When and How to Bet on Sports in Kentucky
Legal sports betting is coming to Kentucky this September and we’ve compiled all the information you need to know to be ready!
Sports betting can be overwhelming to newcomers, especially with several different sportsbooks to choose from, but not if you have a guide to ease you into the process.
Below we’ll break down everything you need to know about legal sports betting in Kentucky and how you can make the most of this opportunity when it comes.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Kentucky?
You’ll be able to bet on sports at retail sportsbooks at any of Kentucky’s nine horse racing tracks (or Kentucky Speedway) starting Sept. 7.
Once you arrive at your track of choice, you can place a cash wager and receive a bet slip that you can redeem for your winnings if you hit.
If you prefer to wager online from the comfort of your home, you’ll have to wait until sportsbooks launch in Kentucky on Sept. 28.
You’ll need to verify your identity and residence to bet at these sportsbooks, but once you do, you’ll be ready to start betting!
When Can You Bet on Sports in Kentucky?
Sept. 7: Sports betting launches at retail sportsbooks, which means you’d have to physically travel to a sportsbook at a horse racing track and place an in-person cash wager.
Sept. 28: Online sportsbooks go live, meaning you can place bets from anywhere in your state from your computer or mobile device.
Can You Bet on College Sports in Kentucky?
Some states heavily restrict betting on in-state college sports. Some only allow you to bet on in-state schools in the NCAA Tournament (but not the regular season), some don’t allow prop betting in college sports, and others ban betting on in-state college sports altogether. But Kentucky won’t apply any of those rules.
Bettors in Kentucky will have full access to in-state college sports markets, including betting on the Louisville Cardinals and Kentucky Wildcats.
What Sportsbooks are Available in Kentucky?
Kentucky has approved 10 locations – nine horse racing tracks and Kentucky Speedway – to host three online sportsbooks per location.
That means there can be as many as 30 sportsbooks coming to Kentucky.
As of now, the list is far from finalized, but some sportsbooks likely coming to Kentucky include: Caesars, BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Bet365 and WynnBet with more likely to be added.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Bet on Sports in Kentucky?
Most states require sports bettors to be at least 21-years-old, but Kentucky has set its age limit at 18-years-old.
You’ll have to validate your identity upon signing up in order to prove you’re of the legal age to gamble.
How did sports betting become legal in Kentucky?
2018: The US Supreme Court gives states the individual rights to legalize sports betting.
2019: Rep. Adam Koenig introduces the first bill to legalize sports betting in Kentucky.
2020-21: Subsequent bills are introduced by Koenig in 2020 and 2021, but each failed to pass through a House vote.
2022: The House approves HB 606 to legalize sports betting in Kentucky, but the vote dies in the Senate.
2023: Rep. Michael Meredith took over the efforts and introduced HB 551, which passed through the House with a 63-34 vote on March 13. The bill then passed through the Senate with a vote of 25-12 and was signed into law by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
September, 2023: Sports betting will officially be legal in Kentucky. Retail sportsbooks will be open for business beginning Thursday, Sept. 7. Online sportsbooks will go live Thursday, Sept. 28.