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Kentucky Residents Able to Pre-Register for Online Sports Betting Sites

Perry Sandra

Updated on August 28, 2023 at 3:07 PM EDT. Read time: 2 minutes and 4 seconds. Find more information on Twitter and Google News.

Residents in Kentucky can pre-register for online sportsbooks ahead of the Sept. 28 launch.
Residents in Kentucky can pre-register for online sportsbooks ahead of the Sept. 28 launch.

Legal sports betting in Kentucky is almost here. Retail sports wagering will start on Sept. 7, just in time for the NFL season. However, Kentucky sports betting apps won’t be available until Sept. 28.

Several of our top sports betting apps are currently offering pre-registration for customers, allowing them to be prepared to start betting at 6 a.m. ET on Sept. 28. This gives bettors in the state the opportunity to set up their accounts ahead of time instead of rushing on the day of. Additionally, they can benefit from various welcome bonuses.

According to a statement from the governor’s office, pre-registration helps alleviate pressure on electronic systems that may be overwhelmed when a large number of people attempt to register simultaneously.

Confirmed Kentucky sportsbooks

In anticipation of the launch, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has been diligently evaluating the top Kentucky sportsbooks. Legal sports betting was officially approved in the Bluegrass State on June 28th.

To date, the commission has given the green light to eight online providers to begin operating in the state once mobile services are launched, with up to 19 additional applicants still awaiting approval. The fortunate recipients include:

Mobile providers are required to partner with specific racetracks.

  • Churchill Downs in Louisville
  • Ellis Park in Henderson
  • The Red Mile in Lexington
  • Derby City Gaming in Louisville
  • The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland Run in Corbin
  • Newport Racing and Gaming in Newport
  • Oak Grove Gaming and Racing in Oak Grove
  • Turfway Park in Florence

Three pre-launch offers went live Aug. 28

Three prominent sportsbooks wasted no time in offering pre-registration options for customers in Kentucky. Those looking to place bets in the Bluegrass State must be at least 18 years old, a lower age requirement compared to other states where customers typically need to be 21 or older.

Pre-registration opportunities typically offer great value for sports bettors in a particular state, always exceeding the value if bettors were to wait until the official launch.

Two of the three sportsbooks that have launched pre-registration are offering bonus bets and no deposit requirements to new users, with no bonus code required.

It comes as no shock that the two largest legal sports betting providers in the country are among the three that have begun pre-registration.

Three sportsbooks are offering users the opportunity to pre-register for Kentucky bonuses:

  • FanDuel: No code needed. Customers will get $100 in bonus bets, plus $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket when they sign up prior to their official Sept. 28 launch.
  • DraftKings: No code needed. DraftKings requires no deposit in order to “get $200 bonus bets” simply for signing up for their sports betting brand.
  • bet365: Bonus code required. Bettors in the state are eligible for a “bet $1, get $365 in bonus bets, plus up to $50 extra ($10 per touchdown in Packers-Lions on Sept. 28, up to five TDs)” offer when they sign up for the bet365 brand.

Expect more

Kentucky’s top sports betting sites have about a month left to sign up new bettors before the launch on Sept. 28. This provides greater opportunities for sports bettors in the Bluegrass State to find more value and options to bet on.

As previously stated, pre-launch offers typically offer greater benefits compared to those offered after sportsbooks are already operational in a potential state. These promotions also allow bettors to prepare early and capitalize on the promising sports betting market in the 37th legal sports betting state in America.

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.