Online sports betting in the state of Kentucky is set to launch on Thursday, September 28th, adding another Midwest state to this growing industry. Retail sports betting first launched in Kentucky back on September 7th, but the big launch is coming this week.
The Midwest portion of the United States is loaded with sports betting markets, and there are very successful markets mixed in there as well. Illinois has emerged as the clear leader in this part of the country, but Kentucky could see some instant numbers as well.
There are now more than 30 different states with sports betting of some kind, and online wagering continues to be the most popular option. Kentucky made a wise choice in launching during the NFL season, as that’s the most popular betting option.
What Will Kentucky Launch Look Like?
All of the retail sports betting in the state of Kentucky must be done at racetracks throughout the state, but those tracks have partnered with sports betting operators. It will be those sports betting operators that now offer the online wagering, and there are going to be some great options available.
Here is a list of the online sportsbooks that are set to launch on September 28th:
- Barstool Sportsbook
- Bet365 Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- Circa Sports
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
Most of these online sportsbooks have been offering pre-launch registration bonuses as they want to have a huge customer base when this becomes a legal option. These sportsbooks are also going to have some great welcome bonuses as well, and these are some of the biggest names in the industry.
Sports bettors in the state of Kentucky are going to have some terrific options right away, but that doesn’t mean more sportsbooks won’t be coming. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission hands out the licenses to sportsbook operators, and there are more licenses available.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has also been working overtime over the last few weeks in order to add new approved betting markets. Formula 1 and Bellator MMA were two of the most recent options that were added, and sportsbooks should continue to have more options available as time goes on.
Getting online sports betting launched on September 28th was the biggest goal, but this is a market that is only going to grow in the future.
A Threat to the Neighbors?
The other midwestern states that already have sports betting up and running are getting used to seeing more competitors join the industry. Kentucky is a state surrounded by sports betting markets, and most of those states are going to be impacted at least a little bit.
Indiana is the state that should see the biggest hit as that sports betting market was already starting to suffer just a bit. Illinois has a pretty big sports betting presence in the southern part of the state, and that should keep the state from being impacted in a major way.
Sports betting projections suggest that Kentucky could see over $1 billion in total handle by the end of 2023, but those numbers don’t really make it one of the biggest markets in the U.S.
