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The Bluegrass State might have been a little late to the party, but as of September 2023, online betting is now legal. This has seen several Kentucky sportsbooks launch their betting services online, with more to join.
I’m not surprised industry leaders like Bet365 and BetMGM are available, as they’ve been the first to go live in other states. You have more options, though. So, let’s talk Kentucky sports betting bonuses, payment methods, popular sports, betting markets—everything. This will help you figure out the best site for you.
The experts at Deadspin and I tested and reviewed the legal Kentucky betting sites, and the ones listed below proved to be the best.
Bet365 is the clear choice for Kentucky-based sports bettors looking for a well-rounded product. If you’re looking for the best odds, BetMGM is your go to. I could go on and on, but the following betting sites are the top dogs in KY, and each one rules in a specific area.
| Feature | Best Sportsbook |
|---|---|
| 💰 Best Sign Up Bonus | Bet365 |
| 📈 Most Competitive Odds | BetMGM |
| 🏈 Biggest Choice of Markets | BetRivers |
| 🤝 Best Loyalty Promos | DraftKings |
| 🎯 Best Same Game Parlays | Caesars |
| 🆕 Newest Sportsbook | Bet365 |
| 📱 Best Mobile App | BetRivers |
| ⏳ Best for Live Betting | Bet365 |
| 💳 Most Trusted Payments | FanDuel |
| 💬 Best Support | BetMGM |
The road to legal sports betting in Kentucky started with the repeal of the PASPA in 2018. House Bill 137 of 2020 and House Bill 241 of 2021 both failed to pass, and online gambling still remained illegal. Rep. Adam Koenig put forward HB 606 in 2022, which passed by way of a 58-30 vote. The bill, however, died in the senate.
It would only be through HB 551, introduced by Rep. Michael Meredith, that online sports betting in Kentucky would be legalized in March 2023. By August, BetMGM, Bet365, Caesars, DraftKings, Circa, Fanatics, FanDuel, and ESPN BET all had licenses. All of them launched in September. Things went uphill from there, with the KY sports betting handle reaching $629.4 million in July 2024.
I’ll jump straight into the top-rated list of KY sportsbooks I singled out after checking out several factors. You can trust that all sites that made the cut are reliable, trustworthy, and safe to join:
Now for a closer look into my top-rated KY sportsbooks and what makes them stand head and shoulders above the rest.
Bet365 is all about giving KY punters options. Where most KY betting sites give you one bonus, new signups choose between two great offers. Either deposit $10 to unlock the First Bet Safety Bet bonus comprising up to $1,000 in bonus bets or bet $5 and receive $150 in bonus bets. Beyond the stunning bonuses, Bet365 gives players a reason to keep logging in with endless promos, but Bet Boosts and Parlay Boosts are its specialty.
Landing on the sports menu, you access an incredible selection of over 40 sports, from baseball to ski jumping. Bet365 allows you several bet types, including props, futures, spreads, and totals, based on your skills. I’m not surprised that Bet355 offers live betting. But besides main sports like tennis, you can place live wagers on niche sports like field hockey and handball—a rarity with some sportsbooks in Kentucky.
Unlike Bet365, BetMGM puts one welcome bonus on the table, but I love a good cashback offer. The sportsbook is willing to pay you back $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses. Beyond that, you can pick up an extra $100 each time you refer a friend to join. When you join the Grand Slam Jackpot promo, you stand to win a share of $50,000 in bonus bets.
Like most top-rated sportsbooks in Kentucky, BetMGM covers all the main sports leagues that matter including the MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In addition to these, I found a nice selection of niche interests like cycling and boxing. The bookie has one of the best betting apps featuring updated odds live betting, promos, and more. Those who value live streaming and cashing out early bets can do so on the site.
Joining FanDuel gives you an opportunity to bet on all major US sports like basketball and baseball. Not only that, but you can live stream most of them. Alternative sports like your motorsports are part of the package, letting you bet on leagues like NASCAR.
I have no issues with the Bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets welcome deal. The only drawback is you only get this bonus if your moneyline wager wins. I found the site packed with so many features that you may need time to get familiar with what’s what. My favorites are live betting, live streaming, early cashout, and the My Bets Hub, where you can track your stats.
FanDuel provides competitive odds in major events, in line with market averages. Acca lovers can take advantage of Same Game Pralay promos for bigger payouts.
You have over 20 sports to bet on if you choose BetRivers KY across pro leagues like the NFL and the NBA. BetRivers also includes lesser-known sports like lacrosse and darts. Popular bet types on the platform include props, moneylines, totals, and spreads.
BetRivers has the same welcome bonus as BetMGM. You get up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first wager loses. After that, you dig into odds boosts and Same Game Parlays. If you prefer a more structured loyalty program, you’ll like the iRush Rewards that lets you gain loyalty points with each real money wager. You can later redeem these for exciting perks, including bonus money. Live betting and live streaming are available at BetRivers proving why it’s one of the best KY sportsbooks. If you have any issues, contact the support team via the 24/7 live chat or call.
You cannot talk about top KY bookies and leave out DraftKings, a sports betting powerhouse with a great app and tons of sports. Be it football or darts, the bookie has you covered. But it’s revered for its extensive NFL betting markets and extensive odds especially for the Super Bowl making it a top-tier football betting site.
You get $150 in bonus bets when you bet $5 as a new customer. Help is only a click or phone call away and live chat runs around the clock. DraftKings could speed up its withdrawal times, but overall this is a great bookie.
Betting options at DraftKings are too many to list here, but popular options like over/under parlays and props are covered. I noticed the mobile app has a cool 4.8/7 rating thanks to its intuitive menu options. I like that you have several tools to help you practice responsible gambling, including setting limits and cooling off periods.
Caesars operates legally in 20 states and recently added Kentucky to the list. The bookie gives newbies up to $1,000 back in bonus bets if their first wager loses. It’s the same offer provided by most online sportsbooks here, except Caesars scraps $500 off. A top-rated native app is available for free download from the official website. And so is smooth and reliable banking with payouts processed within 48 hours or less.
As a veteran sportsbook, the brand covers a huge range of betting markets across the NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, and many more. It’s also your go-to if you’re into niche sports like volleyball. Caesars consistently offers a range of bet options like straight wagers, parlays, and futures. It has one of the best live betting sections on popular sports, basketball, but its unique Fire bets stood out for me. These are live wagers on small events within the game, like betting on the next play in football.
Several things set ESPN BET apart from its peers, but what I liked the most was the straightforward, easily-navigable interface. Players also get a decent welcome bonus and even better ongoing promos, including insurance bets.
Before coming to Kentucky, Circa Sports ruled Las Vegas in terms of the lowest hold, massive limits, and unchallenged customer support. The betting site brought more of the same to KY, and you can find unique betting options, including yes/no future betting and parlays.
While KY sportsbooks launched pretty much around the same time, some of them had already been operating elsewhere for years, Here are the latest betting sites with options like betting on the team to lead in the first quarter.
| Sportsbook | Launched? | License / Partnering with |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN BET | September 2023 | PENN Entertainment |
| Bet365 | September 2023 | Sandy’s Racing & Gaming |
Betting in Kentucky is only available on sports approved and listed in Kentucky’s Wagering Catalog released by the Wagering Advisory Council. You’re free to place wagers in the comfort of your home without worry. You can pretty much wager on all major US sports and alternative markets complete with competitive odds and dazzling bonuses. Below are some of the approved sports from the catalog:
Football is dubbed America’s favorite sport, and KY bookmakers cover the NFL which sees the 32 dynamic teams battle it out. You can either back the San Francisco 49ers, the most popular team in the country, or bring it closer to home and rally behind the Cincinnati Bengals—Kentucky’s favorite team. The Tennessee Titans is another nearby team to back if you wish to support local.
Kentucky might not have an MLB team, but most KY residents support the Cincinnati Reds, especially in the playoffs. The state has one of the best teams for college baseball—the Wildcats. Baseball fans can wager on the MLB or NCAA, placing multiple wagers from moneylines to futures with competitive odds.
Kentucky doesn’t have an NBA team, but basketball enthusiasts can still be front and center of all NBA events and put money down on their favorite teams. Most residents favor the Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers. Basketball is the biggest sport in the state, particularly college basketball which has seen the Wildcats win eight NCAA championships. The Cardinals is another college basketball team that has put Kentucky on the world map with two NCAA championships.
You’d be hard-pressed not to find KY sportsbooks not offering horse racing betting considering that’s what the state is known for. Home to the iconic Kentucky Derby, a popular race around the globe, punters are spoilt for choice and can place Trifecta, Exacta, Superfecta, and Box bets. Besides the Derby, you can wager on other popular races in America like the Belmont Stakes.
Live betting is a game changer in sports betting, letting punters place wagers after a match kicks off, and most Kentucky online sportsbooks embrace it. This option calls for less stats analysis and more reactive betting based on current odds.
Bettors in Kentucky can legally bet on the NFL draft. As is the case in most states, you also can’t bet on politics. Entertainment awards and ceremonies, like the Oscars and Emmys, are also off-limits to KY bettors.
It may have taken Kentucky a good 5 years to legalize sports betting, but the bottom line is that it’s all systems go for both online and in-person sports betting. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act back in May 2018. This ruling gave US states the power to legalize online sports betting as they saw fit. While states like Delaware immediately green-lighted sports betting following this ruling, Kentucky has only just stepped up.
Since September 28, 2023, Kentucky betting sites can now open their virtual doors to punters from the state. As mentioned, Bet365, BetMGM, and DraftKings are just some of the bookies are already live in Kentucky. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission decides who gets a license after evaluating the application process. Besides being a Kentucky resident, you must be aged at least 18 years to bet in the state. However, other sites like Bet365 need you to be 21 years old.
18+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-4262537, or visit https://www.kycpg.org/
The following rankings are perfect if you don’t want to read a lot of text and would rather get a visual evaluation of what each of the best KY betting sites is good at.
| Category | Ranking | Score |
| Bonus | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Competitive Lines | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| App Experience | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Payment Options | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Market Variety | ★★★★★★★★★★ | 10/10 |
| Support | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Summary | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Category | Ranking | Score |
| Bonus | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Competitive Lines | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| App Experience | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Payment Options | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Market Variety | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Support | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Summary | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Category | Ranking | Score |
| Bonus | ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Competitive Lines | ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ | 9/10 |
| App Experience | ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Payment Options | ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Market Variety | ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Support | ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Summary | ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Category | Ranking | Score |
| Bonus | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Competitive Lines | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| App Experience | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Payment Options | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Market Variety | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Support | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Summary | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Bonus | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Competitive Lines | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| App Experience | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Payment Options | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Market Variety | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Support | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Summary | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Category | Ranking | Score |
| Bonus | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Competitive Lines | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| App Experience | ★★★★★★★★★☆ | 9/10 |
| Payment Options | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7/10 |
| Market Variety | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Support | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
| Summary | ★★★★★★★★☆☆ | 8/10 |
I always say the sportsbook you pick is a matter of preference. A bookie like Bet365 ticks the right boxes where aspects like security, reputation, varied sports selection, great bonuses, and competitive odds are concerned. The best sites have downloadable mobile sportsbook apps for added customization.
Yes, as of September 2023, in-person and online sports betting are now legal in Kentucky. Bookies can join registered sites like Bet365 and BetMGM to wager on their favorite sports.
The Sports Wagering Advisory Council in Kentucky released an approved list of sports that residents can wager on. These include but aren’t limited to football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, horse racing, and cricket.
