Kentucky Sports Betting 2024: Best Sportsbook Offers For New Players

Online sports betting has become more and more popular across the U.S. and Kentucky is the latest state to join in. Online Kentucky sports betting went live on September 28th, 2023, and there are a healthy number of sportsbooks to sign up with.

In early April 2024, Circa Sports became the eighth sportsbook to launch in Kentucky.

This guide has all you need to know about the best welcome offers you can register with as well as any other information surrounding sports betting in the Bluegrass State.

Fanatics is one of the newest sportsbook on the betting scene in the country. But they have a strong exclusive welcome bonus you can activate using this link to register for a welcome offer that matches your first bet after signing up on day one up to $100 in a bonus bet if you lose. Then for the next nine days, your first bet up to $100 will be matched as bonus bets if you lose as well.

Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, DC, IL, KS, KY, LA, MD, OH, MI, NC, NJ, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY), (800)-327-5050 or http://gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), (888) 789-7777 or http://ccpg.org (CT), or 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), or www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), or morethanagame.nc.gov (NC), or 1800gambler.net (WV). Must apply this Promotion in your bet slip & place and settle $5+ cash wager with odds of - 200 or longer to get a Bonus Bet match (up to $100) each day for 10 straight days. Your 10 days begin the day you sign up. Bonus Bets expire 7 days from issuance. Add’l Terms apply, see Fanatics Sportsbook app.

BetMGM gives you a bet and get bet welcome offer through this link and bonus code INQUIRERMGM. You can Get up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn’t Win!

You can instead use the code PHILLY1600 and get a 20% Deposit Match up to $1,600 in Sports Bonus!

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, LA, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). Participant must complete the Wagering Requirements and satisfy the (10x) playthrough requirement. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions.

Simply register for FanDuel to claim your promo. If this is your first time signing up with FanDuel, you will be in line to receive a welcome bonus of Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets and Three Months of NBA League Pass..

The bet365 Kentucky bonus code INQUIRER means you can register and use one of the two bet365 KY new user bonuses. Use this link to start the process of signing up and get a first bet safety net up to $1,000 in bonus bets!

Or you can click here and start signing up for a welcome bonus of bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets.

New players only, 21+ (18+ in KY). Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Available in AZ, NJ, IA, KY, IN, LA, NC, VA, OH only. Place a qualifying bet of up to $1000 to be eligible for a matched refund in Bonus Bets if your qualifying bet loses. A deposit (minimum $10) is required to participate in this offer. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Registration required.

New players only, 21+ (18+ in KY). Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Available in AZ, NJ, IA, KY, IN, LA, NC, VA, OH only. Bet $5 and Get $150 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bet Credits wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Registration required.

Another welcome offer you can redeem is the Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky promo code. By using this link and code INQUIRER1000, you can get up to $1,000 back in bonus bets.

It wouldn’t be a list of sportsbooks without mentioning Kentucky. The DraftKings Sportsbook promo code is able to be redeemed in the Bluegrass state for one of the best sign-up promotions in the industry with a bet $5, get $250 instantly in bonus bets plus a king of the court boost promo being available by clicking here.

The ESPN BET promo code is now available in Kentucky, with ESPN BET having launched in 17 states. ESPN BET has quickly become a go-to destination for bettors of each sport. Click here to sign-up and use code INQUIRER.

This code unlocks a first bet reset up to $1,500, which as you might be able to infer, gives you bonus bets equal to your stake if your first wager loses.

All sportsbooks that want to operate in Kentucky will need to receive a license from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, which is the agency in charge of overseeing sports betting in the state.

Up to 27 online sports betting licenses are up for grabs in the state. The sportsbooks below have had their license applications approved, meaning all of them will be able to be or are already live in the state.

Caesars Sportsbook was the first sportsbook to confirm its entry into Kentucky after announcing a partnership with Keeneland Racetrack and Red Mile Racing.

FanDuel, ESPN BET, Circa, bet365, Fanatics, DraftKings, and BetMGM were all other sportsbooks that got approved for an online betting license in Kentucky after Caesars.

Each sportsbook that operates in Kentucky will have some sort of welcome promotion for their new players that compensates them with some type of reward.

Welcome offers can vary from first bet offers like BetMGM has that gives you a second chance on your first bet if you’re incorrect to bet and get offers that guarantee you a certain amount of bonus bets following the settlement of your first wager.

Fanatics is another name like bet365 that’s continuing to expand across the U.S. as a newer sportsbook, and they’re now live in Kentucky for new players to sign-up with.

Fanatics has a very unique welcome offer compared to the rest that can be redeemed with this link which gives you ten straight days of a no sweat bet up to $100.

BetMGM is one of the biggest sports betting sites in the U.S. and is home to a plethora of same game parlays that have strong odds and a strong selection of betting markets as a whole.

The BetMGM Sportsbook Kentucky bonus code will award all new users with a generous welcome offer with code INQUIRERMGM that gives you up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn’t Win!

You can also use the code PHILLY1600 and Get a 20% Deposit Match up to $1,600 in Sports Bonus!

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, LA, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). Participant must complete the Wagering Requirements and satisfy the (10x) playthrough requirement. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions.

FanDuel is the leading sportsbook in North America, and it should come as no surprise that they’re a top option for Kentucky sports bettors with their great app, regular profit boosts, and easy to use interphase.

You can claim a great welcome offer with FanDuel. You can earn the welcome offer of Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets and Three Months of NBA League Pass.

bet365 is another fantastic sports betting site you can sign-up with to secure a fabulous welcome bonus. You can sign up to receive either $1,000 with this link or $200 in guaranteed bonus bets with code INQUIRER and using this link.

Few sportsbooks can top the mobile app and promotions offered by bet365. Their futures bets markets are also very deep and carry competitive odds with them.

Caesars was the first to announce they’d be in Kentucky and have a Get up to $1,000 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn’t Win welcome offer up for grabs to new players who register with bonus code INQUIRER1000 and this link.

There are many things Caesars does well, but their same game parlays with boosted odds are arguably the thing they do best.

Another sportsbook on our list is DraftKings Sportsbook, which also received a license to operate in the state. DraftKings’ app is top-notch, as are their odds boosts and promotions.

You can get $250 in instant bonus bets after depositing $5 and submitting your first bet of $5 or more on DraftKings.

Circa is one of the biggest and most popular sportsbooks in Nevada, and are looking to expand more across the country with them having received a sports betting license to operate out of Kentucky.

Kentucky became the fifth state with Circa Sportsbook when the platform launched in early April 2024.

It’s not yet known what the welcome offer will be for Circa in Kentucky, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see them offer something generous if they’re looking to stand out above the rest of the competitors mentioned above.

While Circa isn’t a completely well-rounded platform and are still working on certain things, you can trust Circa Sportsbook to be legitimate and come with a mobile app that won’t be difficult to navigate.

The newest sportsbook that made their way into the Kentucky sports betting scene was ESPN BET, who went live on November 14, 2023.

The welcome bonus they give new players is one of the best out there and can be redeemed by using promo code INQUIRER.

You’ll get up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if your first wager loses thanks to their first bet reset up to $1,500.

You won’t find a sportsbook with better promotions, and their app is fantastic as well. Reviews from fellow bettors support that claim.

Nine different Kentucky horse racing tracks and operators will be allowed to partner with sportsbooks to produce retail sportsbooks in the Bluegrass State. A total of 14 venues are eligible to open a retail sportsbook, all of which are existing casinos or horse race tracks.

Retail sports betting saw a successful launch with $4.5 million in bets being placed during the first two weeks of Kentucky sports betting being live and operational.

Obviously, the biggest difference between retail and online sports betting is the way in which you wager.

But the difference between mobile sports betting and retail sports betting in Kentucky also comes down to the taxes that sportsbooks will need to pay.

According to HB 551, retail sportsbooks’ sports betting tax rate will be 9.75% of their gross revenue. However, online sportsbooks will have to pay a 14.5% tax on their gross revenue.

The other difference is the timeline of when these respective sportsbooks will launch, as retail sports betting went live live just in time for the NFL season on Sept. 7, while online sports betting won’t go live until Sept. 28.

When looking at betting markets on the sportsbook of your choice, you don’t want to be limited to a select few wagering options.

Especially if you’re someone who likes to make parlays when you bet online, having a deep selection of prop bets and wagers to throw into a parlay is a big thing that could determine whether you commit to using that site or not.

Another important thing for any sports betting platform is having competitive odds. Competitive odds mean you’ll win a decent amount of money if your wager is correct.

Odds boosts are more visible on some sports betting sites than others, but odds boosts can increase the price of your odds and potentially win you more money if your wager is correct.

As a new player, having a generous welcome offer can be the deciding factor of whether or not you give a sportsbook a shot.

There are multiple types of bonus bet welcome offers sportsbooks employ, such as first bet offers and bet and get offers, with you getting to decide which sounds best for you.

After you’ve used your welcome offer, something that can determine whether you keep using that sportsbook or not is whether or not they run promotions for existing users.

Types of promotions can include parlay insurance, deposit matches, and more. With Kentucky sports betting’s launch coming around the same time as the start of the NFL season, there will likely be promotions on most platforms.

Sports betting apps are becoming more popular than ever, with them being a much easier way to enjoy your sports betting experience than on a website through your phone or desktop.

One of the easiest ways to see what the best sports betting apps are is to look up their ratings on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to see what fellow bettors have to say.

The final thing to consider is something that you might not think about until you need it, which is having a competent customer service team to rely on for help.

Getting in contact with customer service can be done through many ways, such as a phone number, email, or a live chat box.

Signing up with a sportsbook in Kentucky isn’t difficult and won’t take many steps at all. Most online sports betting platforms follow a similar type of registration process that include steps like entering your personal information, typing in your promo code, and making your first deposit.

Here is a five-part step-by-step guide that goes over how you can sign-up with most Kentucky sportsbooks:

The road to getting to where we are today where Kentucky sports betting is legal has been a long one with some failures along the way. But the bottom line is it’s legal now, with the timeline below showing all of the events that led to getting here.

Kentucky went against the grain with HB 551 by making the legal sports betting age in Kentucky just 18.

While most states in North America require you to be 21 or older, Kentucky joins New Hampshire and Wyoming as being the states where sports betting is legal in Kentucky at 18.

When you think of horse racing, the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Derby betting at Churchill Downs are likely the first things that come to mind.

Horse racing has been bet on in Kentucky and across the majority of the U.S. since the country’s inception. The reason horse racing could be bet on while sports betting wasn’t comes down to one loophole if you will.

In horse racing, you aren’t betting against the house like Caesars or FanDuel. Instead, in parimutuel betting you’re wagering against what other bettors believe will happen.

The Kentucky Derby is the biggest event in horse racing every year. By the time the 2024 race comes around, you’ll be able to wager on it more ways than ever before from Churchill Downs, any of the other retail sportsbooks, or the online sportsbook of your choosing.

Again, each of the nine racetracks in the retail sportsbook section mentioned above is allowed to partner with a sportsbook of their choosing.

Of all the online horse racing betting platforms in North America, TwinSpires stands out as the top option in the industry. They have a sign-up offer that gives out bonus bets if you meet certain wagering requirements as a new player.

TwinSpires is the official betting partner of the Kentucky Derby and its headquarters is located in Lexington.

Despite sports betting just recently being made legal in Kentucky, a legal alternative that’s been around for quite some time in the state is daily fantasy sports with platforms such as DraftKings, PrizePicks, and Boom Fantasy.

Daily fantasy sports is a somewhat gray area, as it’s not legalized, but it’s also not illegal. As a result, you can play daily fantasy sports in Kentucky without needing to worry about penalty.

Ultimately, daily fantasy sports falls into the same category as horse race betting. Rather than betting on the house like you do on a sportsbook, you’re betting against other bettors. This loophole makes it so daily fantasy sports could be legal when sports betting wasn’t.

Kentucky residents have no shortage of sporting leagues to bet on. Obviously, the main sports you can wager on are the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB.

You can also wager on soccer, MMA, tennis, NASCAR, and smaller sports like darts or snooker. Not every sportsbook will have the same selection of smaller sports to bet on, so you might have to look around depending what you want to bet on.

Finally, you can wager on NCAA sports in Kentucky, including NCAA football and NCAA basketball. With the state not housing any professional sports teams, betting on the likes of Kentucky, Louisville, and other universities will be popular.

The Kentucky Wildcats are a “Blue Blood” in the college basketball scene, with eight NCAA Tournament titles to their name. That ranks as the second most in NCAA history, with their most recent coming in 2012. The Wildcats are currently coached by John Calipari and play in the SEC.

The Louisville Cardinals are rivals with Kentucky despite playing in the ACC. Louisville has two NCAA Tournaments credited to their name, with a third in 2013 being vacated due to the infamous Rick Pitino scandal. Louisville is currently coached by Kenny Payne.

There are almost no betting markets you can’t wager on in Kentucky. In terms of sports, everything is fair game, including college sports (Which differ from state to state in the U.S.)

But external things such as politics or entertainment awards aren’t able to be wagered on, which isn’t different in Kentucky compared to the rest of the country.

When it comes to payment methods, each sportsbook operates a bit differently. Some methods are available with some platforms but not others.

Although it’s impossible to accurately predict what each individual platform’s deposit and withdrawal methods will be, we can acknowledge what the most common deposit and withdrawal options for sports betting platforms are in other states.

The most common ways you can make deposits are ways that don’t take much time to set up. Deposits will be made available right away and there are generally no fees for depositing or withdrawing funds.

Below is a list of the most popular ways of deposit you’ll be able to use on sportsbooks in Kentucky, as these methods are usable for every sportsbook in other states.

Withdrawing funds will come with slight changes to methods available, with the option to request an e-Check or physical check in the mail being added. These aren’t available with every sportsbook, but they are offered by some.

You’ll also need to keep in mind the minimum and maximum withdrawal amount, as that amount varies from platform to platform as well.

Yes, the Kentucky Sports betting law HB 551 made online sports betting legal in the Bluegrass State. The law was passed and signed by Gov. Beshear on March 31, 2023.

Retail sports betting is also legal in Kentucky as part of this law, with September 28th, 2023 being the day online sports betting went live.

The minimum betting age requirement in Kentucky is 18, with them joining just New Hampshire and Wyoming as the states that don’t have 21 as the minimum legal gambling age.

No, you do not need to be a resident of Kentucky in order to place a sports bet. If you’re inside the state at any given time for whatever reason, you may place a wager on a Kentucky sportsbook.

This is true not just in the Bluegrass State, but across all legal sports betting states.

If you’re not looking to wager online, Kentucky will have up to 14 retail sportsbooks across the state. The full list of these locations is can be found above.

Any of the sportsbooks mentioned atop this piece with their respective welcome offers can be considered the best sportsbook, as they each have their own strengths and weaknesses.

While it’s impossible to definitively rank the Kentucky sports betting sites, we can say that BetMGM, FanDuel, and bet365 are our favorites. But you also can’t go wrong with Caesars, DraftKings, or Fanatics.

The Inquirer is not an online gambling operator, or a gambling site. We provide this information about sports betting for entertainment purposes only.