Best Kentucky Sports Betting Sites: Get Up to $4.5K In Bonuses at KY Sportsbooks - November 2024

Legal sports betting finally arrived in Kentucky! As of September 28th, 2023, the Senate passed HB551 by a vote of 25-12 on the final day of the 2023 session, Kentucky bettors can now place legal online sports bets with selected, regulated sportsbooks in "The Bluegrass State". 

Read on to learn all you need to know about the best Kentucky sports betting apps, top sportsbooks, and best Kentucky promo codes and welcome offers. Bookies.com expert will unveil the step-by-step sign-up process, bonuses, and rewards available for all KY residents.

Best Kentucky Betting Sites & Apps

Here are the best Kentucky betting sites and apps with their respective welcome offers for sports bettors in Kentucky: 

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Kentucky Sports To Bet On

There are numerous sports to bet on at Kentucky betting sites. The best Kentucky betting sites like BetMGM KY and Caesars KY offer different sports betting options. Here is a list of some of the sports you can bet on at the top Kentucky sports betting apps:

• 🏎️ Auto Racing (F1)
• ⚾ Baseball (MLB)
• 🏀 Basketball (NBA)
• 🥊 Boxing
• 🚴 Cycling
• 🏈 Football
• 🏌️ Golf (PGA)
• 🏒 Hockey (NHL)
• 🏉 Rugby
• ⚽ Soccer (EPL, MLS)
• 🎾 Tennis
• 🥋 UFC (MMA)
• 🏇 Horse Racing

The best Kentucky sportsbook promo codes and other welcome incentives are now available to new customers at Kentucky online sportsbooks. There are even regular promotions offered to existing customers to ensure that they stay loyal to the sportsbook. 

These types of promotions are particularly useful to new bettors as they often allow you to make a bonus bet without spending your own money. This gives you the chance to take a sportsbook for a test drive to see if it’s a good fit before investing too much of your own money. 

Here are a few of the most common promotions and offers that we are most likely to see at Kentucky sportsbooks. 

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Deposit Match

Deposit match bonuses are a promotion that sees any deposit made by the bettor matched by the sportsbook. An example would be a 100% deposit match bonus of up to $500. In this instance any deposit made by the bettor would be matched up to a maximum of $500.

This type of bonus is usually offered to new customers as a welcome incentive but can also be offered to existing customers. It’s worth noting that there may be some wagering requirements that must be fulfilled before the full amount of the bonus can be redeemed. 

The obvious benefit here is that you can get additional site credit to make more wagers. The downside is that you’ll need to wager more to get the full bonus. 

Odds Boosts

An odds boost is a promotion that will offer heightened odds for a specific sporting event. This could be for any type of wager. For example, a sportsbook may offer odds of -160 for an NFL team to win a game. These NFL odds may be boosted to +100 or something similar prior to the game. The idea with these types of promotions is to build interest in a particular event. 

Odds boosts are quite common and each sportsbook will usually offer boosts on a daily basis. 

Referral Bonuses

A referral bonus is sometimes offered to an existing customer who can redeem the bonus once a friend joins the sportsbook. This bonus is usually in the form of site credits and is subject to some conditions. For example, the friend must make a deposit and place wagers totaling a certain amount before the bonus can be redeemed. 

These bonuses are only beneficial if you are sure that your referral is going to place wagers and be active at the sportsbook from the outset. 

Parlay Insurances

A parlay is a combined wager on two or more separate events. Both legs of the wager must come through to win the combined bet. However, parlay insurance means that if one leg falls through, you can still get a refund up to a certain amount. 

This is a great promotion for those who are new to parlay wagering or who are gambling on sports that they are unfamiliar with. However, parlay insurance usually only covers a stake up to a maximum amount such as $25. 

No Deposits

The no deposit bonus is perhaps the king of all promotions for a new bettor. This type of bonus simply requires that a new user registers at the sportsbook and that’s it. The bettor can then place a wager using the bonus without having to make any deposit of their own.

This is the perfect way to test out a sportsbook to see if it's a good fit. Bear in mind though that there may be some restrictions on the wager and any winnings from a bet made using a bonus cannot be withdrawn until the bettor meets specific wagering requirements. These can include making a deposit or placing wagers to a multiple of the original stake such as 30X or 50X.

Reloads

A reload offer is exactly what it sounds like, an offer that will top up a bettor’s account with site credit. These offers are usually for existing customers and will sometimes be based on their previous betting activity. They can come in the form of that top up just mentioned or a bonus bet. 

Whatever form it takes, the reload bonus will have very specific conditions such as wagering a certain amount before the full reload can be redeemed.

Kentucky Teams To Bet on

While there are no professional sports teams based in Kentucky, local sports fans have been known to have a particular affinity for the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals (the closest team geographically) and the Dallas Cowboys. Meanwhile baseball fans will most likely follow the Cincinnati Reds. 

Kentucky is more of a college sports state and there are some hugely successful college teams that local fans support such as the Louisville Cardinals and the Kentucky Wildcats. However, it remains to be seen whether or not Kentucky sports betting sites will allow wagers on events involving in-state college athletes.  

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Choosing The Best Kentucky Online Sportsbook

Choosing the best Kentucky online sportsbook could be a little confusing for a first-time bettor as we expect to see at least seven options available once the market has launched. However, some sportsbooks will certainly be a better choice than others depending on the user’s needs. With this in mind, here are some of the ways that you can determine if an online sportsbook is the right choice for you. 

Great Reviews

The first port of call should be a sports betting review website just like the one you’re on right now. This will give you an unbiased review of the sportsbook including the pros and, most importantly, the cons.

Here at Bookies, we do this by gauging customer feedback on the sportsbook in question and then going ahead and using it ourselves. This way we can give you a genuine opinion based on fact and not just secondhand information. 

Remember too that we will review every legal KY online sportsbook once it has received regulatory approval and launched in the state. 

Bets Allowed

There is a wide variety of betting types offered across the majority of online sportsbooks and we explain those in detail a little further down the page. 

What we will say here is that it’s important to make sure that the sportsbook you choose offers the full range of betting options.

This is not only because you want the best service possible but also because it’s always good to have multiple options so you can make the most of the odds available to maximize your chances of winning. 

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Great Pricing On Betting Lines and Odds 

It’s surprising how much difference can be found between the betting lines and odds at one sportsbook and the next.

This is something that many bettors fail to realize which means that they miss out one finding better value at competing sites and one of the reasons that we go to great lengths to vet all KY online sportsbooks so that we can recommend those with the best odds. 

That’s also why it is so vital that any regulated market has multiple options for bettors. In fact, we even recommend opening an account with more than one sportsbook as some may have better odds for certain sports. 

Frequent Kentucky Sports Betting Bonuses 

Bonuses are not just for new customers although sometimes it might feel that way. The fact is that once the initial launch phase has passed, sportsbooks need to do all they can to keep their bettors loyal. They can do this by offering those competitive odds mentioned earlier or by running regular promotions. 

These promotions can take the shape of a first bet or a deposit match bonus. Whatever form it takes, it’s important that they are regular promotions that reward bettors for their activity on the site. For this reason we only recommend KY sportsbooks that have some sort of bonus or first bet. 

Excellence In User Interface 

Building your bet should be as simple as it is in a retail sportsbook. The betting slip should be straightforward and easy to fill while the sports and odds available should be super easy to locate and understand.

Thankfully, the majority of sportsbook operators understand this and have invested heavily in the design and usability of both their desktop and mobile KY sports betting apps (if they have one). 

If you’re confused and the sportsbook seems to have a steep learning curve then we’d advise you to move on to your next option. Just to note that we only recommend sportsbooks that score highly on our usability tests. 

Easy Deposits & Withdrawals

You will want multiple deposit and withdrawal options for your Kentucky online sportsbook. While you may tend to use one option more than any other, it’s always a good idea to have a few backup options just in case there is a problem with your primary source of funds. 

Deposits and withdrawals should be convenient and as fast as possible. It’s worth checking out the withdrawal times for any method as these can vary a great deal depending on how you’d like to receive your money. This is one of the key factors that we always take into consideration when ranking sportsbooks. 

Variety Of Customer Support

This is where some online sportsbooks can falter. Every sportsbook will have customer support options, but not all will have live chat or live phone support.

While live support isn’t strictly necessary, it’s nice to have the option of speaking with or chatting with a rep if you have an issue that needs to be resolved immediately. For this reason, sites with live support generally tend to rank higher in our reviews. 

Deposit and Withdraw from KY Sports Betting Sites

Kentucky online sportsbooks will likely have the following deposit methods available once launched. 

Credit card/debit card - This is often the most popular and fastest method available whereby you simply punch in your card details and lodge money directly into your sportsbook account. 

Bank Transfer - This is a direct transfer from your bank account to the sportsbook. This may take a little longer to process than card payments. 

PayPal/Skrill - These are online payments that are taken directly from your PayPal/Skrill account and deposited into your account. These deposits are instant. 

Other options - There may be other payment processing options offered by individual sportsbooks such as deposits made using prepaid debit cards or deposits made through retail partners. 

It’s worth noting that withdrawal options can sometimes be different to deposit methods. They can also be much slower and could take anywhere from a few hours to several days to reach your account. 

Any Kentucky online sportsbook that is approved to launch in the state will have undergone a series of suitability tests carried out by the relevant gambling authority. This means that you can rest assured that all legal sportsbooks will have the required security protocols in place for 

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Why Sign Up For Multiple Kentucky Sportsbooks?

While you may end up with a preferred sportsbook, it’s still a good idea to open up several accounts so you can compare the services on offer for yourself. Think of it like buying a car—you’ll often test drive a few before settling on the one that is the right fit. 

Opening multiple accounts is particularly beneficial in a newly launched market as some sportsbooks may still have some kinks to iron out. It’s also a great opportunity to get the most value for your dollar by taking advantage of the many sign up offers and welcome bonuses available. 

Get The Best Line

While many sportsbooks will offer odds on similar events, the odds may change depending on the sportsbook you choose or the time you choose to place your wager. This is why signing up with multiple sportsbooks will help you find the best value for your dollar.

Intro Betting Bonuses 

Most sportsbooks will offer impressive welcome bonuses for new users. These can be quite lucrative if you meet the wagering requirements. It's not unusual to see crazy offers like a $1,000 deposit match bonus or something similar. Signing up for multiple accounts means that you can take advantage of all the offers out there.

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Bet Offerings 

While many sportsbooks will offer slightly different odds on sporting events, the types of bets offered are another area where things can get interesting. Sure, they'll all offer futures and moneylines but what about specific props bets? Being able to swap sportsbooks to see what's on offer means that you won't miss out on any bets that you'd like to make.

Feel The Sportsbook

Nothing will make you choose a sportsbook more than the feel of it when you're searching for odds or placing a wager. Signing up for multiple accounts allows you to get that sense of what it's like to place wagers and find specific bet types on any sportsbook.

You might find that you have a particular liking for one sportsbook simply because the wager slip is laid out in a certain way. This is something you'll never discover without taking them all for that test drive.

Sportsbook Rules

The majority of sportsbooks may look the same, offer the same odds, and even feel the same. But one area where they can differ is in their rules.

By this we mean the wagering rules and conditions. For example, BetMGM will pay on golf prop bets if it ends in a tie between two players whereas other sportsbooks will consider this a losing wager.

Another example is that DraftKings will refund NFL first touchdown scorer prop bets if no one scores a touchdown during the game. However, bet365 will not because it has an option to bet on no touchdowns being scored.

There are many more examples of these kinds of rules and conditions that you can use to your advantage if you take the time to try out various sportsbooks. This is yet another reason why those multiple accounts will come in so handy. 

How to Sign Up for Kentucky Sportsbooks 

While every sportsbook may be a little different, the sign up process for each generally tends to run along these lines: 

• Hit the ‘register’ or ‘sign up’ button.
• You may be asked to choose a location if the sportsbook operates in multiple states.
• Enter your name and email address.
• Enter some personal information such as date or birth etc.
• Enter a valid mobile phone number
• Provide proof of identification such as social security number or ID.
• Verify your details.
• Make a deposit.
• Start betting.

Of course, the order may be slightly different, but overall, the process should be quite similar. 

Available Sports Wagers At Legal Kentucky Online Sportsbooks

Moneyline

The moneyline bet is the most simple and straightforward of all bets. It is a wager where the bettor chooses one team or athlete to win, lose, or draw a game. 

Parlays

A parlay wager is when a bettor combines two or more bets into one wager. The bettor must predict the outcomes of both wagers for the parlay to pay out. Parlays can be a combination of bets on multiple events or a combination of bet types in a single event.  

Totals

Also known as over/under, the totals wager is a single bet on whether or not the combined points, runs, or goals total of a game will be over or under the total set by the sportsbook prior to the game. This is an unusual bet as it takes into account the performance of both teams combined. 

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Point Spreads

In simple terms, the points spread is a wager that predicts the margin of victory in a single event. The stronger team or the favorite must win by a certain number of points, goals, or runs in order for the bettor to win the wager.

Alternatively, the bettor could predict that the underdog loses by fewer than the predicted margin to win the bet. This is the most popular bet in football and basketball. 

Futures

A futures bet is a wager on a team or individual's performance over an entire season or tournament. For example, a bettor might bet on the Cincinnati Bengals to win the Super Bowl or the New York Yankees to win the World Series. 

Prop Bets

Proposition bets are wagers made on specific events within a game. It could be the number of goals scored by a player in the NHL or the total number of yards made in an NFL game. Bettors can even bet on which minute the first score will come or whether or not an event will be affected by the rain. 

Live Bets

Live bets are also known as in-play bets and are made during an event. The odds for live bets are usually quite different to those offered prior to the event. For example, a bettor might bet that the Bengals will win despite being down by 20 points in the third quarter. The odds for this wager would likely be much greater as a live bet than if it was made before the game. 

Prohibited Bets

Prohibited bets are those which a sportsbook cannot accept. These may include betting on college sports or in-state college events or betting on elections. It’s unclear which types of bets (if any) will be prohibited once sports betting launches in Kentucky. 

Other Kentucky Betting Options

Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) are points-based contests where a player must choose a team or athlete that will then score points based on their performance in a single event. DFS contests are hugely popular in the USA but for now are unregulated in Kentucky. 

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Horse Racing

Horse racing wagering is legal in the state of Kentucky. After all, this is the home of the Kentucky Derby. There are seven horse tracks in the state with races running throughout the season. 

Elections

This involves placing wagers on the election of political figures such as the president of the USA and leaders of other countries. Some states forbid this kind of betting but it is unclear as to whether these bets will be allowed in Kentucky once sportsbooks launch. 

Pop Culture Ceremonies

This involves betting on events such as the Oscars or the Grammys. These types of bets can be fun and are quite popular with casual gamblers. There is no indication that these will be prohibited when Kentucky sports betting launches. 

Esports

Esports are online gaming events that have grown in popularity over the last decade. They are not strictly sports so many states do not allow betting on them through sportsbooks. However, it remains to be seen whether or not Kentucky will allow this type of betting when the industry launches. 

Is Sports Betting Legal in Kentucky?

Sports betting is now legal in Kentucky. Both retail and mobile betting have launched and are live. HB 551 allows for up to 27 Kentucky betting sites to launch through partnerships with the state's nine horse racing tracks.

KY Online Sports Betting Legislation History

2018: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act is unconstitutional allowing individual states the power to legalize Kentucky sports betting. 

2019: Rep. Adam Koenig introduces his first sports betting bill which makes it out of committee, but fails in the House. 

2020: Rep. Adam Koenig files sports betting legislation with the support of Governor Andy Beshear. However, the bill fails to garner enough support in the House.

2021: Kentucky Sports betting legislation fails to advance following the shortening of the legislative session due to the global pandemic. 

March 2022: Rep. Adam Koenig introduces a House bill HB 606 that would legalize Kentucky sports betting at the state’s seven licensed racing tracks. The bill is passed in the House by a vote of 58-30 and is moved to the Senate. 

April 2022: The Kentucky legislative session ends with no Senate vote on HB 606. 

There are hopes that the support in the House for HB606 will be enough to see similar legislation pushed through the Senate in the next legislative session. 

February 2023: Rep. Michael Meredith introduces HB551 which would legalize sports betting in Kentucky. The bill is sent to a House committee.

March 2023: The House of Representatives approves HB551 by a vote of 63-34. The bill moves to the Senate.

September 2023: Online sports betting launches in Kentucky.

Kentucky Sports Betting Revenue Projection 

During the past legislative session, supporters of a legal Kentucky sports betting market estimated that the industry would generate at least $25 million in revenue for the state each year.

This is based on a tax rate of 14.25% on online wagers and 9.75% on all retail wagers as set out in HB551. 

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Kentucky Legal Online Sports Betting Tax Rate 

According to previous legislative attempts, the tax rate for online sports betting providers is likely to be somewhere in the region of 14% with retail betting activity taxed at 10%. 

Who Regulates Kentucky Sports Betting Sites?

The last legislative effort to legalize sports betting proposed that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission regulates the market. 

At the outset, the commission would be responsible for:

• Operator application process
• Approval of qualified operators
• Issuance of licenses
• The creation of industry regulations 

How Kentucky Sports Betting Compares to the Other Legal States

Kentucky sports betting includes both retail and mobile sports betting options. This is in line with neighboring states that all have both options available. Ohio sports betting and Maryland sports betting are the next two markets to go live.

Kentucky Retail Sports Betting VS Mobile Sports Betting

The main difference between retail sports betting and mobile sports betting is one of convenience.

Mobile Kentucky sports betting apps allow bettors to place wagers at any time from any location within the state. This is a significant benefit and one of the main reasons that many gamblers opt for online sportsbooks. 

However, retail sportsbooks can be a great option for those that want to watch sports live. Most have large screens showing major events and smaller screens that a bettor can watch horse races or other events on. 

Responsible KY Sports Betting

Any online sports betting provider in the state of Kentucky will need to have responsible gambling tools available for its users. These usually include assessment tools, and those that can enable a user to set limits on their activity or opt out of gambling or a specific period of time. 

Operators will also provide links and contact information for the relevant problem gambling helplines and websites. 

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