Kentucky Revenue Numbers Exceeding Exceptions After One Year

Photo by Mobilus In Mobili, CC BY-SA 2.0
Key Takeaways
- The state has seen over $2.4 billion in wagers one year after launching sports betting
- DraftKings lead all operators with a total handle of almost $900 million
- Bet365 has seen the third-most wagers of any operator in the state
Sports betting in the Bluegrass State Continues to thrive.
The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gambing Corporation has shared that the state saw a $151.4 million handle in August. That number is up over 17% from July, which was the worst full month the state has seen since launching the industry a year ago. The impressive month led to the Kentucky’s betting handle rushing to $2.4 billion over the first year of legal sports betting.
Retail Sports Betting Continues to Gain Popularity
While online sports betting unsurprisingly is the most popular choice for bettors in the state, retail has been on the rise. Brick-and-mortor locations saw $87 million in wagers over the first year of legal sports betting. Churchill Downs led the way with a handle of $1.5 million, followed by the Caesars Sportsbook at the Red Mile.
DraftKings Leading Online Market
DraftKings Sportsbook has been the top option for Kentucky bettors since the industry went live. They have seen almost $900 million in wagers since then, and led August with a handle of $56.7 million. FanDuel is close behind with a total handle of $819 and an August handle of $45.2 million. FanDuel and DraftKings have combined to capture 73% of the state’s market share.
In a surprise, bet365 has firmly established themselves as the third-most popular operators. They have a far lower handle of $157.3 million since launch, but remain far ahad of Vegas-based rivals Caesars and BetMGM.
Kentucky Success Good News for bet365
While DraftKings and FanDuel dominating the market share, third place represents a significant victory for bet365 Sportsbook. The British operator had been struggling in the US after first entering the market, but they have changed tactics since then. The result has been a slow and impressive expansion as several of their rivals are struggling to stay afloat.
The operator will never be able to compete with the two industry-leaders, but their success against Caesars, BetMGM, ESPN Bet, and Fanatics is a major victory. Those four operators are all competing for third place in most markets, but if Kentucky is an indicator, that may no longer be the case.
Michael is a writer from Denver who covers the sports betting industry for Casino.com. He has been covering the industry for over four years, focusing on providing accurate and easy-to-understand information for readers. When he’s not covering the industry, he’s betting on sports or exploring everything that Colorado has to offer.
Related News

Michigan Senate Strips Per-Wager Tax From Budget Proposal
The Michigan Senate passed the latest budget, but rejected a proposed per-wager tax for sportsbooks. Lawmakers from both parties worried the change would shrink the state’s sports betting market, despite the results seen from a similar tax in neighboring Illinois.

Flutter Ousters FanDuel CEO After Lowering 2026 Guidance
Flutter has removed Amy Howe as FanDuel’s CEO as it looks to invest more in prediction markets. President Christian Genetski will take over the role after playing a crucial role in the expansion of mobile betting in the US.

Are The Walls Closing in for the Prediction Industry
A recent bipartisan effort by attorneys general and an order in Texas have the prediction industry reeling as May begins. The two actions show the waning support for the controversial platforms, and could lead it to soften its stance going forward.

CFTC Expands Legal Fight Over Sports Prediction Markets
The CFTC has expanded its legal fight to protect prediction markets by suing New York and Wisconsin. The regulator claims both states have illegally targeted operators despite lacking any regulatory authority. Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois are also facing similar lawsuits.

New Zealand Racing Integrity Board Steps Up Online Gambling Focus
New Zealand’s Racing Integrity Board is preparing for a changing gambling market as online casino regulation moves ahead.

Ohio Considering Bill to Clamp Down on Prediction Industry
The Ohio Senate is considering a new bill that would require prediction platforms to be subject to the same regulations and taxes as sportsbooks. The proposal comes as the state’s gambling regulator, Kalshi, and the CFTC battle in court.

Oklahoma Rejects Sports Betting Bill, Sets Sights on 2027
A Colorado Senate committee has rejected part of a bill that would have banned prop bets, which were aimed at curbing problem gambling. Among the biggest reasons for the rejection was the projected financial impact on the state’s tax revenue.

Proposed Ban on Prop Bets Stripped From Colorado Bill
A Colorado Senate committee has rejected part of a bill that would have banned prop bets, which were aimed at curbing problem gambling. Among the biggest reasons for the rejection was the projected financial impact on the state’s tax revenue.

Judge Halts Arizona’s Criminal Case Against Kalshi
A US Court has issued a temporary restraining order for the CFTC against Arizona, forcing the state to halt its criminal prosecution of Kalshi. The Court confirmed an earlier ruling for Kalshi that its platform is protected by federal law.

Mobile Sports Betting is Officially Coming to Wisconsin
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has signed a bill that will create a tribal-centric mobile sports betting market. While his signature ends years of legislative deadlock, it has also raised concerns that commercial operators won’t join the new market.

Big Changes Are Coming to Kentucky's Sports Betting Market
Kentucky has officially passed a new bill that will significantly alter its sports betting market. Although Governor Beshear vetoed, the state legislature easily overrode it. It includes a ban on in-state college player props while raising the betting age to 21.

DraftKings, FanDuel Manage to Avoid Kentucky Crackdown
DraftKings and FanDuel used their political capital to help revise key proposals from a new Kentucky bill. The effort removed penalties for sportsbooks that offer prediction platforms, as well as a ban on the practice of limiting winning bettors.

Kalshi Confirms Status as Bookmaker in Trademark Filing
Kalshi’s trademark designates it as part of the sports betting industry, despite its denial of offering gambling. The operator said the move was insignificant because it would force the USPTO to accept that the industry class is relevant to Kalshi.

Wisconsin Mobile Betting Bill to Learn Its Fate This Week
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has promised a decision on online sports betting this week. While he has been supportive of online sports betting, he has refused to commit to signing the current effort, which would create a tribal-centric market.

CFTC Ramps Up Defense Of Sports Contracts With New Lawsuits
The CFTC has filed lawsuits against Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois over their legal attacks against sports prediction market operators. All three states have issued cease-and-desist letters to prediction operators, and Arizona has also filed criminal charges against Kalshi.

California Tribes to Pursue Legal Sports Betting in 2028
A powerful California tribal gaming group has announced plans to put sports betting on the ballot in 2028. Pressure from prediction markets led tribes to rethink legalizing the industry, though the effort will likely face strong opposition.

Kentucky House Passes Bill To Overhaul Its Betting Market
The Kentucky House just passed a bill that would overhaul its sports betting market, sending it to the Governor for his signature. It would make several changes, including for the minimum betting age, college player props, and prediction platforms.

US Senate Considering Proposal to Ban Sports Predictions
A new bipartisan bill has been introduced in the US Senate that would ban sports prediction markets at the federal level. If passed, it would amend the CEA to ensure that sports contracts would no longer be protected.

Mississippi Online Betting Bills Stall in Senate Committee
The Mississippi Senate Gambling Committee is stalling on two mobile betting bills over financial concerns. Doubts over projected tax revenue, as well as proposed cuts for casinos, led the committee chair to shelve both House bills to expand sports betting.

Kentucky Bill Risks Tax Revenue to Fight Prediction Industry
The Kentucky House has passed a bill to overhaul the state's sports betting market and crack down on prediction markets. It would raise the minimum betting age to 21 and force sportsbooks that offer prediction platforms to exit the market.

MLB and NCAA Offer Conflicting Statements Over Predictions
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and NCAA President Charlie Baker have issued conflicting statements over prediction markets this week. The former embraced the industry with a new partnership to help improve integrity monitoring, while the latter offers the opposite assessment.

Wisconsin Senate Votes in Favor of Mobile Sports Betting
The Wisconsin Senate voted to approve a bill to legalize mobile sports betting through tribal casinos. While many lawmakers remain concerned about the potential impact, they also acknowledged that mobile betting is already taking place in the state.

Nebraska Casinos Begin Effort to Legalize Online Betting
Nebraska casinos have been a signature-gathering effort to allow voters to decide on legalizing mobile sports betting. The move comes after Nebraska lawmakers failed to act, largely removing them from the process of creating a legal framework.

Judge Rules Kalshi is Subject to Ohio Sports Betting Laws
A federal judge has ruled that Kalshi must abide by Ohio’s sports betting laws. She rejected Kalshi’s argument that they are offering “swaps.” The ruling means the operator will need to acquire a sportsbook license for its prediction platform.

Minnesota Senate Reviewing Bill to Legalize Sports Betting
The Minnesota Senate is reviewing a bill to legalize online sports betting while protecting bettors. It would allow for 11 mobile sportsbooks, with tax revenue from the industry being used to support the state’s charitable gaming and horse racing industries.

India Crush Black Caps in T20 Final as NZ Betting Run Ends Badly
New Zealand’s T20 World Cup campaign ended with a heavy final defeat to India, in a result that also gave sports bettors plenty to unpack around pre-match expectations, inflated totals and the Black Caps’ future tournament pricing.

Michigan and Kalshi File Lawsuits Over Sports Predictions
The Michigan AG has filed a lawsuit against Kalshi, alleging it is illegally offering gambling through sports prediction markets. It asks the court to grant it the power to ban Kalshi from offering sports markets in the state.

Vermont Considers Bill to Add Wager Fee and Ban Predictions
Vermont is considering a bill that would ban several categories of prediction markets, including those for sports, deaths, wars, and more. It is also proposing to add a $0.50 per-wager tax for the state’s three mobile sportsbooks.

FanDuel and DraftKings Approved for Arkansas Mobile Market
FanDuel and DraftKings have approval to launch their mobile platforms in Arkansas. The two operators had been avoiding the market over its tribal revenue-sharing requirements. They will be joining tribal-owned BetSaracen, the state's only other online platform.

New Zealand Anthem Gaffe Goes Viral Before England v Black Caps T20 Clash
A technical glitch played the New Zealand anthem at double speed in Colombo, moments before England’s late chase win shook semi-final maths.

Kalshi Taking Utah to Court After Comments From Lawmakers
Kalshi filed a preemptive lawsuit against Utah after top lawmakers expressed opposition to the prediction market industry. The operator feared a cease-and-desist letter would soon be coming, forcing it to shut down the platform in Utah.

Wisconsin Assembly Finally Signs Off on Mobile Betting
The Wisconsin Assembly passed AB 601, which proposes to create a tribal-run online sports betting market. It ends years of debate and stalling from lawmakers, who abandoned hopes for a commercial market. The bill will now head to the Senate.

Kalshi Wins Big in Tennessee, but New Threats Emerge
Kalshi has scored a major legal win in Tennessee, keeping its prediction platform live in the state. However, talks of a ban on predictions in Connecticut and a trademark fight with the NCAA are making the win harder to celebrate.

