Kentuckians Can Legally Bet on Sports Starting in September

On Thursday, September 7, 2023, Owensboro citizens and fellow Kentuckians will be able to make their first in-person sports bets within state borders at licensed locations, Governor Andy Beshear announced on Monday. Sports betting from mobile apps is set to be available starting September 28. This information comes as emergency regulations were passed that were required to open sports wagering in the Commonwealth, on Monday by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. This follows House Bill 551 being passed in March by state legislatures. Andy Beshear then signed the regulations into effect.

“I’ll be excited to make the first bet in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Gov. Beshear said before an audience at Red Mile Gaming & Racing in Lexington, Kentucky.

Sports betting has been a big topic of discussion for Kentuckians for a while now, as the only way to legally bet on sports as a resident of the state is to cross into state borders that currently legalize sports wagering. That will all change starting in September and is sure to bring about a lot of interest from prospective sports bettors as September 7 also marks the official start of the 2023 NFL regular season. And while Kentucky citizens and fans of college football won’t be able to bet at the start of the season, which begins in late August and early September, they’ll be able to begin on week two.

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Local games of interest during the first official week of online sports betting (September 28):

9/28/23 Western Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee State (College Football)
9/28/23 Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers (NFL)
9/29/23 Louisville vs. North Carolina State (College Football)
9/30/23 Florida vs. Kentucky (College Football)
10/1/23 Cincinnati Bengals vs. Tennessee Titans (NFL)