TwinSpires Review
We have rated TwinSpires 5 stars in our review of this legal US-based gambling site. This is a highly trustworthy site and brand that can offer you all types of gambling that you are looking for. Sign up for an account via our links here to receive a bonus and start playing today!
What is good?
- Offers sports betting, casino and horse racing
- Very good reputation
- Very simple and slick design that is easy to use
- Multiple licenses across the US
- Basic KYC process in place for safety
What is bad?
- CC Deposit Fee
- No self-exclusion tools yet
FAQs on TwinSpires’ Bonuses
Yes, players may opt into the regular loyalty program at Churchill Downs: TSC Elite. This program lets players earn points for every dollar they wager at TwinSpires and extra points at Churchill Downs, Fairgrounds, Arlington, and Miami Valley Raceway. Players can redeem these points for wagering credits.
Once the period for each bonus concludes, you cannot collect on that bonus. However, the sportsbook uses bonuses repeatedly, so it likely will not be long until it comes back around.
The most common kind of TwinSpires bonus is the “Winsurance”-style bonus in which players opt into the bonus then bet a specified amount and receive a percentage of the losing ticket costs as bonus funds for future races. The second most common kind of bonus is the carryover pool—essentially a lottery drawn from players who bet on the various races in a series. If no one wins during a given week, the funds grow, and another drawing occurs during the following week.
You can withdraw bonus winnings as cash, but you must wager the funds before you can withdraw them. The sportsbook tracks these funds separately to encourage players to continue betting on new races.
Is TwinSpires Trustworthy?
TwinSpires represents a continuation of one of the United States’ oldest gambling traditions: the Kentucky Derby. US players can easily bet on races occurring at historic Churchill Downs using modern technology without ever having to visit the track.
Those familiar with online gambling may wonder, “Is TwinSpires legal for me to use?” Fortunately, for most US players, the answer is yes. Unlike most online casinos, TwinSpires is allowed in multiple US states, including California and New Jersey.
Learn everything that you need to know to gamble safely and have fun for free or cash with our expert review of TwinSpires Sportsbook. You can sign up for a new account and start playing today.
Is TwinSpires Licensed and Certified in the USA?
Despite the track’s location in Kentucky and the fact that TwinSpires is officially registered at Churchill Downs, the online portal is licensed in Oregon. The company doesn’t go into much detail regarding why that is, but most states in the US accept this license, so odds are that you’ll be able to legally bet at TwinSpires without issue.
While it’s not one of the best casinos for US players due to its focus on racing bets, it is undoubtedly the best place to bet on the Kentucky Derby.
When Did TwinSpires Launch?
Churchill Downs, the operating company behind TwinSpires, launched the site in 2007 to make it easier for people to place bets and get involved with the Kentucky Derby. Since then, it has expanded to include partnerships with several other race tracks and race types, including greyhound and harness racing.
Does TwinSpires Have a Good Reputation?
TwinSpires shares its reputation with the Kentucky Derby itself. Serious gamblers respect the company as a reputable institution that consistently posts fair odds and honestly pays players who make winning bets. As a website, it gets consistent praise from those who enjoy horse racing and have experience with alternative platforms. Generally, gamblers who are familiar with TwinSpires have positive things to say about it.
How Popular Is TwinSpires?
TwinSpires is reasonably popular among sportsbooks online. While it does not have a casino portion, its sportsbook is attractive to many players. As of September 2019, it is ranked 29,303 among US users according to Alexa.
Is TwinSpires a Listed Company?
TwinSpires is the online portal for Churchill Downs, a longstanding sportsbook and horseracing venue centered around the Kentucky Derby since 1875. Churchill Downs is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol CHDN. It has been performing exceptionally well recently, increasing its value by 900% within the past ten years.
Brands Associated with TwinSpires
The largest brand associated with TwinSpires is the Kentucky Derby, an annual horserace that has remained one of the world’s most famous betting events for more than 140 years. TwinSpires is owned by Churchill Downs, which frequently partners with and secures sponsorships from major brands such as Blue Moon.
TwinSpires’s Responsible Gaming Policies
TwinSpires has a minimal section of its website dedicated to responsible wagering. While it provides a list of warning signs and the phone number for 1-800-GAMBLER, it only includes a list of suggested, voluntary actions that a player can take to observe and limit his or her gambling. There are no self-exclusion options built into the TwinSpires system.
Creating an Account with TwinSpires
The TwinSpires website is designed to make it easy to become an account holder. The first time you visit, a popup will warmly invite you to sign up and create an account. It will also alert you to the first deposit bonus (explored in more depth below). Even if you click away from the popup, the option to join remains emblazoned atop the page’s main menu bar.
As our experts explored the site, it was evident to us that TwinSpires has successfully made it very easy for US players to join the site. It doesn’t make new players jump through any hoops nor does the design cause any headaches.
Information You’ll Need to Sign Up
TwinSpires requires the basic information that you’d expect from any online sportsbook. To create an account, you’ll need to provide contact and personal information, including:
- Name
- Phone Number
- Address
- Birthdate
- Last 4 Digits of Social Security Number
Do I Need to Provide Any Documents to Withdraw Earnings from TwinSpires?
Depending on your withdrawal method, you may need to provide additional documentation. If you have a large withdrawal to make or want to withdraw in person at Churchill Downs, you will need a government-issued photo ID to prove your identity. The sportsbook also requires proof of address before mailing a check, so you may need to scan and submit a utility bill or government ID associated with that address.
How Easy Is It to Create a TwinSpires Account?
You don’t even need to leave the main page of the site to start the registration process. At the top right of the page, you’ll find the “Join Now” button. When you click it, the site generates a popup into which you can enter your name, email address, and phone number. Then you’ll enter the remainder of your information before the site prompts you to accept its account and membership terms. Once you submit your agreement, then your account is live, and you can begin betting.
How TwinSpires Verifies Your Documents
New US players will need to submit a scanned copy of their photo ID to start gambling at TwinSpires. Staff members manually review these documents, but there’s an assumption of legitimacy: as long as your basic account information checks out and there are no major red flags based on your IP address and the information that you entered during signup, the document verification process won’t hold up new bets.
How Quickly Can I Start Playing with Real Cash?
You can begin betting with cash nearly immediately. While you can place bets, you still need to wait for the horse racing results to come in before you can find out whether you won. Generally, you can see a return on your time and wager within a day if you start with same-day or next-day races.
TwinSpires Withdrawals and Deposits
TwinSpires is not renowned for having a wide variety of deposit and withdrawal options. Your choices are somewhat limited and have some upper bounds associated with them. Most casual US gamblers won’t notice them, but high rollers may chafe at the need to handle several separate transactions to deposit funds over $1,000 (or $500 for credit cards). You should be prepared to wait for a period when you want to withdraw funds.
TwinSpires Casino Deposit Methods
TwinSpires does not encourage credit card transactions, but it allows them. You will have to pay a $5 fee and deposit a maximum of $500 per transaction if you would like to use a major credit card. TwinSpires prefers swifter cash payments, favoring bank transfers, PayPal, and MoneyGram. If you would like to mail in a check, it will take longer, but the platform does accept old-fashioned check payments. Finally, you can visit the track at Churchill Downs to deposit funds in person.
Deposit method | Processing time | Minimum deposit | Maximum deposit |
---|---|---|---|
Visa | Instant | $1 | $500 |
MasterCard | Instant | $1 | $500 |
PayPal | Instant | $1 | $1,000 |
Bank Transfer | Instant | $1 | $1,000 |
eCheck | Delivery time plus 5 days | $1 | $10,000 |
How to Withdraw Your Earnings
It’s more difficult to withdraw your funds than to deposit them, and you’ll have to wait a little longer. As a positive, you don’t have to pay any transfer fees for withdrawing funds, so it can be worth the wait if you have larger amounts to withdraw or need to make more frequent withdrawals. As with depositing, you can withdraw funds at Churchill Downs in person, but you will need two separate forms of photo ID and may need to answer several security questions before Churchill Downs releases any cash to you.
Withdrawal method | Processing time | Minimum withdrawal | Maximum withdrawal |
---|---|---|---|
eCheck | 5 days plus delivery time | $1 | $500 |
PayPal | Up to 5 days | $1 | - |
Note that the IRS requires TwinSpires to report and withhold taxes for any winnings greater than $600, but the sportsbook will dispense a W-2G form annually to the player’s address on file.
Do I Need to Prove my Source of Wealth?
You will not ordinarily be required to prove a source of wealth when depositing funds at TwinSpires. If the customer service team feels that there is a risk of illegal activity, they may request an account statement or pay stub to justify substantial deposits. Usually, the deposit maximums ensure that deposits are small enough to stay well below a dangerous threshold.
TwinSpires Casino Bonuses and Campaigns
TwinSpires is one of the sportsbooks that offers a rotating selection of bonuses. Despite the Kentucky Derby serving as its primary draw, TwinSpires encourages regular bets throughout the year and at other tracks through its incentives and promotions. Even players who are not familiar with other venues can take the opportunity to learn about them with low risk thanks to various bonus incentives and a loyalty rewards program.
Introducing TwinSpires Bonuses
TwinSpires starts all new players with a $100 signup bonus. Unlike many other casinos, this bonus is not based on the amount that you deposit but instead on the amount that you wager. After you sign up, you will have 30 days to wager a total of $500. Once you do so, then TwinSpires will credit your account for the signup bonus. You don’t need a TwinSpires promo code to activate this bonus.
The sportsbook also offers more campaigns and bonuses: you can visit its “Offers” page to learn about current bonuses, including when they expire. Example bonuses include the “Handicapper Helper” (which rewards players for downloading handicapping advice) and the “P4 Winsurance” (which reimburses players 20% of their losing ticket value as long as they wagered at least $75).
Current TwinSpires Campaigns
The management at TwinSpires encourages US players to gamble on different races than they might ordinarily, and TwinSpires uses its promotional campaigns to achieve this goal. A recent example of this tactic is its current campaign to support “Place Payout at Canterbury”, a partnered race track, which finishes[EP1] on September 14, 2019.
Which Betting Methods Does TwinSpires Offer?
TwinSpires offers betting options for every kind of sportsbook gambler. No matter your experience level, interest, or knowledge regarding horseracing, you can bet and have fun at TwinSpires. Some methods are more likely to pay out than others, but that’s no different from any other betting game with an element of skill or knowledge.
Players can bet casually without special knowledge based only on their gut feelings or random chance. The website lists the payout odds for each entrant, so gamblers can use that information to justify their bets. The site encourages handicapping for those who are more serious about sports betting and want to select winners based on additional information.
Which Bets Can I Make at TwinSpires?
You have three options for betting at TwinSpires: Greyhound, Harness, and Thoroughbred. Each of these sports appeals to a different kind of player; thoroughbred racing at Churchill Downs is the traditional betting option for TwinSpires.
The races are organized primarily by when they take place, but you can also filter the races according to the kind of race or view the races by track name in alphabetical order. At the bottom of the page, you’ll see the “next races” chyron, which makes it easy to find upcoming races regardless of track.
If you’re considering TwinSpires for betting on races, you should know that it’s one of the top gambling sites out there. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a casino games lobby and want to play slots type of games and other favorites, then you should browse our other expert reviews for sites that are better suited to your interests.
Where Does TwinSpires Source Its Software?
Churchill Downs commissioned the software for TwinSpires specifically to showcase its races. The software is proprietary and is only used for TwinSpires-affiliated horse race betting.
How Easy Is It to Use TwinSpires?
TwinSpires benefits from its simplicity. The site is very basic and pared-down, which removes the aesthetic aspect in some ways—but as soon as you visit the “Bet Now” page, you will understand the decision. The clear user interface immediately fills with information, including races, tracks, and times. Thanks to its practical design, TwinSpires is easy to navigate regardless of the number of races occurring on any day.
The website’s design simplicity creates a highly effective interface. It is easy to bet on the races that interest you and select the horse or dog that you anticipate will win. Considering that the sportsbook is TwinSpires’ exclusive focus, it is to the company’s credit that it opted for such a simple, clear design.
TwinSpires Compatible Devices
You can use nearly any device to log into the TwinSpires site and bet in moments. While desktop computers such as Apple and PC use browsers to manage your account, you can also use the proprietary TwinSpires app on any mobile device. It integrates fully with the website, so you can use the same account across all platforms.
What We Think about the Feel of TwinSpires
Our experts favor a little flashiness in online casinos, not so much that it’s a distraction from less desirable qualities, but enough to remain visually interesting. While TwinSpires fails regarding interesting design, it balances that lack of flash with an effective, straightforward layout. Ultimately, we understand the design philosophy that went into the site and appreciate it for its merits, though we also acknowledge that it’s a little more plain than we’d like it to be.
TwinSpires Customer Support Services
TwinSpires offers several ways for US gamblers to access its customer service support team. Although it does not offer 24/7 customer support through its live chat, players will find that the hours are generous for a domestic company. The site has an FAQ that can answer basic questions but is not exceptionally helpful regarding individual account settings and detailed information.
How Can I Reach TwinSpires?
The customer support team is available between 9 AM and midnight ET [EP3] every day. You can use one of several methods to contact them:
- Live Chat:https://www.twinspires.com/contact
- Email: player.services@twinspires.com
- Phone number: 1-877-774-7371
Which Features Make TwinSpires Unique?
TwinSpires is the online incarnation of a vintage American betting staple. No other online casino can match that claim, so TwinSpires stand out from the crowd based on that fact alone. Beyond its pedigree, the sportsbook makes it easy to bet on races at several tracks throughout the United States.
How Is TwinSpires Different from Other Online Sportsbooks?
The team at TwinSpires believes that it’s better to do one thing very well rather than many things moderately well. If you want to bet on horseracing or greyhound races at Churchill Downs-affiliated tracks, you won’t find a better place to do so. If you want to do anything else, however, TwinSpires is not the right choice for you.
Is TwinSpires a Good Choice for US Players?
TwinSpires is an excellent place to bet on numerous races, and every day, there are new ones to consider. The site offers players the opportunity to livestream races and get race results live so that they are never left waiting to find out what happened. The bonus opportunities are substantial and the interface is straightforward.
TwinSpires – Our Verdict
TwinSpires is an extremely solid sportsbook that does just one thing but does it well. Our experts love the way that TwinSpires handles betting on horseracing, running bonus campaigns, and even encouraging players to learn more about how to bet effectively. There are a few things that we would like to see change, but overall, we have a tremendously positive opinion of TwinSpires.
Five Things We Love about TwinSpires Casino
TwinSpires does quite a few things correctly. Here are our top five features:
- Laserlike Focus
Our experts appreciate that TwinSpires remains focused on horseracing. It’s no surprise that the sportsbook provides a targeted and easy-to-access betting option in this area. - TwinSpires TV
TwinSpires makes it even more exciting to bet on the races since you can view the races live just as if you were at the track yourself. - Bonus Options
Bonus options are plentiful, varied, and rewarding for players who try new races or tracks that they haven’t bet on before. - Availability
There are very few online betting services available outside of New Jersey, so it’s exciting for players in other US states to be able to get in on the action. - Customer Service
Considering the sportsbook’s service area, its customer service hours are generous. TwinSpires also offers numerous helpful ways to get in contact with its support team.
How TwinSpires Could Improve
We’re hesitant to push TwinSpires to change much of what it’s doing, but here are three areas in which we’d suggest some improvement:
- Partner with Another Sportsbook
Many players favor the convenience of all-in-one sportsbooks, but as a result, they may miss out on the quality of an experience such as betting with TwinSpires. Partnering with another sportsbook to add more variety may increase TwinSpires’ exposure without sacrificing quality or focus.
- Eliminate the CC Deposit Fee
We acknowledge that any fee is paying for something, and the CC fee is probably one reason why TwinSpires bonus campaigns are so common and varied. We think that there may be a way to adjust the structure so that the sportsbook can eliminate its CC fees, even if that means increasing the minimum deposit.
- Responsible Gambling
Although TwinSpires mentions some basic information about responsibility, the sportsbook neglects to include common tools such as self-exclusion, which is disappointing.
Our TwinSpires Review Rating
Our TwinSpires review concludes with our experts giving the sportsbook a robust 5/5 score. There’s no better place to bet on the Kentucky Derby, TwinSpires has fresh betting opportunities every day, and the platform’s interface is extremely easy to use. Our complaints are minor, and US gamblers can work around them without any difficulty.
Our advice? Check out TwinSpires today and get in on the fun!
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