When multiple operators begin accepting'Kentucky’s first legal sports wagers starting at 6 a.m. Thursday, it will mark the launch of the fourth digital sports betting jurisdiction in the U.S. in 2023. Seven operators have plans to launch their mobile platforms Thursday in the Bluegrass State, with an eighth licensed and coming later in the year.
Consumers can take advantage of more than $2,000 in bonus or matching bets, as well as an opportunity for a free team jersey. BetMGM will match losing first bets of up to $1,500, while Fanatics Sportsbook is giving away $150 in FanCash to be used toward a purchase of team gear.
It appears DraftKings is the only operator that will have a live event in Kentucky Thursday when it hosts Matt Jones from Kentucky Sports Radio at The Mint Gaming Hall in Williamsburg from 9 a.m.-noon. Most operators are running some sort of launch-day special on their platforms, and all are planning to take their first bets in the morning.
Kentucky lawmakers leveraged the state’s long relationship with horse racing and parimutuel wagering by designating horse tracks and OTBs as retail locations and allowing nine tracks partner with as many as three digital operators.
Caesars Sportsbook, which is partnered with The Red Mile and Keeneland, opened its retail location at Lexington’s historic Red Mile racetrack three weeks ago and has seen growing interest in the digital side.
“It’s a culture that’s very into sports, very into racing, and really understands betting, so we’re very excited to go into it,” Caesars Sportsbook COO/Head of Sports Ken Fuchs told . “We’ve got great partners with Red Mile and Keeneland. We’re very happy with the early indicators we've seen around registrations and deposits and we couldn’t be more excited to go live early tomorrow morning.”
Caesars and four other sportsbooks will allow those over the age of 21 to place bets, while bet365, DraftKings, and Circa Sportsbook, the latter of which has plans to launch later this year, will take bets from those 18+, the minimum wagering age established by the new state law.
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Below is a look at what each platform will offer starting Thursday, and what time customers can begin wagering:
Bartstool Sportsbook
Launch-day plan:'The platform will be available for bettors beginning Thursday morning.
Betting age:'21