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Where Sports Betting Stands in Kentucky Prior to Online Launch

Dave Bonderoff

Last Updated: September 20, 2023 12:02 PM EDT • 2 min 47 sec read.

Two weeks have passed since Kentucky's launch of retail sports betting. There is about a week left before the more lucrative and all-encompassing mobile platform takes off.

It has been a quick transition for the legal Kentucky sports betting industry, which only saw Governor Andy Beshear sign House Bill 551 into law on June 28. So, what can we expect when online sports betting sites come to Kentucky? Let's break it down.

Kentucky ripe for the picking

Kentucky was by all accounts a logical next jurisdiction for the exploding legal sports betting industry in America. The state hosts one of the most iconic and wagered on sporting events on the U.S. calendar, the Kentucky Derby, and is home to one of the richest college sporting scenes in the country.

Outside of two major league soccer teams, Kentucky currently doesn't have a major professional sports franchise. But, as mentioned, the sporting culture in the state is almost unparalleled.

It is expected that thousands of jobs will be created from the creation of an all-encompassing legal sports betting platform and that tax revenue from legalization could amount to $23 million annually.

Although retail, brick-and-mortar sports betting in Kentucky has reportedly been brisk, it is the launch of Kentucky sports betting apps Sept. 28 that will provide rocket fuel to the sports betting scene there. Mobile sports betting apps are responsible for the overwhelming majority of handle and revenues for all competing U.S. jurisdictions. Kentucky sportsbook promos are already available in the state.

Two weeks of retail

By all accounts, retail sports betting is off to a good start in Kentucky. But in states that currently house both retail and mobile sports betting platforms, retail makes up only a fraction of the totals in those states. 

Right now, bettors 18 years of age or older can place an in-person legal sports bet at:

  • Churchill Downs
  • Cumberland Run
  • Derby City Gaming
  • Ellis Park in Henderson
  • Newport Racing and Gaming
  • The Mint Gaming Hall at Cumberland Run in Corbin
  • The Mint Gaming Hall at Cumberland Run in Williamsburg
  • Oak Grove
  • Turfway Park

What is available to bet on?

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) has been busy compiling a pretty good list of sports and betting markets for their wagering public. Kentucky’s sports betting list mirrors the best sports betting states in the country, with a couple of exceptions.

Bettors have access to wagers on:

  • NFL
  • MLB 
  • NHL
  • NBA
  • WNBA
  • NCAA baseball, softball, basketball, football, and hockey
  • XFL
  • USFL
  • Canadian Football League
  • LIV Golf
  • eSports
  • Japan Nippon Professional Baseball
  • FIBA sanctioned basketball events
  • Cycling
  • Boxing
  • Motorsports
  • Netball (ANZ Premiership and Super Netball)
  • Sailing (Americas Cup)
  • X Games
  • Winter and Summer Olympics
  • Major League Eating Sanctioned Events
  • Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest

Unfortunately for now, bets on horse racing and dog racing are curiously absent from the list. It isn't a huge factor right now as bettors are having to visit a racetrack anyway in order to place a legal sports wager. But when mobile is launched Sept. 28, the omission of the two sports will be a definite hole in the Kentucky sports betting apps offerings.

The bet types list that have been OK'd by the Commission is also extensive and includes single-game bets, teaser bets, parlays, Over/Under bets, moneyline bets, pools, in-game wagering, in-play bets, proposition bets, and straight bets.

Again, it is a pretty complete menu that mirrors ones in almost all legal sports betting states in America.

Looking forward to …

The legal sports betting rubber really hits the road Sept. 28 when mobile sports betting is launched. Kentucky sports betting apps have been pre-registering clientele and providing generous welcome bonuses along the way.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has been meeting to approve a few more mobile providers. It is unlikely that any new ones will be named in the next week or so, prior to its much-anticipated launch.

As many as 27 mobile sports betting licenses can be awarded in Kentucky, but for now, bettors can look forward to placing a mobile sports bet with:

So, get ready, Kentucky residents, to place a sports bet from the comfort of your homes. Sept. 28 will coincide with Week 4 in the NFL and the anticipation of another NBA and NHL season, as well as college hoops action.

The wait for online betting is almost over, but the retail sports wagering side is in full swing. Eyes of the U.S. legal sports betting industry will be on the Kentucky scene to see just how popular the platform will be.

Written By:
Dave Bonderoff
Dave Bonderoff and betting go hand-in-hand. Both are characterized by "odds". Dave fancies himself as one of the most dedicated sports and pop-culture junkies around, to the chagrin of his family and friends. Following sports for 50 years and writing about it for 20, Dave hasn't found a sport yet that can't contribute to 2-3 straight hours of couch time. That search remains ongoing. As a good old Canadian boy, hockey is in Dave’s heart, as is curling sadly. But evolution is a real thing and that’s why football, baseball, and just about every sport on the planet has become a passion. Dave isn’t afraid to kill some time obsessing over politics or the far-too-frequent awards shows the consume the airwaves.