Is sports betting legal in Kentucky? Yes, Kentucky sports betting is now legal after HB 551 was passed on March 31st, 2023. However, sportsbooks in the state must still launch before legal sports betting becomes available. The new law stipulates that the market must be operational within six months of June 28, 2023, which is when the legislation goes into effect.
What are your best choices for wagering in Kentucky over the internet today? Discover whether Kentucky online betting on sports is lawful or not and why.
The newest Kentucky betting promotion and bonuses: Sign up for TVG and get up to $200 back if your first bet doesn’t win. Additionally, get a $25 Bonus for every friend you refer. T&Cs apply.
We expect Kentucky to go live with online sports betting very soon after they legalized betting in March 2023, the state budget is missing out with Kentuckians doing out-of-state betting.
Expected Kentucky Online Betting Promos, Free Bets
| Sportsbooks | Welcome Bonus Expected in Kentucky |
| BetRivers Kentucky | $500 Second Chance Bet, use code USBTRV |
| BetMGM | Up to $1,000 first-bet insurance |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Up to $1,250 back on your first bet |
| DraftKings | Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus. Or up to a $1000 deposit match bonus |
| FanDuel | Bet $5, Get $200 No Matter What promo |
| Barstool Sportsbook | $1,000 No sweat first bet |
Potential Kentucky Sportsbook to Launch in 2023
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- DraftKings
- PointsBet
- FanDuel
BetMGM Sportsbook KY
BetMGM Sportsbook, which is backed by MGM Resorts International and Entain, offers an extensive selection of sports and betting options, though it doesn’t currently have a location or partner in Kentucky. One standout feature is the “edit my bet” function, which allows for more control over wagers than the standard cash-out option.
Caesars Sportsbook KY
Caesars is another major player that doesn’t yet have a Kentucky partner, but if it launches in the state, users can expect a range of bonuses, promotions, and competitive odds. This sportsbook also offers an impressive selection of odds boosts and bet types.
BetRivers Sportsbook KY
Lastly, there’s BetRivers Sportsbook, which is part of Rush Street Interactive and has casino locations in multiple states. If it becomes available in Kentucky, users will have access to the iRush Rewards program, which offers benefits and perks to loyal customers.
Kentucky Horse Race Betting
Undoubtedly, Kentucky is synonymous with horse racing, with a long-standing history of the sport dating back to 1805. The most prestigious and well-known horse race in the country, the Kentucky Derby, is held annually at Churchill Downs, with a tradition that has continued since 1875, serving as the first leg of the Triple Crown.
While Churchill Downs is the most widely recognized track, there are other prominent tracks in the state such as Keeneland, which many experts consider to be on par with Churchill Downs, Pimlico, Belmont, and other top tracks in the US. Additionally, there are several other notable tracks in the state, including the Red Mile in Lexington, Turfway Park in Florence, and Ellis Park in Henderson, with the Red Mile hosting the Kentucky Futurity, the first leg of the Triple Crown of harness racing for trotters.
Kentucky Online Betting and Apps
Kentuckians can also place horse bets online using their mobile devices and computers. Top websites like TVG and TwinSpires, which are based in Kentucky, offer simulcast wagering on races at tracks throughout the country.
Online sportsbooks and casinos are not yet legal in the Bluegrass State and there are no retail sportsbooks outside of racetracks.
Kentucky is surrounded by states that have allowed sports betting, so it is a question of time when the regulation will be in place. Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois are options for Out-of-state betting until Kentucky legalizes betting. When regulation is in place BetMGM, Caesars and DraftKings are among the first online sportsbooks expected to go live in the state.
Betting Sites in Kentucky
As Kentucky online betting remains against state law, many of America’s leading internet sportsbooks are not active here. They can’t accept bettors from the Bluegrass State. What Kentucky can offer you in terms of online betting sites, however, are digital horse racing platforms. TwinSpires, TVG, and AmWager are three top online betting platforms for Kentucky residents.
TwinSpires Racebook KY
TwinSpires is owned by Churchill Downs and is considered one of the best options for horse race betting. It offers a user-friendly platform, live streaming of races, and a variety of betting options. Users can also take advantage of special promotions and bonuses. Twinspires has betting markets on over 300 racetracks, including Churchill Downs in the Bluegrass State.
TVG Racebook KY
TVG is another popular platform that specializes in horse race betting. It offers live streaming of races from over 150 tracks worldwide, including Kentucky tracks like Churchill Downs and Keeneland. TVG also provides a variety of betting options and offers promotions and rewards programs for its users.
AmWager Racebook KY
AmWager is a newer platform but has quickly gained popularity among horse racing enthusiasts. It offers a unique and customizable betting interface, which allows users to tailor their betting experience to their preferences. AmWager also provides live streaming of races, a variety of betting options, and competitive odds.
Best Apps in Kentucky
With no legalized Kentucky betting for sports wagers save horse racing, few mobile apps are available to you. Here are the best for gambling on horses:
- TwinSpires is Kentucky’s official online and mobile betting platform, with a user-friendly interface and a wide selection of betting options. It also offers live streaming of horse races and expert handicapping tools. Twinspires operates out of Churchill Downs itself, so this app is the official betting platform of the Kentucky Derby.
- TVG is another popular racebook app in Kentucky, offering live streaming of horse races and expert analysis. It also has a user-friendly interface and a variety of betting options, including exotic wagers. TVG offers free horse racing picks and data to help you with handicapping.
- Xpressbet is known for its fast and secure mobile betting platform, as well as its competitive odds and expert handicapping resources. It makes great use of equine workouts and barrier trials alongside mobile-friendly wagering and offers live streaming of races and a variety of betting options.
Top Land-Based Sportsbooks in Kentucky
Due to strict gambling laws governing betting in Kentucky, there are no land-based sportsbooks or casinos within the Commonwealth that are off-track. Parimutuel horse racing wagers can be placed at one of the Bluegrass State’s many racetracks, however. These include Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, Keeneland, Kentucky Downs, and Turfway Park. For off-track betting services (OTBs), you will have to visit neighboring states where general sports gambling is legal.
Betting Bonuses in Kentucky
If you’re betting in Kentucky on horse races, these are welcome offer types available:
- New Customer Bonus: Offered to new users upon signing up for a sportsbook or racebook. It can include free bets, deposit matches, or risk-free bets.
- Free Bets: A type of bonus that gives you a certain amount of free bets to use on a sportsbook.
- No Sweat Bet / “Refund if lose as Free Bet”: This type of bonus has many names, and is generally the most common time of offer at Kentucky sportsbooks. A type of welcome bonus that refunds a user’s first bet up to a certain amount if it loses.
- No Deposit Bonus: This offers you a bonus when signing up without requiring any deposit. This bonus is typically smaller in value than other bonuses.
- Odds Boost: A promotion that increases the payout odds for a specific bet, providing users with higher potential winnings.
Top Three Offers in Kentucky
Look out for these Kentucky online betting offers for horse racing when you’re wagering:
- Loyalty bonuses are your reward if you gamble every week.
- Non-runner no-bet deals guarantee you a run for your money.
- Price boosts can enhance the odds for your favorite horses.
Professional Teams in Kentucky
There are no major professional sports teams for wagering in Kentucky currently. Horse racing is huge in the Bluegrass State, however, with Churchill Downs in Louisville home to America’s most famous race, the Kentucky Derby. Keeneland in Lexington is another major venue for horse racing in the US.
Kentucky Sports Betting FAQ
Unless it is on horse racing, then no you cannot do betting in Kentucky over the internet. Online sports and has yet to go live.
Online Kentucky betting is legal since the Bluegrass State authorities legalized betting in March 2023. Sportsbooks are now waiting to get the final go and launch date, to start offering Kentuckians online sports wagering, which all their neighbor states take for granted.
Yes, you can gamble on horse racing from the age of 18 if you want a spot of wagering in Kentucky. This is the minimum legal betting age.
There are proposals for taxing Kentucky online betting if it ever gets approved by the state authority. These suggest you would have to pay 14.25% on any winnings made from internet gambling. Any wagering done in person would be taxed at 9.75%. On Kentucky’s racetracks, you pay 3-3.5%.