Sports betting Kentucky: Timeline, open sportsbooks, what's legal

Come September, sports fans in the Bluegrass State will finally have a chance to put their money where their mouths are.

Kentucky lawmakers voted to legalize gambling on sports on the final day of the 2023 legislative session. And when Gov. Andy Beshear approved regulations passed by the state's advisory commission in July, he said fans will be able to place their first bets by the time football teams across the country kick off to start the season.

Sports betting has been legal in Indiana since 2019, a year after the federal government struck down a ban in place in most states. Some people in the Louisville area have years of experience betting on sports.

Those who haven't made the trip across the Ohio River to place a bet, though, may have a few questions. Here are some answers as Kentucky moves to roll out legal sports gambling.

Is sports betting legal in Kentucky?

Sports betting will be legal in Kentucky in September.

In-person wagering at brick-and-mortar sportsbooks is set to become legal on Sept. 7 – the first day of the 2023 NFL season and the same day the University of Louisville football team takes on Murray State.

Legislators had said they hoped to have sports betting available in Kentucky by the start of the 2023 football season.

When does mobile sports betting start in Kentucky?

It will take a little more time for mobile sports betting – placing a wager through an app on a phone – to become legal. But bettors won't have to wait too long.

Mobile betting is set to become legal in Kentucky on Sept. 28. On that date, Kentucky residents who have created an account with a sportsbook operator's online platform will be able to bet from their phones without visiting a retail betting location.

Where can I place a sports bet?

Before mobile betting is legalized, all bets in Kentucky will need to be placed in-person at sportsbooks operated by the state's nine horse racing tracks, as the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is the state board that oversees gambling in the commonwealth.

There are 14 facilities currently owned or under construction by those racetracks that will be eligible to offer sports betting, according to Beshear's office. Note that all of these sites, including Churchill Downs, might not be open in time for the Sept. 7 launch of sports wagering in the state. The sites include:

• Churchill Downs (400 Central Ave. in Louisville)
• Cumberland Run (opening in Corbin in October, according to WYMT)
• Derby City Gaming (4520 Poplar Level Road in Louisville)
• Derby City Gaming (opening this year at 140 S. Fourth St. in Louisville)
• Ellis Park (coming to Owensboro, no timetable)
• Ellis Park (3300 U.S. 41 N in Henderson)
• Keeneland (4201 Versailles Road in Lexington)
• Kentucky Downs (5629 Nashville Road in Franklin)
• The Mint Gaming Hall (2475 Scottsville Road Suite 101 & 102 in Bowling Green)
• Newport Racing and Gaming (1723 Monmouth St. in Newport)
• Oak Grove Gaming and Racing (777 Winners Way in Oak Grove)
• The Red Mile (1200 Red Mile Road in Lexington)
• Sandy's Gaming and Racing (opening this fall in Ashland)
• Turfway Park (700 Central Ave. in Florence)

Kentucky began accepting applications from horse racing facilities interested in opening a retail sportsbook on Tuesday, a day after Beshear approved the KHRC's proposed regulations. In a statement Monday following the signing, Churchill Downs said it "continues to move forward with ongoing efforts to make sports wagering available at our established racing and gaming facilities throughout Kentucky, and we will share updates as plans are finalized."

How old do I have to be to bet in Kentucky?

While many states that have legalized sports betting have set the age at which an individual is able to bet at 21, Kentucky will allow anyone ages 18 and over to put down a wager.

State Rep. Michael Meredith, one of the sponsors of the bill legalizing sports betting, said officials set the eligibility age at 18 because it's in line with other wagering laws around Kentucky, including horse racing and the lottery.

What sports will Kentuckians be able to bet on?

State officials emphasized rolling out sports betting by the start of football season. And it wouldn't be right in Kentucky if basketball weren't included as well.

But most sports betting platforms offer more options than just those two – you should be able to bet on most major sporting events. The bill signed in Kentucky legalizes betting on professional sports, college sports, e-sports and international events including the Olympics and World Cup. Betting on amateur youth sporting events or on elementary, middle or high school games is not permitted.

How will Kentucky benefit from sports betting?

Beshear said Kentucky stands to benefit from sports betting due to taxes and additional fees.

The tax rate for sportsbooks on gross general revenue is 9.75% for retail operations and 14.25% for online wagering. Beshear said wagering licenses come with an initial $500,000 fee and a $50,000 renewal fee for racetracks offering sports betting along with a $50,000 initial fee and $10,000 renewal fee for operators (apps such as FanDuel and DraftKings, which operate national sportsbooks).

Beshear said he expects annual revenue for the state to start at about $23 million per year and rise. That money can go toward paying salaries for teachers and state employees, fund road improvements and pay health care costs, among other uses, he said.

Reach Lucas Aulbach at [email protected].