Kentucky Sportsbook Promos - $2,000+ in Welcome Offers

This page is your complete guide to sports betting bonuses in Kentucky. We’re covering everything you need to know to claim a bonus from a Kentucky sportsbook, including a guide to the latest offers available right now.

Best Kentucky Sports Betting Promos for September

Legal sports betting officially became a reality in Kentucky on September 7th, 2023, when in-person sportsbooks in the state booked their first bets. Online betting became available just three weeks later on September 28th. 

A number of top US sportsbooks have flung open their virtual doors to Kentucky residents on that date with some exclusive promotions and bonuses to make sports betting in the state even more tantalizing.

Below you can see a list of KY sportsbooks launched during the last days of September:

Kentucky Sportsbook Promo Codes

It’s a very exciting time for sports fans in Kentucky. The recent launch of online sports betting means a whole host of top-quality online books, allowing both desktop and mobile online wagers.

There's another reason having a variety of different KY sportsbooks to choose from is great for Kentucky bettors: bonuses.

Bonuses and promotions are how online sportsbooks market themselves to new customers and stand out from the competition. They give you the chance to boost your bankroll or save some money, ultimately giving you a better shot at winning.

When you’re signing up to a new Kentucky sportsbook, finding a valuable welcome bonus is a no-brainer. Below, you can see a selection of the offers available right now:

We’re going to get into all of these promos, including the essential terms and conditions you need to understand, in a later section.

How We Rated the Best KY Sportsbook Promotions

There's more to assessing the value of a sportsbook bonus than just picking the biggest one. While size does matter (in some cases) it's not always the most important thing.

First of all, it’s important to match up your playstyle and the bonus. If you’re a micro-stakes player who just wants to make a small deposit upfront, a match bonus worth up to $1,000 isn’t going to do much for you. Conversely, high rollers used to betting a lot of their own money are unlikely to be swayed by a $10 no-deposit bonus. We always consider what type of bettor makes sense for every bonus we review.

Next, we never get carried away with the one-line bonus offer. With sportsbook bonuses the devil is in the details: when it comes to understanding the real value of a bonus, it’s all about the terms and conditions. The most significant of these is the wagering requirements - which we’re going to explain in detail in a later section, along with other T&C.

Then there are ongoing promotions and rewards programs, designed to keep players engaged with the site long after their welcome bonus has been claimed.

Overall, it’s our goal to lay everything out for you as clearly as possible, so you not only understand exactly how each bonus works but you can identify the one that makes the most sense for you personally.

A Closer Look at the Top Sportsbook Bonuses in Kentucky

In this section, we’re running through our favorite sportsbook bonuses available right now in Kentucky. Each offer comes with its own pros and cons, and the best option to choose can vary from player to player.

BetMGM Kentucky

BetMGM is one of the top sportsbooks in the country, and they are partnering with WSN.com to offer $1,500 in bonus bets to players who sign up with BetMGM via our links.

This is a great offer that effectively gives you a second chance on your first bet, as long as it's not larger than $1,500

BetMGM has some other great promos too, including Odds Boosts, a Refer-a-Friend program and access to BetMGM Rewards where you can win real-life prizes at MGM resorts in Vegas or Atlantic City.

Keep in mind that only new customers are eligible for this offer so if you took advantage of the Kentucky pre-registration offer, you won't be able to pick up this one.

Find out more about BetMGM's Kentucky bonuses. For more details about the site, check out our BetMGM sportsbook review.

DraftKings Kentucky

DraftKings has officially launched on September 28th launch and is offering its standard welcome offer to Kentucky bettors.

The process for claiming this bonus is simple: just sign up to DraftKings via our links, make a deposit and place your first qualifying bet of $5, and you’ll receive $200 in bonus bets once your first bet settles.

Unlike BetMGM, DraftKings allows you to combine this with your Kentucky pre-registration bonus so you can take advantage of both offers.

DraftKings includes lots of great ongoing promotions throughout the season too, which get changed up depending on what’s attracting the most interest in the sporting calendar. They include profit boosts, no-sweat bets and early payouts, on the likes of the NFL, NBA, soccer, and more.

Head over to our DraftKings KY promo page for more info. This way for our full DraftKings sportsbook review.

bet365 Kentucky

bet365 has their standard welcome offer on the launch day. You can claim $365 in bonus bets, based on a first bet of just $1. This is a great offer and the fact that it's not mutually exclusive with the Kentucky pre-launch promo pushes up the overall value of bet365’s launch day promotions considerably.

bet365 has its origins in European sports betting and has been making waves in the US for a couple of years now. Its tried and tested platform is easy to use and beginner-friendly, with a deep range of betting markets that includes some more obscure Euro sports.

You can read our bet365 sportsbook review at this link, or check out our bet365 KY promo page to discover more bonuses.

FanDuel Kentucky

FanDuel is another one of the top handful of sportsbooks in the US. Its mobile app is especially well-regarded, leading the way in reviews on both the App Store and Google Play Store. FanDuel is also likely to make waves in Kentucky because of its association with Churchill Downs, the racing company behind the Kentucky Derby.

The FanDuel's welcome offer is similar to bet365's. All you have to do is register via our exclusive link and bet $5. As soon as your wager settles, you'll get $200 in FanDuel bonus bets.

Our extensive FanDuel sportsbook review is here. And you can discover more FanDuel Kentucky promo codes here.

Kentucky’s gambling laws mean that as many as 27 sportsbooks could launch in the state. So far, apart from the above, another four books have been granted licenses. You can see them, along with their expected welcome bonus, below:

How to Claim Your KY Sportsbook Bonus

To claim any of the bonuses on this page, just click the corresponding sign-up link. You’ll be redirected to register for an account with your chosen sportsbook, and we’ll auto-fill any promo code required to unlock the bonus.

Whichever book you choose, the sign-up process is pretty similar. The Kentucky Lottery Commission requires that every legal sportsbook in the state gathers certain information about its players, and verifies their identity using a copy of some personal ID. You must be at least 18 years old to register and bet.

Below you can see the information required to create an account:

• Email address
• Password
• Name
• Date of birth
• Address
• Cell phone number
• Four digits from your SSN
• Promo code (optional, auto-filled when you use our links)

Depending on the type of bonus you want to claim, just creating an account might be enough to trigger it. In the case of a no-deposit bonus, for instance, your bonus cash should be ready and waiting for you as soon as your account is set up. In some cases, you may have to enter a sportsbook bonus code to get the full benefits of a welcome bonus.

Other bonuses require a qualifying deposit or a qualifying first bet to become active. For example, to unlock your $200 in bonus bets at DraftKings KY, you need to sign up, make a deposit and place your first bet of at least $5.

Whichever bonus you choose, make sure you follow the instructions carefully step-by-step, and you’ll have no trouble.

What Type of Sports Betting Promotions Are There in Kentucky?

Kentucky sportsbooks are preparing to launch with a full suite of bonuses and promotions for new players. In this section, we’re running through the most common offers you can claim in the state.

Deposit Bonus

A welcome or sign-up bonus is any kind of one-time-only offer players get in exchange for signing up to a sportsbook, and one of the most common types of welcome offer is the deposit match bonus. Just like it sounds, this means the sportsbook will match some or all of your first deposit with bonus cash, up to a certain value.

100% match bonuses - meaning you effectively start with double the bankroll - are common, often up to a value of around $1,000. As with all the bonuses on this list, the money you receive as part of a deposit bonus is subject to certain terms and conditions before it can be withdrawn. We go into detail about them in the next section.

No Deposit Bonus

A no-deposit bonus is any type of welcome bonus that doesn’t require you to deposit any of your own money to unlock. The bonus will usually be in the form of either a small amount of bonus cash or a free bet - often worth around $10 or $20.

No deposit bonuses are great because they mean you can try out a site without worrying about spending your own money. If you like it, great - you can deposit some more money down the line. If not, no sweat and no pressure to continue.

The only catch is that if you win money from a no-deposit bonus, your winnings are normally locked until you deposit some money. This is meant to prevent people from claiming their bonuses and simply immediately withdrawing their winnings.

Free Bets

Free bets are a very common type of promotion at KY sportsbooks. They work like betting vouchers which can only be used to place bets, usually at specified minimum odds. When you win with a free bet, you only receive the winnings, as opposed to the stake + the winnings. Some sportsbooks offer free bets in specific denominations - like $10, $20 or $50 - while others let you split up your free bets in whatever size wagers you want.

Lots of sportsbooks hand out free bets as part of welcome offer and also as ongoing promotions to keep existing players happy, like a free $10 bet every week.

Second-Chance Bets

Second-chance bets are another common welcome offer, likely to appeal to more cautious bettors. Here’s how they work: you sign up, make a deposit and place your first qualifying bet. If it wins, great. If it loses, your bet gets refunded up to a certain amount - normally as a bonus bet.

It’s like getting some insurance on your first bet.

Reload Bonuses

A reload bonus is just like a deposit bonus, only for later deposits. While welcome bonuses often offer 100% match bonuses, reload bonuses tend to have a smaller percentage - like a 20% boost on your deposit.

While not overly common, some sportsbooks offer one reload bonus per week or per month. If you’ve lost a little interest and haven’t bet in a while, some sportsbooks also send personalized reload offers via email.

Refer-a-Friend Offers

Lots of sportsbooks have referral programs, where you can benefit from getting a friend to sign up. Normally, your friend has to join using the link connected to your account or via a unique code. Once they do, and make a qualifying deposit, both you and them will receive some kind of reward - often some free bets.

It’s a win-win-win for everyone.

Odds Boosts

This is probably the most common type of on-running promo. Every day or every matchweek, sportsbooks choose certain betting markets to receive enhanced odds - this sweetens the pot and encourages people to bet. Sportsbooks often target the most popular games and events with odds boosts, to attract the most interest.

Some books even let players choose the bets they want to boost themselves.

Parlay Bonus

A parlay bonus is like an odds boost specifically for parlays. Normally, the more legs you add to your parlay the more the odds get boosted. For instance, a three leg parlay might qualify for a 5% boost, a four leg parlay for a 10% boost, a five leg parlay for a 15% and so on.

Parlay boosts can really enhance your payouts if you hit a multi-leg winner. Check out our guide to the best parlay betting sites for more details on how to get the most out of your parlays.

Reward Programs and Real Prizes

Loyalty programs are designed to reward returning customers who spend a lot of time (and money) on the site. While more commonly associated with online casinos, many betting sites also include sports betting as part of their reward programs.

Any time you bet, you earn loyalty points which you can cash in for various prizes and bonuses. The more points you earn, the higher you climb in the program, unlocking benefits along the way.

You can even win real prizes in this way. For instance, Caesars Rewards hands out concert tickets, restaurant and hotel vouchers for Caesars resorts around the country.

Terms and Conditions to Look Out For

As we’ve mentioned a couple of times now, all bonuses we've described on this page come with some sort of a catch.

Sportsbook bonuses are a legit way to save money and boost your chances of winning but, at the same time, sportsbooks are not in the business of handing out free money. To truly understand and potentially profit from sports betting bonuses, you need to understand their terms and conditions.

In this section, we’re taking a deep dive into the small print to help you get the most out of your bonuses.

Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements, also known as playthrough or turnover, as the single most important factor to be aware of when you claim a bonus. They are rarely advertised very prominently - instead, you’ll have to open up the bonus terms and conditions page to find them.

This is the number of times a player needs to gamble with some money they received through a bonus before it can be withdrawn. Until the wagering requirements are complete, the money will be locked. 

Here’s how it works: let’s say you get $50 in bonus cash via a welcome bonus, with wagering requirements of 5x. In order to convert this bonus cash into regular money you can withdraw, you first need to use it to place bets totaling $250, or $50 x 5.

The good news is that the wagering requirements with sportsbook bonuses (as opposed to casino bonuses) tend to be small. Most offers include requirements of just 1x, meaning you simply need to gamble with the money once to unlock it.

Almost all money you receive via a bonus - from a no-deposit bonus, a match bonus, or the money you get back from a cashback offer - is subject to wagering requirements. The bonus money also needs to be used on bets of certain minimum odds to qualify, usually something like -300 or longer.

Minimum Deposit

The concept is simple. You need to deposit a certain amount of money to trigger a bonus; this can be a cashback offer or unlocking some free bets. The threshold varies depending on the sportsbook, but a $10 or $20 deposit is often enough to claim a bonus.

Qualifying Bet

Similar to a minimum deposit, some sportsbooks require you to place a qualifying first bet to trigger a bonus. It needs to be worth at least a certain value and placed at specific odds. For instance, to get the $365 launch bonus at Bet365 you need to place a qualifying wager of $1 or more.

Expiration Date

All bonuses come with time limits attached, and if you don’t fulfill the conditions within the allotted time you forfeit your bonus. This is most relevant for larger bonuses with high wagering requirements, which might take a while to clear.

Free bets often expire after a few days or weeks. Make sure you check the expiration date to avoid losing your bonus.

Max Bet / Max Win

Many sportsbooks cap the amount of money you can win via a bonus. For example, you may only be able to place a bet up to $50 on bets with boosted odds.

Best KY Sportsbook Promos by Sport

Despite boasting no franchises in the major leagues, sports and betting both have a rich history in Kentucky. Outside of the big four, the major highlight on the sporting calendar is the Kentucky Derby, which takes place on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

The state is a hotbed of horse racing, and the 2024 Derby is likely to be a major attraction at the sportsbooks. Expect plenty of promos and special offers for horse racing in the Bluegrass State.

NFL

It’s no coincidence that legal sports betting launched in Kentucky to coincide with Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, traditionally one of the busiest weeks of the year at online sportsbooks in the US. Most of the top sportsbooks have special NFL bonuses, but the pick of the bunch might be FanDuel’s offer of $100 in bonus bets along with a $100 NFL Sunday Ticket voucher.

NBA

Despite not having a major league basketball team itself, Kentucky is surrounded by states with NBA teams the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers. The NBA season is likely to prove very popular at KY sportsbooks, with nearly daily action throughout the season. DraftKings is especially well regarded for NBA betting, offering daily no-sweat Same Game Parlays throughout the regular season and tons of special offers in the postseason.

MLB

The neighboring Cincinnati Reds have a decent following in Kentucky and, along with the Bengals in the NFL, may well prove to be the major league team that attracts the most action from Kentucky bettors. Both FanDuel and Caesars have some excellent on-running MLB promos which get updated weekly, including Odds Boosts and parlay bonuses.

NHL

Kentucky is not really hockey country, but the behemoth that is the NHL is still likely to find its fair share of action at KY sportsbooks. It’s hard to look past BetMGM for NHL betting - thanks in no small part to their sponsorship deal with one Wayne Gretsky. You can find lots of hockey promos at BetMGM, including goal bonuses and SGP promos.

Can I Claim Welcome Bonuses from More Than One Sportsbook in Kentucky?

Absolutely. Signing up to multiple sportsbooks is a great idea for several of reasons. 

Welcome bonuses tend to be the most valuable promo out there, and they are a one-time-only offer. Joining multiple books effectively means you get access to a wider variety of the most valuable offers in Kentucky.

Having access to different books is also essential for line shopping: checking around for the best price for your bets before you place them. These small margins can accumulate a lot over a relatively short period of time, boosting your winnings.

It’s worth remembering that you can’t create multiple accounts at the same sportsbook. For more casual bettors, signing up to multiple books might feel like too much hassle.

But if you do, it can be very rewarding.

Responsible Gambling Support in Kentucky

Betting on sports can be fun, but only as long as you are in control and maintain a healthy relationship with gambling.

Only bet with money you can afford to lose, and consider setting a weekly or monthly gambling budget. You should never turn to gambling as a quick fix to make money and recognize that, even if short-term wins are possible, the house always wins in the end.

If you’re struggling with gambling in Kentucky, there are lots of resources available to you.

The Kentucky Lottery Commission has a section dedicated to promoting responsible gambling. You can also call 1-800-GAMBLER to talk to a professional from the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Final Verdict

It’s a very exciting time to be a sports fan in Kentucky, with the state on the cusp of a whole new world of sports betting. The best way to jump into this world right now is with one of the welcome bonuses available when you register with a Kentucky sportsbook.

Just click our sign-up links above to lock in your bonus today.

For any sports betting bonus you come across, we strongly recommend you check out the small print to understand exactly what you are signing up for. As long as you know what you’re doing, KY sports betting bonuses can make a genuine difference to your bottom line.

Stick to the bonuses at licensed and regulated KY sportsbooks, gamble responsibly, and, most importantly, have fun.