Sports Betting in Kentucky: Best Sportsbook Deals and Promotions in KY
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.
Sports betting has been legal in Kentucky since March 31, 2023, and the first sportsbook launched on Sept. 28, 2023, both online and in person. Today, Kentucky has eight licensed online sportsbooks, offering mobile apps, retail sportsbooks, and ongoing promos.
In this guide, we’ll cover top sportsbooks, best promos, and key legal information.
Kentucky Sports Betting Overview
- 📆 Online Launch Date: September 28, 2023
- 📱Online Sportsbooks Available: 8
- 🏬 Retail Sports Betting: ✅Legal (racetracks, licensed retail locations)
- 🎂 Legal Betting Age: 18+
- 🏈 College Sports Betting: ✅No restrictions
- 🎰 Online Casinos: ❌ Not Legal
Is sports betting in Kentucky legal?
Yes. Kentucky legalized sports betting in March 2023 when HB 551 was signed into law. Retail sportsbooks opened on September 7, 2023, and online betting launched on September 28, 2023. Sports betting is regulated by Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. You can bet online or via mobile with licensed operators, and in person at approved venues such as racetracks and approved retail locations.
Betting on college sports in KY: No restrictions
Bettors can freely bet on in-state college teams such as the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, including player props.
The best Kentucky Sportsbook apps rated and reviewed
The Kentucky online market is competitive, with many of the major national operators based in the state. Although more sportsbooks may enter over time, this section focuses on the top five based on market share, app quality, promotions, and betting features.
Kentucky Kings Project
- Best known for: deep market depth, fast live pricing, and one of the most polished apps.
- DraftKings launched in Kentucky on September 28, 2023, and is a national market leader known for deep markets and fast live pricing
- Welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $200 if your bet wins + three months of NBA League pass free
- App experience & notable features: iOS rating 4.8/5 (847K+ ratings); live betting hub, SGPs, wide prop catalog
- Final take: choose DraftKings if you want the broadest menu and fast, reliable live markets on KY teams.
VanDuel Kentucky
- Best known for: the most intuitive Same Game Parlay builder and strong live markets.
- FanDuel went live in Kentucky on September 28, 2023, and is widely regarded as a top national operator with an intuitive app and strong same-game parlay tools.
- Welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets if your first bet wins. No code required.
- App experience & notable features: iOS rating 4.8/5 (847K+ ratings); live betting hub, SGPs, wide prop catalog
- Final take: pick FanDuel if you value a slick app and elite parlay tools with instant payout previews.
MGM Kentucky House
- Best known for: Frequent profit boosts and broad SGP options and MGM Rewards integration for hotel and resort perks.
- BetMGM launched its mobile sportsbook in Kentucky on September 28, 2023, and is a nationally recognized brand backed by MGM Resorts with broad market coverage
- Welcome offer: “First Bet Offer” up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if your first bet loses with promo code FOXSPORTS.
- App experience & notable features: iOS rating 4.8/5 (~240K ratings); live betting, cash-out, wide sport coverage.
- Final take: if you value boosts and MGM Rewards status, BetMGM is a strong secondary book in KY even when a first-time promo isn’t running.
Sportsbook Kentucky fanatics
- Best known for: FanCash rewards that convert to bonus bets or merchandise and steady football-season promos.
- Fanatics Sportsbook launched in Kentucky on September 28, 2023, and is quickly growing nationwide thanks to its FanCash rewards ecosystem.
- Welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $50 in bonus bets if your first bet wins.
- App experience & notable features: iOS rating 4.8/5 (138K+ ratings); clean UI, live betting, responsible gaming tooling.
- Final take: a great add for rewards hunters, especially during football season, with daily FanCash value.
Kentucky Caesar
- Best known for: daily “Super Boosts” and frequent promos and Caesars Rewards credits on eligible wagers.
- Caesars went live online in Kentucky on September 28, 2023, and is a prominent national book known for Caesars Rewards and frequent odds boosts.
- Welcome offer: Bet $1, get 20 tokens for 100% Profit Boosts (double your winnings) on subsequent bets; use promo code FOX20X in all states except ON and MD; use code FOXONBET in ON and MD.
- App experience & notable features: iOS rating 4.7/5 (89K+ ratings); SGPs, live betting, simplified navigation.
- Final take: if you want steady boosts and a national rewards program that ties into Vegas stays, Caesars is a solid rotation book in KY.
Bet365 Kentucky
- Best known for: elite in-play betting, early-payout features, vast global menus, and very robust alternate totals/spreads.
- bet365 launched in Kentucky on September 28, 2023, and is globally respected for best-in-class live betting, streaming, and robust alternate lines.
- Welcome offer: choose Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets or a First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000
- App experience & notable features: iOS rating 4.8/5 (189K+ ratings); strong live betting hub with rapid markets and useful in-game stats.
- Final take: stands out for best-in-class live betting with fast odds updates, deep markets, and integrated live streaming that makes in-game wagering seamless.
All KY legal sportsbooks
- Bally Bet Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- ESPN Bet
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
Best KY Sportsbook Promotions & Welcome Deals (November 2025)
New users in Kentucky can get approximately $500-$650 in combined value right now by bundling the best deals. Get the welcome promotions first, then select your preferred app for live betting, winnings and props. Always check in-app eligibility requirements, odds requirements, settlement and expiry timings before placing your qualifying bet.
DraftKings KY Promotion – Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets if your bet wins + 3 months of free NBA League Pass
Offer summary:
- Bet $5, Get $200 if your bet wins + three months of NBA League pass free
- Who’s Eligible: New customers, 21+ (18+ in DC/KY/NH/WY), in eligible states (AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WY, WV).
- Qualifying Bet: $5+ cash bet at -500 odds or longer using the New Customer Token.
- Bonus: Get $200 in Bonus Bets (12×$25) if your bet wins.
- Expiration: Token expires Nov 23, 2025; Bonus Bets valid for 7 days.
- One per customer; void/cashed-out bets don’t qualify.
Key details:
- Minimum $5 deposit, the first placed wager of $5+ will be the qualifying wager.
- Consists of: once the bet settles, you will receive any cash winnings from your Qualifying Bet if it wins, and Bonus Bets will be issued as eight $25 Bonus Bets.
- Bonus bet expiration: seven (7) days (168 hours).
How to claim fast:
- Sign up for a new DraftKings Sportsbook account.
- Deposit funds (minimum $5).
- Select the New Customer Token.
- Place a $5+ cash bet (-500 odds or longer).
- Win to get $200 in Bonus Bets.
FanDuel KY Offer – Bet $5, Win, Get $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins
Offer summary:
- Bet $5, get $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins — auto-applied, no code necessary.
Key details:
- Minimum $5 deposit, the first placed wager of $5+ will be the qualifying wager.
- Consists of: once the bet settles, you will receive $150 in Sportsbook Bonus Bets — only if your wager wins.
- Bonus bet expiration: seven (7) days.
Outstanding Feature:
- Includes Sportsbook Bonus Bets equal to Three Hundred Dollars ($150), and within 72 hours of winning bet settlement/
How to claim fast:
- Sign up, deposit $5+, place a $5 wager on any market, and get Bonus Bets.
BetMGM KY Offer – Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets
Offer summary:
Key details:
- Minimum $10 deposit, the first placed wager of $10+ will be the qualifying wager.
- Consists of: Getting your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500 if your bet loses.
- Bonus bet expiration: seven (7) days.
Outstanding Feature:
- Includes Bonus Bets of up to $1,500 if your bet loses.
How to claim fast:
- Sign up, deposit $10+, use the First Bet Offer Token to wager on any game, and get Bonus Bets if the bet loses.
Fanatics KY Promotion – Register and Get $20+ $100 No FanCash Bets if Your Football Bet Loses on Every Match Day
Offer summary:
Key details
- Minimum deposit of $1, and with odds of -500 or longer for 10 straight days.
- Consists of: Getting $100 in FanCash if the no-sweat bet on any football game day loses.
Outstanding feature
- Includes $100 of FanCash if your bet loses.
Fast way to claim
- Sign up, deposit $1+, place your first wager on any football game day, and get FanCash if the bet loses.
bet365 KY offer – Bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets
Offer summary:
- New users can bet $5 and receive $150 in Bonus Bets, regardless of the outcome.
Key details
- Minimum deposit of $10 and made in the seven days prior to you claiming the offer.
- Consists of: Getting $150 in Bonus Bets. It doesn’t matter if the bet wins or loses.
- Bonus Bet expiration: 30 days after registering your account.
Outstanding feature
- Includes $150 of Bonus Bets regardless of whether your bet wins or loses.
Fast way to claim
- Sign up, deposit $10+, place your first $10 wager, and get Bonus Bets.
The minimum deposit is $10. Minimum odds -500 or greater. Bonus bets are excluded from payouts. New customers only. Terms, conditions, time limits and exclusions apply.
Caesars KY Promotion – Bet $1, double your winnings on your next 20 bets
Presentation summary
- Earn twenty (20) 100% Profit Boosts by opening a Caesars Sportsbook account and placing a wager of $1 or more; use promo code FOX20X in all states except ON and MD; use code FOXONBET in ON and MD.
Key details
- Minimum $10 deposit, the first placed real-cash wager of $1+ will be the qualifying wager.
- Consists of: By opening an account, depositing $10, and betting $1 on any market (minimum odds of -10000 or longer to qualify) for any event, you’ll receive ten (10) 100% Profit Boost Tokens if you win.
- Bonus bet expiration: 14 days.
Outstanding feature
- The maximum wager amount for each Token is $25, and the maximum additional winnings for each Token is $2,500.
Fast way to claim
- Sign up, deposit $1+, place a $1 wager on any market, and get Profit Boost Tokens.
How to start betting on sports in Kentucky
1. Choose a legal KY sportsbook
Compare the welcome bonuses, quality of odds and user experience of the app. Check for region-specific promotions.
2. Register online
Kentucky allows remote registration. You will typically enter: full name, email, date of birth, last 4 digits of your Social Security Number (SSN), and physical address. Verify location and age (21+).
3. Claim your welcome bonus
Click the Claim button on this page to subscribe. Read the terms and conditions for minimum odds, qualifying bet and expiry.
4. Deposit funds
Popular KY Methods: Credit and Debit Card, Online Banking/ACH, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and Prepaid Play+.
5. Place your first bet
Example: Bet $5 on Kentucky to win at DraftKings to unlock bonus bets. You can also try a simple total or money line.
6. Withdrawal of winnings
Payment options typically include online banking/ACH, PayPal, Venmo, and Play+. E-wallets often pay faster, while bank transfers can take longer. Check processing times at your application cashier.
Kentucky sports betting handle
The betting index is the total amount of money wagered through legal betting books during a given period. It counts every dollar staked before paying any dividends. The handle is not the revenue of the sportsbook. Revenue equals handle minus payouts, and hold (or win rate) is revenue divided by handle.
Quick example: If bettors place $200 million in bets and sportsbooks pay out $188 million, revenue is $12 million and the hold is 6%.
| Year | Handle | Revenue | Hold | Taxes |
| 2023 | $885M | $111M | 12.61% | $15.4M |
| 2024 | $2.6B | $278M | 10.57% | $38.6M |
Responsible Gaming in Kentucky
Sports betting should be fun and fit your budget. If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, confidential help is available in Kentucky and across the country. Most sports betting sites also offer deposit limits, timeouts, and self-exclusion to help you stay in control.
Help and resources:
- Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling – kygamblinghelp.org – 📞 1-800-GAMBLER
- National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) – ncpgambling.org | 📞 1-800-522-4700 | 📱 Text “HELP” to 800-522-4700 | 💬 Live Chat: ncpgambling.org/chat
- Gamblers Anonymous – gamblersanonymous.org | 📞 1-855-222-5542
Gambling Disclaimer: Only individuals aged 21 and over are permitted to gamble. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-Gambler. Gambling is subject to local state regulation and is illegal in some states. Please gamble responsibly – information on responsible gambling can be found here here.
Want great stories delivered straight to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports accountand follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!