Sports Betting Locations in Kentucky
By Amelia WalkerUpdated: March 14, 2024Kentucky legalized sports betting in 2023, giving sports fans the opportunity to enjoy safe, legal, and regulated betting environments. Read our guide below to learn more about this exciting new era in sports betting history.
Map of Retail Sports Betting in Kentucky
Sports betting in Kentucky was legalized in late 2023. This applies to all types of betting as well as locations. But as progress is made towards legalization of sports betting in the state, there is a likelihood that there will be several sports betting locations in Kentucky where people can go and bet on major sports such as NFL, NHL, NBA, and Golf.
Our Recommended Kentucky Betting Location
| Name | Type | Website | Full Address | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Churchill Downs | Racetrack | www.churchilldowns.com | 700 Central Avenue, Louisville, KY, 40208, USA | Read Review |
| Kentucky Downs Racetrack | Racetrack, Casino | www.kentuckydowns.com | 5629 Nashville Road, Franklin, KY 42134, USA | Read Review |
Types of Retail Sports Betting Locations
Kentucky became the 37th state in the union to join the legal sports betting revolution in 2023. Subsequently, there are a growing number of locations you can visit for some fantastic in-person sports betting action with more rolling out state-wide. Of course, there has always been a strong trradition of horse-race betting, with Kentucky's racetracks being among the most famous in the world.Kentucky Derby is a racetrack where you can visit and bet on horse races.
Casino Resorts
Kentucky offers several casino resorts with various amenities such as restaurants, hotel rooms, parking, and fitness centers. These resorts are centers for various amenities and leisure facilities. Now that sports betting is fully legal in the state, we expected to see more casino resorts being setup. These resorts are likely to have exciting amenities for their guests.
Racetracks
Kentucky, renowned for its rich equine heritage, hosts iconic racetracks like the Churchill Downs, home of the legendary Kentucky Derby. These tracks, integral to the state's culture, attract horse racing enthusiasts globally. They symbolize Kentucky's deep connection to thoroughbred racing, showcasing top-tier races and fostering a vibrant horse racing community. With such a rich heritage, gamblers can take their wager on horse betting in any of the following racetrack and off-track locations in Kentucky.
| Racetracks | Types of Racing | Review link |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Downs Casino |
Standardbred
,
Harness Racing
,
Thoroughbred
|
Read Review |
| Turfway Park |
Standardbred
,
Harness Racing
,
Thoroughbred
|
Coming Soon |
| Ellis Park |
Standardbred
,
Harness Racing
,
Thoroughbred
|
Read Review |
| Keeneland Association |
Standardbred
,
Harness Racing
,
Thoroughbred
|
Read Review |
| The Red Mile Kentucky Harness & Historic Racing |
Standardbred
,
Harness Racing
,
Thoroughbred
|
Read Review |
| Churchill Downs |
Standardbred
,
Harness Racing
,
Thoroughbred
|
Read Review |
Off-Track Betting
Horse racing is highly valued in Kentucky, and in addition to physical racetrack locations available in the state, the state also offers off-track betting where fans can place their wager on horse racing and event through a simulcast. Most of the off-track betting happens in various racetracks locations in Kentucky. If you want to bet on horse racing, the following are various off-track betting locations available in the state.
- Turf way Park
- Ellis Park
- Churchill Downs
- The Thoroughbred Centre
Cruise Ships/Riverboats
Currently, there are no riverboats casinos or cruise ships in Kentucky State. Horse betting is dominant in the state, and players can place their bets on horse races in various racetracks and off racks betting locations across the state.
List of Legal Offline Sportsbooks in Kentucky
With the passage of House Bill 551, legal brick-and-mortar sports betting started to become operational as of September 2023. Watch this space as more operators begin operations in-state, offering sports fans everywhere the opportunity to bet on sports in a safe and regulated environment.
| Casino Name: | Address: | Secure Link: | City: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | |||
| Kentucky Downs Racetrack | 5629 Nashville Road, Franklin, KY 42134, USA | ||
| Henderson | |||
| Ellis Park | 3300 Highway 41 N, Henderson, KY 42420 USA | ||
| Lexington | |||
| Keeneland Association | 4201 Versailles Road, Lexington, Kentucky 40510, USA | ||
| Red Mile Gaming & Racing | 1200 Red Mile Road, Lexington, KY 40504, USA | ||
| Louisville | |||
| Churchill Downs | 700 Central Avenue, Louisville, KY, 40208, USA | ||
History of Sports Betting in Kentucky
Just like in other states of the United States, sports betting has undergone quite an interesting history. There have been forward and backward steps on sports betting. Whether positive or negative, all the happenings concerning sports betting in Kentucky have contributed to the major strides that have been made in the legalization of sports betting. The following is a timeline of sports betting in Kentucky.
| Year | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1875 | Kentucky Derby | This year, the famous horse racing location, the Kentucky Derby, started its operations. |
| 1931 | Failure of Law to Stop Horse Racing | There was a legal challenge to remove sports betting in Kentucky, but the court ruled against this claim stating that horse betting can only be amended under state Legislations dealing with lotteries. |
| 1992 | Charitable Gaming Allowed | Charitable gaming rules were relaxed, which included bingo games, special events, and pull tabs. |
| 2017 | Bill Recommending Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to Regulate Sports Gambling | Sports betting bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Julian Carrol. This bill recommended that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission regulate the sports gambling industry. |
| 2018 | PASPA Is Repealed | This year, PASPA was repealed, and other states began taking steps towards legalizing sports betting. Positive steps have been made, and soon sports betting will be legal in the state. |
| 2023 | Sports Betting Legalized Statewide | The passage of House Bill 551 in March 2023 opens the state up to regulated, legal sports betting, with operators coming online in September. |
About Kentucky
Also known as the Bluegrass State, Kentucky is an interesting state to locate in the Southern United States. Here are some facts about this state:
| Capital | Frankfort |
|---|---|
| Largest City | Louisville |
| Population | 4.468 Million |
| Area | 38,895 sq. mi Land Area, 681 sq. mi water area |
| Time zone | Eastern Daylight Time (GMT -4) |
| State Nickname(s) | Bluegrass State |
| Motto | United we stand, divided we fall |
| Teams | Sport | League |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Wildcats Football | Football | NCAA |
| Louisville Cardinals Men’s Basketball | Basketball | NBA |
| Louisville City FC | Football | USL |
| Louisville Bats | Baseball | MLB |
Helping Hand for Players in Kentucky
There are various helping hands to players in the state. The main reason for a helping hand in gambling is the addiction issue as well as legal issues. If you find sports betting addictive to you or interfering with your life, it is important to seek professional help. The following are the details of major helping hands for gambling in Kentucky State. Whether you have betting addition issue or any other legal issue of gambling, the following details will help you out.
- Hotlines Kentucky Council on Gambling Problems, 1-800-426-2537
- Help centres Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, River Valley Behavioral Health in Owensboro, Kentucky 1-800-GAMBLERwww.kycpg.org
- McBrayer Firm 500 West Jefferson Street, Suite 2400 Louisville, KY 40202,502-327-5444www.mcbrayerfirm.com