Last updated on: September 3rd, 2024
Best Legal Kentucky Sports Betting Apps + Sportsbooks In 2024
Legal Kentucky sports betting takes a few different forms. There are many online betting sites and a handful of physical sportsbook locations at racetracks and OTBs. If looking for the best KY sportsbook apps 2024, Bovada and BetOnline are hard to beat. These internationally regulated Kentucky sports betting sites offer the largest deposit bonuses and the most deposit options. Any residents over the age of 18 can sign up today and start betting on the Wildcats, Cardinals, Titans, and more.
- Bovada offers a 50% deposit match up to $1,000 to all KY players with code BVD1000.
- Lawmakers regulated sports betting at the local level in Kentucky with the passing of KY HB 551 in March 2023.
- Governor Andy Beshear placed the first bet on sports in Kentucky at Churchill Downs on Sept. 7, 2023.
Top Online Sportsbooks For Kentucky Residents
| Rank | Sportsbook | Bonus Offer | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Exclusive 50% Bonus Code up to $1000!Read Review | BVD1000 in Cashier |
| 2 |  |
50% Up To $1,000Read Review | Visit BetOnline! |
| 3 |  |
50% Up To $1,000 Read Review | Visit MyBookie! |
| 4 |  |
100% Up To $300Read Review | Visit Xbet! |
| 5 |  |
50% Up To $1,000 Read Review | Visit SportsBetting! |
#1
Bovada Sportsbook
Great Crypto Betting Bonuses
Those who bet with Bovada in Kentucky always talk about how easy it is to deposit and withdrawal. Crypto and Bovada go hand in hand. Kentucky players who bet with crypto at Bovada receive insane sports betting bonuses. This means taking the UK Wildcats basketball moneyline at -230 becomes a lot cheaper. See all the benefits of using Bovada in Kentucky from accessibility to dependability.
Rating: 
- Reliable Customer Service
- Exclusive Prop Builder
- Top-Notch Site Interface
- Multiple Payment Methods
- Live and Mobile Betting
#2
MyBookie Sportsbook
Mobile Betting From Anywhere In Kentucky
Placing a bet from your phone is extremely easy and simple to do from anywhere in Kentucky using MyBookies mobile betting platform. They have optimized their mobile betting platform to be compatible with all of the top smartphones like iPhones, Androids, Samsungs, and many others that have an internet browser on them. All you have to do is access the site on whichever browser you choose and you can place a bet from the palm of your hand.
Ratings:
- Huge Player Bonuses
- Consistent Odds
- Easy Interface
- Rapid Live Betting
- Legal In Kentucky
#3
BetOnline Sportsbook
Lifetime Bonus For Existing Users
The great thing about BetOnline for Kentucky sports bettors is that yes, they do offer great bonuses for new users, but they also offer a lifetime bonus for existing users. With their LIFEBONUS promo code, you will gain access to a 25% match on each of your deposits that can be worth up to $250. Once all is said and done, you can enjoy using your risk-free credit to bet on any sport that BetOnline has to offer.
Rating:
- Reliable Banking Methods
- Strong Server Connection
- 10+ Year Track Record
- Huge Assortment Of Odds
- No App Mobile Betting
#4
XBet Sportsbook
New User Bonus Of $500
When looking for one of the best Kentucky online sportsbooks, it is best to look at the new user bonuses. With XBet, new Kentucky sports bettors can score up to $500 on extra on their first deposit with the 50% match that they offer. You can take advantage of this offer from anywhere you are whether it is from a computer or your smartphone, you will always have access to it.
Ratings:
- Worry-free Legal Betting
- Exclusive Bonus Offers
- Constantly Updated Odds
- Premier User Experience
- Full Mobile + Live Betting
#5
SportsBetting Sportsbook
Offers Top Tier Safety For Users
While SportsBetting does thrive in the odds that they have to offer, an area that they have spent a ton of time and effort in perfecting is their user safety. They use an encrypted link to keep not only your web browser safe but also the server of the online sportsbook that way you and your funds are always safe. This allows you to have a stress and worry-free betting experience.
Ratings:
- Efficient Site Layout
- Full Mobile Betting Suite
- Available Customer Service
- Trustworthy Banking Options
- Fast Payout Times
Is Bovada Legal In Kentucky?
Using Bovada in Kentucky as a legal sportsbook is definitely acceptable. There are no Kentucky sports betting laws restricting you from using their site. Likewise, Bovada allows Kentucky players to sign up per their terms and conditions.
Where is Sports Betting Legal?
Kentucky Sports Betting Timeline
- 9/7/2023 – Governor Andy Beshear, Representative Michael Meredith, Senator Damon Thayer and Senator Adam Koenig place the first in-person sportsbook bets in Kentucky.
- 7/10/2023 – The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission unanimously approves sports betting regulations. They set a sportsbook launch date in KY for Sept. 7. KY sports betting apps to follow on Sept. 28, 2023.
- 3/30/2023 – The Senate approves HB 551 in about two weeks’ time, voting 25-12 in favor of the legal sports betting bill. Governor Andy Beshear signs the measure immediately, effectively regulating sportsbooks in Kentucky.
- 3/13/2023 – After many amendments to HB 551, the House votes 63-34 in support of passing the Kentucky sports betting bill.
- 2/22/2023 – Representative Michael Meredith introduces KY HB 551 in attempts to begin the 2023 legislative session focused on legal sports betting.
- 4/15/2022 – HB 606, which would have regulated KY sports betting, dies in the Senate after passing the House 58-30.
- 3/31/2022 – HB 606, which would regulate sports betting in KY, passes the House with a 58-30 vote.
- 1/4/2022 – Kentucky’s Senate and House will once again take up the topic of sports betting in 2022.
- 3/14/2021 – Kentucky has once again failed to pass a sports betting bill, with HB 241 failing to pass the House.
- 2/13/2021 – Rep. Adam Koenig tells LSB that ““If we have the support, we can get House Bill 241 moving along but, in the end, HHR (historic horse racing) is the primary issue in 2021.”
- 1/12/2021 – HB 241 is filed in the Kentucky House by Rep. Adam Koenig. It would regulate sports betting in Kentucky.
- 1/6/2021 – Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has come out in favor of sports betting in KY.
- 3/10/2020 – Sports betting has been removed from the approved budget proposal for 2020, killing the chances of regulated sports betting in KY.
- 2/13/2020 – There is a risk that sports betting could be amended out of the bills it is currently in, which could prevent it from being passed.
- 2/4/2020 – Rep. Jason Nemes believes sports betting is already functionally legal in KY. “Replete in the definition of gambling in our statutes is ‘game of chance,’ game of chance,’” Nemes said. “Well, I believe, and I know a lot our sister states have found, that sports betting is not a game of chance. It’s a game of skill.”
- 1/15/2020 – A sports betting bill, HB 137, has made it out of the House Committee on Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations by a vote of 18-0.
- 3/26/2019 – There will be no passing of sports betting in 2019, as the issue has been put off until at least the 2020 legislative session.
- 2/21/2019 – The Kentucky House Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee passed KY HB 175, a bill that would regulate sports betting in KY, with a vote of 14-0 with one abstention.
Past Kentucky Sports Betting Bills
| Year | Bill | Goal | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | KY HB 551 | Imposes a tax and look to regulate sports betting in Kentucky for online and local sportsbooks | Approved in both Senate (25-12) and House (63-34), and signed by Governor Andy Beshear. |
| 2023 | KY SB 73 | Regulate and define terms for daily fantasy, sports betting, online poker. | Died in the Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee |
| 2022 | KY HB 606 | To expand legal Kentucky gambling laws. Like similar measures, this would regulate online gambling in Kentucky in three forms. | Passed in House 58-30, Died in the Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor Committee |
| 2022 | KY HB 714 | To give sole authority of legal Kentucky sports betting to the racing comission. This would tax KY sportsbooks at race tracks 9.5%. | Died in the House Committee on Committees |
| 2022 | KY HB 610 | To expand types of horse races in Kentucky. This bill also looked at Kentucky sportsbook regulation and fantasy sports. | Died in the House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee |
| 2022 | KY SB 213 | A similar measure to KY HB 241. This measure looked to regulate online sports betting in KY, poker, and daily fantasy. | Died in the Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee |
| 2022 | KY SB 141 | To regulate “all forms of otherwise permissble gaming”. This would tax all forms of gambling in Kentucky. | Died in the Senate State & Local Government Committee |
| 2021 | KY HB 241 | To expand gambling in Kentucky. This bill looked to add fantasy regulation, sportsbooks in KY, and online poker. | Died in the House Committee on Committees |
| 2020 | KY SB 24 | To create the Kentucky Gaming Commission which sets regulations to the lottery. Kentucky sportsbooks would pay a 25% tax. | Died in the Senate Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee |
| 2020 | KY HB 137 | To create a full indsutry for legal sports betting in Kentucky. This bill also supported legalizing online poker in KY. | Amended, Died in the House Licensing, Occupations, & Admin Regulations Committee |
| 2019 | KY HB 12 | To amend the Kentucky gambling laws in support of sports betting. It would allow sportsbooks to take bets for anyone 18+. | Died in the House Appropriations & Revenue Committee |
| 2019 | KY SB 23 | To create a commission that would generate sports betting rules and regulations for the Kentucky Lottery Corporation. | Died in the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee |
| 2018 | KY SB 22 | To have the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission start sports betting. KY sportsbooks would pay a tax on 20% of all bets placed. | Died in the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee |
| 2018 | KY HB 526 | Have the lottery oversee Kentucky sportsbooks. Allow sportsbooks to accept pro and college sports bets in KY for anyone 18+. | Died in the House Licensing, Occupations, & Admin Regulations Committee |
What Is The Legal Sports Betting Age In Kentucky?
Legally, Kentuckians must be at least the legal sports betting age of 18 to wager on sports in the state. This is good news as all online sports betting operators requires their players to be 18+ to join.
Places To Bet On Sports Near Kentucky
The best place to bet on sports in Kentucky is at Bovada online. It’s the easiest to access and offers what you’ll need. Should you want an in-person sportsbook experience, enjoy the ambiance in these locations.
Potential Kentucky Sports Betting Cities
- Henderson
- Lexington
- Louisville
States Near KY With Legal Sportsbooks
What Teams Can I Bet On?
Kentucky is proud to say that they have heavy hitters when it comes to Division I collegiate teams. Sportsbooks taking bets on college teams in Kentucky offer the chance to bet on all collegiate programs for anyone in our outside of the state. Visit legal sports betting sites in Kentucky like Bovada to bet on any team from any sport.
Popular Kentucky Teams
| Kentucky Wildcats (NCAA) | Louisville Cardinals (NCAA) | Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) |
| Cincinnati Reds (MLB) | New Orleans Pelicans (NBA) | Nashville Predators (NHL) |
Betting On College Football In Kentucky
There are always ways to get in on the action at college football betting sites, with odds offered in Kentucky for the Wildcats, Cardinals, and all other program in the country. There are no restrictions for betting on college football player props at Bovada or BetOnline. Also, find future props for the upcoming season, including SEC and ACC Conference Championship odds.
Past Kentucky Wildcat ATS Records
- 2023: 7-6
- 2022: 8-4
- 2021: 8-4-1
- 2020: 4-7
- 2019: 10-3
- 2018: 6-7
Past Louisville Cardinals ATS Records
- 2023: 6-8
- 2022: 8-5
- 2021: 6-7
- 2020: 5-5-1
- 2019: 8-5
- 2018: 1-11
Betting On College Basketball In Kentucky
College basketball sportsbooks in Kentucky understand their importance in a state that is dominated by the sport. There is the natural rivalry between Louisville and Kentucky, the up-and-coming Murray State Racers, and even the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers who have been on the national radar ever since Courtney Lee’s game-winner in March of 2008. Louisville and Kentucky have the strongest histories of the programs, accounting for each of the state’s CB National Championships. Those past champions and their odds before March Madness tipped off can be seen below.
- College Basketball National Champions From Kentucky
- 2012: Louisville +450
- 2011: Kentucky +185
- 1997: Kentucky +1000
- 1995: Kentucky +140
- 1985: Louisville +600
- 1979: Louisville +800
- 1977: Kentucky +500
Can I Bet Real Money On Sports In Kentucky?
Kentucky sportsbooks allow for real money wagers. These sportsbooks offer several banking methods, including using cryptocurrencies, and players can easily wager and win real money betting at these sites. Real money betting in Kentucky is the main draw at these popular online sportsbooks.
Deposit Options For Real Money Sportsbooks
- VISA
- MasterCard
- American Express
- Discover Card
- Checks
- Person To Person
- Vouchers
Cryptocurrency Betting In Kentucky
Cryptocurrencies are accepted in Kentucky via international sportsbooks. These sportsbooks accept a wide range of cryptos, with each of them focusing on different segments of the crypto market.
Sportsbooks That Take Crypto In Kentucky
- Bovada – Bovada accepts Bitcoin, Bitcoin SV and Bitcoin Cash as well as ETH and Tether.
- BetOnline – BetOnline takes 12 different crypto tokens, from the popular to the unpopular.
- MyBookie – MyBookie takes Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum and Litecoin, while offering withdrawals in Bitcoin.
Horse Racing Betting In Kentucky
The pride and joy of Kentucky is the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby has a long history within the state and it’s the world most prestigious horse race. Unfortunately, that means going there will be extremely crowded and busy. If you don’t want to deal with the crowd but you want to engage in legal horse race betting like the Kentucky Derby, it’s never been easier. All you have to do is go online to an offshore site like SportsBetting and look for the racebook. There, you can enjoy and bet on the Kentucky Derby without having to deal with the huge crowd, as these books also accept wagers on daily races simulcasted from all over the US and UK.
Daily Fantasy Sports In Kentucky
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is in an interesting position in Kentucky. Fans can readily enjoy both DraftKings and FanDuel while in Kentucky. The interesting thing is that Kentucky failed to pass a bill that would have regulated DFS within state borders. But this is not a negative thing, all that means is that DFS operators do not have to report to the state legislature. DFS players can still access DraftKings and FanDuel for contests. Players in Kentucky can potentially large cash prizes in public tournaments even if they don’t finish first. Or they can play in private contests against their friends.
Kentucky Legal Online Casinos
There are hundreds of casino games that you can choose from on the online casinos that are available in Kentucky. While there are several casinos in Kentucky that you can choose from, you don’t actually have to go to them to access all of your favorite casino games as they can each be found on online platforms including slots and table games. In addition to the games that they offer though, there are also promotions on some of the online casinos that could score you up to $1,000 in risk-free credits to use on any online casino game.
Online Slot Games In Kentucky
- Book Of Treasures
- Lava Gold
- Vegas Heaven
- Spinfinity Man
- Gold Tiger Ascent
- Charms & Clovers
Digital Table Games At Online Kentucky Casinos
- Caribbean Stud Poker
- Three Card Rummy
- Casino War
- Craps
- Red Dog
- Pai Gow Poker
Live Dealer Games On Kentucky Online Casinos
- Baccarat
- Super 6
- Roulette
- Blackjack
Online Poker Rooms In Kentucky
The great thing about the legal online betting sites in Kentucky is that some of them offer online poker rooms as well and have all of the same, if not more benefits than an in-person poker room. They have plenty of cash games for you to take advantage of as well as weekly tournaments. They even have poker promotions to offer. The main thing here though is that unlike the in person poker rooms, you’ll never have to go on a waitlist to play as there are always seats available.
Legal Kentucky Sports Betting FAQs
Is Online Sports Betting Safe In Kentucky?
Online sports betting is the safest way for sports bettors in Kentucky to wager on sporting events. These operators are licensed and regulated to do business, not to mention legal, making them the most secure way for gamblers in Kentucky to bet on the games.
Will I Get Arrested For Sports Betting In Kentucky?
The internet sportsbooks listed on this page are legal, making it near impossible for a user in Kentucky to be arrested. Using a local bookie will get you in trouble, but it would likely be the person running the unregulated gambling operation that would get arrested, not the bettor themselves.
Where Is The Best Place To Bet On Sports In Kentucky?
The best place to bet on sports in Kentucky is with Bovada or other legal sportsbooks. These operators are accessible from iPhones, Androids, and even computers. Without land-based sportsbooks in Kentucky, online books are your best (and only) option.
Can I Bet On Sports With My Friends In Kentucky Legally?
There are zero laws in place to prohibit wagering on sports with friends in Kentucky. Betting on the games with your buddies is 100% legal and a great way to make watching sports competitions even more competitive on an individual level.
Should I Use A Local Bookie To Bet On Sports?
There is no need to use a local bookie in Kentucky as it’s a risk because they are not a regulated business. Anyone in Kentucky that wants to bet on sports simply needs to go on the internet and do so with many of the legal online sportsbooks.
Are Kentucky Lawmakers Interested In Regulating Mobile Sportsbooks?
Over three years, lawmakers presented many bills for Kentucky sports betting regulation. These bills included legalizing mobile betting apps in KY and land-based ones. Kentucky lawmakers were very open to the idea and passed a Kentucky sports betting bill in March 2023.