the offer by clicking on the banner and opting into the promotion. 

Upon further scrolling down the homepage, you will find a template displaying featured tracks, expert picks, and more promotions.

This provides a one-stop shop for casual users doing more scrolling as they determine what piques their interest - a true user-friendly feature. 

Scrolling even further, users will find evergreen betting content or even content relating to facts about horses. 

The top ribbon on the homepage is neatly organized and provides five drop-down options:

• Bet Now
• Offers
• News & Picks
• Handicapping 
• Support

I find this ribbon one of the best I have come across. It's self-explanatory, and the drop-down provides any information a user may seek.

Placing a bet is simple on TwinSpires, too. 

A bettor simply has to click on the track they're looking for, select a race, sort through their desired bet types, and find the wager in the "My Bets" function on the right-hand of the screen. 

The layout is neat and intuitive, and little screen searching needs to be done when tracking your desired bets.

TwinSpires truly offers a remarkable website product and experience unrivaled by other racebooks in the industry and better than most sportsbooks provide. 

Mobile Betting and Betting App

TwinSpires' mobile app is available on iOS and Android but is underwhelming compared to its website. 

Upon entering the app, the "Featured" section is the immediate option displayed.

This function shows the live tracks and the following races available to wager on. 

Here, icons display a number and the acronym "MTP," which stands for "Minutes to Post," meaning the amount of time until the race starts. 

At the bottom of the screen is a ribbon that displays the following features:

• Races
• My Bets
• Deposit
• Offers
• Account

The ribbon is subpar compared to the proper website options. 

Though this offers the essentials, you cannot find the News and Picks, Handicapping, or Support tabs, making for a less friendly and informative user experience. 

I will say, placing a bet is slightly easier on the app. The screen is less cluttered with betting options and is more straightforward.

The My Bets functions as a betslip and keeps live and closed bets neatly organized for tracking purposes. 

The offers icon is a nice feature, allowing users to discover current bonuses and promotions instantly. 

Making a deposit is easy, as the deposit icon brings you to a screen with desired increment amounts via the PayPal platform. 

Once you choose to deposit, the process is seamless, and the transaction processes within seconds. 

Apart from these features, the TwinSpires app is shockingly elementary compared to its robust desktop offering. 

It certainly has the necessary betting and deposit features, but it lacks depth and the ancillary education and handicapping elements that would set them apart.

We hope TwinSpires soon considers revamping its app experience to replicate the features on its incredible website. 

Live Betting

There are no proper live betting features in horse racing. 

Casino, Poker, & Other Gaming Options

TwinSpires briefly entered the sportsbook and iGaming space but closed these operations in 2022 after not experiencing sustained success in these markets. 

TwinSpires History

TwinSpires' history is rooted in the Churchill Downs legacy, which began when Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark traveled to England and France in 1872.

Clark would develop his affinity for horse racing here and wanted to bring the tradition to America. 

Upon returning stateside, Clark would begin fundraising and leased land from his uncles, John and Henry Churchill. 

He soon began construction, and Churchill Downs would be complete in 1875. 

The first official race run at Churchill Downs was on May 17, 1875, when the historic Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks races began. 

The rest, as they say, is history, and Churchill Downs proudly owns the title for the longest-running continuous sporting event in the United States. 

The TwinSpires' online brand was created in 2007, backed by Churchill Downs Inc, and soon became the official online betting partner of the prestigious Kentucky Derby - bringing 148 years of racebook experience with it. 

Customer Ratings & Reputation

TwinSpires has a magnificent 4.8-star rating on the Apple App Store.

Many customers rave about how many tracks and races are offered and how easy it is to bet them. 

The accessibility to many betting options seems to be a substantial positive amongst reviewers. 

Additionally, quick deposit and, most importantly, withdrawal times received positive attention, which is a significant win for TwinSpires, as most bettors are more concerned with withdrawal viability than anything else. 

The TwinSpires Android app owns a mediocre 3.6-star review on Google Play. 

While the overall sentiment is positive, most of the negativity stems from the lack of features offered on the app relative to the website - aligning with our review of the app. 

Customer Service

When contacting customer service at TwinSpires, we recommend utilizing the Live Chat function or calling by telephone. 

They have an email option, but when I reached out at 9 AM, I was yet to receive a response by 5 PM. 

However, representatives on the live chat were very responsive and able to answer each question I had at numerous times throughout the day. 

They would also provide links to the FAQ section after explaining answers to me in the chat. They truly go above and beyond. 

When calling by telephone, be patient, as you are directed to an automated recording that provides you with many options.

Users can deposit, place a bet, and check the results of races - all by phone. 

Among the many options, you can also choose to speak verbally to a customer service representative. 

I purposely chose to speak to a representative who was very friendly and able to answer all my banking questions. 

Besides email communication, the TwinSpires customer service team is responsive, friendly, and, most importantly, knowledgeable. 

TwinSpires Contact

TwinSpires offers a great live chat function, email address, phone line, and Twitter direct message for any issues.

• Phone: 1-877-774-7371
• Email: Player.Services@TwinSpires.com
• Twitter: @TwinSpires
• Live Chat

TwinSpires Legal Betting

TwinSpires is regulated by the state administrative agency appointed to enforce and ensure gaming operators abide by all laws and regulations - typically in-state gaming commissions. 

Responsible Gambling

The legal age for sports betting in most states is 21+. This is subject to regional regulation. Please play responsibly. TwinSpires complies to all rules and regulations set by in-state gaming commissions.

Here are a few resources to help ensure you are gambling responsibly.

• National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG): The NCPG has over 50 years of experience assisting people and families affected by problem gambling. You can call or text them (1-800-522-4700) or join their 24/7 Live Chat.
• Center for Problem Gambling: The Center has been funded by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) since 1996. They are committed to serving anyone affected by a gambling addiction. Treatment is confidential and provided regardless of a person's ability to pay. Their gambling counselors have significant experience working with problem gambling and include therapists who are Nationally Certified Gambling Counselors.
• BeGambleAware.org: Offers free, confidential help and support to anyone worried about gambling for themselves or others.
• Gambling Therapy: A global service provided by Gordon Moody offering free emotional support and advice to anyone affected by gambling.

Why Choose TwinSpires?

TwinSpires owns one of the best racebooks in the horse wagering industry. 

The number of track and live racing options offered on their platform are unparalleled and sure to meet the expectations of every horse racing enthusiast. 

The education center they created offers new bettors the opportunity to learn the basics and evolve. 

This is unique, as most wagering platforms make superficial content surrounding the most popular racing or sporting events, pushing novice bettors into inefficient markets that benefit the house.

The sign-up bonus TwinSpires offers is mediocre. The playthrough is one thing, but only giving new bettors 30 days to bet $800 or more is relatively unfair, considering most horse racing bettors are casual and bet in smaller increments. 

The rest of the promotions they offer are fine, but nothing truly jumps out as overly ambitious. 

I found the TwinSpires website to be a great experience, but as discussed above, the app could use some work. 

The customer service team is friendly and knowledgeable, and despite the limitations in email communication, the Live Chat and telephone representatives are lovely to work with. 

One limitation we hope they remedy in the future is the limited amount of withdrawal options, as their small portfolio of offerings creates a lackluster experience for bettors.

Bettors are always concerned with the process and how fast they can get their money, so this is an essential area of focus they can improve on. 

From a holistic viewpoint, TwinSpires offers a great product and wagering experience for bettors of all levels, and we would recommend playing here without hesitation.