Legal online sports betting has officially arrived in Kentucky! The Bluegrass State launched its online wagering market on the morning of September 28, 2023, and bettors located in the state are now free to sign up with any of Kentuckys numerous mobile sports betting operators while claiming a bevy of sportsbook promo codes in the process.

The first group of licensed Kentucky sports betting operators were officially approved by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on August 22. DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, Circa, BetMGM, ESPN BET, Fanatics, and Caesars all made the cut, and the majority of those operators are now live and accepting action in the state following the launch. In fact, new Kentucky players can claim a handful exclusive welcome offers at Fanatics Kentucky, BetMGM Kentucky,FanDuel Kentucky, bet365 Kentucky, and Caesars Kentucky right now by clicking on any of the links below. Read on for more details.

In terms of Kentuckys two-part launch, retail sports betting came first in the process when the state’s horse tracks opened their sportsbooks and began taking in-person bets on September 7, 2023. Three weeks later, online sports betting followed on September 28, allowing Kentucky bettors 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 Kentucky Sports Betting

• Kentucky Sports Betting Breakdown
• Kentucky Sports Betting Today
• Best Kentucky Sports Betting Promos
• Retail Sportsbooks in Kentucky
• How to Choose Which Kentucky Sportsbook to Use
• How to Sign Up With a Kentucky Sportsbook
• Kentucky Sports Betting Legislation Timeline
• What Is The Legal Age To Bet in Kentucky?
• Kentucky Horse Racing Betting
• Kentucky Daily Fantasy Sports Options
• What Sports Can I Bet on in Kentucky?
• What Payment Options Can I Use on Kentucky Sports Betting Sites?
• Kentucky Sports Betting FAQs

Kentucky Sports Betting Breakdown

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission met several times over the last handful of months to fine-tune the details of the latest 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 would go live on the NFL opener, with online sports betting following three weeks later. Your favorite horse racing tracks would 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 still only be able to wager on the Kentucky Derby at a horse racing book like TwinSpires or FanDuel Racing. Additionally, now that online sports betting is live in Kentucky, bettors will need to turn on the geolocation feature on their phone or install a geolocation plugin on their computer to ensure that they are within state lines.

Kentucky Sports Betting Today (1/26)

Now that both online and retail wagering are officially live in the Bluegrass State, it could be beneficial for bettors to keep tabs on the state’s local sports teams. While Kentucky is unfortunately not home to any professional teams, it does house its fair share of college programs. Check out what’s on tap this week:

• The Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team plays at 6:00 pm ET on Saturday against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
• The Kentucky Wildcats women’s team plays against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday at 5:00 pm ET.
• The Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team faces the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday at 12:00 PM ET.
• The Louisville Cardinals women’s basketball team plays against the Pittsburgh Panthers on Sunday at 2:00 pm ET.

Latest Kentucky Sports Futures Odds

Odds are accurate as of January 26, 2024, and are subject to change.

Best Kentucky Sports Betting Promotions & Bonuses

Now that Kentucky online sports betting is live, new users can officially register for an account and claim a number of lucrative welcome bonuses. As long as this is your first time signing up at any of the sportsbooks mentioned below and you are located in the state of Kentucky at the time of wagering, you should be good to go.

Claim any of Kentuckys exclusive new-user welcome offers today by clicking on the link in the Bet Now column adjacent to the operator of your choice.

BetMGM Sportsbook Kentucky: Get an exclusive $1,500 first bet offer

4First look at the BetMGM Kentucky desktop websiteNew users in Kentucky will get to choose between two incredible offers from BetMGM KY when they register for an account using the bonus code NPBONUS (Bet $5, get $158 Paid Back in Bonus Bets!).

The first option is a first bet offer that returns the amount you bet if your first wager loses. New users can get $158 back in bonus bets. Use the BetMGM KY bonus code NPBONUS to claim this offer.

BetMGM Sportsbook KY 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 KY. 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 KY has emerged as one of the most popular online sportsbooks in the country.

More recently, BetMGM KY secured a partnership with Revolutionary Racing Kentucky and will b opening a retail sportsbook at the brand new Sandy’s Gaming & Racing facility this fall in Ashland, Kentucky.

bet365 Sportsbook Kentucky: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets or A $1K First Bet Safety Net

4bet365 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.

bet365 Kentucky is offering new users to choose between two signup offers when they register today usingthe bonus code NYP365. This offer will net players a Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets special that pays out regardless of whether or not the promotional $5 wager wins or loses or a $2,000 First Bet Safety Net. Simply register for an account with bet365 KY, lock in a $5+ wager on any market and receive $150 or up to $2,000 in bonus bets (must be a loss) shortly after settlement.

The bet365 bonus code and its existing customer promotions are major selling points for the sportsbook. Some of the sites offers for active players include things like rewarding users with bonus bets after losing wagers, parlay boosts, and early payout offers. All things considered, bet365 Kentucky will quickly become a crowd favorite in the Bluegrass State.

FanDuel Sportsbook Kentucky: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets

4After rising to prominence in the daily fantasy sports world, FanDuel Sportsbook is now a giant in legal sports betting – and there is little doubt that things will be any different now that the brand is live and accepting action in Kentucky.

New users can get started with FanDuel Kentucky today and take advantage of an incredible welcome offers:

FanDuel Kentuckys for new users is a simple Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets offer, similar to the sites welcome bonus available in other states. With this offer, players will receive their $150 in bonus bets. Simply register using this link, bet $5 or more on any market, and take home a slew of bonus bets to begin your time with FanDuel Sportsbook Kentucky!

Fanatics Sportsbook Kentucky: Bet $100, Get $100 FanCash Every Day for 10 Days!

You may have heard of Fanatics from its sports apparel empire, but the brand has also recently entered the iGaming world and will undoubtedly play a major role in the Kentucky sports betting market. The apparel giants sports betting arm is already considered a big player in the online betting space after launching in a handful of states aside from Kentucky, including Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Ohio, Virginia, and Vermont.

First-time players can claim the Fanatics Sportsbook Kentucky promo code by clicking on this link. After successfully signing up, make your initial deposit and place your first wager of $10, get $100 in FanCash over your first ten days.

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.

Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky: Get up to $1,000 Paid Back in Bonus Bets!

Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky is high on this list for many reasons, starting with the fact that it offers one of the best new-customer offers available at any of the legal online sportsbooks.

Now that Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky is officially live, first-time users can register using the Caesars KY promo code NPBONUS1000 to unlock an exclusive Get up $1,000 Paid Back in Bonus Bets welcome package!

Simply create an account with Caesars KY using the promo code NPBONUS1000, lock in a first wager up to $1,000 and receive the same amount back in bonus bets if your bet settles as a loss.

In addition to its strong welcome offer, Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky has relatively high betting limits and an extensive selection of betting markets, so there’s something for everyone. The Caesars Sportsbook KY website makes it easy for users to bet online, and it also has one of the best sports betting apps in the game.

ESPN BET

ESPN BET has now gone live after a groundbreaking deal with PENN Entertainment. ESPN BET Kentucky should be successful and it’s anticipated to compete with the top sportsbooks in the country.

With the promo code NYPOST, new users can make any sportsbook bet and get $150 in bonus bets.

• Get the ESPN BET promo code

DraftKings Sportsbook Kentucky

4Similar 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 will likely claim a big chunk of market share in Kentucky due to its high brand recognition and overall quality.

Circa Sportsbook Kentucky

The online sportsbook that hails from the Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas had its license to launch in Kentucky approved, meaning Circa Sportsbook Kentucky will be coming sometime this fall.

Circa Sportsbook doesn’t have the national spread that sportsbooks like FanDuel or BetMGM do, but they have been working on expansion this year. Circa Sportsbook is currently in Colorado, Nevada, and Iowa. Kentucky looks like it’ll be the fourth state for the sportsbook, which will likely have a Circa Sportsbook Kentucky promo code once live.

Betr Sportsbook Kentucky

Betr Sportsbook has secured market access for its platform in Kentucky. This means that the operator could soon launch in the Bluegrass State. Betr Sportsbook will be another new offering after the company debuted its Betr Picks fantasy sports product in 2023. We’ll keep you posted on all the upcoming details regarding Betr Sportsbook Kentucky.

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 made it official early 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 now that sports betting is legal in Kentucky.

Ellis Park has made a deal with PENN Entertainment, meaning ESPN BET will be the retail sportsbook at that location once the sportsbook is live in the fall. Another new sportsbook, Fanatics, has partnered with Oak Grove Racing and Gaming to be their retail sportsbook.

BetMGM has partnered with Sandy Ridge, and DraftKings with Cumberland Run. We expect more partnerships in the retail sports betting industry of Kentucky to be announced in the near future.

Differences Between Kentucky Mobile Betting and Retail Sports Betting

There are quite a few differences between the online sports betting and retail sports betting markets in Kentucky. For one, retail sportsbooks went live on September 7, three weeks earlier than online sportsbooks did, meaning local bettors were forced to bet the first few weeks of the 2023/24 NFL season at retail sports betting locations.

Another aspect of retail sports betting in Kentucky is that bettors are only able to wager at one sportsbook at a time. Since Red Mile has partnered with Caesars, bettors who go there are only able to bet on Caesars markets. Luckily, most sports betting companies have similar odds for sporting events, but it is something to consider.

Lastly, Kentucky online sports betting launched on September 28, and with that arrived more than enough options for local bettors. Mobile sports betting gives users the option of having multiple sports betting apps at hand at a time, and also allows bettors to place wagers from the comfort of their own home.

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 KY and FanDuel KY 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:

77. 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 Kentucky.
78. Click the bet365 KY link embedded in this article.
79. Click Bet Now once you’re on bet365 KY.
80. Read the terms and conditions and enter the required personal details.
81. Accept the terms and conditions and join.
82. Deposit the minimum of $10 to claim bet365 KY’s new customer offer.
83. Make a $1 bet on any bet365 KY sports market and get started. Even though we used bet365 KY as the example here, the sign-up process will be very similar for other Kentucky online sportsbooks. With BetMGM KY, Caesars KY, 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: Online sports betting officially launches in Kentucky. As a result, mobile sports betting becomes accessible on bettors’ phones, including out-of-state residents who are in the state temporarily.
• Sept. 7, 2023: Legalized in-person sports betting officially goes live in Kentucky at numerous retail locations.
• Aug. 28, 2023: Pre-registration for online sports betting in Kentucky begins.
• Aug. 22, 2023: The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission officially approves various mobile and retail sportsbook operators to launch in Kentucky.
• 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 just 18 years old, however, many sportsbooks have opted to restrict access to those under the age of 21.

For example, bettors in Kentucky must be at least 21+ years of age in order to register and place legal wagers with Caesars Kentucky, BetMGM Kentucky, and FanDuel Kentucky.

On the contrary, users who are at least 18 years old will be permitted to sign up and place bets with both bet365 Kentucky and DraftKings Kentucky.

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+14 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 wagering going on at these racetracks were in-person bets on horse racing. That has since changed with sports betting now legal in Kentucky, as many of the horse racing tracks have already partnered with major sportsbooks. Caesars KY has agreements with Keeneland and Red Mile racetracks, while FanDuel KY has reached a deal with Churchill Downs. Sports bettors are now able to go to those racetracks and place bets on other sports and events.

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

Although mobile sports betting is now permitted in Kentucky, daily fantasy sports is still rising in popularity throughout the United States and may be a better fit for certain players. Many Kentucky sports fans are already familiar with FanDuel DFS 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 plenty of 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 Kentuckys sports betting market. 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 now fully legal in Kentucky! Kentucky sports betting officially opened at retail sportsbooks on September 7, 2023. Online sports betting followed suit on September 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 ultimately set by the sportsbook so it may not be the same across the board.

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

No, you do not. Sports betting in Kentucky is 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. If opting to place wagers online instead, the selection of Kentucky mobile operators includes BetMGM KY, FanDuel KY, Caesars KY, Fanatics KY, and bet365 KY, among others.

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 FanDuel KY, BetMGM KY, and Fanatics KY (to name a few) now available in the Bluegrass State, there are more than enough options for Kentucky sports bettors to choose from.