The long road to legal sports betting has been rewarding for Bluegrass State bettors. In 2026, eight online Kentucky sportsbooks and 12 retail areas are accepting legal wagers.

Here's how we got there:

April 2, 2026: Kentucky is on the brink of making sweeping changes to the state's gaming laws, consisting of a brand-new age requirement to put sports bets, keeping existing operators from releasing prediction markets, and player prop bet securities.

March 30, 2026: In one sweeping bill, Kentucky proposes raising its sports wagering age, prohibiting college player props, controling DFS, and taxing forecast markets.

March 20, 2026: Lawmakers in Kentucky, California and Minnesota are introducing costs to manage or limit prediction markets, particularly those tied to sports.

March 6, 2026: A new bill provided to Kentucky legislators aims to make numerous major modifications to the state's gaming guidelines, such as prohibiting proposition bets on student-athletes at in-state organizations.

Oct. 6, 2025: Kentucky sports betting operators created a whopping 87% more earnings in August compared to the very same month in 2015, aided by the early start to the college football project and a full month of NFL preseason.

Sept. 11, 2025: Kentucky's July sports wagering revenue grows 25% year-over-year, producing over $160 million in spite of among the year's slowest sports months.

Aug. 12, 2025: Kentucky's online and retail sportsbooks hauled in $23 million in gross earnings on a $174.8-million handle in June, with 16% more wagers than a year earlier.

July 28, 2025: Prime Sportsbook introduces in Kentucky, its 3rd market.

July 24, 2025: Circa Sports debuted Kentucky's greatest largest sportsbook at The Mint Gaming Hall, Kentucky Downs in Franklin.

July 11, 2025: Kentucky sports bettors bet 15.6% more money in May compared to the same month in 2024, with gross income increasing 21.3% from the previous May.

June 17, 2025: Lawsuits against prediction market operator Kalshi, and the trading platforms Robinhood, Susquehanna, and Webull, started to turn up throughout the U.S. this month, with lawsuits submitted in 5 states, including Kentucky, Ohio, Massachusetts, Illinois, and South Carolina.

June 9, 2025: Kentucky's year-over-year sports betting action increases 17.3% in April while Bluegrass State operators produced double-digit holds in four of the previous 6 months.

May 5, 2025: Churchill Downs revealed that the 151st Kentucky Derby, won by Sovereignty on Saturday, generated $234.4 million in all-sources wagering, a brand-new all-time high ahead of 2024's $210.7 million. The 2025 deal with was also up 24.2% from 2023

May 2, 2025: Sportsbook operators have good reasons to anticipate vigorous betting business for this weekend's 151st Kentucky Derby.

May 1, 2025: The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation reported a March deal with of $293.2 million, the third-highest amount wagered in the state since sports wagering launched in September 2023.

April 21, 2025: The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation to decide on brand-new sports wagering markets ahead of the Kentucky Derby's 151st running at Churchill Downs.

April 4, 2025: Kentucky's deal with drop 19.2% monthly in February, receiving only just over $218.9 million in sports bets for the month.

March 3, 2025: Kentucky's sports betting deal with rises 12.8% in January, producing $33.6 million in gross profits on $277.1 million overall wagers.

Jan. 29, 2025: Kentucky ended 2024 with an 11% year-over-year boost in sports betting action. However, the most affordable hang on gross income produced yet caused only $20.2 million in profit, a 38% decline from December 2023 and down nearly 45% month-over-month.

Dec. 27, 2024: Kentucky makes a record $300 million manage in November.

Dec. 10, 2024: The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation all authorized a service provider license to Prime Sports, the very first online sportsbook to partner with Churchill Down. The hope is to release in time for the 2025 Kentucky Derby in early May.

Dec. 9, 2024: An aggressive gambler in Kentucky sweated out a $3.1 M wager on the Philadelphia Eagles (-700) to defeat the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, which returned $442,800 k in earnings.

Nov. 28, 2024: Kentucky's October sports wagering income falls 61% year-over-year, despite still making $18.8 M in gross profits.

Oct. 30, 2024: Kentucky sportsbooks earn a 13.5% hold after regional operators roll gamblers in September.

Oct. 4, 2024: Kentucky earns a $151 million handle in August to finish its first year of legal sports betting.

Sept. 9, 2024: Kentucky's manage and income drop in July as summer sports betting downturn hits regional operators.

Aug. 9, 2024: Kentucky has its slowest sports betting month in June as the state's manage experienced a 17.1% month-over-month decrease.

July 30, 2024: The KHRGC select Susan Speckert as its first-ever COO.

July 12, 2024: Kentucky sportsbooks generate $629.4 million in wagers from March through May 2024.

July 4, 2024: Kentucky is still contemplating the NCAA's ask for a college gamer prop betting restriction.

May 17, 2024: Scottie Scheffler is detained by cops at the PGA Championship in Kentucky and charged with several counts, producing unpredictability for sports wagerers.

May 14, 2024: Circa Sports announces Kentucky online wagering launch, marking the fifth legal jurisdiction for the Las Vegas-based sportsbook.

May 6, 2024: The 2024 Kentucky Derby sets a new wagering deal with record, reaching $320.5 million in all wagers for the day and $446.6 million across the week.

May 3, 2024: The Kentucky Derby may clarify the success online sportsbooks are having with horse racing.

April 25, 2024: Louisville-based operator Churchill Downs reports record-setting quarter one results, making $590.9 million in earnings.

April 23, 2024: Kentucky regulators review NCAA's demand to prohibit college player prop wagering within the state.

April 16, 2024: Kentucky sportsbooks enjoy double-digit holds in the first 2 months of 2024.

April 15, 2024: Kentucky's General Assembly overrides Gov. Beshear's regulatory video gaming veto.

April 2, 2024: Circa Sports introduces in Kentucky, making it the 8th online operator in the state.

March 26, 2024: A new Kentucky law will reorganize sports wagering in the state, creating a new Division of Sports Wagering, which will be handled outside of the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering.

March 26, 2024: bet365 and SIS are now providing ebasketball content in Kentucky, making esports wagering offered for the very first time in the state.

Feb. 24, 2024: Kentucky goes beyond sports betting tax income projections following a final two strong months in 2023, earning $55 million from a $546.6 million handle.

Feb. 22, 2024: Churchill Downs reports a record-high $2.5 billion in revenue in 2023 and reveals strategies to open a new retail sportsbook in 2025.

Dec. 11, 2023: The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission met and authorized nine sports wagering provider permits for 2024. There will be no operator changes, as all nine were currently licensed on a short-lived basis previously this year.

Nov. 21, 2023: The Kentucky Sports Wagering Advisory Council gives a formal true blessing to ESPN BET after introducing in the state recently. The committee likewise advises including several sports to the betting brochure, consisting of NCAA volleyball, TGL golf, Dana White's Contender Series for the UFC, and more.

Nov. 14, 2023: ESPN BET goes live with online and mobile sports wagering, releasing in Kentucky and 16 other states.

Nov. 8, 2023: Kentucky sports betting advocate Andy Beshear is reelected as state Governor for another term.

Nov. 2, 2023: ESPN BET plans to launch on Nov. 14, 2023, with online sports wagering going reside in 17 U.S. states, including Kentucky.

Oct. 31, 2023: The KHRC reveals that more than $310 million in wagers since the legalization of online sports betting.

Oct. 23, 2023: Kentucky reports almost $250 million in deal with for its very first month of legal sports wagering. Almost 500,000 wagering accounts have been created.

Oct. 13, 2023: Sandy's Racing & Gaming announces it will open on Oct. 26. The new gaming center will be home to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Oct. 7, 2023: The Louisville Cardinals (+200) disturb the going to Notre Dame Fighting Irish, snapping the No. 10 seed's 30-game ACC regular season winning streak.

Oct. 5, 2023: Circa Sports receives authorization to introduce online and retail sports betting operations in Kentucky, though no date has been validated yet.

Oct. 5, 2023: Gov. Andy Beshear exposes sports betting numbers from Kentucky's first week of legal mobile betting. Beshear says KY online sportsbooks took in well north of $50 million in wagers considering that releasing on Sept. 28.

Sept. 29, 2023: GeoComply Solutions validates there were over 2 million geolocation examine the first day of online sports wagering in Kentucky, indicating a huge amount of interest.

Sept. 28, 2023: Circa Sports announces a collaboration with ECL Corbin LLC at Cumberland Run harness track. No date has been set for an official launch.

Sept. 28, 2023: Online sports wagering starts in Kentucky as 7 sportsbook operators officially release their betting apps at 6:00 a.m. ET.

Sept. 27, 2023: The launch of Kentucky online sports wagering is one day away. Take a look at this post from our own Geoff Zochodne for whatever you require to know.

Sept. 26, 2023: With online sports wagering arriving in Kentucky soon, Covers' Geoff Zochodne discuss the finer points of the most current U.S. legal sports wagering launch.

Sept
. 25, 2023: Seven online sports wagering operators will go reside in KY on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. According to Gov. Andy Beshear, bet365, BetMGM, Barstool Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbook will all start accepting online wagers on day one of legal Kentucky sports betting.

Sept. 22, 2023: DraftKings announces that Matt Jones from Kentucky Sports Radio will make the inaugural very first bet when online sports betting goes reside on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6 a.m. ET.

Sept. 21, 2023: Caesars Kentucky's pre-launch deal goes live - $100 in bonus offer bets.

Sept. 21, 2023: The Kentucky Governor's office verifies that Kentucky bettors wagered over $4.5 million at retail sportsbooks in the first two weekends of legal sports betting. 60,000 people have registered for online sports betting accounts in anticipation of the Sept. 28 launch.

Sept. 21, 2023: The Kentucky Sports Wagering Advisory Council votes to suggest the addition of several sports to the sports wagering stock, including Formula 1 racing, the National Rugby League of Australia and New Zealand, along with numerous combined martial arts organizations and the UTR Pro Tennis Tour.

Sept. 19, 2023: A recent study reveals most Kentuckians favor increased betting opportunities, though they still mainly choose horse wagering.

Sept. 15, 2023: Licensing continues as Kentucky remains on track for the Sept. 28 online launch.

Sept. 7, 2023: Legal retail Kentucky sports wagering begins with Gov. Beshear placing a ritualistic wager at Churchill Downs, while online sportsbooks now accept deposits.

Sept. 6, 2023: Kentucky prepares for legal sports betting on Sept. 7 at brick-and-mortar racing and gaming facilities.

Aug. 31, 2023: The Kentucky Sports Wagering Advisory Council held its inaugural conference to go over a proposed sports-wagering catalog, which detailed numerous bet types that can be made and the events and leagues that they can be made in.

Aug. 30, 2023: BetMGM Kentucky goes deal with its pre-launch offer: $100 in bonus bets.

Aug. 28, 2023: The Kentucky online sports betting pre-registration duration starts.

Aug. 24, 2023: FanDuel reveals its pre-launch deal - $100 in reward bets, which can be declared starting on Aug. 28, 2023.

Aug. 23, 2023: Gov. Beshear will place Kentucky's very first legal sports bet at Churchill Downs Racetrack on Sept. 7.

Aug. 22, 2023: The KHRC approves 7 certified tracks and 7 online sports wagering operators for temporary Kentucky sports wagering licenses: bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, Circa, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, and PENN Sports Interactive (ESPN BET).

Aug. 17, 2023: Gov. Andy Beshear exposes that Kentucky sports wagering pre-registration will start on Monday, Aug. 28, at 6 a.m. ET.

Aug. 10, 2023: The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) validates that bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, Circa, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Penn Interactive have all submitted Kentucky online sports wagering applications.

Aug. 7, 2023: BetMGM gains approval in Kentucky to launch its online and retail sports betting platform through a market access arrangement with Revolutionary Racing Kentucky (RRKY).

Aug. 4, 2023: DraftKings announces that it will launch its online sportsbook in Kentucky on Sept. 28, 2023.

Aug. 1, 2023: FanDuel follows Caesars by carrying out a minimum age of 21 for using its item, in spite of Kentucky selecting a sports betting age of 18+.

July 27, 2023: Churchill Downs announces that it will offer legal sports wagering at its historic horse racing device (HRM) venues on the very first day they have the ability to.

July 21, 2023: The KHRC has actually begun to fill the 14 included positions to assist with the regulation of sports betting, including a former member of the biometric security market, Hans Stokke.

July 13, 2023: Gov. Andy Beshear develops a "Sports Wagering Advisory Council" that will assist the oversight of legal sports betting in Kentucky, both retail and online.

July 10, 2023: The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission authorizes rules for retail and online Kentucky sports wagering. Retail sportsbooks will start accepting wagers on Sept. 7, while online operators will go live on Sept. 28.

July 7, 2023: The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission meets Monday, July 10, at the Red Mile to examine legal sports wagering regulations.

June 29, 2023: FanDuel Kentucky verifies its collaboration with Churchill Downs, making it the 2nd sportsbook operator to acquire market access in the Bluegrass State.

June 20, 2023: According to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, race tracks and satellite centers in the state took $744.7 million in historic horse racing wagers in May.

May 16, 2023: Caesars reveals a collaboration with Keeneland and the Red Mile in Lexington. This is the first offer in between a sportsbook and a KY track that will see both mobile and retail sports wagering. Though Kentucky's law permits 18-year-olds to bet, Caesars will limit sports betting to 21+.

April 27, 2023: Kentucky Derby owner predicts a huge boost in company with Kentucky sports betting legalization.

April 18, 2023: The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission meets to go over sports wagering policies.

March 31, 2023: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear indications House Bill 551 into law, legislating retail and online sports betting. Kentucky is on track to release legal sports betting in late 2023 or early 2024.

March 30, 2023: HB 551 passes its vote in the Kentucky Senate 25-12. The decision to legalize retail and online sports betting sites now lies with Governor Andy Beshear.

March 29, 2023: DraftKings Launches its DK Horse App within the Kentucky sports wagering fold ahead of the Kentucky Derby.

March 13, 2023: The House of Representatives authorizes HB 551 by a vote of 63-34. The costs now heads to the Senate, where a similar sports wagering bill failed in 2022.

March 8, 2023: Kentucky's Licensing and Occupations Committee votes in favor of HB 551, sending it onward to your house.

Feb. 22, 2023: Rep. Michael Meredith files a costs - HB 551 - that would legislate sports wagering in Kentucky and make the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission the regulative company in charge.

Jan. 6, 2023: Lawmakers take another perform at proposed Kentucky sports betting legislation.

July 19, 2022: Caesars Racebook introduces in Kentucky, its 6th state, following Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Oregon, and Montana.

April 14, 2022: The state Senate does not pass HB 606 on the final day of the 2022 legal session. Kentucky will not get legal sports betting in 2022.

March 29, 2022: Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer explains the status of HB 606 as "still a longshot." If enough support constructs for the expense, Kentucky lawmakers might pass it by mid-April.

March 18, 2022: House Bill 606 is gone by the Kentucky House of Representatives by method of a 58-30 vote. The expense now heads to the Senate for more approval.

March 16, 2022: The Kentucky House Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee passes HB 606.

Feb. 28, 2022: Rep. Adam Koenig unveils another Kentucky sports betting costs to the House (HB 606). The costs intends to legislate online and retail sports betting, together with daily fantasy sports and online poker.

Feb. 23, 2022: Sen. David Yates presents SB 213, which would legalize retail and mobile sports wagering in the state in addition to online poker.

Feb. 10, 2022: Robert Blizzard of Public Opinion Strategies studies 500 Kentucky locals, finding a convincing 65% are in favor of legislating sports wagering in KY.

. Jan. 9, 2021: House Bill 241 is presented in your house. HB 241 would have legalized sports betting, online poker, and daily dream sports in Kentucky.

Jan. 7, 2020: House Bill 137 is introduced in order to legislate Kentucky sports betting, online poker, and daily dream sports. The costs fails to pass.

May 14, 2018: The Supreme Court gets rid of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This permits all states to develop their own sports betting guidelines.