Betting on horse racing dates back centuries, and is one of the oldest forms of sport and gambling known to man. It is believed that the betting of horse placement in a race started in the 1600s in the United Kingdom, and has been a fixture for gamblers ever since.
Horse racing takes place on every continent in the world, even in some countries where gambling is prohibited. Why is this? It is because some jurisdictions consider wagering on a horse race as a parimutuel bet, which means you are betting on the placement of the top three horses. Today, betting on horse racing is still one of the most popular ways to gamble on sports. With the increased usage of online sports books, horse racing is as accessible as ever.
There are even virtual horse races that are held by online sports books, which consist of a field of computer generated and controlled horses. Although you can now place a wager from your mobile phone or computer, horse racing is always a sport that is best enjoyed in person.