Top 8 Kentucky Sports Betting Sites (May 2024)

Kentucky, a state with a rich sporting heritage, offers an array of options for sports betting enthusiasts. The state's deep connection with basketball and horse racing, coupled with its growing interest in football and baseball, creates a dynamic environment for sports betting. The best sports betting sites in Kentucky cater to this unique blend of interests, providing comprehensive coverage of local favorites and national mainstays.

These top-tier sportsbooks are designed to enhance the betting experience for Kentuckians. They offer in-depth coverage of college basketball, tapping into the state's fervor for the sport, and unparalleled access to horse racing markets, reflecting Kentucky's storied history with the sport. Football and baseball are also prominently featured, aligning with national trends and local interests.

The leading sports betting platforms in Kentucky are known for their user-friendly interfaces, ensuring that both seasoned bettors and newcomers can navigate the sites with ease. They prioritize the integrity and excitement of sports betting, offering a diverse range of betting options from standard wagers to more intricate bets. These sites also emphasize responsible gaming, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all users.

In Kentucky, where sports pulse through the state's veins, these betting sites offer a way to engage with favorite pastimes, adding an extra layer of excitement to every game, match, or race.

8 Best Offshore Kentucky Sports Betting Sites

1.  BetUS

BetUS, established in 1994 and licensed by the Curacao Gaming Commission, is a reputable online sports betting platform known for its secure and reliable services. It also functions as a casino, offering a wide spectrum of betting options.

In Kentucky, BetUS aligns its offerings with the state's rich sporting culture, particularly highlighting the world-famous Kentucky Derby. Besides this iconic horse racing event, the platform also caters to Kentucky's interest in national sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. This ensures a broad range of betting options for Kentucky sports enthusiasts. BetUS additionally offers live betting, allowing fans to engage in real-time wagering during games and races, enhancing the excitement of the sporting experience. To accommodate Kentucky bettors, the platform supports diverse payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

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To learn more read our BetUS Review or visit BetUS.

2.  Everygame

Established in 1996, originally as Intertops, Everygame has grown to become one of the top sportsbooks in the industry, particularly popular in Kentucky.

While Everygame boasts diverse sections including casino and poker, its primary focus remains on sports betting, a feature especially appealing in Kentucky, a state known for its passionate sports culture. Upon accessing the sportsbook, visitors are greeted with a wide array of sports categories. In Kentucky, the spotlight often shines on basketball and horse racing, reflecting the state's deep-rooted affinity for these sports. Additionally, Everygame offers options in football, baseball, and other popular sports, catering to the diverse interests of Kentucky's sports enthusiasts.

Everygame truly lives up to its name by providing extensive betting options across various sports, with competitive odds and the exciting feature of live betting. This aspect is particularly enticing for those who wish to immerse themselves in the game's atmosphere before placing their bet, aligning perfectly with the vibrant sports scene in Kentucky.

To learn more read our Everygame Review or visit Everygame.

3.  Bovada

Bovada sportsbook and casino emerged in 2011. For the first five years of operation, the platform held the Kahnawake Gambling Commission’s license, but in 2016, it decided to give up on it after the Commission went through a policy change that Bovada did not approve of. For the last six years, it has operated without a license, but that still did not affect its quality or performance.

Its sportsbook offers a variety of popular payment methods, and the ability to bet on all kinds of big sports franchises, such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, and NHL, among others. Apart from traditional currencies, it also accepts Bitcoin, and it features mobile availability. And, if bettors ever experience an issue or need any sort of help, they can contact customer support at any time via email, phone call, or live chat.

To learn more read our Bovada Review or visit Bovada.

4.  BetOnline

BetOnline is an online sportsbook that launched in 2004, and like our previous entries, it also offers a casino section with plenty of entertaining gaming titles. It is very user-friendly, starting with the fact that it offers a minimum deposit of $20, it features polite and capable customer support, and it is safe to use. It holds the Panama City license, and it features multiple secure payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover card, American Express, wire transfers, and even cryptocurrencies.

For those who make a minimum deposit of $55, the platform offers a generous welcome bonus, and those who use cryptocurrencies can also benefit from a number of promotions. In addition to regular, monotonous betting, there is also proposition betting that lets users bet on questions, such as which team will be the first to make the 3-point shot, and alike, just so make it more exciting.

To learn more read our BetOnline Review or visit BetOnline.

5.  Xbet

Halfway down the list, we have Xbet, which is a platform known for a lot of things, from tight betting odds to excellent customer service and the ability to offer things for novices and professionals alike. Xbet offers a myriad of deposit options, fast payouts, multiple betting options, bonuses, and a lot more that makes it highly attractive to bettors all over Kentucky.

The benefits of using this platform keep popping up, but in terms of flaws, it only has 3 eSports games, at least for the time being. But, there are plenty of regular sports, like MLB; NHL, WNBA, golf, soccer, tennis, MMA, boxing, NASCAR, F1, and many more options for new and experienced bettors.

To learn more read our XBet Review or visit Xbet.

6.  BUSR

In the fifth spot, we have BUSR, which stands for Bet US Racing. This is easily the best racebook for the US, and one of the leading sportsbooks, available across the country, with the only exceptions being New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Nevada. Luckily, Kentucky is not on the list.

There are numerous betting options on the platform, apart from horse races, such as MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, MMA, NCAA, betting on live baseball, and more. The platform offers multiple bonuses, including a sign-up bonus, casino bonus, cash bonus, and referral bonus. It also has great customer service available around the clock available via phone call, live chat, or email.

To learn more read our BUSR Review or visit BUSR.

7.  MyBookie

Nearing the end of the list, we have MyBookie, which is among the most trusted platforms for online gambling. Like most sportsbooks, it also offers a casino section, but both offer top-notch betting opportunities, with the sportsbook also featuring live betting options. You can bet on a variety of major international sports like basketball, football, soccer, and alike, as well as cricket, rugby, and even politics and entertainment.

MyBookie features multiple bonuses, such as a 50% sign-up bonus, a 10% cash bonus, and a 150% Casino bonus. The minimum deposit for Visa and Mastercard is somewhat elevated, sitting at $45, but if you use cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum Litecoin, or XRP, the minimum is only $20. Other than that, the platform also has 24/7 customer service available via email, live chat, and even phone calls, so you can always reach out if there is a need.

To learn more read our MyBookie Review or visit MyBookie.

8.  SportsBetting.ag

The last on the list is SportsBetting.ag, which is actually a platform operated by BetOnline Group. The platform does not offer a great design, but don’t be deceived by that — it has been around for nearly two decades for a reason. It did experience financial issues in 2012, and BetOnline used this opportunity to take over. Ever since, the platform has been running smoothly, licensed by the Panama Gambling Control Board, and servicing US bettors with no issues.

It features multiple great betting opportunities, and a variety of payment methods, including crypto and fiat options alike, and it even has a casino section. In terms of available sports, there are all the popular ones, such as soccer, football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and even things like snooker, darts, and handball. A welcome bonus is also included, and so are numerous promotions for crypto users, and even a loyalty and VIP program.

To learn more read our Sports Betting.ag Review or visit Sports Betting.ag.

Kentucky Gambling Landscape

Sports betting is conquering the US states one after the other, with a large majority now having it legalized and available for sports and gambling fans throughout the country. However, there is still a handful of states where sports betting is not legalized or available, with one example being the state of Kentucky.

Things came close to being a lot different in 2022, as the efforts of Rep. Adam Koening nearly brought sports betting to the finish line. Unfortunately, and to the great disappointment of the sports betting fans, the initiative failed on the very last day in the Senate. Conservatives refused to allow the bill to pass in the final vote, so the initiative failed and the bill was rejected.

Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer commented on this development, noting that it was very disappointing. However, he firmly believes that future efforts will make a difference, and there are already plans to reintroduce the bill next year. The pressure to legalize sports betting in Kentucky is quite strong, given that the state is completely surrounded by legal sports betting, and the fact that 2022 nearly saw it arrive to Kentucky as well is seen as a positive thing, with the bill’s passing in 2023 now considered almost a certainty.

Kentucky’s fight for legal sports betting

Kentucky has been making efforts to legalize sports betting for six years now, which is longer than most other states. While there are those that started the battle earlier, they typically managed to push the bill within a few years, while Kentucky started all the way back in 2017.

2017

It all started in the summer of 2017, when Senator Julian Carroll introduced a sports betting bill meant to allow the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to regulate and oversee the broader sports gambling industry. The bill proposed a $250,000 licensing fee, with the tax on the total amount wagered being at 20%.

2018

Next year, in 2018, the US Supreme Court decided to overturn the PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act). Local lawmakers decided to create a panel for studying sports betting regulation in order to see what can be done in regard to the matter. The panel consisted of nine members who were tasked with drafting and filing legislation that would enable legal sports betting in the state.

2019

The following year brought four sports betting bills, with one of them being the offering introduced by Rep. Adam Koenig. Interestingly, this one emerged as the most popular of the four bills, and it became the first sports betting bill in the state to pass the Committee vote. This particular bill did not only attempt to legalize sports betting but also online poker and even daily fantasy sports.

Unfortunately, the bill had to receive 60% of the votes in order to pass, which it did not do due to Gov. Matt Bevin not being too keen on introducing sports betting and the legislature itself traditionally being quite resistant to gambling expansions.

2020

The real battle for sports betting in Kentucky then took off in 2020. The past few years have set the stage for its legalization, and optimism skyrocketed in 2020, with it being a budget year. Gov. Andy Beshear also contributed to the hype by making Kentucky the favorite of any state to pass sports betting after coming out in his State of the Commonwealth address and saying that Rep. Adam Koenig has filed another sports betting bill, which he, Gov. Beshear, fully supported.

The bill moved through the committee only one day later, and it became apparent that Koenig had made two changes to the original design of the bill. The first one was the removal of the ban on in-state college betting, and the other one is adding an 18-month sunset to a previously indefinite requirement for setting up online wagering accounts in person.

Rep. Koenig was quite confident that the bill will pass the House with no major hiccups, but unfortunately, it did not happen. The legislation got held up for an entire month, and while Sen. Thayer spent this time publicly confirming his support for the bill, the House remained unconvinced. Then, as many as 11 amendments ended up being filed, many of which proposed exorbitant fees that would have killed the bill on the spot, with Koenig claiming that he was unaware of the amendments before their filing. Finally, on April 15th, the legislature adjourned without passing the bill.

2021

With the bill coming closer to passing than ever before, the optimism was higher than ever in 2021, and Gov Beshear lent even more of his support to the notion of Kentucky getting legalized sports betting. Starting in January, he spoke on the new program titled Governor Andy Beshear: First Year Reflections.

During the speech, he stated that the time to legalize sports betting was years ago, with nearly all Republican states around Kentucky already having their own versions of it. As such, the surrounding states were benefitting from Kentucky’s bettors who had no other option but to cross the border in order to engage in sports betting and then return with the winnings.

This speech seemingly had a positive effect on a number of members of the House of Representatives, who ended up bringing forth three measures for legalizing sports betting. At this time, Koenig’s legislation became something of a tradition, and it was filed yet again. However, neither it, nor the other two bills managed to pass even the initial committee submission.

2022

Finally, we come to 2022. Earlier this year, Koenig filed his sports betting bill for the fourth time, with several minor adjustments. He gave up on the Kentucky Speedway and an in-person registration requirement. Surprisingly, the bill managed to pass the chamber, and it managed to reach the Senate. However, the confidence was shaken when Thayer commented on the situation, noting that the support is not quite there yet.

Apart from Koenig’s bill, there was another, known as SB 213, which was a product of Senator David Yates, and it sought to legalize online poker and daily fantasy sports in addition to sports betting.

The House passed Koenig’s bill (HB 606) on March 18th by a vote of 58-30, which gave hope that retail and mobile sports betting might be legalized in Kentucky. However, while the Senate leadership was supportive, the voters allowed the bill to die by April 14th without a vote on Sine Die. Still, this was the furthest that the bill ever reached, and while Thayer expressed disappointment with the final outcome, he firmly believes that things will be different next year.

However, on May 17th, it was reported that Koenig lost his primary election, which could have negative consequences for the future of the bill, given that he was the biggest sports betting proponent in the entire Kentucky legislature.

Is sports betting legal in Kentucky?

As we have seen above, the answer is no, Kentucky has not yet legalized sports betting, even though it is surrounded by states that have. There have been multiple attempts to do so for years now, and earlier this year, the sports betting proponents nearly managed to legalize it in the country. Unfortunately, the initiative failed in the final steps, and now, everyone is waiting to see what will happen in 2023.

The status of sports betting in Kentucky

At the moment, sports betting remains illegal in the state, as the Senate did not pass the leading sports betting bill, HB 606. Still, there is a huge demand for sports betting in Kentucky, which is also surrounded by multiple states that have legalized sports betting in the past several years. Those interested in engaging with sports betting have been known to travel to one of the other states to bet on sports, which is one of the points that Kentucky sports betting proponents made in order to illustrate how much the state might be losing when it comes to revenue received from taxation of this branch of gambling.

Still, for the time being, the Kentucky General Assembly has continued to resist any and all calls to expand gambling in the state.

When will online sports betting launch in Kentucky?

In the best possible scenario, the bill might launch in 2023 and legalize sports betting and online sports betting. If this happens, online sports betting could, in theory, arrive later in the same year. Since the state has no sports betting infrastructure, setting everything up for retail sports betting will likely take longer.

But, as we said, this would be the best possible scenario. Experts believe that 2024 is far more likely, given the fact that things are at a standstill in the Senate. In the end, anything is possible, and the bill might pass next year, or it might still be rejected in 2024 and years to come. All that anyone can do is wait and see, as no predictions can guarantee anything at this point.

Once online sports betting arrives in the state, however, we expect to see the launch of the following app soon after.

1. DraftKings
2. FanDuel
3. BetMGM
4. Caesars
5. BetRivers

Most popular sports to bet on in Kentucky

The biggest thing in Kentucky in regards to sports is college basketball. The state has two leading programs — one at the University of Kentucky and another at the University of Louisville. One good thing about the current situation is that sports betting on in-state collegiate teams will no longer be prohibited in Kentucky, thanks to Koenig’s decision to remove that clause from the bill after numerous complaints from legislators. Apparently, they believe that this will be among the biggest and most popular bets in the state.

Are there legal sports betting options in Kentucky?

For the time being, the only legal form of sports betting in Kentucky is horse racing. Other than that, the only other options for Kentucky bettors are to leave the state and go to one of the surrounding ones where sports betting is currently legal or to use off-shore sportsbooks, although this last option is not considered legal in the state.

DFS in Kentucky

Daily Fantasy Sports are still unregulated in Kentucky as of yet, but that does not stop major DFS websites from operating in the state. Bettors currently have access to companies such as FanDuel, Fantasy Draft, Yahoo!, and DraftKings. Interestingly enough, the bill that almost cleared both chambers earlier this year would have legalized DFS in the state. But, for the time being, it still operates in the legal gray area.

Horse racing in Kentucky?

Horse racing is the only truly legalized form of betting in the state of Kentucky, which is not surprising, given that no other state has such deep ties to it. Everyone has heard of the Kentucky Derby, which is likely the biggest and the most famous horse race in the entire country.

It takes place annually at Churchill Downs, and it has run every year since 1875, with only a few exceptions. Legal horse racing has been part of Kentucky history since 1805, making it an old and deeply rooted tradition that has lasted for over two centuries now. And, while Churchill Downs gets all the attention, there are actually a few more prominent tracks in the state.

Some of the most notable examples include Keeneland, Pimlico, Belmont, Red Mile (Lexington), Turfway Park (Florence), Ellis Park (Henderson), and more.