Are sportsbooks legal in Kentucky?
Let me start by addressing your first and most important question: Is online sports betting legal in Kentucky? Yes, after House Bill 551 was signed, sealed, and delivered into law in March 2023, the first online sportsbooks went live in the Bluegrass state in September of the same year.
Retail, mobile, and online sportsbooks are all legal in KY, as is professional and college sports betting. This includes the option to wager on in-state college teams, something that many states still prohibit.
Who can wager online in KY?
The legal age limit for KY sports betting is 18+, which is among the lowest in the country. In the vast majority of the other legal sports betting states, the age limit is 21, as many of you will have experienced. One thing I should note is that sportsbooks can set their own age limit, so always check the T&Cs of your chosen sportsbook before you sign up.
I've got more good news coming your way, as you don't need to be a Kentucky resident to wager at retail and online sportsbooks here. As a visitor to the state, you sign up to a betting site and wager on your favorite sports teams. The only stipulation is that you must be located within Kentucky's state borders.
To keep things simple, I've packed the essential info for you into this neat table:
| Legal online sports wagering | Yes ✅ |
| Legal age limit | 18+ 🔞 |
| Regulatory authority | Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation (KHRGC) 📝 |
| Number of legal sportsbooks | 9 🏈 |
| Maximum number of permitted sportsbooks | 27 |
| Retail betting | Yes ✅ |
| College sports betting | Yes ✅ |
| In-state college sports betting | Yes ✅ |
| Racetrack betting | Yes ✅ |
| Online casinos | No ❌ |
| Online poker | No ❌ |
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Is college sports betting legal in Kentucky?
Kentucky cappers will be stoked to hear that college sports wagering is legal in the Bluegrass State. As I said above, this includes KY-based college teams like the Wildcats and the Cardinals.
While many other states have chosen to ban in-state college sports betting or prohibited collegiate wagering altogether, this wasn't something that KY legislators gave much consideration.
As you likely know, college basketball is a big deal in Kentucky, with football not far behind, so college betting had to be included in House Bill 551. While we wait for the rumors of a major league franchise appearing in Louisville to finally come true, there's still a way that you can get in on the domestic action.
What betting sites are legal in Kentucky?
At the time of writing, you have nine legal sportsbooks to choose from in Kentucky, which I've listed below. However, the law allows the KHRGC to issue licenses to up to 27 sportsbooks in total, so expect more to arrive on the market as the KY capper scene becomes more established and continues to grow.
- bet365
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- Circa
- DraftKings
- Fanatics
- FanDuel
- Prime
- theScore Bet
KY sports wagering - The pros and cons
Overall, Kentucky is one of the most liberal and least restrictive legal sports betting states in the country, which is why local cappers love getting in on the action. To summarize everything that we've covered above, I've locked in the main pros and cons of KY sportsbooks for you:
- Legal online and retail sports betting
- Legal college sports wagering, including in-state teams
- 18+ age limit (the joint-lowest in the US)
- Decent choice of top sportsbook brands
- Only 9 of a possible 27 licenses have been issued
The top 5 sportsbook bonuses in Kentucky
It's almost time for me to introduce you to the top five sportsbooks for Kentucky cappers, but first, I wanna introduce you to the promotions. Below, I've listed the Kentucky sportsbook promos that you can claim as a new customer on each of my five best-rated betting sites.
I've also included some key T&Cs attached to each bonus, including wagering requirements, minimum deposit limits, and minimum odds. Without wasting any more time, let's take a look:
| 🏀 Sportsbook | 🏆 Welcome offer | 💲 Minimum deposit | 💱 Wagering requirement | 🫰 Minimum odds |
| BetMGM | No-sweat bet up to $1,500 | $5 | N/A | N/A |
| Caesars | Bet $1, double your winnings on your next 20 bets | $10 | 1x | N/A |
| DraftKings | Bet $5, get $200 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins | $5 | N/A | N/A |
| FanDuel | Bet $5, get $150 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins | $5 | 1x | N/A |
| Bet365 | Bet $5, get $150 in Bonus Bets | $10 | 1x | -500 |
The 5 best sportsbooks in Kentucky - My expert recommendations
Folks, you'll be glad to hear that the pre-game buildup is over and we've finally reached the main events. Let's kick off by taking an in-depth look at why I use these five KY online sportsbooks as an experienced capper in the Bluegrass State:
| 🏈 Betting sites | 🔞 Age limit | 📱 App Store rating | 💪 Best for |
| BetMGM | 21+ | 4.8 ⭐ | Mobile betting and beginner cappers |
| Caesars | 21+ | 4.7 ⭐ | Futures odds for pro and college sports |
| DraftKings | 18+ | 4.8 ⭐ | College sports markets and existing user promos |
| FanDuel | 18+ | 4.9 ⭐ | Fast odds updates and SGP builder |
| Bet365 | 18+ | 4.8 ⭐ | International sports and live betting |
BetMGM - The best KY sportsbook for new bettors
- Coverage for more than 25 sports
- Features a parlay builder and cashout
- Multiple payment methods
- Mobile applications for Android and iOS
- Delayed responses via email
- Review of withdrawal requests can take up to 5 days
The BetMGM sportsbook gives you up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets as a new KY user if your first bet loses. You can use this welcome offer on a user-friendly app that I think is ideal for new cappers, thanks to its simple interface with high-quality graphics and colorful icons.
When it comes to betting markets, BetMGM offers a great range of game bets and player props for major league and college sports in the US. Additionally, there's also decent international sports coverage, particularly for tennis, golf, and European soccer. Just be aware that the minimum age limit for this sportsbook app is 21+, even for Kentucky-based cappers.
Caesars Sportsbook - Value odds for futures betting
- Generous welcome offers
- Wide range of markets
- Live chat support
- No esports available
The first thing that caught my eye about this Kentucky sportsbook was the unique welcome promo. With a first wager of just $1, you can get 20 x 100% Bet Boosts up to $25. Essentially, this gives you the opportunity to double your winnings on your next 20 wagers, which is great to steady the ship in the early days of your bankroll management.
Regarding the betting markets, this sportsbook really shines when it comes to college and pro sports futures odds, such as the NABC National Championship Trophy winner and MVP markets. Although the probability is low, futures markets can give you high returns, so they can be good for low-stakes bets.
DraftKings - Ideal for college sports betting
- Great mobile apps
- Supports live streaming
- Withdrawal takes 1 to 3 days
- Subpar customer service
You don't need to be an expert to know that DraftKings is one of the biggest names in US sports betting. However, there are good reasons why it has consistently maintained its place among the most popular sportsbooks. To start with, you can get $200 in Bonus Bets if your first $5 wager on your account is a winner.
The main reasons that I like DraftKings as a Kentucky capper are its college sports betting markets and odds, particularly for basketball. It's often the first sportsbooks to move their odds on key betting lines like the point spread and totals. On top of that, you will often find game-specific promos, particularly during high-profile events like March Madness.
FanDuel - The best SGP builder
- Best in class usability
- Available in 25+ states
- Competitive odds and coverage
- Top tier brand rep
- No sportsbook VIP program
If you think about the top names in Kentucky and US sports betting, FanDuel probably sits side-by-side with DraftKings. Here, you get $150 in Bonus Bets if your first $5 wager wins, so it falls slightly short of the DraftKings KY signup promo while still offering decent value.
The FanDuel mobile app is one of the best I've used, and it's packed with a ton of useful betting features. In particular, I love using the same-game parlay (SGP) builder for college basketball and major league sports. Besides being a user-friendly tool. FanDuel is probably the fastest overall odds updater in the country, so you can always lock in decent value.
bet365 - The international option
- Fast, reliable mobile app performance
- Quick deposits and fast withdrawals
- 24/7 live chat customer support
- Unavailable in some US states
- Phone support hours not 24/7
First of all, the best thing about the bet $5, get $150 in Bonus Bets welcome offer at bet365 is that you get the bonus whether your $5 qualifying wager wins or loses. More importantly, you can use your Bonus bets to wager on a massive variety of US and international sports betting markets.
bet365 began life in the UK, before expanding into most of Europe and across the pond to the US. As a result, I find it to be the best KY sportsbook for international betting markets, particularly EPL soccer, rugby, and cricket. However, its US sports markets, particularly college live betting, should not be overlooked.
Final verdict - Try one of these Kentucky betting sites today
To sum things up, Kentucky is one of, if not the, best states in the country for online sports betting. The minimum age limit is 18+, in-state college sports betting is legal, and you have a decent selection of nine big-name sportsbooks.
As an expert capper, BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and bet365 are the five KY betting sites that I keep going back to. If you wanna lock and load your account with one (or more) of these sportsbooks, just follow the promo banners on this page to kick things off!
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Kentucky sportsbooks FAQ
Is online sports wagering legal in Kentucky?
Yes, online sports betting is legal in Kentucky and has been since September 2023. If you are over 18 and located within KY borders, you can wager on professional and college sports, including in-state teams.
What sportsbooks are legal in Kentucky?
There are currently nine legal and active online betting sites in the Bluegrass State, including BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and bet365. However, the law permits up to 27 operators, so more could be added in the future.
How do I bet online in Kentucky?
To place a bet online in KY, you must register with a legal mobile sportsbook and make a deposit. Once you've done that, you can place the first real money wager on your betting account.