Kentucky Sports Betting – Is Sports Betting Legal In Kentucky?

Kentucky has eight online sportsbooks operating in the state:

• DraftKings Sportsbook: DraftKings is a top-end sportsbook with a vast menu of prop bets and futures. Its Parlay Builder tool makes combining wagers easy.
• FanDuel Sportsbook: FanDuel is one of the most well-known online sportsbooks in the country and rivals DraftKings in popularity. Its best feature is its intuitive interface that makes finding and placing bets easy.
• BetMGM Sportsbook: BetMGM calls itself “The King of Sportsbooks” for good reason. With its odds boosts, easy-to-build parlays and extensive betting markets, it has everything a sports bettor could want.
• Caesars Sportsbook: Caesars is worth using for its odds boosts alone, offering dozens to explore every day. It also makes live betting convenient with its “FireBets” feature.
• ESPN BET: ESPN BET debuted in 2023 and features partnerships with ESPN personalities. It offers exclusive daily odds boosts and often rewards existing users with deposit matches and other bonuses.
• Fanatics Sportsbook: Fanatics launched in 2023 after merging with PointsBet and provides a modern sports betting experience. It customizes the home page based on your betting history and features the industry’s best rewards program, providing FanCash for every bet.
• Bet365 Sportsbook: Based in the U.K., Bet365 is considered one of the best sportsbooks in the world. It features numerous international and niche markets to choose from, plus it gives new customers the choice between two welcome offers.
• Circa Sports: Available in five states, Circa Sports is known for its high betting limits, tight moneyline splits and strong customer service.

Whereas the legal sports betting age is 21 in most states, it is only 18 in Kentucky. Kentucky is one of only six states/jurisdictions where the legal betting age is 18, and it’s the most populous state with that threshold.

However, some sportsbooks still require users to be 21 to sign up so that they can maintain the same age limit across states. If you’re between 18 and 21 in Kentucky, you can only register for DraftKings, Bet365 and Circa Sports.

You must be at least 21 to sign up for the other five online sportsbooks (FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, ESPN BET and Fanatics).

Kentucky doesn’t have any major professional sports teams at the moment.

The state has two professional soccer teams, neither of which are part of MLS. Kentucky has Louisville City FC, which plays in the USL Championship, and Racing Louisville FC, which plays in the NWSL.

Kentucky also has two minor-league baseball teams. The Louisville Bats are the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and the Bowling Green Hot Rods are the High-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Fortunately, Kentucky residents have several Division I college programs to root for.

Kentucky does not have any restrictions for betting on the following in-state college teams.

Kentucky’s college sports scene is dominated by two teams – Louisville and Kentucky – but the state also features a number of smaller Division I programs like Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State, Murray State, Western Kentucky, Northern Kentucky and Bellarmine.

• Kentucky Wildcats

The Wildcats are a Division I team in the SEC that plays at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Their colors are blue and white.

The football team has been around since 1881 but has had limited success, going 12-11 in bowl games and winning just two conference titles. Before Paul “Bear” Bryant became famous at Alabama, he was Kentucky’s head coach from 1946 to 1953.

The Wildcats have had far more success on the hardwood, where they’ve built one of the most successful college basketball programs in NCAA history. Kentucky has won eight NCAA championships, second only to UCLA. The Wildcats also have the most victories and highest winning percentage in NCAA history.

Several of the NBA’s top stars played at Kentucky, including Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, De’Aaron Fox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Maxey and Karl-Anthony Towns.

• Louisville Cardinals

The Cardinals are a Division I team in the ACC that plays at the University of Louisville in Louisville. Their colors are red and black.

The Cardinals played their first season in 1912 and have had a fair amount of success with eight conference titles. They’ve never won a national championship but did produce a Heisman winner in Lamar Jackson (2016). Jackson now plays for the Baltimore Ravens and is a two-time NFL MVP.

The Cardinals have been successful on the court as well despite dealing with several scandals and controversies, winning two national titles (1980 and 1986) with a third being vacated in 2013. Their most famous alum is Wes Unseld, who won an NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA MVP and NBA championship during his decorated 13-year career.

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