Kentucky Gambling Sites

Understanding Online Betting in Kentucky

Kentucky has flirted with the idea of legalizing gambling since 2018 when the US Supreme Court repealed PASPA, the Federal Law that banned sports gambling in the states. After PASPA was repealed, this gave each state the independence to determine whether to legalize sports gambling, and a lot decided to do just that. The road was a bit bumpier for Kentucky, as four sports betting bills were proposed but shot down in 2019. In 2020, the Kentucky Supreme Court decreed that Historical Horse Racing machines were unconstitutional and made them illegal. This decision was overturned the following year.

In 2022, the Kentucky General Assembly pushed again to legalize sports gambling, but the vote fell short. However, the interest in legalizing sports betting in Kentucky gained a lot of traction, and finally in 2023 when the bill was put up to a vote once again, it was finally approved with a 63-34 vote by the House. Heading onto the Senate, it passed again with a vote of 25-12, and was signed into law by Governor Beshear.

Kentucky Sports Betting

House Bill 551, signed in August of 2023, legalized sports betting in the state of Kentucky, but horse race betting was already legal. There is certainly a big interest in horse race betting in the state, as it has some of the most famous horse races, such as the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and Blue Grass Stakes.

But we already knew that before the bill was passed. Now, the sports betting scene will flourish, as bettors can make predictions on their local college teams and favorite pro teams in major leagues. Football is easily one of the most popular sports in the state, and with the arrival of the FanDuel and DraftKings Sportsbooks, bettors will have masses of betting opportunities.

If you are more into soccer or basketball, then you are certainly not going to feel left out, especially with the sportsbooks like bet365 and Caesars which will spoil you with deals for big games and top competitions.

Kentucky Gambling Regulations

HB 551 opened up the possibility for bettors to make wagers on all professional and collegiate sports. Horse racing gambling was already legal in Kentucky before the bill was passed, and was officiated by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC). The House Bill stated that the KHRC will also become the state’s regulating body for sports wagering and that it will have the authority to issue licenses to gambling operators.

To apply for a gambling license in the state, operators need to register with a professional racetrack and then be regulated through that racing track’s service providers. Tracks need to pay an initial fee of $500,000 to apply for a license, and if their application is approved, they can partner with gambling operators. The track’s service providers need to then pay an annual renewal fee of $50,000 to keep their license.

Each track can only take on 3 sports betting providers. These sports betting providers must then apply for a service provider license and pay a $50,000 nonrefundable application fee and an annual renewal fee of $10,000. The Bill also levies a 9.75% tax on the adjusted gross revenue from retail wagers (betting at the track) and a 14.25% tax on revenue received from “off-site technology” (online betting).

As a bettor, the only information that affects you is that you must be of legal age, which is 18 in Kentucky and must be physically located within the state of Kentucky to place bets here. When registering an account, you will have to submit some ID verification documents, to prove that you are eligible to bet online. One last thing; though the House Bill decreed the legal gambling age in Kentucky is 18, Sportsbooks still reserve the right to set a higher legal age. Caesars Sportsbook, for example, stated that its customers must be 21 years old or older.

Horse Race Betting in Kentucky

Horse racing is not so much a sport as it is an institution in Kentucky. The Bluegrass state is not only renowned for its racetracks but also for being home to hundreds of horse farms, breeding some of the most powerful thoroughbred racehorses in the country. Churchill Downs opened in 1875 and is the oldest racetrack in the state. Located in South Louisville, the track hosts numerous Grade I meetings, the most famous of which is the Kentucky Derby. The second most important racetrack in the state is the Keeneland Race Course. This course opened in 1936 and hosts a number of meets, including several Breeders’ Cup prep races. It hosted the Breeders’ Cup for the first time in 2015 and for a second time in 2020.

🏇 Kentucky Derby

This iconic Grade I stakes race is run over a distance of 1 1/4 miles on a left-handed dirt track, at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the American Triple Crown, and it has a purse of $3 million. It is also called “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” and is one of the most-watched races in the US. The record-holder at this race is the famous Secretariat, who ran the dirt track in 1:59.4 in 1973. Take a note in your diary now: First Saturday in May, and make sure you tune in for those adrenaline-pumping 2 minutes.

🏇 Kentucky Oaks

This race is also held at Churchill Downs, but across a distance of 1 1/8 miles and it is only for fillies. The race was inaugurated in 1875 and is held each year on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby. It is a Grade I event and is regarded to be the filly counterpart of the Kentucky Derby. The race has a purse of $1.25 million and the winner receives a garland blanket of lilies – which is why the race has also been called the “Lillies for the Fillies”.

🏇 Turf Classic Stakes

Held on the same day as the Kentucky Derby and at the same venue, the Turf Classic Stakes is a thoroughbred horse race over the distance of 1 1/8 miles, on a turf course. This race is open to all horses aged four years old and older and has a purse of $1 million.

🏇 Blue Grass Stakes

The Blue Grass Stakes is held in Keeneland and was first run in 1911. It is run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on a dirt track and is open to 3 year old horses. It was a Grade I event until 2017 when it was turned into a Grade II event. Then, in 2022 it was changed back to being a Grade I event. This meeting is an important prep for the Kentucky Derby and is an important part of the Keeneland program. It is held every year in April.

🏇 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes

This race is only 1 mile long and is held on a turf course at Keeneland Race Course. It is one of the most important fall meetings and is hosted each year in October. A purse of $1 million is surely enticing, but the biggest perk about this race is the Win and You’re In bonus for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Where to Bet on Sports in Kentucky

At the time of writing, 7 licensed horsetracks in Kentucky applied to the KHRC for retail sports wagering facilities. This will allow them to partner with sportsbooks, who can then open physical sportsbooks near or at these racetracks, providing racegoers with a fantastic betting experience. These will not only attract horse race enthusiasts but fans of all sports, who can come to watch games together and bet. Expect massive HD TVs, amazing catering and bars, and an endless supply of betting markets.

Licensed

• Churchill Downs
• Cumberland Run
• Ellis Park (Henderson)
• Oak Grove Gaming and Racing
• The Red Mile
• Sandy’s Gaming and Racing
• Turfway Park

Pending license

• Derby City Gaming (Louisville)
• Derby City Gaming (Louisville)
• Ellis Park (Owensboro)
• Keeneland
• Kentucky Downs
• The Mint Gaming Hall (Bowling Green)
• The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland (Williamsburg)
• Newport Racing and Gaming

Sportsbook venues may not be your thing though. If you have a place where you like to watch your games, or prefer to bet from home, then you can opt to bet on any of the licensed sportsbook websites or download the app to take your betting on the go.