The Kentucky sports betting landscape has been able to thrive while piggybacking off the state’s horse race betting supremacy. Here, we’ll walk you through the basics of KY sportsbook registration while showcasing the available operators.
Kentucky launched its sports betting industry in September 2023, just over five years after the Supreme Court reversed its decision on the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). The move came as somewhat of a surprise given the state’s historically restrictive approach to all betting activities outside of horse race wagering.
Since then, eight sportsbooks have launched in the state and are available to Kentucky residents and visitors alike.
This page aims to provide an overview of the Kentucky sports betting landscape by highlighting several of the state’s top operators and detailing a timeline of the state’s gambling laws. We will also walk you through some of the basics of sports betting, including bonus types you should know about, how to place a wager, and KY responsible gambling resources.
Bettor In Green has selected these five operators as the best Kentucky sportsbooks. They were chosen for their strong performance across a wide set of criteria including bonus variety and frequency, sports market coverage and variance, reward program availability, mobile app strengths and weaknesses, and more.
We’ve composed thorough reviews of each operator listed on this page, which you can access by clicking the links under each operator name.
DraftKings Sportsbook Kentucky built upon its early success as a popular daily fantasy sports operator before its foray into sports betting. DK had millions of players across the United States participating in DFS contests before PASPA was overturned and has continued to be a dominant force in both verticals.
One area in particular where DraftKings separates itself is in the array of live betting markets. The bookie offers exceptional coverage of the “Big Four” leagues while also providing good depth in niche sports and leagues.
Bettor In Green’s Opinion: DraftKings has worked hard to maintain its reputation as a top sports betting operator that isn’t afraid to try new ventures to attract new bettors (take their “parlay subscription” model as an example). It is an excellent option for bettors of all experience and financial levels.
BetMGM’s rewards program is one of the best such programs in the industry, with players earning points for every wager made. This does come with a trade-off, as there are fewer day-to-day promotions for users to take advantage of, but bonus bets can be unlocked using rewards points.
Futures bettors will also appreciate the speed with which BetMGM posts long-term lines. Since BetMGM frequently has futures odds and lines posted before other books, bettors can take advantage of more favorable odds before competing sites set less-favorable marks.
Bettor In Green’s Opinion: BetMGM’s retail presence should help support its online totals, and the rewards program is likely to make BetMGM Sportsbook Kentucky a go-to option for serious gamblers.
If you want high-reaching welcome bonuses throughout your sports betting journey, Caesars is probably the sportsbook for you! It frequently has welcome bonuses offering more than $1,000 in bonus credits as a deposit match or second chance bet, with higher reload bonus maximums than other Kentucky operators as well (when available).
Caesars is also a satisfactory option for live-streaming of sporting events, as many NFL games are available to stream through the website or mobile app after placing a wager. You’ll also be able to wager with Caesars at The Red Mile in Lexington.
Bettor In Green’s Opinion: Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky is a great option for “high-roller” sports bettors, though it may not be as beneficial for new and/or casual gamblers.
Fanatics purchased all of PointsBet’s U.S. gambling operations, effectively replacing the bookie shortly after Kentucky launched its gambling industry. The sports merchandising giant has tied betting to its e-tail operation through the use of FanCash, which is earned on every wager and can be used to purchase betting bonuses and for apparel/merch discounts.
Despite being the only operator in our Top 5 without a retail presence in Kentucky or with a browser-based version of the betting platform, Fanatics Sportsbook Kentucky delivers with its rock-solid mobile app that is surging for the top spot in the app store ratings.
Bettor In Green’s Opinion: Fanatics’ merchandise operation should provide steady financial backing as the sportsbook vertical takes off, perhaps giving the bookie greater leeway in how it sets odds and issues bonuses. There is a lot of potential here, but it will likely start with establishing a browser platform.
Closing out our list is FanDuel Sportsbook Kentucky, which is our highest-recommended option for beginning sports bettors. Both the mobile app and web platform are incredibly intuitive and easy to learn, and if you run into any issues or concerns along the way, the customer support team is outstanding.
FanDuel also sets the standard for same game parlay wagering, with many pre-crafted parlays ready to easily add to a betting slip and plenty of options available for users to craft their own entries. You can also use the mobile app to access FanDuel’s horse racing odds.
Bettor In Green’s Opinion: FanDuel’s mobile apps are a cut above, with high favorability across Android and Apple devices. It truly may be the industry’s best.
bet365 sportsbook Kentucky provides sports bettors with a great opportunity to shop the odds and find the best deal on the lines they’re backing. It has one of the largest selections of sports and leagues in the state, and also has low minimum wager amounts to qualify for welcome bonuses.
Circa Sports launched in Kentucky well after the others on this list but it has carved out a niche among high-limit betting enthusiasts with its “no limits” approach. Forgoing bonuses in favor of juicing the odds in players’ favors, Circa still has a few bugs to work out but is likely to catch up in the betting handle numbers.
ESPN Bet replaced Barstool Sportsbook, and like Fanatics above, it made its Kentucky debut shortly after the state launched its sports betting enterprise. With daily content from ESPN’s on-air talent, an excellent rewards program, and a “featured parlays” tab, this bookie has plenty to offer.
The exact process of placing a sports wager at a Kentucky betting site will vary slightly depending on the operator you’re using, but in general, it will look something like this:
Explore the most talked-about news in Kentucky sports betting right now:
Kentucky legalized sports betting in March 2023, with the industry launching in September of the same year. The rollout marked one of the quickest state launches for sports betting, with many other states taking a full year or longer from legalization to launch day.
When Gov. Andy Beshear signed House Bill 551 into law, there were a few interesting distinctions from the betting laws that had passed in neighboring states. Most notably, state law allows you to gamble starting at age 18; most other states require bettors to be 21+.
Without a “Big Four” professional sports team in the state, Kentucky legislators made sure to allow betting on college sports to provide a local connection for area bettors. However, wagering on individual player props is prohibited.
Here are a few key moments in the history of sports betting in Kentucky you should know.
The following is a list of all online sportsbooks in Kentucky that are actively operating.
Prime Sportsbook is poised to launch in 2025 after obtaining a license in December 2024.
Kentucky sportsbook promotions & bonuses are a key way sportsbooks draw bettors to their platforms and keep them around. Here are a few of the most common promos in the industry you’ll want to know before registration:
Mobile sports betting offers significant benefits over in-person gambling, Convenience and bonus offers are two key factors that have led to approximately nine out of 10 sports bets being placed through a mobile device.
Here are the app store review ratings for Kentucky sports betting apps as of January 2025.
| Sportsbook | Apple App Store Rating | Google Play Store Rating |
|---|---|---|
| bet365 Sportsbook | 4.8/5 | 4.7/5 |
| BetMGM Sportsbook | 4.8/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | 4.7/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Circa Sports | 2/5 | 2.7/5 |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | 4.8/5 | 4.4/5 |
| ESPN Bet Sportsbook | 4.8/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | 4.8/5 | 4.7/5 |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | 4.9/5 | 4.7/5 |
Kentucky sports betting winnings are subject to taxation, so you’ll need to report your totals when filing your state and federal returns. In Kentucky, in-person winnings are taxed at 9.75% and online winnings are taxed at 14.25%.
Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York all join Kentucky in having different tax rates for online and in-person betting.
To report your winnings, you’ll need to complete a copy of Form W-2G, which will be sent to you directly by a sportsbook if you win more than $600 on their platform. You can also download it from the IRS website if needed.
You’ll be able to deduct your losses if you itemize your return, but you won’t be able to deduct more than you won.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “please gamble responsibly” during the barrage of betting company commercials during every break while watching sporting events. “Reponsible gambling” refers to all measures undertaken by sportsbooks and bettors to ensure all gambling is done in a legal and safe manner.
Sportsbooks practice responsible gambling by making it easy for users to set time and money limits on their accounts, abstaining from advertising to underage users and those on self-exclusion lists, and providing links to gambling addiction resources.
Bettors must then take personal accountability for their gambling activities by only depositing and wagering what they can afford to lose, knowing when to walk away and “cool down,” and utilizing the limit tools available to them. Transparency with betting activities to trusted individuals is another way to keep on track.
Here are a few of the responsible gambling resources you’ll want to know:
Kentucky also provides a voluntary self-exclusion program for those who wish to completely block themselves from gambling activities. If you are on the list, you will be blocked from creating or accessing sports betting accounts and could be subject to criminal penalties for entering or attempting to enter gambling facilities.
The self-exclusion program does not have a fee to pay for applying, and those enrolled on the list will be blocked for at least one year before they can apply for removal from the list. We strongly encourage individuals in the self-exclusion program to remain on the list.
One of the biggest developments in the future of sports betting in Kentucky is the debut of Prime Sports sportsbook, which is scheduled for 2025. Prime Sports is already live in New Jersey and Ohio, and like Circa Sports, it offers a reduced vig on many of its moneyline, spread, and totals bets to help users win more.
According to FOX56 News in Kentucky, the state’s bettors wagered nearly $2.1 billion in the first calendar year of sports betting. With the addition of a new sportsbook, it’s fair to expect a similar total in Year Two.
While possible, it seems unlikely the state would reverse its ban on prop wagers for in-state college athletes. No other state with such a ban in place has previously reversed the decision, though there would likely be a strong increase in betting handle if a reversal was carried out.
Kentucky sports betting massively outperformed expectations in the first year, generating revenue of more than 60% above projections. Similar handle numbers in Year Two would continue to benefit the state long-term as tax revenues are apportioned.
Now that you’ve learned about which sportsbooks are available, how to claim bonuses, and what responsible gambling resources are available in Kentucky, you’re ready to get signed up and start making your wagers! Remember to use the promo code pages we’ve put together when signing up to maximize your bonus, and check out our sportsbook reviews if you’re still unsure where you wish to gamble.
Good luck, have fun, and always gamble responsibly!!
One of the biggest differences between Kentucky sports betting laws and those in other states is that the age requirement is lower. You only need to be 18 years old to bet on sports in KY, while most other states require gamblers to be 21+. Kentucky bettors can also bet on in-state college athletic teams, though player props are prohibited.
Yes, there are restrictions on betting on college sports in Kentucky. You’ll be able to bet on any of the state’s eight NCAA Division I programs, but you won’t be able to place wagers on individual player props.
Sports betting winnings are subject to income taxation and must be reported on your state and federal tax returns. If you win at least $600 on your bets, these can be reported using form W-2G. Online sports betting is taxed at 9.75%, and online sports betting at 14.25%.
Yes, you can place bets on Kentucky sports teams. Kentucky does not have any teams that play in the “Big Four” sports leagues, but you can still back any of the state’s eight NCAA Division I programs. However, you will not be able to gamble on individual player props.
The minimum and maximum betting limits at Kentucky sportsbooks will vary depending on the operator. In most cases, you’ll be able to place wagers as low as $1 when betting online. Wager maximums are typically higher when betting in person, though if you’re planning to visit a retail bookie to wager a large sum of money, you should call at least 24 hours in advance to make appropriate arrangements.K
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