Sports betting is officially live in Kentucky as retail locations began accepting wagers the morning of Sept. 7, allowing wagers to be placed on the first NFL game of the season between the Chiefs and Lions. 

Eight sportsbooks will launch in Kentucky, with the possibility of more in the future, as HB551 stipulates that nine horse racing tracks can partner with up to three Kentucky sportsbooks.

 Bettors can begin registering with approved online Kentucky sportsbooks on August 28. 

Sports betting in Kentucky officially became legal on June 28, 2023, when HB551 went into effect. HB551 was signed into law on March 31, 2023, and the law stated that sportsbooks had six months to become operational in the state.

In neighboring Ohio, it took almost a year after legislation was passed before the first legal sports wagers were placed. Meanwhile, Indiana was much quicker as it took less than five months for the industry to launch once sports betting legislation was signed into law.