PointsBet is getting into the horse race betting game.
Its platform will be built around the Premier Turf Club racebook — BetPTC — which PointsBet acquired in 2021. Even though the interface remains largely the same, PointsBet has given it a bit of a visual facelift.
Backed by PointsBet Holdings Limited, an Australian sports betting corporation founded in 2015, the company operates in several US states. With a casino and sportsbook product already in its portfolio, it seemed only a matter of time until PointsBet got into the online racebook business.
BetPTC is a pari-mutuel wagering site, meaning all of the bets of a particular type go into a pool, and winning bettors divide the money in that pool. Based on what BetPTC offers, this page will go over what to expect from the PointsBet Racebook product, including promotions, banking, and betting options.
PointsBet Horse Racing sign-up bonus
New customers to PointsBet Racebook can receive $200 in bonus funds to use on any number of wagers or races. All you must do is wager a total of $750 within 45 days of registration. Once you bet that amount, the $200 will arrive in your account.
Then, once you receive the $200 bonus, you must wager those funds at least once before being able to withdraw them. As long as you meet this requirement, you can withdraw your bonus cash or wager it again as you wish. The $750 betting requirement seems a bit steep for casual players, but if you plan on making this your primary book, you should be able to clear that requirement.
PointsBet Horse Racing promo code 2023
At the moment, the racebook doesn’t require a code to claim its welcome bonus. Create an account as a new user and wager $750 within 45 days to qualify.
| Online Racebook | PointsBet Racebook |
|---|---|
| Promo Code | None – Use Links |
| Welcome Bonus | Up to $200 in bonus funds |
| Last Updated | December 2023 |
PointsBet Racebook rewards program
PointsBet does not offer a rewards program for its racebook at the moment. However, it does provide cash back based on certain bets.
Exotic bets (not straight bets) like the exacta and the trifecta are eligible to receive a minimum of 4% cash back on a wager. This means that if you bet $100 on an exotic bet, you will get at least four dollars back, and maybe more. It generally will arrive in your account just a few moments after the race.
Promotions and contests at PointsBet Racebook
Currently, BetPTC offers a good number of monthly and race-specific promos. The biggest annual promo is the Cash is King contest. Each year, a $20,000 purse is up for grabs for anyone who bets at least $75 every Saturday during the eight-week eligibility period. You receive a rank based on your return on investment as opposed to total winnings. Savvy bettors might not need to wager big money to win the big prize.
Other regular promos are tied to specific races and events. For example, PointsBet will offer increased cash back on races run at certain venues. Or you may be able to get a rebate on your bets during marquee events like the Kentucky Derby.
Promos that are always in effect include a refer-a-friend bonus and the cash-back rewards above. Keep your eye on the racebook’s promotions page to keep up to date with everything going on.
PointsBet horse betting software overview
While the PointsBet Racebook website could use a bit of a facelift, it is fully functional, and experienced players should have no problem navigating to their desired pages. However, it feels a bit dated compared to the flashy graphic-filled racebooks that some competitors may offer.
The homepage that you will land on is free of frills, with a business-forward aesthetic. Although this lends credibility, it is not as pretty to look at. Once you get past this, however, the experience improves.
Log in to your account, and you can navigate to your race card in seconds. Suggested races to bet on will appear, as well as a list of the most-wagered races that day. You can quickly get to the list of available races, and sort based on starting time, prize pool, race type, and more.
Your betting slip is easy to read, showing how much you’ve risked and how much you stand to win. Overall, we are happy with the user-friendly nature of the site. A more modern interface would be helpful, as would a racebook app to make it easier to bet via mobile.
PointsBet horse betting live streaming
Another quality feature that BetPTC offers is a sophisticated, free live streaming service. The video stream for races is high definition, and it loads quickly on the website.
Once you launch the live stream window, you have a number of options. Toggling between races is fast. If you want to keep track of your betting slip while the race is going, you can have the window display in “mini-player” mode. You also can also watch the race live on the full screen of your device.
You can watch races that you do not have money on, if you are interested in doing some research for upcoming wagers. We found ourselves coming back to experience the live streaming feature, as it’s a definite area of strength for the racebook.
Mobile betting at PointsBet horse racing
As mentioned, PointsBet does not offer a racebook app at the moment. This is true on both iOS and Android devices. It does have a mobile-friendly website, however, so you can still access it that way.
Races you can bet on at PointsBet Racebook
PointsBet, via the BetPTC Racebook, offers a comprehensive listing of races from around the globe. Because it also covers races from countries like the UK and Australia, there is usually something interesting happening, day or night.
This means that you are not bound to only betting on US-based races during the day when the tracks are open. Featured tracks include the following:
- Assiniboia Downs
- Mountaineer Park
- NZ Cambridge
- Yonkers Raceway
- Running Aces Harness
- Woodbine Mohawk Park
- Caliente Eve
- Taree GR
- Hoosier Park Harness
- The Meadows GR
Types of bets you can place at PointsBet Racebook
You can place all the typical bets that you would expect from a horse race betting site. As you might know, there are two primary types of bets that you can make at the track: straight bets and exotic bets. When betting at PointsBet, you have access to the full array of options, from the basic win bet to the risky Pick 6. Here is a breakdown of the most common bets you are likely to see:
[column size=”1/2″ last=”false”]
Straight wagers
- Win: Pick a horse to win the race.
- Place: You win if the horse you pick finishes first or second.
- Show: You win if the horse you pick finishes first, second or third.[/column]
[column size=”1/2″ last=”true”]
Exotic wagers
- Exacta: Pick two horses to finish first and second in a race, and you must get the order correct.
- Quinella: Pick the top two horses in a race, and your picks can finish in either order.
- Trifecta: Top three horses in a race in the correct order.
- Superfecta: Similar to the above, but this time you need to get the top four horses of the race in the correct order.[/column]
PointsBet allows you to modify your wagers with options like a box, key or wheel bet. This will cost more, but it does offer insurance if you are unsure that the race will result in the exact order you wagered on.
- Daily Double: Select the first place winners of two successive races, typically the first two races that day.
- Pick 3/4/5/6: Pick the winners of up to six successive races for a huge potential payday. The Pick 6 wager often will not cash a winner that day, and the prize will roll over to the next.
Other bets at PointsBet
PointsBet’s racebook product is BetPTC Racebook, which PointsBet acquired in 2021. Purchasing an outside product means that it has a dedicated home for its racebook. PointsBet also offers a sportsbook and casino product in its portfolio, depending on whether either of those is legal where you are located.
Currently, there is no shared wallet or loyalty rewards across the three betting products, but that could change at some point. For now, you will have to be content with at least having the option of getting all of your betting done in a single place.
How to deposit and withdraw at PointsBet
PointsBet offers a fair number of options for depositing and withdrawing funds, although we would definitely prefer some additional choices. A major omission is PayPal. However, you should still be able to find something that works. Here are the currently available methods:
- BetPTC Cash — Really, just an ACH transfer that permits players to deposit funds from their bank account directly to their player account. The minimum deposit is $25, and the maximum transfer amount is $500.
- E-wallet — The only e-wallet option available on PointsBet is Dwolla, a lesser-known e-wallet in the online gambling community. The maximum deposit gets upped to $5,000 via this method, but it can take a few days for the money to transfer to your account.
- Credit/debit card — By calling PointsBet’s customer service number, you can fund your account with a Visa or Mastercard. Note that there is a 3.75% card transaction fee that PointsBet passes on to the player.
- Wire transfer — You can deposit via wire transfer by providing an email confirmation to a customer service rep. The minimum amount for a wire transfer is $200, so fairly high compared to other methods.
- Postal mail — You can mail a check directly to PointsBet to fund your account, but this is obviously an extremely slow way to deposit.
- PayNearMe — Visit your local 7-Eleven or CVS to deposit funds using PayNearMe. You will incur a $4 fee for using this service, although the funds do appear in your account instantly.
Here are the options for withdrawing money from your account:
- ACH transfer — You can initiate an ACH transfer to your bank account by visiting your online profile at PointsBet. The maximum withdrawal per transaction is $500, and transfers usually take two to three days.
- Check by mail — Call the PointsBet customer service line to request a withdrawal by check. PointsBet will mail it within five business days.
PointsBet transactions are fully encrypted, and no personal financial details are stored on its servers. The downside is that your favorite method of deposit or withdrawal may not be available to you.
Who can legally bet at PointsBet?
You can bet at the online racebook if you are in an area where it legally operates and if you meet the age requirements for that jurisdiction. In most states where the racebook is legal, that means you’ll need to be 18 or older, and it’s 21 or older in Indiana. At the moment, BetPTC, operating as a PointsBet company, is more restricted than a number of leading legal online racebooks. This could change going forward, but if you reside in any of the following jurisdictions, you cannot legally create an account at BetPTC:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
Residents of Canada are also prohibited from using PointsBet’s racebook product at the moment.
Why to choose PointsBet horse race betting?
Our overall impression of using PointsBet Racebook was a positive one. Despite a somewhat outdated website design and lack of an app, there is a lot to like about it.
The live stream software is excellent, and it makes it easy to track your bets and root on your horses in real time. The availability of bets is convenient, making PointsBet a one-stop shop for any type of wager you would like to make.
Speaking of exotic bets, the 4% cash back on exotic bets is another quality feature. Lastly, BetPTC is a reliable and trusted company, being licensed and regulated in the United States since 2007.