Kentucky Betting Sites, Apps & Guide
Online sports betting went live in Kentucky on September 28, 2023, and the market is built on the state's horse racing tracks. Each track can partner with up to three apps, so FanDuel runs through Churchill Downs, DraftKings through Cumberland Run and Fanatics through Oak Grove.
The rules changed in July 2026, when a new law raised the betting age from 18 to 21 and limited props on Kentucky college players. Below is our list of the best Kentucky apps, a closer look at each one we recommend, and what the new law means for you.
Offers checked November 4, 2026. Terms apply to every offer, so read them on the operator's site before you sign up.
Best Kentucky apps
Underdog: Trading involves risk, including total loss on positions
Polymarket US: 18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization.
See below for more information.
Kentucky app reviews
Each card below covers one app from the list above, with the welcome offer we checked, what it does best and how it works in Kentucky.
1. FanDuel
FanDuel launched in Kentucky on day one through Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. It is the app we find easiest to use, and same game parlays take a few taps.
Player props run deep for the NFL and NBA, and live odds keep up with the game.
- Welcome offer: Bet $5+ for 4 Days, Get $200 in Bonus Bets
- Live in Kentucky since: September 28, 2023
- Best for: Same game parlays and an easy app
- Apps: iOS, Android and desktop
Read our full FanDuel review, or claim the offer here.
2. DraftKings
DraftKings holds its Kentucky license through Cumberland Run in Corbin, where it also has a retail sportsbook. It has been live since launch day.
Daily odds boosts and betting pools are its strengths, and every bet earns Dynasty Rewards credit.
- Welcome offer: Spend $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets + 3 Months of NBA League Pass
- Live in Kentucky since: September 28, 2023
- Best for: Odds boosts and live betting
- Apps: iOS, Android and desktop
Read our full DraftKings review, or claim the offer here.
3. BetMGM
BetMGM is partnered with Sandy's Gaming and Racing in Ashland and launched with the first group of apps. Its sports menu is one of the widest in the state.
Edit My Bet lets you change an open bet, and wagers earn BetMGM Rewards points.
- Welcome offer: Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if Your First Bet Does Not Win
- Live in Kentucky since: September 28, 2023
- Best for: Edit My Bet and MGM Rewards
- Apps: iOS, Android and desktop
Read our full BetMGM review, or claim the offer here.
4. Fanatics
Fanatics launched alongside the original Kentucky apps through Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel near the Tennessee line. Every bet earns FanCash, which you can spend on gear or turn back into bets.
- Welcome offer: Bet $20, Get $350 in FanCash ($50 a Day for 7 Days)
- Live in Kentucky since: September 28, 2023
- Best for: Earning FanCash on every bet
- Apps: iOS, Android and desktop
Read our full Fanatics review, or claim the offer here.
5. bet365
bet365 went live in Kentucky on September 28, 2023, licensed through Sandy's Gaming and Racing. It is one of the largest sportsbooks in the world and strongest in live betting.
Early Payout can settle a bet as a winner before the game ends, and soccer markets go deeper than at most US apps.
- Welcome offer: Bet $10 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
- Live in Kentucky since: September 28, 2023
- Best for: Live betting and soccer
- Apps: iOS, Android and desktop
Read our full bet365 review, or claim the offer here.
6. theScore Bet
PENN Entertainment's sportsbook has been in Kentucky since 2023 through Ellis Park in Henderson. It ran as ESPN BET until it became theScore Bet on December 1, 2025.
Scores, stats and news from theScore app sit beside your bets, so you can check a game and bet on it without switching apps.
- Welcome offer: Use Code GETOFFER: $1,000 First Bet Reset Paid in Bonus Bets
- Live in Kentucky since: 2023, as theScore Bet since December 1, 2025
- Best for: Following scores and betting in one app
- Apps: iOS, Android and desktop
Read our full theScore Bet review, or claim the offer here.
7. Dabble
Dabble came over from Australia in 2023 and built its pick'em game around a social feed, so you can copy any public entry with one tap and chat in live Banter rooms during the game. Kentucky has licensed and regulated fantasy apps through the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation since July 2026, and Dabble's own state page lists Kentucky.
- Welcome offer: Play $10, Get $20 in Bonus Cash
- Best for: Copying other players' pick'em entries
- Apps: iOS and Android
Read our full Dabble review, or claim the offer here.
8. Betr
Betr Picks lets you call More or Less on 2 to 10 player stat lines, and the multiplier climbs with each pick you add. HB 904 brought fantasy apps in Kentucky under a state license in July 2026 and kept the minimum age for fantasy contests at 18.
- Welcome offer: Four No Sweat Tokens, Up to $200 Back in Betr Bucks if Your Entries Miss
- Best for: Big multipliers on More or Less picks
- Apps: iOS and Android
Read our full Betr review, or claim the offer here.
9. ParlayPlay
ParlayPlay keeps pick'em quick: call each player higher or lower than a projected stat, or join Rumble contests against other players, and enter free weekly contests with cash prizes. Kentucky law has required fantasy operators to hold a state license since July 2026, and contests here must pit players against each other rather than the house.
- Welcome offer: Use Code GETOFFER: Get $5 Free, No Deposit Required + 100% Deposit Match up to $100
- Best for: Quick higher or lower picks and free contests
- Apps: iOS, Android and desktop
Read our full ParlayPlay review, or claim the offer here.
10. Chalkboard
Chalkboard grew out of a group chat app, and every entry and result still lands in a Board you share with friends. Its help center lists Kentucky for both peer-to-peer fantasy and Pulls, open to players 18 and older.
- Welcome offer: Use Code FLEXFAM for a Free Pick + 50% Deposit Match up to $100
- Best for: Pick'em with friends in a shared chat
- Apps: iOS and Android
Read our full Chalkboard review, or claim the offer here.
11. Underdog
Underdog began as a Best Ball and pick'em app in 2020 and now also runs a sports prediction market on its own CFTC-regulated exchange, with Rips card packs in the same account. Its state eligibility page lists pick'em, drafts and prediction picks as open in Kentucky, where fantasy contests start at 18 even though sportsbooks now require 21.
- Welcome offer: Use Code GETOFFER: Play $10, Get $50 in Bonus Entries
- Best for: Pick'em, drafts and prediction picks in one account
- Apps: iOS, Android and web
Trading involves risk, including total loss on positions
Read our full Underdog review, or claim the offer here.
12. Kalshi
Kalshi is the largest U.S. prediction market, regulated by the CFTC since 2020, with Yes and No contracts on games, interest rates, weather and more. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman sued Kalshi in Franklin Circuit Court in June 2026, calling its sports contracts illegal betting, and the app keeps serving Kentucky while that case is pending.
- Welcome offer: Sign Up With Code TAPIN, Trade $25 and Get $25
- Best for: No-vig contracts on sports and the economy
- Apps: iOS, Android and web
Read our full Kalshi review, or claim the offer here.
13. Polymarket US
Polymarket US is a CFTC-regulated exchange with markets on sports, politics, economics, crypto and culture, and it pays makers a rebate on filled limit orders. Kentucky's attorney general sued it in June 2026 over its sports contracts; the case is still open, and a state tax on unlicensed prediction markets is due to start in January 2027.
- Welcome offer: Use Code GETOFFER: Deposit $10, Get a Free $25 to Trade
- Best for: A wide market mix with maker rebates
- Apps: iOS, Android and web
18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization.
Read our full Polymarket US review, or claim the offer here.
14. Novig
Novig is a sports-only exchange where you trade Yes and No contracts with other users, and pregame straight trades carry no commission. It became a CFTC-designated contract market in June 2026. Kentucky has taken no action against Novig, though HB 757 adds a tax on unlicensed prediction markets from January 2027.
- Welcome offer: Use Code GETOFFER: Deposit $10, Get $50 in Trade Credits
- Best for: Commission-free pregame sports trades
- Apps: iOS, Android and web
Read our full Novig review, or claim the offer here.
15. ProphetX
ProphetX is a peer-to-peer sports exchange that the CFTC approved in June 2026 to run and clear its own trades, charging 2% on net winnings and nothing on parlays. Since July 2026, HB 904 has barred Kentucky's tracks and sportsbooks from working with prediction markets, so ProphetX operates here under its federal approval rather than a state license.
- Welcome offer: Sign Up With Code GETOFFER: Trade $40, Get $40 in Trading Bonus
- Best for: Low fees and no limits on winning players
- Apps: iOS, Android and web
Read our full ProphetX review, or claim the offer here.
16. ReBet
ReBet is a free-to-play social sportsbook and casino launched in 2024 by a group of Dartmouth students, and its feed lets you copy a friend's parlay with one tap. It runs on the sweepstakes model, with ReBet Coins for fun and ReBet Cash for prize play. Its official rules exclude 12 states, Kentucky is not among them, and players must be 18 or older.
- Welcome offer: Use Code GETBONUS: 100% Purchase Match up to $100 in ReBet Cash
- Best for: Copying friends' parlays from a social feed
- Apps: iOS, Android and web
Read our full ReBet review, or claim the offer here.
17. Courtside
Courtside launched in January 2026 and puts sports picks, player pick'em, arcade games, a social casino and card rips in one free-to-play app with a single wallet. It works on the sweepstakes model, so Kentucky players can join at 18 and play with Courtside Coins or Courtside Cash instead of cash stakes.
- Welcome offer: Use Code GETOFFER: Spend $10, Get 50 in Free Picks
- Best for: Picks, pick'em and arcade games in one wallet
- Apps: iOS and Android
Read our full Courtside review, or claim the offer here.
18. Onyx Odds
Onyx Odds looks like a regular sportsbook, with player props you can set to your own line, same game parlays and live picks while the game streams in the app. It's a sweepstakes app, so you play with Onyx Coins and Onyx Cash rather than real-money bets, and Kentuckians 18 and older can sign up.
- Welcome offer: Use Code GETOFFER: Spend $10, Get 50 in Bonus Picks
- Best for: Custom prop lines and live picks without cash bets
- Apps: iOS, Android and mobile web
Read our full Onyx Odds review, or claim the offer here.
How to sign up with a Kentucky sportsbook
- Pick a sportsbook from this guide and tap its offer link.
- Choose Join or Sign Up and enter your name, date of birth, email and the last four digits of your Social Security number. You must be 21.
- Allow location access. The app checks that you are inside Kentucky before it takes a bet.
- Upload a photo of your ID if the app asks for one.
- Make a first deposit by debit card, online banking, PayPal or another method the book accepts.
- Opt in to the welcome offer if it needs an opt-in, then place your first bet.
How to place a bet in Kentucky
- Open the app and pick a sport, a league and a game.
- Tap the odds for the bet you want: a moneyline, spread, total or player prop.
- Enter your stake. The bet slip shows what you would win.
- Check the slip, then tap Place Bet.
- Follow the bet under My Bets, where you can cash out early if the book offers it.
Kentucky sports betting at a glance
| Online sports betting | Legal, live since September 28, 2023 |
| Retail sportsbooks | Yes, at racetracks and gaming halls |
| Minimum age | 21 (raised from 18 in July 2026) |
| Regulator | Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation |
| Online sportsbooks live | 9 |
| Tax on winnings | Flat 3.5% state income tax |
| College betting | Allowed; some props on Kentucky college players are banned |
| Where you can bet | Anywhere inside Kentucky |
Sports betting law in Kentucky
Governor Andy Beshear signed HB 551 on March 31, 2023, the day after it cleared the Senate. The law gave sports wagering licenses to the state's nine horse racing tracks, each able to run a retail sportsbook and partner with up to three online apps. Retail betting opened on September 7, 2023, and seven apps went live on September 28.
The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation took over regulation in 2024. In April 2026 lawmakers passed HB 904 over the governor's veto. Since July 2026 it has raised the betting age to 21, limited player props on athletes at Kentucky colleges, required fantasy apps to hold a state license and barred licensed sportsbooks from running prediction markets in the state. A separate law taxes unlicensed prediction-market operators from January 2027.
Kentucky teams to bet on
Kentucky has no major-league pro team, so college sports and horse racing carry most of the betting interest here.
- Kentucky Wildcats (college): Play in the SEC. Will Stein is in his first season as head football coach.
- Louisville Cardinals (college): Play in the ACC. Games are on the board, but some player props on Kentucky college athletes are not.
- Racing Louisville FC (NWSL): Kentucky's top-flight pro team, playing in Louisville.
- Horse racing: Churchill Downs hosts the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May. Keeneland in Lexington is the state's other famous track.
- Neighboring pro teams: The Bengals, Colts and Titans in the NFL and the Reds and Cardinals in MLB draw a lot of Kentucky money.
Responsible gambling in Kentucky
Set a budget before you bet and use the deposit, wager and time limits every licensed app offers. If betting stops being fun, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) to reach the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling. It is free and confidential. The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation keeps a self-exclusion list for sports wagering, and every licensed app lets you exclude yourself from your account settings.
FAQs
Is online sports betting legal in Kentucky?
Yes. Online betting launched on September 28, 2023, under the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. Nine online sportsbooks are live.
How old do you have to be to bet on sports in Kentucky?
You must be 21. The age was 18 until HB 904 took effect in July 2026. Fantasy contests still allow players from 18.
Which Kentucky sportsbook should I download first?
We would start with FanDuel, partnered with Churchill Downs, for its easy app and same game parlays. DraftKings is a close second if you want frequent odds boosts.
Can you bet on Kentucky and Louisville?
Yes. Games involving the Wildcats, Cardinals and other Kentucky schools are on the board. Since July 2026 the law limits player props on athletes at Kentucky colleges, so expect fewer of those markets.
Do you pay tax on sports betting winnings in Kentucky?
Yes. Winnings are taxable income for federal and state purposes, and Kentucky's flat income tax rate is 3.5% for 2026. Sportsbooks send a W-2G for larger wins.
Can visitors bet in Kentucky?
Yes. You do not need to live in Kentucky, only to be inside the state when you bet. The app checks your location every time.
21+ and present in KY. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
