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Kentucky Regulators Expand Sports Betting Menu Ahead of Mobile Launch

Perry Sandra

Updated as of September 22, 2026 at 10:20 AM EDT. Read more on Twitter and Google News.

Barion Brown of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the EKU Colonels.
Barion Brown of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the EKU Colonels. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images via AFP.

With only one week left until the launch of legal mobile sports betting in Kentucky, the recently launched retail sports betting platform on Sept. 7 has been deemed successful. However, the current numbers are expected to be overshadowed by the anticipated success of the best Kentucky sports betting apps going live on Sept. 28.

The Kentucky Sports Wagering Advisory Council has been actively working to finalize the list of sports betting providers approved to participate in the legal sports betting market. To date, only eight out of 27 potential licenses have been approved through partnerships with the state’s horse racing tracks.

During a meeting on September 21, the council included several new sports to their lineup. These sports are pending final approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC), but are anticipated to be approved without issue.

The new sports

While not yet confirmed, it is anticipated that the upcoming release of top sports betting apps in Kentucky will include a selection of new sports to bet on. These additions are likely to align with the offerings of other states that have both in-person and online sports betting options.

The new sports include:

  • Formula 1 racing
  • National Rugby League of Australia and New Zealand
  • Professional Fighters League (PFL) and Bellator mixed martial arts
  • UTR Pro Tennis Tour

Interestingly, despite being integral to the Kentucky legal sports betting landscape, horse racing and dog racing have not been included in the mobile Kentucky sports betting options.

The Advisory Council did not discuss horse racing and dog racing on Thursday, but it is likely that these sports are being considered.

Those new sports join …

Kentucky retail sports betting providers offer a diverse range of sports that are on par with other states in the legal sports betting industry. The recent additions to the list are sensible and enhance the overall variety of options available.

The additions join:

  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL 
  • NBA
  • WNBA
  • NCAA baseball, softball, basketball, football, and hockey
  • XFL, USFL, CFL
  • LIV Golf 
  • eSports
  • Japan Nippon Professional Baseball
  • FIBA-sanctioned basketball events
  • Cycling 
  • Boxing
  • Motorsports
  • Netball (ANZ Premiership and Super Netball)
  • Sailing (Americas Cup)
  • X Games
  • Winter and Summer Olympics
  • Major League Eating-sanctioned events
  • Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest

The approval of new sports in Kentucky may indicate a shift towards modernization as regulators work to align with other states. The commission is taking a gradual approach to expanding its sports betting menu, prioritizing the most common and popular sports.

Currently, non-sporting events like awards shows will not be available on Kentucky sports betting menus. However, it is possible that this decision may be reconsidered at a later date.

For now …

Kentucky residents will continue to depend on traditional retail sports betting locations for now. However, individuals 18 years or older (except for Caesars users who must be 21 or older like in other U.S. states) can pre-register for one of the eight approved providers and access various sportsbook promotions in Kentucky.

The approved providers include:

All are providing attractive pre-registration bonuses to encourage participation in their betting offerings and be ready to start wagering as soon as legal mobile sports betting launches in the state on Sept. 28.

Written By:
Perry Sandra
Perry Sandra and betting go hand-in-hand. Both are characterized by “odds”. Dave fancies himself as one of the most dedicated sports and pop-culture junkies around, to the chagrin of his family and friends. Following sports for 50 years and writing about it for 20, Dave hasn’t found a sport yet that can’t contribute to 2-3 straight hours of couch time. That search remains ongoing. As a good old Canadian boy, hockey is in Dave’s heart, as is curling sadly. But evolution is a real thing and that’s why football, baseball, and just about every sport on the planet has become a passion. Dave isn’t afraid to kill some time obsessing over politics or the far-too-frequent awards shows the consume the airwaves.