However, those opposed to gambling were able to successfully ban bookmakers at the turn of the 20th century, which led to the introduction of parimutuel wagering in 1908. By the late 1800’s, horse racing was firmly entrenched as an American institution with over 300 tracks in operation, most of which took bets. The legality of betting on horse racing varies state by state, but its origins date back to the 19th century when the sport first became prevalent in the U.S.
