Over these next few days PA residents looking to place a bet on the Kentucky Derby will be seeing plenty of advertisements for TwinSpires.com. But remember, you must provide TwinSpires with your social security number and they are obligated to report your earnings. Sites like BetUS (established 1994) do not ask for your social security number. They also offer a generous welcome bonus (max bonus $2500).
While Pennsylvania residents can play on TwinSpires.com, they must be prepared to provide their social security number and understand that TwinSpires submits tax information to the U.S. Government. While gamblers are certainly encouraged to pay their taxes on winnings, offering up one's social security number has its risks. An international racebook like BetUS, which has been in business since 1994, might be a better option as they do not request your social security number or report to the IRS.
TwinSpires recently acquired the dreadful low converting BetAmerica website in PA and has now re-branded it as TwinSpires. A retail BetAmerica sportsbook opened at Presque Isle in summer 2019. An online sportsbook followed in Dec. 2019 with a BetAmerica online casino launching in Jan. 2020, but the numbers just weren't there.
In fact, BetAmerica ranked 12th out of 16 sportsbooks in PA in handle for March with $4.7 million.
TwinSpires will now offer an app to those in Pennsylvania. It will incorporate the sports betting and online casino product as well.
The TwinSpires sports betting app is also live in Colorado, Michigan, and Tennessee. Churchill Downs Inc. owns or operates retail gambling properties in eight US states, some of which do not yet license online sports wagering.
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
