Kentucky To Launch Legal Sports Betting This September

Kentucky is set to become the latest state to enjoy legal sports betting. Retail sports betting will come to the Bluegrass State as early as September 7, while its online counterpart is set to be up and running on September 28. This means that sports fans in Kentucky will be able to make their sports bets on the first games of the new NFL season. 

The announcement was made by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and it means that it will be less than two months before anyone over the age of 18 years can enjoy betting on sports in the Bluegrass State.

While there were minor delays in the implementation of some emergency administrative regulations, the motion was agreed on at the Red Mile venue – just one of the physical KY sportsbooks set to go live in September.

Award

BetMGM Promo

Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win

Get bonus now

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Award

Fanatics Promo

Bet $50, Get $300 in FanCash

Get bonus now

Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-522-4700, Home (MD), (800)-327-5050 or MA Gambling Helpline (MA), Call (877)8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), or Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), (888) 789-7777 or CONNECTICUT COUNCIL – ON PROBLEM GAMBLING (CT), or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), If gambling is more than a game, free help is available . . . – NCDHHS Problem Gambling (NC). New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Must opt-in and wager $10+ cash on any market with odds of -500 or longer to receive $100 in FanCash each day for your first 3 days (issued when qualifying wager settles). Your 3 days begin the day you establish your account. FanCash rewards expire at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from issuance. Terms, including FanCash terms, apply – see Fanatics Sportsbook app.

Award

Bet365 Promo

Bet $5 & Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose

Get bonus now

Whatever the moment. It’s Never Ordinary at bet365. That’s why if you sign up now you will receive $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5! Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 or greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&CS, time limits and exclusions apply.GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL OR TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ (18+ KY). Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA.

The arrival of legal sports betting in Kentucky

The bill for legal sports betting in Kentucky was signed into law in April 2023. Previous attempts to introduce the legislation had failed on multiple occasions, but the bill allows anywhere up to nine of the state’s racetracks to legally offer in-person sports betting.

Each one of these racetracks will also get to organize partnerships with up to three online sportsbooks. As a result, there is the potential for anywhere up to 27 mobile betting operators to be present in the Bluegrass State.

In order to become a licensed operator, a racetrack will have to pay a one-off fee of $500,000 while any prospective online sportsbook will be required to make a payment of $50,000. There will also be the tax rates to consider with online sportsbooks having to pay 14.25% of their betting revenues while such rates will be decreased to 9.75% for the licensed racetracks.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is already well underway in making preparations for the launch of sports betting in the state. There has already been the recruitment of extra staff to fill key positions ranging from management to compliance, and the next step is to decide which one of the prospective sportsbooks will get the all-important licensing.

Kentucky is almost surrounded by states who have already legalized sports betting and, given the state’s horse racing heritage, it is curious that it has taken so long to push through the required legislation.

Outside of the Churchill Downs racetrack, there is currently no major gambling company with a foothold in the Bluegrass State. As such, there remain big questions about which online sportsbooks could be the first to move in.

Expectations are that market-leaders such as FanDuel and DraftKings are among the most likely candidates. This is because both have the required capital and they also have a good presence in the state due to their DFS operations. Elsewhere, both BetMGM and Caesars are also likely to announce their plans to launch in Kentucky in the coming months. All of this should be enough to give Kentucky sports betting a great send-off.