Kentucky Sports Betting: Updates & Launch Info

Legal sports betting is right around the corner in Kentucky. Once mobile sports betting launches in September, bettors can expect to have a bevy of sportsbook promo codes and wagering options. The final step toward legalization was HB 551 passing the state legislature in March, effectively legalizing sports betting and paving the way for the official launch in September.

Retail sports betting will come first in the process when the state’s horse tracks open their sportsbooks and start taking bets on September 7. Three weeks later, online sports betting will launch on September 28, so bettors will be able to wager on their phones right in the thick of college football and the NFL season.

Not in Kentucky? Check out all the offers available in your state below.

More on the Upcoming Kentucky Sports Betting Launch

How Will Kentucky Sportsbooks Look?

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has met several times over the last handful of months to fine-tune the details of the new Kentucky sports betting law. After the passing of Kentucky sports betting bill HB 551 in the state legislature, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission determined that sports betting will go live on the NFL opener, with online sports betting legal three weeks later. Your favorite horse racing tracks will house in-person sportsbooks under the Kentucky sports betting law. The Kentucky state legislature gave the horse racing tracks exclusive rights to house sportsbooks, as well as established gaming locations like Derby City Gaming. Each track has the option to partner with up to three online sportsbook partners, which means that up to 27 online sportsbooks could end up in Kentucky, though we expect the final number to be lower than that.

It’s important to point out that horse racing betting is considered separate from regular sports betting in Kentucky, so you will only be able to wager on the Kentucky Derby at a horse racing sportsbook like TwinSpires, TVG, or FanDuel Racing. Additionally, once online sports betting goes live in late September, bettors will need to turn on the location feature on their phone or install a geolocation plugin on their computer to ensure that they are within Kentucky state lines.

Best Kentucky Sports Betting Promos

Although each of the sportsbook brands expected to launch in Kentucky have yet to announce their official new-user promotions for residents located in the Bluegrass State, players can anticipate similar bonuses to the ones previously offered in other jurisdictions:

BetMGM Sportsbook Kentucky

BetMGM Sportsbook comes in as arguably the most established and trusted online sports betting site in the United States. It is not hard for newcomers to get started on BetMGM. The online sportsbook has an easily navigable desktop website and a user-friendly mobile app that sports bettors enjoy. All the sports markets are neatly laid out and easy to locate. Add in the fact that it has a great sign-up offer and ongoing promotions, and it’s no wonder why BetMGM has emerged as one of the most popular online sportsbooks in the country.

bet365 Sportsbook Kentucky

bet365 is one of the leading international sportsbooks, so it comes to the table with tons of experience. The biggest selling point for bet365 is its wide variety of betting markets. Because of its international presence, bet365 caters to a far larger user base than most American sportsbooks and that means it offers more events to wager on.

The bet365 bonus code and new customer promotions are also a big selling point of the sportsbook, which include things like rewarding users with bonus bets after losing wagers, parlay boosts, and early payout offers. bet365 is rapidly expanding in the United States and it should be one of the best Kentucky sports betting sites once the market goes live.

FanDuel Sportsbook Kentucky

After rising to prominence in the daily fantasy sports world, FanDuel Sportsbook is now a giant in legal sports betting. Even a novice sports bettor can notice how accessible and simple FanDuel is, and it should be extremely popular after the Kentucky sports betting launch. The online sportsbook has a massive geographic reach in the United States and also leads the way when it comes to marketing its product. It has partnerships with major North American sports leagues, professional sports teams, media companies and personalities, so it knows how to get the word out.

With a strong new customer offer, daily bonuses and plenty of betting markets, FanDuel is a worthwhile choice for sports betting in Kentucky. Be sure to check out the best FanDuel sign-up offer before signing up for an account in order to get the freshest new customer promotion available.

Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky

Caesars Sportsbook is high on this list for many reasons, starting with the fact that it offers the biggest new-customer offer available on any of the legal online sportsbooks. The standard Caesars promo code instantly unlocks up to $1,250 in bonus bets if your first bet doesn’t win, and a similar offer could be coming to Kentucky.

Additionally, Caesars Sportsbook has relatively high betting limits and an extensive selection of betting markets, so there’s something for everyone. The Caesars Sportsbook website makes it easy for users to bet online, and it also has one of the best sports betting apps in the game. In total, Caesars should be a great fit for Kentucky sports betting.

Fanatics Sportsbook Kentucky

You may have heard of Fanatics from its sports apparel empire, but the brand has also recently entered the iGaming world and we expect it to play a major role in the Kentucky sports betting market. The giant sports company is poised to be a big player in the online betting space after launching in a handful of states recently, including Tennessee and Ohio.

Fanatics Sportsbook has the backing of the Fanatics brand, which is one of the reasons why it is such a high-quality sports betting site. It has all the different types of wagers that bettors love, lots of sports markets, and enticing bonuses, so it should be a big player in Kentucky sports betting. Grab a Fanatics Sportsbook promo code and check out the latest sportsbook to hit the market when it comes to Kentucky.

WynnBET Sportsbook Kentucky

WynnBET Sportsbook will serve as another fantastic option for sports betting in Kentucky. Competitive odds are the top attraction for WynnBET and it often has spreads and totals priced with a little more value than other sports betting sites. It also has a very user-friendly app.

The biggest downside for WynnBET is that it does not offer quite as many sports markets as other online sportsbooks. However, this shouldn’t be a significant problem if you plan to bet on mainstream professional and college sports. When sports betting becomes legal in Kentucky, WynnBET Sportsbook will be a great place to check out.

DraftKings Sportsbook Kentucky

Similar to FanDuel, DraftKings got its start as a daily fantasy sports company but has since moved into the sports betting space. DraftKings has soared in popularity and also has partnerships with major sports leagues like the NBA and NFL. Since it began catering to a more novice sports betting user base in the daily fantasy sports world, the user experience on DraftKings is very comfortable. Its sports markets are easy to find, its promotions are easy to understand, and the interface is clean. DraftKings should take up a big market share in Kentucky sports betting because of its high brand recognition and overall quality.

Expected Retail Sportsbooks in Kentucky

The expected retail sportsbooks are mainly horse racing tracks, so they are already very familiar with betting in Kentucky. Two racetracks have already made it official as Keeneland and The Red Mile have partnered with Caesars Sportsbook, meaning bettors can go there to bet with Caesars in person.

Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen publicly stated in April that Churchill Downs will partner with FanDuel, so Louisville residents should keep an eye on that once sports betting is legal in Kentucky. Other horse racing tracks like Kentucky Downs and Ellis Park will likely offer sports betting as well and with so many sports betting companies in the state, anticipate more retail sportsbooks to emerge.

Differences Between Kentucky Mobile Betting and Retail Sports Betting

There will be some significant differences between online sports betting and retail sports betting in Kentucky. For one, retail sportsbooks will go into operation on September 7, three weeks earlier than online sportsbooks, which means if you’re looking to bet on Week 1 of the NFL season, it will have to be at a retail sports betting location.

Another aspect of retail sports betting in Kentucky is that bettors will only be able to wager at one sportsbook. Since Red Mile has partnered with Caesars, bettors who go there will only be able to bet on Caesars markets. Luckily, most sports betting companies have similar odds for sporting events, but it is something to consider. Kentucky online sports betting launches on September 28, and with that comes more than enough options for local bettors. Mobile sports betting gives you the option of having multiple sports betting apps on your phone, and you can just make your bets from the comfort of your couch.

How to Choose Which Kentucky Sportsbook to Use

There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a sportsbook, especially if you are relatively new to sports betting (check out this guide to all the sports betting terms and lingo). Sign-up offers, competitive odds, and the mobile app experience should all go into your decision of which sportsbook to use.

• Parlay Betting: A parlay bet combines two or more different wagers into one bet, and the only way you win is if all the legs of the parlay bet win. Parlay wins are more difficult to pull off, but when they do win the payouts are way higher than a normal bet. Some sportsbooks offer same game parlays, and good example of that would be parlaying the Bengals to win and for Ja’Marr Chase to score a touchdown. If both of those things happen, the parlay bet would win and it would be more lucrative than those bets winning separately.
• Competitive Odds & Odds Boosts: Not every sportsbook has the exact same odds, because one spread bet could be priced at -110 on one sportsbook and -105 somewhere else. Also look for odds boosts, which is when sportsbooks raise the odds on a bet to increase the potential returns of your wager.
• Strong Bonus Bet Welcome Offer: You can only sign up for a new sportsbook once, so you might as well try to get as many bonus bets as possible. Shop around to see which new customer offer is best for you.
• Promos For Existing Users: Some sportsbooks will offer promotions for existing users that are often similar to their new customer offers. Not every sportsbook does it though, so don’t expect existing user bonuses everywhere.
• Easy-to-use Mobile App: Nobody wants to deal with a bad mobile app, particularly if you’re using it for sports wagering. Live betting can be extremely frustrating if the sportsbook app has a poorly-designed interface or is consistently lagging.
• Competent Customer Service: Pretty straightforward here. If you’re locked out of your account or there’s a payment issue, you want someone on the line who can help you with your problem and get it fixed. Bigger sports betting companies like BetMGM and FanDuel tend to excel in this area because they have a large number of support staff.

How to Sign Up With a Kentucky Sportsbook

For someone who isn’t very familiar with sports betting, signing up for an online sports betting site can feel daunting at times. There are so many to choose from, and even once you’ve taken that step, all the promotions and sports betting terminology can feel overwhelming. Here’s a helpful guideline on how to sign up with a sportsbook so you can bet online:

1. The first step is deciding which online sportsbook you want to sign up with. To make this more simple, let’s just say you decide to go with bet365.
2. Click the bet365 link embedded in this article.
3. Click ‘Bet Now’ once you’re on bet365.
4. Read the terms and conditions and enter the required personal details.
5. Accept the terms and conditions and join.
6. Deposit the minimum of $10 to claim bet365’s new customer offer.
7. Make a $1 bet on any bet365 sports market and get started.

Even though we used bet365 as the example here, the sign-up process will be very similar for other Kentucky online sportsbooks. With BetMGM, Caesars, and other online sports betting sites, you will have to click the sign-up link, complete the necessary onboarding steps, and then claim the new customer offer.

Kentucky Sports Betting Legislation Timeline

• Sept. 28, 2023: The online sports betting launch will happen in Kentucky. This means mobile sports betting will be available on bettors’ phones, including out-of-state residents who are in the state temporarily.
• Sept. 7, 2023: Legalized sports betting will officially go live in Kentucky in retail locations.
• July 17, 2023: Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear creates a Sports Wagering Advisory Council via an executive order, which will help the state oversee retail and online sports betting in the state.
• July 10, 2023: The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission announces KY sports betting will go live on Sept. 7 in retail locations, and that KY online sports betting will go live three weeks later on Sept. 28. The retail launch is just in time for the Detroit Lions vs. the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL season opener.
• July 6, 2023: It was announced by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission that there will be a meeting on July 10 determine the rules and the launch date for Kentucky sports betting.
• June 15, 2023: State senator Damon Thayer says that he believes the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is expecting legal sports betting in Kentucky by the time the 2023 NFL season kicks off.
• May 16, 2023: Caesars Sportsbook announces that it has entered into sports betting partnerships with Keeneland and Red Mile racetracks.
• May 5, 2023: In an earnings call, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said he believes that lawmakers will have a timeline set for the legal sports betting launch in Kentucky by the time DraftKings has its next earnings call in August.
• April 27, 2023: Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen tells WDRB that Churchill Downs has agreed to a partnership with FanDuel Sportsbook.

• March 31, 2023: Sports betting passed when Governor Andy Beshear signed HB 551 into law. This was the final step to legalize sports betting in Kentucky.
• March 30, 2023: HB 551 cleared the Kentucky State Senate by a 25-12 vote, which paved the way to legalize sports betting. The bill needed 23 votes to pass sports betting legislation.
• March 14, 2023: The Kentucky State Senate receives HB 551.
• March 13, 2023: HB 551 passes the Kentucky State House by a vote of 63-34, which was the first step to legalize sports betting in the state.
• Feb. 22, 2023: Kentucky sports betting bill HB 551 was introduced in the Kentucky State House. This bill would legalize online sports betting and sports wagering at retail locations.

What Is The Legal Age To Bet in Kentucky?

The legal gambling age in Kentucky is 18 years old, but many sportsbooks have announced that they will still restrict access to those under the age of 21.

Kentucky Horse Racing Betting

Horse racing has been a huge part of the identity of the Bluegrass State for well over 100 years and in that time, horse racing betting was the only form of sports gambling that was legal in Kentucky. People love betting on the ponies, and Kentuckians have many horse racing betting options with five thoroughbred horse racing tracks and three harness tracks in the state.

The five thoroughbred tracks are Churchill Downs (Louisville), Ellis Park (Henderson), Kentucky Downs (Franklin), Keeneland (Lexington), and Turfway Park (Florence), and the three harness tracks are Bluegrass Downs (Paducah), Red Mile (Lexington) and Thunder Ridge Raceway in Prestonburg.

The Kentucky Derby is the marquee event on the horse racing calendar. Every May, three-year-old thoroughbreds race 1+1⁄4 miles to win “The Run for the Roses” because the winning horse gets donned with a blanket of roses. Of course, not everyone at the Kentucky Derby is a die-hard horse racing fan, as many who attend the event at Churchill Downs come in extravagant outfits and outlandish hats to celebrate the Derby. It’s the best way to drink a mint julep!

For years, the only sports wagering going on at these racetracks were in-person bets on horse racing. That is about to change with sports betting legal in Kentucky, because many of the horse racing tracks have already partnered with major sportsbooks. Caesars has agreements with Keeneland and Red Mile racetracks, while FanDuel has reached a deal with Churchill Downs. Sports bettors will be able to go to those racetracks and place bets on other sports once sports betting goes live in Kentucky on Sept. 7, 2023.

TwinSpires Racebook

TwinSpires is the sports betting leader for horse racing. Named after the two iconic spires at Churchill Downs, the TwinSpires online racebook offers horse racing bets from races around the world and features all sorts of bets like win, place, and exacta. It also comes to the table with awesome bonuses, which they promote a lot during the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Daily Fantasy Sports Options

If you are looking for a sports betting fix before it is officially legal in Kentucky, daily fantasy sports is the way to go. Many Kentucky sports fans are already familiar with FanDuel and DraftKings DFS, but there are more than just those two titans in the daily fantasy sports world.

PrizePicks and Boom Fantasy are also great options for DFS players. Both platforms offer fun bonuses and have daily fantasy competitions in all of the major American sports, and even if you are unfamiliar with daily fantasy sports, PrizePicks and Boom Fantasy make it easy for newcomers to get acclimated.

What Sports Can I Bet on in Kentucky?

You can bet on any sports market out there, from collegiate sports to international soccer. College football and college basketball are king in Kentucky, and college sports betting should receive a huge amount of the handle. The University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville get the most attention as the major college sports teams in the state, but Western Kentucky, Murray State, Bellarmine, and Northern Kentucky University should get some action as well, especially if they make it to March Madness, the annual NCAA basketball Tournament. There are no major professional sports teams in Kentucky, but obviously the Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Reds both have a large presence in the Bluegrass State since they are just across the river in Ohio.

While they may not be as popular as college sports, fans in Kentucky can wager on all the top professional sports leagues, including the NBA, NHL, MLB, PGA Tour, and, of course, the NFL. 

Kentucky Sports Teams to Bet on

While Kentucky is definitely short on professional sports teams, the state is home to two of college basketball’s most iconic programs:

Kentucky Wildcats

Few, if any, college basketball programs are at the level of the Kentucky Wildcats. Their eight NCAA championships are second to only UCLA, and the program continues to be strong under head coach John Calipari. The Wildcats are not a football powerhouse, but head football coach Mark Stoops has established them as a tough, gritty team that usually makes a bowl game.

Louisville Cardinals

Louisville may not have as deep of a basketball history as Kentucky, but it still has three NCAA championships and won it all more recently in 2013. The Cardinals have also been much more exciting on the gridiron, highlighted by Teddy Bridgewater leading Louisville to a Sugar Bowl victory in 2013 and Lamar Jackson winning the 2016 Heisman Trophy.

What Payment Options Can I Use on Kentucky Sports Betting Sites?

There are many deposit and withdrawal options for Kentucky online sports betting. These sports betting sites want to meet their bettors where they are at, so they provide a lot of simple ways to add and take out money from your sportsbook account, ranging from your credit card to PayPal.

Deposit Options

• Credit Card/Debit Card
• Bank Transfer
• Wire Transfer
• PayPal
• PayNearMe
• Cash at the counter
• eCheck

Withdrawal Options

• Bank Transfer
• Credit Card/Debit Card
• PayPal
• Cash at the counter
• Wire Transfer
• PayNearMe
• eCheck

Kentucky Sports Betting FAQs

Check out some of the industry’s most popular questions regarding the upcoming Kentucky sports betting launch down below. For specific inquiries regarding a certain operator, be sure to check out the detailed FAQ section available on that brand’s app or website.

Is Kentucky sports betting legal yet?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Kentucky, but it is not yet available due to the ongoing regulatory process needed to make the rules and get things up and running. Kentucky sports betting will officially be available in retail sportsbooks on Sept. 7, 2023. Online sports betting will be available in Kentucky on Sept. 28, right in the thick of college football and the NFL season.

Is there a minimum deposit for Kentucky sports betting?

Many KY sports betting sites will require a $10 initial deposit, but the minimum deposit is set by the sportsbook so it may not be the same across the board.

Will I need to be a resident of Kentucky to place a sports bet?

Sports betting in Kentucky will be available to anyone of legal gambling age located within state lines.

Where can I wager in Kentucky?

You can wager anywhere within the state lines of Kentucky that has Internet access. If you prefer an in-person Kentucky sports betting experience, you can go to Keeneland or Red Mile, among others. It is important to note that online casino gaming is not legal in Kentucky.

What is the best Kentucky Sportsbook?

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that same principle applies for the best Kentucky sportsbook. With BetMGM, Caesars, and bet365 (to name a few) soon to be available in the Bluegrass State, there are more than enough options for Kentucky sports betting.