In this complete Kentucky sports betting guide, we’ll address several key points concerning sportsbooks in the Bluegrass State. You’ll learn about the legality of betting, the tax rate and which sites are the best to use. We’ll even walk you through the process of registering. So stick with us to learn more about betting in KY.
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The Best Kentucky Sports Betting Sites List 2022
Our expert reviewers regularly scour the internet for the very best bookmakers. They look into every aspect of the sportsbook, including the range of markets, the odds, payment methods and even the customer support.
Here’s our view on the best Kentucky sports betting sites:
- BetOnline – Best overall brand for online sports betting Kentucky
- XBet – Relatively new site but already making waves
- Bovada – Respected name among US bettors
- MyBookie – Top site for sports betting Kentucky, especially NFL
- BetUS – Quality bookie for over 25 years, especially good for crypto fans
- Everygame – Previously known as Intertops, subject to a recent rebrand
- Sportsbetting.ag – Offers regular Kentucky sports betting news updates
- BetNow – Wide variety of betting lines on NBA, NFL and MLB
- GT Bets – One of the best apps for Kentucky online sports betting
- BUSR – Horse racing specialists with a strong reputation
Is Sports Betting Legal in Kentucky?
Sadly, at the time of writing, sportsbooks are not legal in the Bluegrass State. Despite being home to one of the biggest horse races in the world, Kentucky sports betting remains against the law for the time being. Whether online or in-person, there is no sports wagering to be found.
In the last few years, there have been attempts to legalise sports betting. But the state is deeply conservative and there has always been a strongly anti-gambling element among the local governing bodies. It remains to be seen whether or not things will change in future.
Online Sportsbooks
As we’ve previously established, Kentucky sports betting is not allowed, either online or in a retail environment. However, it is still possible to place bets over the internet, due to a legal grey area. If the betting company is based outside of the US, they cannot be held to local laws. So if you wanted to use offshore sites or betting apps, you would be able to place bets.
Land-based Betting
There are no physical sportsbooks anywhere in the state. The only legal form of land-based betting in KY is on horse racing, which takes place at several racecourses across Kentucky.
Kentucky Horse Racing & Off Track Betting
The most well-known race track is Churchill Downs, home of the famous Kentucky Derby. Wagering on horse races is allowed at the course, but it is pari-mutuel, or pools betting, rather than fixed odds. The world-famous venue has also played host to the international Breeders Cup meeting, which tours around the US every year.
The Kentucky Derby is a big deal, serving as the final leg in US racing’s Triple Crown. With a $3 million purse up for grabs, the race understandably attracts attention from the international media. A guide to betting on the Kentucky Derby is even published on Yahoo Sports.
Away from Churchill Downs, horse racing takes place regularly across the Bluegrass State. There are several other tracks such as Turfway Park, Kentucky Downs and Red Mile, which operates harness racing.
Timeline of Kentucky Sports Betting Legislation
Gambling has, for the most part, been illegal in the state of Kentucky ever since the creation of its constitution in 1792. Early lawmakers wanted to avoid the replication of corrupt lotteries observed in other states.
More recently, we saw Governor Andy Beshear in Kentucky making a push to vote for sports betting in 2020. But sadly, despite public support from the Senate, it didn’t quite make it to the finish line. Here’s a historical timeline of events.
- 1792 – The Kentucky Constitution is written, which bans all forms of gambling except for pari-mutuel horse and greyhound betting.
- 1875 – Churchill Downs opens, allowing the public to bet on horse racing.
- 2011 – Historical Horse Racing machines are introduced in KY. Players can bet on archived racing footage similar to a slot machine, taking advantage of legal betting loophole.
- 2020 – A well supported Kentucky sports betting bill drafted by Adam Koenig misses out. Proposals to issue seven betting licences were discarded as the focus shifted to Coronavirus-related topics.
- 2021 – Once again, there is insufficient time to properly debate the legalization of sports betting in KY. Hopes remain high for 2022.
Offshore Betting
Although sports betting in Kentucky is not strictly legal at the time of writing, it is possible to make use of international brands. As we alluded to earlier in this guide to Kentucky sports betting, there are many bookies based outside of the US. A lot of these offshore betting sites accept US players.
Since these companies have nothing to do with Kentucky or its laws, the authorities are unable to penalise bettors for using their services. As a result, many KY residents take advantage of the legal loophole to place their wagers.
Kentucky Daily Fantasy Sports
The laws around online gambling in Kentucky state that games of skill are allowed. For the time being at least, this is the basis on which Daily Fantasy Sports games are permitted in the Bluegrass State.
DraftKings and FanDuel are very much the leading players in this sphere. Both DFS giants operate in KY, alongside brands like Monkey Knife Fight and Yahoo Sports.
Kentucky Casino Laws
There have been many attempts to bring casino gaming to Kentucky, though they have almost always failed to get through the Senate.
Most bills have proposed tying casino games to licenses at horse racing venues. This has led to the creation of several “racinos”, where slots are permitted at the racetrack. But we are unlikely to see the development of a traditional casinos in Kentucky any time soon.
Online Casinos
There are no legally permitted online casinos operating in the state of Kentucky. Several attempts to legalize casino gaming have all been focused on land-based activities. Although every bill has failed to acquire Senate approval, even if they had, the online casino situation would still be unclear. It seems likely that a legal grey area would exist in which offshore casinos would be able to operate.
Land Based Casinos
Kentucky’s racetracks are allowed to offer slot games and HHR machines. But classic table games like blackjack, roulette or craps are not permitted at these “racinos”. There are also venues which run racing simulcasts and also offer slots gaming. This is as close to a casino as Kentucky has to offer.
The following is a list of racino venues in Kentucky:
- Churchill Downs
- Ellis Park
- Keeneland
- Kentucky Downs
- Newport Racing and Gaming
- Red Mile
- Turfway Park
Kentucky Gambling Tax
Gambling winnings in the state of Kentucky are taxed at a flat rate of 5%. Subtract the stake from the total returns and take 5% of that value to determine your tax. This does not apply to winnings of less than $5,000.
Winnings from bingo, slot machines and keno are not generally subject to withholding tax, according to the Kentucky Department of Revenue. Further, it’s worth noting that since 2019 you are permitted to deduct gambling losses when filing your tax return.
Best Kentucky Sportsbooks Reviewed
We’ve already run through our top ten recommended Kentucky sports betting sites earlier in this guide. But so far, we didn’t go into too much detail. So let’s take a deep dive into the five best sportsbooks online for KY-based punters.
1. BetOnline – Top all-round Kentucky sports betting site
Our favorite betting site for players based in Kentucky has to be BetOnline. There are more than 20 different sports on which you can wager, but arguably their strongest product is American Football. As one of the best NFL betting sites, you’ll find some of the most generous lines of any bookmaker.
BetOnline is a well respected brand, so you can be sure of a safe and secure betting experience. With trusted payment methods, the latest on-site security and top-notch customer support, you can bet with confidence. You’ll also discover plenty of real money contests and promotions.
Among that selection of offers is the BetOnline signup bonus, worth up to $1,000. New registrants using the BetOnline promo code BOL1000 can land themselves a 50% deposit match offer with a 10x turnover requirement. There aren’t many better bonuses to be found online than this one.
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2. XBet – Best Kentucky Sports Betting Horse Racing Product
Although a relative newcomer to the world of online sports betting, XBet has quickly established itself with punters. That is undoubtedly down to the fantastic choice of betting markets and the juicy odds, but there’s so much more to love about this sportsbook.
The customer service team is professional and friendly. The site’s design makes it easy to find everything you need. Payments are fast and there’s plenty of regular contests to keep you busy. And with a complete racebook, esports markets and even a casino, XBet caters for every kind of gambler.
XBet’s welcome offer is pretty decent too. All new customers qualify for a 100% deposit bonus up to the value of $500 (7x turnover). So join today using the XBet promo code XB100 and boost your betting bankroll.
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3. Bovada – Top Betting App From a Reputable Brand
This reputable and trustworthy brand dates back to the year 2000 and is one of the most respected bookmakers in the US. Offering one of the best sportsbook apps, as well as an easy to use mobile and desktop betting site, it’s easy to see why Bovada is such a fan favorite.
You’ll particularly enjoy Bovada if you’re into cryptocurrency. You can fund your account using Bitcoin to place bets on a wide variety of betting lines, from all of the world’s most popular sports. But better than that, there’s a range of crypto-specific bonuses and promotions up for grabs, available to both new and existing players.
Sign up at Bovada today and qualify for a signup bonus worth up to $350. You’ll need to use the Bovada promo code BTCSWB750 in order to net the 75% deposit match offer, which carries a very respectable 5x rollover requirement.
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4. MyBookie – Wide Choice of NBA and NFL Betting Lines
Whether you’re into the NBA, NFL or even the Kentucky Derby, sports betting fans will love MyBookie. This safe and secure betting site is proving one of the most popular in the whole country, not only in the BlueGrass State.
Part of the reason for that is the site’s sleek interface, which is extremely intuitive. But there’s more to this sportsbook than fast page loading times and a responsive design. There’s a huge selection of sports and markets with some extremely competitive odds available. The site boasts a full racebook and you can even bet on the most popular esports events.
When joining MyBookie, be sure to use the MyBookie promo code MYB100. That way, you’ll qualify for their generous 100% welcome offer, which is worth a potential $1,000 for all new players (10x wagering requirement).
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5. BetUS – Great Site for Lovers of Cryptocurrency
We couldn’t possibly leave BetUS out of a list of the best betting sites for KY players. They claim to be the country’s favorite bookmaker for over a quarter of a century. And while that’s a pretty big statement, there is certainly plenty of substance to it.
In terms of the product, BetUS offers a wide selection of sports and betting lines at very competitive odds. They also provide top-class customer support and one of the best loyalty programs of any online wagering site. But where they really excel is their range of bonuses and promotions.
New players can bag the standard 125% deposit match welcome bonus when using the BetUS promo code JOIN125. But if you prefer to deposit using Bitcoin, you can boost that to 150%, plus a casino bonus thrown in. BetUS is full of flexible and customer-friendly promotions of this kind. Give them a try today.
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Kentucky Betting Sites Comparison
Let’s quickly recap the best online bookmakers for KY-based players, as determined by our expert panel of researchers. We’ve laid out each site’s key features to give you an easily digestible overview.
Indiana Sportsbooks
Welcome Bonus
Promo Code
Number of Sports
Live Streaming
Payment Methods
BetOnline
50% deposit match up to $1,000
BOL1000
20
No
Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Ethereum, Litecoin
XBet
100% deposit match up to $500
XB100
21
No
Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin
Bovada
100% Bitcoin deposit match up to $750
BTCSWB750
22
Yes
Credit card, debit card, Zelle, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin
MyBookie
100% deposit match up to $1,000
MYB100
18
No
Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Ethereum, Litecoin
BetUS
125% deposit match up to $2,500
JOIN125
22
No
Credit card, bank wire, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin
Everygame
200% deposit match up to $200
WELCOME2EG
17
No
Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Skrill, Neteller, Litecoin, Paysafe
SportsBetting.ag
50% deposit match up to $1,000
SB1000
16
No
Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple
BetNow
100% deposit match up to $500
BN100
10
No
Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash
MYB
100% deposit match up to $1,000
MYB100
18
No
Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Ethereum, Litecoin
GT Bets
100% deposit match up to $500
BOS50
18
No
Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ripple
BUSR
20% deposit match up to $500
WELCOME20
17
No
Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Litecoin
How to Bet on Sports in Kentucky
If you’re unsure about how to set up a betting account in Kentucky, don’t panic. It’s really easy. Just pay attention to the following simple steps and we’ll have you off and running in no time at all.
For illustrative purposes, we’ve picked out BetOnline to walk you through the process. But in truth, all of the top sites in the state follow a nearly identical pattern.
Step 1: Visit the betting site
Once you’ve picked out a betting site that you’re happy with, visit their home page. Your best bet is to click through the links found within this guide. That way, you can be sure that the sportsbook site is real.
Step 2: Complete the signup form
Find the button to kickstart the registration process. It will be marked “Join Now”, “Sign Up” or similar. In the case of BetOnline, we need the button in the top-right hand corner. Click it, complete your personal details, double check to ensure they’re accurate and submit the form.
Step 3: Verify your email address
Once you’ve submitted your registration, the best betting sites will perform a quick security check. Open your emails and look for the verification email sent out by the bookmaker. Click the URL contained within to confirm your email address is real.
Step 4: Deposit to your account
Now that you’re fully verified, you need to add some funds to your betting account. Navigate to the cashier page, pick out your favorite deposit method and enter the amount. Each site will have slightly different minimum deposit amounts, so be sure to follow the instructions on the screen.
Step 5: Make your first bet
Now that your new account is set up and fully funded, you’re good to go! It’s time to make your first bet. Simply navigate the site using the left-hand menu to browse through the available markets. Add your picks to the betslip and place your bets. Good luck!
Conclusion
Thanks for reading our comprehensive guide to Kentucky sports betting. Hopefully you’ve learned everything you wanted to know about wagering in the Bluegrass State. We’ve certainly done our best to explain the legal situation, the tax rates and above all, to share which brands are the best for betting in KY.
If reading this article has got you all fired up to place some bets, why not give BetOnline a try? Our panel ranks this trusted brand as the best sportsbook for Kentucky-based punters. Join today and capitalize on their welcome offer, which is worth up to $1,000 for new accounts.
FAQs
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