Kentucky Sports Betting

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After lawmakers supported the legalization of sports betting for years in Kentucky, the state finally legalized the activity in March 2023. That was the first important step before the launch of legal sports betting in the state.

Home of the famed Kentucky Derby, the state faced some long odds during the 2021 legislative session with just 30 days on the clock to try and pass a sports betting bill to legalize the industry. Well, attempts to legalize sports betting in early 2021 fell short, but supporters of legalization continued to work on the topic.

The move in early 2021 failed because the state had to muster 60% support for a solution that would have legalized sports gambling in the state. After several previous attempts missing the mark, in 2023, the state made a major step forward.

In mid-March 2023, House Bill 551 (HB 551), which proposed the legalization of sports betting in Kentucky, successfully cleared the House. Then, later the same month, the proposal passed the Senate. Once this happened, HB 551 was signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear, who effectively legalized sports betting in Kentucky.

Kentucky’s online sports betting industry launched in September 2023, allowing state residents to place wagers on regulated sportsbooks.

Latest Gambling News in Kentucky

Sports January 27, 2025

Kentucky Notes Jump in Problem Gambling Helpline Use In 2024, Kentucky’s gambling helpline experienced a huge rise in calls, texts, and chats, with total contacts growing to more than twice the number from the year before.  KYCPG Links Helpline Call Increase to Sports Betting Laws and Awareness Campaigns The Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling (KYCPG) links this big increase to the new laws […]

Legal October 10, 2024

Kentucky Lawsuit Seeks to Reimburse Gray Machine Gambling Losses A new lawsuit filed in Kentucky seeks to recover millions of lost dollars by players engaging with “gray machines,” a type of cash payout game that proliferated in many convenience stores and gas stations across the state. The lawsuit, brought by the nonprofit organization Empathy in Action, aims to reimburse people who have lost money […]

Legal August 29, 2024

Kentucky Lawsuit Claims Aristocrat’s Social Casinos Are Illegal Gambling Social casino games are a popular form of entertainment that is not classified as gambling. Such games allow players to engage in casino-style games by using virtual currency. While that currency can be purchased with real money, it cannot be converted back into real money. At the same time, social casino games winnings can be […]

Sports July 25, 2024

Churchill Downs Confirms $90M Grandstand and Pavilion Renovation The provider of pari-mutuel horseracing, casino gambling and entertainment, Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI), confirmed its intention for a new massive investment at Churchill Downs Racetrack. The company released details regarding the planned renovation of its Grandstand Club and Pavilion at the racetrack on Wednesday. The latest announcement comes after recently, CDI recently completed a massive […]

When Will Online Sports Betting in Kentucky Roll Out?

Legal sports betting was one of the most hotly debated topics during the state’s legislative sessions and has been so since 2018. After years of trying, lawmakers finally pushed through and legalized the activity in 2023.

Gov. Andy Beshear has long supported the legalization of wagering on sports. The governor’s argument is simple – legalize sports betting to help offset the budget shortfall that the pandemic left. At the same time, legalizing the activity would help by not only bringing tax revenue but also reducing the share of offshore operators and keeping money in Kentucky that otherwise may be spent in a neighboring state on the activity.

HB551 was signed into law by Gov. Beshear at the end of March 2023, leaving regulated sports betting a step away from launch. Local news outlets confirmed that lawmakers are unlikely to wait long for the rollout of legal sports betting. The regulator of the activity, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, hinted that the launch can be expected soon. Without confirming a solid date, the regulator said that it is hopeful that regulated sports betting will arrive just in time for the 2023 National Football League (NFL).

Mobile Wagering in Kentucky: Already Known to Sports Fans 

Kentuckians are already familiar with how remote sports gambling works. Any attempt to regulate the industry would therefore factor this in and allow the state to enable mobile licenses. The outlook seems optimistic, given that HB 551 legalizes not only retail but mobile betting as well.

Under the bill that was recently signed into law, Kentucky horse racing tracks will be allowed to operate retail betting outlets. At the same time, they will have the option to team up with up to three online sports betting companies. In other words, Kentucky residents will have the option to choose from more than a dozen of legal mobile/online sports betting operators.

Can You Bet Legally on Horse Racing in Kentucky?

Naturally, the state is known for the Kentucky Derby, the Triple Crown event that draws huge crowds and is one of the most significant races on the calendar. Horse racing’s regulated status has benefited the state’s well-developed industry, which operates out of seven race tracks in the Bluegrass State.

Kentucky has had racetracks since 1805, too, but the state is surprisingly liberal when it comes to horse racing, and residents can even place bets remotely on websites such as TwinSpires and do so legally.

What Sportsbooks Are Coming to Kentucky Legalized Sports Betting?

Given that sports betting is legal in Kentucky, we are bound to see an influx of sportsbooks looking to secure the best possible entry into the market. Churchill Downs, the venue that hosts the Kentucky Derby, is actually already running an online sports betting business out of state. 

In April 2021, Churchill Downs Incorporated launched mobile sports betting apps in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. The company already operates TwinSpires, the betting app that is available in the majority of horse racing states in the United States and accepts horse race wagers.

The point is that Kentucky is definitely not without candidates when it comes to setting up sportsbooks in the state. Presently, legal sports betting in Kentucky is operated by the following enties, which are well-established national betting companies:

• BetMGM
• Fanatics
• Bet365
• Caesars
• FanDuel
• DraftKings

What’s the Outlook for Kentucky Sports Betting?

Signing HB 551 into law by Gov. Beshear was, without any doubt, the most important step ahead of the launch of sports betting in Kentucky. Additionally, the law made the launch of sports betting inevitable, as it had to be completed in the state by December 28, 2023. Despite the legalization and outright strong demand by bettors, there are groups that still oppose wagering on sports in Kentucky.

Anti-gambling and religious sentiments were, of course, prevalent with certain groups in the state, giving a strong voice to opponents who didn’t want gambling to move any further. While these groups are not as significant, nor are their arguments always justified, they are part of the GOP electoral base, and as such, their opinions matter.

As with other states, prior to launching legal betting activities, Kentucky had to go through licensing of the operators. This is normally not a lengthy process, but it is one of the pillars for creating a sustainable, competitive and strong sports betting market.

Given that Kentucky offers retail as well as mobile sports betting, there are plenty of options available for fans who like to wager. It is clear that the market has been a success so far, and sports fans and bettors have had a great time making use of the local options. Kentucky bettors can enjoy legal sports betting for years to come, whether they prefer the NFL, the NBA or something else entirely!

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