Kentucky Online Gambling & Betting

Sports betting is live in Kentucky. The Kentucky Sports Betting Act, HB 551, was signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear on March 31, 2023, paving the way for legal Kentucky betting apps. Beginning on September 28, 2023 online sports betting is live and legal in Kentucky.

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The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) is overseeing the regulatory framework and is expected to begin issuing licenses to online sportsbooks before the end of 2023.

Sports Betting in Kentucky

Online sports betting is currently not permitted in Kentucky, but that’s about to change.

Kentucky sports betting promos are on their way and should feature a whole range of bonuses and bet credits for new users.

BetMGM Kentucky	Register Here
Caesars Kentucky	Coming Soon
DraftKings Kentucky	Register Here
FanDuel Kentucky	Register Here
Bet365 Kentucky	Register Here

Here is a look at the potential timeline to launch:

• June 2023: The KHRC requested proposals from sports betting operators in order to begin the process of issuing sports betting licenses
• July-August 2023: The KHRC will begin granting licenses to successful bidders and the list of licensed operators in the state will begin to take shape.
• December 2023: Sports betting is set to go live

Here are some of the best betting apps on pace to go live in the state on September 28, 2023.

Online Casinos in Kentucky

Online casinos are not permitted in Kentucky, although you can sign up to social or sweepstake casinos to sample a variety of games, and compete for prizes. Surprisingly, there are no land-based casinos situated within the state, although there a numerous options just across the border. The Horseshoe Southern Indiana Casino is situated just across the river and is easily accessible from Lousiville. Here, you can enjoy card games such as Blackjack as well as play video poker and slots. There are also land-based venues in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Online Poker in Kentucky

Online poker is not currently permitted in the state of Kentucky, as of November 2020. However, a 2020 sports bill that wasn’t given a final floor vote, even though it had bipartisan support, included a provision to legalize the practice, and that has given online poker enthusiasts significant hope that the law will be changed in the near future. Poker is very popular here, and although there are no land-based casinos currently situated within the state, you can visit any of the venues on the border to enjoy multiple variants as well as enter competitions in one of the many dedicated poker rooms.

Daily Fantasy in Kentucky

Although daily fantasy sports are legal in many neighboring states, it is currently forbidden to wager on them in Kentucky. However, it remains a bit of a gray area, as sites such as FanDuel will still accept players from the state. If the latest bill to legalize online sports betting is successful in the near future, this would also allow you the opportunity to freely sign up for top daily fantasy sports betting sites such as DraftKings.

Esports in Kentucky

Wagering on eSports in Kentucky remains illegal. Although you can enjoy watching high-profile competitions online, you are not currently permitted to wager on the outcome of any of these events. 

Lottery in Kentucky

In Kentucky, you can play the state-run lottery by visiting any of the selected retailers. It is now also possible to purchase tickets online, or via a mobile device. You can also choose from multi-state draws with tickets available for each of these on the dedicated KY Lottery app.

Horse Racing Betting in Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is home to one of the most famous horse races in the world – the Kentucky Derby – so of course, betting on that is legal. In the Bluegrass State, it’s only parimutuel betting at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, and other popular racetracks, at OTBs, and on licensed racebooks like Twinspires where you can wager.

Want to know more about Kentucky gambling laws, taxes and development? Follow updates at statelaws.findlaw.com/kentucky-law.html