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Kentucky officially legalized online sports betting on March 31, 2023. Regulators are working hard to ensure the first Kentucky betting apps are up and running by the announced launch date of Sept. 28, 2023. This section highlights the best apps you will be able to download, discusses the Kentucky sportsbook promos they will offer and delves into their main attributes.
BetMGM is an elite mobile sports betting app launched by industry giants MGM Resorts International and Entain back in 2018. It has gained a reputation for offering polished software, lots of features, appealing promotions, exciting betting options and reliable payouts. BetMGM normally goes live on Day 1 whenever a new state rolls out legal sports betting, so it should be at the vanguard when Kentucky sports betting apps launch.
The BetMGM Kentucky bonus code USATODAY will earn you a welcome bonus worth up to $1,000. If your first bet loses, you will be fully reimbursed with BetMGM bonus credits, up to a maximum of $1,000, which will come with a simple 1x rollover requirement. There are lots of additional promotions to claim, too, including a referral bonus, profit boost tokens, bonus bets and perks via the MGM Rewards program.
The BetMGM Kentucky sports betting app will use a proprietary user interface created by co-owner Entain. The company owns some of the world’s most popular online sportsbooks, casinos and poker rooms, and it honed the software on those brands before launching BetMGM.
It is not quite as fast as rivals like DraftKings and FanDuel, but it is very stylish, sophisticated and feature-rich. You can stream NBA, NHL and MLB games within the app, edit open bets, easily create one game parlays and take advantage of various other features, resulting in a superb mobile user experience.
Caesars Sportsbook will offer larger bonuses and a wider choice of odds boosts than rival Kentucky sports betting apps. Kentucky bettors can use the Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky promo code USATODAYFULL to redeem a welcome bonus called “Go Full Caesar.” It earns you up to $1,250 back as a bonus bet if your first wager is unsuccessful, and you will also receive 1,000 Reward Credits and 1,000 Tier Credits.
You can continue racking up credits whenever you place wagers, and they are redeemable for bonus bets. There are normally dozens of odds boosts on offer each day, along with a variety of weekly promos. Additional strengths include very high betting limits, a user-friendly interface, excellent customer service and an active development team that continuously improves the app.
Caesars Entertainment, a Las Vegas-based group that owns casino brands such as Caesars Palace and Harrah’s, acquired William Hill for $4 billion in 2021. The company immediately rebranded the William Hill US app as Caesars Sportsbook. It has kept the software intact, offering the same layout that had already proved popular with mobile bettors across the country, but it has made various improvements, including the recent addition of an NFL “Watch and Bet” feature that offers live Sunday Night Football streaming.
DraftKings already has thousands of customers in Kentucky, as its popular Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) contests have been running for several years. It branched out into mobile sports betting in 2018, and it is now one of the country’s largest online sportsbooks. Key strengths include competitive odds, an effective user experience and great bonuses. DraftKings also regularly publishes lines before rivals, offering early value on certain games.
The DraftKings Kentucky promo code will provide new customers with a “Bet $5, Get $150” sign-up bonus. You just need to create an account and place a $5 qualifying bet, at which point you will earn six $25 bonus bets. They will each have a 1x rollover requirement. There will be daily, free-to-enter pools and other promos too, offering plenty of chances to win more bonus bets.
DraftKings’ sports betting app runs on proprietary software built by SBTech, a company it merged with in 2020. It offers a very simple, polished interface, which is quick and easy to use, resulting in a highly convenient mobile sports betting experience. Features include pre-game stats and simple parlay builders, but it does not offer live streaming.
FanDuel is also renowned for offering exciting DFS contests in Kentucky. The company expanded into the nascent online sports betting industry in 2018 when it launched FanDuel Sportsbook in New Jersey. It rapidly spread across the country, and FanDuel is now America’s No. 1 online sportsbook, with a dominant position in most states. That reflects the strength of the brand and the quality of the offering, which includes great bonuses, loads of features, rapid withdrawals, helpful customer service and a sharp mobile betting platform.
The FanDuel Kentucky promo code will earn new users a No Sweat First Bet worth up to $1,000, which refunds new customers with site credit to use as bonus bets if their opening wager is a loss. Additional promos will include profit boost tokens, bonus bets, odds boosts, free-to-play sportsbook contests, no sweat same game parlays and other deals.
Flutter Entertainment, which purchased FanDuel in 2018, launched this mobile sportsbook using the same technology that powers its European brands. It is very quick and ultra-reliable, the layout is intuitive, navigation is easy and there are loads of features, including live NHL and MLB streaming. That may explain why this is the No. 1 rated sports betting app on the App Store and Google Play.
BetRivers is an online sportsbook launched by a Chicago-based operator called Rush Street Interactive, which owns Rivers Casino. It uses white-label software from an award-winning Swedish company named Kambi, allowing BetRivers to offer a slick user experience and a huge variety of betting markets.
New customers using the BetRivers Kentucky bonus code likely will receive a second-chance bonus bet worth up to as much as $500 if your first wager loses after signing up with this sports betting app. Kentucky bettors will then be able to claim ongoing promos, including contests, prize draws, odds boosts, profit boost tokens, “bet and get” offers and much more. Additional features will include instant payouts, a competitive loyalty program and highly-rated customer support, making it one of the best Kentucky betting apps.
Kambi powers a wide range of online sportsbooks, including BetRivers, Unibet and Barstool Sportsbook. Its platform is very impressive, as it features a huge array of betting markets, but they are laid out in a neat, accessible format, so it is easy-to-use and never overwhelming. To differentiate the app from other sportsbooks that work with Kambi, the BetRivers team has invested in add-ons, such as live streaming, along with unique bonuses and promos.
WynnBET will be a great option when it comes to Kentucky sports betting for beginners. It only takes wagers on the 10 most popular sports – football, basketball, baseball, hockey, UFC, boxing, motorsports, soccer, tennis and golf – so it is easy to find games. The layout is designed for speed and simplicity, and it sometimes offers sharp odds too.
The sign-up bonus will provide new customers with a “Bet $20, Get $100” bonus. It requires a simple $20 qualifying bet to unlock a $100 bonus bet, which will have a 1x rollover requirement at minimum odds of -150. There will be weekly “bet and get” bonuses, too, along with the Wynn Rewards program.
The WynnBET Kentucky interface will be very simple, making it ideal for newcomers to mobile sports wagering. Like many of the best Kentucky sports betting apps, it will use technology from OpenSports, which provides a powerful, reliable engine and a customizable layout. WynnBET will offer fewer features than rival sports betting apps Kentucky players can download, but it is also generally quicker and easier to use.
The SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas is one of the largest and most famous retail sportsbooks in the world. The company that runs it has now expanded into the digital arena by launching an impressive mobile app. It provides a tailored user experience in each state, so Kentucky bettors can look forward to regular odds boosts on teams such as the Kentucky Wildcats and the Louisville Cardinals should it launch in the state. SuperBook regularly offers some of the sharpest odds on the market too.
This sportsbook provides an appealing sign-up bonus. It will match your first bet amount with bonus credits, up to a maximum of $250. The funds will have a 1x rollover requirement. However, the bonus credits can only account for 25% of each wager you place, so you will need to make at least four bets before they are exhausted. There should be some additional promos for existing customers in Kentucky should it go live in the state.
SuperBook offers a very simple, beginner-friendly interface, with a clean, uncluttered design, so it could emerge as a strong contender to WynnBET. It only covers 12 sports, but it provides plenty of betting options on them. There should also be a useful “KY Teams” section, which will make it easy for you to find all the betting options on any teams based in the state.
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FanDuel has the best average rating on both the App Store and Google Play, having received more than 1 million user reviews. It is a very fast, user-friendly and secure app, which has helped it enjoy a rapid ascent. DraftKings offers a similar user experience, albeit with fewer features.
BetMGM provides a very strong all-round app, which also has excellent average user reviews on both stores. It offers more features than rivals, and it is one of the three most popular apps in the United States, along with FanDuel and DraftKings. Caesars Sportsbook is catching up with that trio, and the team has made major improvements since buying the app from William Hill, so it also offers an excellent user experience.
Many will offer the chance to wager on MLB Futures and place other types of prop bets on the professionals or collegians.
These are some user reviews of the best KY betting apps that will soon hit the market:
“Having tried maybe five or six different apps, BetMGM is by far the smoothest, intuitive app available. Instructions are easy to follow, placing bets are a snap.” – Scott F.
“Caesars Sportsbook offers a great interface, fun parlays and lots of boosts! Also a low minimum bet which doesn't stress your pocketbook. I love it.” – Ronald Vigeant
“I have tried three other sports books and DraftKings has been the easiest to navigate and the easiest to make parlays. They also have had the best offers.” – Matt Helke
Our experts have tested out every licensed mobile sports betting app in the country. We conduct a detailed review process, focusing on these eight areas:
The best sports betting apps make it easy for you to place wagers on your favorite sports, no matter where you are. They offer a smooth, intuitive navigation system, with pages that load rapidly, and a user-friendly mobile betslip. They are fast, secure and reliable, resulting in a seamless, pleasurable mobile experience, and they also provide additional features such as stats, bet builders and other useful tools.
The best KY betting apps will offer large, appealing sportsbook promo codes for new and existing customers. Their welcome offers will come with simple 1x rollover requirements, giving you a strong chance of cashing out winnings. They will then provide you with an ongoing stream of odds boosts, profit boosts, bonus bet tokens, prize draws, contests and other promotions, which reward your loyalty.
The best Kentucky online sportsbooks will also take bets on a wide selection of sports. They will naturally cover the NFL, NCAAF, MLB, NBA, NCAAB, WNBA, NHL, PGA Tour, UFC, MLS and so on, but they will also take bets on minor leagues and worldwide leagues. You should also be able to bet on around 15 additional sports, from athletics and Aussie Rules to water polo and winter sports, with hundreds of betting options available – alternate lines, props, same game parlays, regular parlays, futures, live bets, teasers, round robins and so on.
Mobile apps are perfect for placing live bets on a game you are watching, as you can quickly grab your iPhone or Android and make your plays before the lines change. The best KY betting apps will offer a huge selection of appealing live betting options, with competitive odds, and they will make it quick and simple to make in-game wagers. Some sports betting apps for Kentucky will also offer live streaming, allowing you to watch games on your device while weighing up your wagering options.
We analyze the betting odds on offer at the best online sportsbooks we review, as it is important to identify websites and mobile apps that take a low house edge on their lines. The best Kentucky sports betting app providers will never take more than the standard juice on their NFL and NBA lines, and they will provide sharp MLB moneylines and competitive odds on various other sports too. We recommend registering with a few of the best Kentucky betting apps, as you can then compare their odds and take the best lines on each wager you place.
The top Kentucky online sportsbooks will offer mobile users a wide range of trustworthy deposit and withdrawal options. They will include Visa, MasterCard, Discover, PayPal, Venmo, Skrill, Play+ cards, VIP Preferred ACH transfers, online banking, wire transfers, PayNearMe and cash at a retail sportsbook. They should offer instant deposits and rapid payouts, with no fees charged and very wide limits to suit all KY sports bettors.
High-quality, attentive customer support will be available on a 24/7 basis at most of the best sports betting apps Kentucky players can download. Live chat within the app is normally the best option, but you can sometimes call the team too. Additional methods may include email and dedicated social media handles for customer service.
We only review and recommend licensed, regulated sports betting apps that use industry standard security methods to safeguard players’ data. In the Bluegrass State, mobile apps will need to be licensed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, and we will only ever highlight legit apps approved by that organization.
As mentioned earlier, Kentucky betting apps will be ideal for placing in-game wagers on football games, golf tournaments, NASCAR races and other sports events. The best Kentucky sports betting apps will have dedicated live betting sections, which you will be able to access via the main menu. They will display the biggest sporting events that are live at that time, and you can then delve deeper to find additional events within a large array of sports.
Tap on any event to see a list of live betting options. The odds will change continuously, reflecting the current state of play. Most Kentucky sports betting apps will offer live updates and stats on the action, and you will often be able to live stream the events too, especially at leading Kentucky mobile sports betting operators such as BetMGM.
The best Kentucky sports betting apps will make the sign-up process quick and simple, so you can easily register with multiple operators. Follow these steps to get started today:
Click the link we have provided next to one of the top Kentucky online sportsbooks mentioned in this guide. It will open the site in a new tab, and that will ensure you automatically redeem the best available sign-up bonus.
Hit the button to open the registration form and provide your name, date of birth, phone number, home address, email address and the last four digits of your SSN. You will need to set up a strong password too, along with potentially a username and security questions, before accepting the terms and submitting the form.
Some Kentucky online sportsbooks will require you to enter a promo code to claim the welcome bonus. If you clicked the link we provided, it should automatically be shown on your form. If not, you can type it in – for example, USATODAY at BetMGM Kentucky.
When you have submitted the form, the sportsbook will try to automatically verify you via the details you entered. If it cannot do so, you will need to upload some scanned documents to confirm your identity, which will be manually verified. When approved, you can make an initial deposit. Open the cashier, choose a method, enter your payment amount, provide details and confirm the transaction.
It is now time to place your first sports wager, so open the App Store or Google Play and search for your chosen app. Confirm the free download, open the app and sign in using the password you created. Find a sport, select a league and a game, and then tap on a pick to add it to the betslip. You can then enter your bet amount and tap the button to confirm.
You will need to be 18 or older and located within the Bluegrass State to place bets at legal Kentucky sports betting apps. Players will only be liable to pay Kentucky sports betting tax if you end up with an overall profit from gambling activities over the course of a calendar year. You can fill in Form W-9, ensuring your app does not need to take a withholding tax on winnings above $600, and then settle up with the IRS if you end up in profit.
Sports fans in the Bluegrass State will soon be able to download a wide range of exciting Kentucky betting apps. Bookmark this page and return as the launch date approaches to find all the latest details. We will provide you with the links and bonus codes required to claim the top KY promos, so just head back to our guide when legal wagering begins.
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