KY gambling is undergoing something of a revolution right now, and our guide is here to tell you all about it. Good news for all sports betting fans in the Bluegrass State.
You’ll shortly be able to enjoy online gambling in Kentucky with one of several legal sportsbooks. This means that you’ll get to bet on a huge number of sports and pick up some generous promo offers to get you started. Our guide will help you find the best online gambling platforms in KY.
Check out the best online gambling platforms in Kentucky
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY).Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). 1 per new customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $150 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: Promos | DraftKings Sportsbook. Ends 4/13/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK
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Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply.
Understanding the basics of online gambling in Kentucky
At last the bill for mobile sports betting was passed earlier on in 2023, and this means that legal sports betting is now here in the Bluegrass State. You can already place your bets at one of the physical sportsbooks dotted around the state, but the biggest change comes when mobile sports betting goes live at 6am on September 28.
What can you bet on in KY?
You will be able to use any one of the regulated betting apps to bet on a massive number of sporting events from the convenience of your smartphone or tablet. These include all of the pro leagues like NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB, as well as local college sports which is definitely good news for fans of the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky. Just note that betting on high school sports is not permitted in Kentucky.
Regulation
Sports betting in Kentucky will be overseen by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission who had the job of issuing licenses to the physical sports betting outlets. Each of these is able to have up to three skins for online operators which means that we could enjoy anywhere up to 27 online sportsbooks in the Bluegrass State.
Eligibility
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission will be given the task of ensuring that nobody under the age of 18 years will be allowed to bet on sport. Plus it's worth noting that each individual sportsbook will have their own minimum age requirements which often means that you’ll have to be at least 21 years or older to use their apps. Such information will be checked during signing up and you’ll be expected to be able to produce some form of government-issued photo ID.
It’s also worth noting that you will have to be physically located within Kentucky in order to use the betting apps for betting on sports and accessing those promo codes. This means that each KY betting app will contain a form of geolocation software to make sure that you are playing from somewhere in the Bluegrass State.
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Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Several online sportsbooks are now up and running in KY. While you won’t be able to bet at these sportsbooks until September 28, you can at least compare these operators and see which could be the best fit for your sports betting needs:
KY sportsbook
Welcome offer
Retail partner
Best for
DraftKings
$200 in bonus bets
Cumberland Run
Live betting platform
BetMGM
TBC
Sandy's Gaming and Racing
Odds boosts
FanDuel
$100 in bonus bets and $100 off NFL Sunday Tickets
Churchill Downs
Same game parlays
Fanatics
TBC
Oak Grove Racetrack
FanCash
Caesars
TBC
Red Mile Racing
Rewards program
Bet365
$10 per touchdown on a nominated NFL game
Sandy's Gaming and Racing
Personalized betting display
The best operators for KY online gambling
There are currently eight approved sportsbooks who are getting ready for the launch of mobile betting in KY. So here is a quick look at the best of them:
DraftKings - Get bonus bets for Kentucky gambling
DraftKings: Pros & Cons
Trusted online betting brand
Generous pre-launch offer
Fast and effective live betting platform
User-friendly betting apps
Huge betting platform can be overwhelming
Everyone knows that DraftKings is one of the biggest online betting platforms in the US, so it makes perfect sense that it would set up shop in KY. This means that you can sign up to DraftKings from anywhere in the Bluegrass State and enjoy nothing but quality odds on all of the biggest sports. Plus most sports fans would agree that DraftKings has one of the most effective live betting platforms in the business.
The best part is the fact that DraftKings will simply give you $200 in bonus bet tokens just for signing up to its site before the launch day. Perfect for getting lots of free credit to fund your first sports bets.
Sports Promo
4.9/5
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DraftKings Highlights
Diverse sports book
Generous promotions
User-friendly betting platform
BetMGM - Big sportsbook comes to the Bluegrass State
BetMGM: Pros & Cons
Excellent Edit My Bet feature
Good reputation for promos
Comprehensive sports coverage
Generous odds boosts
BetMGM has shown that it is more than capable of serving up endlessly competitive odds for anything from basketball and football all the way down to the most niche sports. Plus it makes everything even more enjoyable with lots of enhanced odds deals for the biggest sporting events, and there is even a handy Edit My Bet feature.
It’s too early to see what kind of pre-launch offer BetMGM is preparing for its potential KY customers, but early indications are that you could get lots of bonus bets just for signing up and making a qualifying deposit. Watch this space for more details.
Sports Promo
4.9/5
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Signup Promo
|
T&Cs and 21+ apply
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DraftKings Highlights
Diverse sports book
Generous promotions
User-friendly betting platform
FanDuel - Pick up a pre-launch bonus for online gambling KY-style
FanDuel: Pros & Cons
Great KY pre-launch promo
Top same game parlays
Seriously good betting odds
User-friendly betting app
Average reward program
This is another market-leading sportsbook who has been more than willing to set up camp in the Bluegrass State. As such, you can sign up here and look forward to getting a generous pre-launch promo that gives you $100 in bonus bets along with $100 off any NFL Sunday Tickets on YouTube.
But the fun doesn’t stop there because FanDuel is the best in the business when it comes to conjuring up some great same game parlays. Plus you’ll get to enjoy some seriously competitive odds and a betting app that even a total newbie can master. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in sports betting.
Sports Promo
4.8/5
Bet $5 Get $250 in Bonus Bets IF YOU WIN
Signup Promo
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T&Cs and 21+ apply
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FanDuel Highlights
Extensive range of sports
Competitive odds
Speedy sportsbook platform
Fanatics - The hottest new sportsbook in the Bluegrass State
Fanatics: Pros & Cons
Personalized betting experience
Great FanCash rewards
Decent same game parlays
Fast live betting platform
Relatively untested betting platform
This is one of the most exciting online sportsbooks to hit the US for quite some time, and so it’s great news that Fanatics has decided to come to Kentucky. Unfortunately we still don’t know what the brand’s pre-launch bonus is, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it is one of those Jersey Drop deals.
The good thing is that Fanatics has got all of the basics of sports betting right. This means giving you a legal and safe way to enjoy competitive odds on a huge range of sports, along with giving you extras like personalized betting pages, same game parlays, marquee bets and that awesome FanCash reward program.
Sports Promo
4.3/5
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T&Cs and 21+ apply
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Fanatics Highlights
Comprehensive sports coverage
User-friendly sportsbook
Competitive betting odds
Caesars - Expect big rewards for sports betting here
Caesars: Pros & Cons
Excellent rewards program
Generous betting odds
Good value promo offers
Great customer support
PRO#5
Betting app has some issues
Caesars has already shown that it can be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to sports betting in many other states, and we expect the brand to do the same right here in KY. This means that you can sign up to the site and get nothing but quality odds for everything from that massive NFL game to the most obscure sports taking place all over the world.
We’re still awaiting confirmation of what the Caesars KY pre-launch promo is, but we’re hoping that it’s a deal that’ll give new customers lots of bonus bets to play with. After all, this is the brand with the world-famous Caesars Rewards program that is one of the best loyalty schemes in the business.
Sports Promo
4.4/5
Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Your Next 10 Bets
Signup Promo
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T&Cs and 21+ apply
Copy
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Caesars Highlights
Full Caesar promo
Great value deal
Awesome sportsbook bonus
Bet365 - Hotly tipped sportsbook expecting to make a big splash
Bet365: Pros & Cons
Competitive KY pre-launch offer
Nothing but excellent odds
Nicely usable betting platform
Trusted betting brand
Some glitches with app navigation
We think that Bet365 could be the dark horse of the KY betting scene. After all, this UK-based brand has been quietly picking up lots of sports fans elsewhere in the US, and there’s no reason why it can’t do the same right here in Kentucky.
This isn’t a major surprise because Bet365 is well known for having some of the best sports betting odds on the market. Plus the brand has already shown a statement of intent with its KY pre-launch promo that serves up $10 per touchdown on any nominated NFL game up to $50. Definitely a good reason to join in the fun.
Sports Promo
4.7/5
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Bet365 Highlights
Bet $1 get $365 in bets
Just $10 minimum deposit
Get $365 even if $1 bet loses
Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
How to enjoy online gambling in Kentucky
Now that we’ve shown you some great operators, you’ll probably be ready to put your bets down. While each sportsbook will have its own way of doing things, you’ll normally just have to follow these steps to get started:
Register an account:
This usually just means filling in a form with some personal information.
Verify your identity:
Expect to have to provide a scan of a passport or driver’s license.
Get your welcome offer:
You may have to enter in a specific promo code to do this.
Make a deposit:
You can usually use a variety of cards, ewallets and bank transfers.
Start playing:
Now you can enjoy legally betting on sport in KY.
Conclusion - Get ready to enjoy online gambling in Kentucky
Our guide has shown you that you’ll be able to enjoy some quality KY gambling in just a matter of days. Once the state’s legal sportsbooks go live on September 28, you’ll be able to legally bet on a massive number of pro and college-level sports from the convenience of your smartphone or tablet.
Plus it looks like we could soon be enjoying many more legal online sportsbooks coming to the Bluegrass State. So watch this space to see which operators give you the best way to enjoy online gambling in Kentucky.
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
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Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
There are lots of legal apps for online gambling in KY like DraftKings, FanDuel and Bet365 just to name a few. This means that you’ll be able to enjoy
Kentucky sports betting
in a way that is legal, safe and fun.
🏆What is the best online gambling site in Kentucky?
It depends what you’re looking for in terms of KY gambling. After all, brands like Caesars, Fanatics and BetMGM all have something unique to offer. Our guide will help you find your perfect gambling destination now that
sports betting is legal in KY.
💰Can I try online gambling in Kentucky with real money?
Yes, KY gambling has recently achieved a breakthrough which means that you can enjoy mobile sports betting with real money from anywhere in the Bluegrass State. Our guide will show you how you can do it.
❓What happened with the Kentucky online gambling bill?
The bill regarding online gambling for Kentucky was passed earlier this year, and it means that you can enjoy mobile sports betting in KY from 6am on September 28. Good news for all KY sports fans.
🎁Can I try online gambling in Kentucky with a no deposit bonus?
Yes, there are a few online sportsbooks like DraftKings who are happy to give you bonus bets for free just for signing up to their platforms before sports betting goes live on September 28. Our guide will reveal who will give you the best start with your online gambling in Kentucky.
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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