Kentucky Fantasy Sports & Sportsbook Promo Codes December 2024

See below for details on how to claim your Kentucky fantasy sports and/or sports betting bonus.

One would imagine that a state with one of the most notorious horse racing tracks in the world that hosts the most famous horse race in the world would be a prime location for a massive sports betting hub. And that assumption is finally correct! After years of deliberation and waiting, Kentucky finally passed sports betting legislation in March of 2023, and gambling on sports will finally be legal in Kentucky starting Sept. 28, 2023.

Below you'll find the most important things you need to know about Kentucky sports betting and KY online sports betting apps.

1) Is Kentucky Sports Betting Legal?

Sports betting in Kentucky was legalized in March of 2023, and it will officially go live in the sate on September 28, 2023.

2) What Sportsbooks and Online Sports Betting Apps Will Be Available in Kentucky?

For now, the only sportsbook apps guaranteed to be live in the state come Sept. 28 are:

• DraftKings
• Bet365
• FanDuel
• BetMGM
• Caesars Sportsbook
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• Circa Sportsbook

3) What are the Most Common Types of Bets I Can Make in Kentucky?

Straight bet

This is the most common bet type and it is just a straight up single bet on a game. A point spread is determined by the oddsmakers with one team being favored by a certain amount of points. Let’s take a look at an example line below to give a clear indication of what a straight bet would be:

Boston Celtics -6.5 (-110), moneyline -320

at Cleveland Cavaliers +6.5 (-110), moneyline +260

O/U 206

The Celtics are favored by 6.5 points in this example. This means that if you bet the Cavaliers, you are getting 6.5 points, so if the Cavaliers win the game, or lose by fewer than seven points, you will win the bet because of your 6.5-point cushion. On the other side, when you are laying 6.5 points as the favorite, you would need the Celtics to win by seven or more to win the bet.

Final Score: Celtics 102 Cavaliers 98. Cavaliers would cover even though the Celtics won the game because the +6.5 point spread is enough to cover a four-point defeat.

Moneyline Bet

The moneyline is a bet where there is no spread; you are just picking the winner of the game. In the example above, the Cavaliers ML is +260, which means that for every $100 wagered, you win $260 if the Cavaliers win the game outright. They receive the plus side of the moneyline since they are the underdog and picking them rewards you with nice odds since they are projected to likely lose the game. On the flip side, if you bet the Celtics ML at -320, you have to bet $320 to win $100. They are the favorites so if you decide to bet the moneyline instead of the point spread, you are forced to bet additional money to win $100.

In the example above, the Celtics ML would be the winner as they won the game outright. The spread is irrelevant for a moneyline wager.

Over/Under

This is a straight bet wagering on how many total combined points will be scored in a game by both teams. For example, an NBA game may have an over/under of 210 points, which means that the oddsmakers are projecting a combined points total of 210 between the two teams. If you think the teams are going to score more than 210 points total, you bet the over, and conversely, if you think it’s going to be a defensive struggle, you can bet the under hoping that the total points scored equals 209 points or less.

Parlay

A parlay is a bet where you combine multiple bets into one bet and you get increased odds because you only win your parlay wager if all of your bets win. If you do a three-team parlay, you select three different teams from three different games and if you win all three of the bets you hit your parlay for longshot odds (6-1 so $100 to win $600). Going 0/3, 1/3, or 2/3 is all the same and you lose the parlay bet. It’s all or nothing which makes them tough to hit and is more of a home run type bet than a regular straight bet since there’s a chance for a big payoff.

4) What are the Most Popular Teams to Bet on in KY?

Kentucky does not have any professional sports teams within the state. That said, two sports are king in Kentucky: Horse racing and college basketball.

The University of Kentucky and University of Louisville have the two most beloved teams in the state, and each has a strong history of success at the men's college basketball level. Technically Louisville only has two men's national championships, but it did win a third in 2013 (that was vacated). Kentucky's men's team has won eight national titles, most recently in 2012. And thankfully, a clause in the Kentucky sports betting bill that would have prohibited wagering on college sports has been removed, so Kentucky residents will be able to gamble on their two favorite teams.

As for professional teams, the nearest major sports market is Cincinnati -- about a 90-minute drive away from Louisville -- so the Bengals and Reds are popular within the state. Indianapolis and Nashville are also within a couple hours' drive, so the Titans, Predators, Colts and Pacers also have somewhat of a following in the state. St. Louis is a bit further away from the larger Kentucky metro areas, but the Cardinals and Blues draw interest from the west side of Kentucky. 

5) Is There Anything Else to Know About Kentucky Sports Betting?

Kentucky is a haven for betting on horse racing, with Churchill Downs in Louisville serving as the most famous racetrack on the planet. Kentucky hasn’t always been a haven for legal gambling. However, that seems to be changing. Here's a quick look at the  gambling history in the state:

• The state constitution is written with anti-gambling language to restrict underground lotteries.
• The Kentucky Derby is founded in 1875.
• Kentucky becomes a major horse racing center and pari-mutuel betting thrives.
• In 1988 the state lottery is introduced.
• In 1992 more legislation is passed allowing charity bingo, raffles, and pull-tabs.
• In 2018 PASPA is repealed and Kentucky takes first steps towards a legal sports betting bill.
• In 2023 Kentucky finally passes legislation and sets a sports betting live date of Sept. 28. 

Read further for commonly and frequently asked questions regarding sports betting and fantasy sports in Kentucky.