The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Is there live streaming of sporting events?
The number of sports with in-play betting available
Can you create your own personalised bets?
Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Is there live streaming of sporting events?
The number of sports with in-play betting available
Can you create your own personalised bets?
Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
After five years of hardened battle in the legislative halls of the state of Kentucky, sports betting is finally legal. Governor Andy Beshear rubber-stamped the act that brought legality to sports betting on 31st March after the state House passed Bill 551, setting the groundwork for implementing a local betting market. The regulatory framework is still getting fine-tuned by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, an agency entrusted with overseeing sports betting activity in the state.
Expectations are for the market to go live in the fourth quarter of 2023 at the soonest, but most are betting on early 2024. One stipulation of the law is that operators must partner with local retail horse racing tracks to offer their services in the state. Each of the nine active venues can collaborate with up to three operators, opening the door for a total of 27 sportsbooks in the Bluegrass state.
Until the passing of House Bill 551, online betting in Kentucky was illegal, and most residents wagered on offshore platforms or ventured into neighboring states. Currently, the only option to wager is on horse racing, as no retail sportsbooks are allowed in the state.
However, the new law legalized sports betting, making Kentucky the 37th state to do so. It allows for up to 27 mobile sportsbooks to operate in the state.
The most optimistic predictions are that they'll become active with the start of the new NFL season, but most are cautious and foresee the market's launch in early 2024. Multiple big industry brands have expressed willingness to partner with local racetracks and make their best betting apps available to sports fans of the Bluegrass state. Kentucky betting apps will be available for free on both Android and iOS for all upcoming legal Kentucky sports betting sites.
Currently, no. However, Kentucky online sports betting will become a practical reality by the end of 2023, and most 21-year-old or older residents of Kentucky will be able to bet legally on sporting events.
The sports betting launch will usher in a trove of sports leagues. Players will benefit from a wide sports market coverage, focusing on premier North American leagues such as NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and NCAA competitions.
Although nothing is official, the expectation is that the leading US sports betting sites will extend their footprint into the Bluegrass state after securing licenses from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
They will undoubtedly widen the scope of betting opportunities and sports to bet on, including popular sports such as international soccer, basketball, and rugby leagues, plus multiple niche sports. Horse racing, which has been the exclusive gambling option in Kentucky for decades, will also be on the menu in mobile betting apps.
The home of this historical horse racing event, Churchill Down offers an exclusive app providing everything you need to enjoy the wagering side of the races. The app is available for download from the Google Play Store and App Store of the racetrack's official website.
Other licensed race tracks in the state provide Android and iOS apps. The apps are not geared only towards online betting on horse racing but offer a comprehensive overview of events with ticket sales and the latest news.
Previous to Bill H551, there were several unsuccessful attempts to legalize DFS in the state. However, as is the case in many US states, daily fantasy sports in Kentucky walk a tight line, neither being illegal nor legal. This legal ambiguity over the matter allowed many operators to offer daily fantasy sports without ramifications for players using their services.
Sports gambling Kentucky is now legal, but the market is still in an embryonic stage. With the signing of House Bill 551, the foundation has been set for the development of the market. The job of fabricating gambling laws is in the hands of the KHRC, which has six months, starting from the 28th of June 2023, when the law will take effect, to tailor a framework for licensing possible online sportsbook operators.
The law allows for up to 27 sports betting licenses to be issued to operators. The soonest a mobile sportsbook app will be able to accept mobile sports betting is on the 28th of December, 2023. However, most industry experts forecast the first quarter of 2024 as the most realistic time frame for the market's launch. Getting a new industry off the ground is no easy task, and delays between legalization and the launching of sportsbooks are not uncommon.
Past experiences have shown that regulatory and logistical issues can hamper the speed of implementing a full-fledged mobile sportsbook. However, potential operators, such as Caesars, FanDuel, BetMGM, and DraftKings, that are willing to enter the new online sports betting legal market have successfully navigated similar challenges in the past. Most industry experts are confident that the sportsbooks will be up and running for the Super Bowl.
The two best apps for the Kentucky Derby are the TVG and TwinSpires, both offering attractive gamblling bonus offers. Yet, with the launch of the new market, most sportsbooks will offer mobile sports betting apps covering the Derby with competitive odds and promos.
The new law enables future licensed operators to offer proprietary apps to Kentucky residents. Players will be able to legally download and bet online through the apps.
Bill H551 makes provision for betting on professional and college sports such as college basketball. Available options on the Kentucky online sports betting sites will include the following sports:
Most traditional sports are legal. The only areas not covered by the law, which by default may be interpreted as illegal and not offered by Kentucky sportsbooks, are betting on political events and entertainment award ceremonies.
While the framework for legal KY sports betting sites is getting refined, speculations and announcements of intent to launch sportsbook apps in the state are intensifying. Several industry-leading operators could set up shop in the Bluegrass state - the list of operators potentially applying for a license from the KHRC includes some well-known names.
Fanduel sportsbook has used the DFS loophole in Kentucky and offered its daily fantasy sports services to residents of the state. But with the new law, it's expected that this operator will embark on a more ambitious path offering its full spectrum of sports markets and promotions through its streamlined sportsbook app.
BetMGM has a lot to offer to Kentucky bettors, with seamless banking, a competitive first bet bonus, and live streaming of sports events. Its repertoire of popular bet types matches other sportsbooks, but what most operators can't match is BetMGM's daily promotions. This sportsbook has a comprehensive Parlay Builder integrated into the app.
Considered one of the top-tier online sportsbooks, DraftKings can elevate the Kentucky sports betting scene with tempting odds for major domestic leagues and an arsenal of bet types. This online bookie provides a sleek interface and great promotional opportunities, including a large catalog of sports markets, with the DraftKings Sportsbook Kentucky Derby remaining a staple for local bettors.
It has a reputation as a top-ranking sportsbook, available in every state where online sports betting is legal. Caesars Sportsbook is not new to the Bluegrass state, previously offering the Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky Derby on its Caesars Recebook app. This bookie is a global brand offering a lucrative welcome bonus and wide coverage of different sports markets.
Barstool Sportsbook has grown exponentially, and Kentucky can be the new frontier to be conquered by this vibrant brand. Its standard promo offers should be valid in Kentucky, such as the $1,000 in the form of bonus bets. Other notable features are early cashout and live betting. The loyalty program also rewards multiple benefits.
Sports bettors enjoy promotional offers, and Kentucky players will inherit the same privilege with the launch of the sports betting market. Operators provide different types of bonus deals with specific wagering requirements. Some popular bonus options are explored in detail below.
The typical welcome bonus in a sportsbook is a bonus bet offer, requiring bettors to open an account and make a deposit. A bonus bet is a form of insurance guaranteeing that if the first bet is a loss, the operator will refund the stake and give you another chance to wager on the house. The deal's value varies, but reputable sportsbooks go as high as matching the first bet up to $1,000.
It's expected that future Kentucky sportsbooks offer pre-launch special bonuses for new users. These offers will have unique promo codes and provide generous no-deposit boosts or a large match promotion on a first deposit.
Sportsbooks keep a promo calendar for big annual events, which receive special offers. The Super Bowl is one such example, commemorated with dedicated bonuses that have a large deposit match promo or free bet offers, all with relaxed wagering requirements. Similar promo treatment gets reserved for NBA playoffs, March Madness, World Cup, and Olympic events.
Kentucky might not have a professional sports team, but it has a proud tradition of college teams with championship pedigrees. A few of the more popular college sports teams which can be alluring for sports bettors are:
The legal status of Kentucky online sports betting is verified, but the law does not take effect until June 28, 2023. Up to that point, no retail or mobile sportsbooks will be active in Kentucky, although the best online sportsbooks are preparing for their entries. Some potential racetrack partners for retail locations include:
The reason these are expected to be the upcoming retail Kentucky sports betting sites is because of their proven contribution to gaming so far. Namely, the Churchill Downs Stadium is the home of the Kentucky Derby, so placing it in the spotlight of future sports betting in KY is no surprise.
Governor Andy Beshear signs HB 551 into a Kentucky Sports Betting law.
HB 551 is endorsed with a vote of 25-12.
The House passes HB 551, sending it to the Senate.
Rep. Michael Meredith introduces House Bill 551, a bill that is aiming to legalize sports betting in Kentucky.
House Bill 241 gets introduced but fails to receive majority support.
The United States Supreme Court permits states to decide if they will make legal Kentucky sports betting.
Kentucky is the 37th state in the US to legalize sports betting. Although the regulatory framework is still in the development phase, it's expected to mirror the rules and requirements found in other states.
The tax rate for operators in Kentucky is similar to other states, with 9.75% on gross revenues for in-person bets and 14.25% for online wagers. For players, all winnings get taxed as ordinary income.
There are no limitations, meaning that players can use the full spectrum of bet types, such as moneyline, totals, parlay, futures, in-play, prop bets, and many others.
Every state that legalized online bookies has some age requirements. In Kentucky, the minimum legal age for online gambling is the same as the rest - 21 years old. However, this limit reduces when it comes to lottery betting where the age limit is 18. Almost in every state, you have to be a resident to open an account in a licensed sportsbook and can wager only if physically present in that jurisdiction.
Legal sports betting sites do not limit their coverage of betting markets. Every operator decides which sports and leagues will get included on their app. you reside or which state you're visiting. While many allow betting on popular sports such as hockey and football, others restrict access to horse and dog racing.
States in which betting is legal require operators to get certified by the local regulatory agency, ensuring the safety of bettors.
Sports betting can be fun, but it can become a gambling problem. This is why most operators offer resources such as deposit limits and self-exclusion schemes to their members. However, the state also provides tools in the form of a gambling helpline and treatment services.
Kentucky sports betting is now legal, but no sportsbooks are active at the moment. While we await for the first operators to be available, names such as DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, and BetMGM are among the projected future online bookies in KY.
Although the bill to make Kentucky sports betting legal has passed, there are still no sportsbook available in Kentucky. However, the new legal framework allows for up to 27 sportsbooks to offer their services in the future, a number that potentially offers a very good choice for Kentucky Bettors.
DraftKings is not yet available in Kentucky. Nonetheless, DraftKings is available for betting on the Kentucky Derby, while the full-fledged sports betting app is expected in 2024 and is expected to have different markets and sports options available to bet on.
Currently, no sportsbooks are available in Kentucky, considering that Bill H551 legalizing sports gambling will take effect on the 28th of June, 2023. We do expect the big names to be available once this is possible. Names such as BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel.
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