Kentucky Online Sports Betting Guide - How To Legally Bet On Sports in Kentucky

Since most USA residents are aware that US based sports betting is extremely limited in the United States, there are probably a lot of sports betting fans who are not aware that there are actually some superb options for Kentucky gamblers who are interested in participating in legally licensed and regulated sportsbook wagering. These legal options are operated by licensed sportsbooks located outside of the United States; therefore they can legally provide their services to players around the world. This guide take a close look at the options that are available, and discusses the legalities involved with betting on sports in Kentucky. There is a lot of confusing and contradicting information circulating on the Web, and we intend to clarify the situation for those bettors interested in enjoying legally sanctioned sports betting opportunities. We have also begun expanding our guide to include sport specific betting that includes information on Kentucky teams, such as betting on Kentucky football teams, KY basketball teams and baseball teams. With Kentucky not having any professional teams to speak of, most focus for Kentucky sports teams is focused on collegiate athletic programs.

Best Kentucky Online Sports Betting Sites

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Kentucky?

The answer here is yes and no. Both state and federal gambling laws prohibit state based sports betting either online or offline in the state of Kentucky. It is illegal to operate an online sportsbook within state borders. However, neither federal or state law prohibits Kentucky sports bettors from participating in legally licensed and regulated sports betting that is based outside of the United States. The key is to only consider those sports betting sites which have been legitimately licensed and that are subject to strict regulatory oversight administered by a respected and genuine governing jurisdiction. It is not illegal for Kentucky residents to engage in sports betting under these conditions. You can review the state's laws and statutes for gambling on the official website of the Kentucky State Legislature.

Will State Based Sports Betting Become Legal in Kentucky Anytime Soon?

It is not likely that this will occur anytime soon. While the state is free to consider launching an online casino or poker gambling initiative, sports betting is off limits. There are two primary federal laws which stop any sportsbook wagering options: the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act passed in 1992, and the Federal Wire Act passed in 1961. These two laws combine to effectively prohibit brick and mortar and online sports betting from expanding in the United States. New Jersey recently challenged PASPA, however unsuccessfully. The Supreme Court refused to hear their argument and the existing bans on state based sports betting remain in place. There are some serious opponents to this industry expanding in the US, including the NFL, NBA, MLB and NCAA.

Are Offshore Online Sportsbooks Accepting Kentucky Players Safe?

All offshore sports betting sites are not safe. Not even all of the licensed brands are completely reputable. Determining the optimal sports book destinations at which to place your bets is probably the single most challenging segment of online sports wagering, and was one of the driving forces in the development of this guide. It is our intention to arm Kentucky sports bettors with accurate, up to date and concise information that empowers them to make informed decisions concerning their online sportsbook wagering. Our team of professionals has extensively evaluated and vetted each of the sports betting sites you see listed in this guide. Each of them has been verified to hold legitimate licensing and certifications, and subject to strict regulatory oversight. They each offer highly competitive lines and odds, generous bonus offers and promotions, a sophisticated software solution, a strong customer support staff, and a high quality overall betting experience. These sites can be trusted to provide an ethical and secure environment for betting on sports. Should you decide to take your business to an online sportsbook that has not been vetted by professionals, you place yourself at risk of reaching a destination that is predatory, dangerous or simply low quality. Any of those scenarios place your sensitive data and funds at risk.

What Types of Sports and Betting Lines are Offered at These Recommended Kentucky Sports Betting Sites?

The brands recommended in this guide all cover the mainstream popular sports events, including both collegiate and professional programs, and both major and minor leagues. You will find betting lines for football, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf, tennis, motor sports, MMA, boxing, rugby, and other popular sports. You will also find the less popular events, such as swimming and diving, boating, cycling, surfing, darts, among others. There are also non-sports related events to place bets on, such as political events, celebrity gossip, reality competition TV shows, and current events. Wagering options include a wide range of choices, including teasers, parlays, proposition bets, over/under, and many others. One of the most popular options is live betting, which allows you to bet on the game while it is in progress.

Betting Trends for Kentucky Sports Teams

University of Louisville

Very similar to Kansas, Kentucky is a state whose professional sporting presence is basically nonexistent. And while a lot of this is undoubtedly the result of a relatively small population, most of it is directly influenced by Kentucky's love for its two major colleges and its respective football and basketball teams. There's the University of Kentucky with its basketball, and the Louisville Cardinals' football program. In Louisville, the Cardinals have been making noise for a few years. Even after losing their first-round QB Teddy Bridgewater to the Minnesota Vikings, the Cardinals still managed to end up ranked #28 last season. Not that bad for a team in the ACC. The Atlantic Coast Conference has tougher teams than some realize, with the University of Miami (the U), Notre Dame, the Virginia Cavaliers, the Florida State Seminoles, and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. All told, this is a minefield through which Louisville has to navigate every year.

Last year wasn't great for the Cardinals ATS (against the spread). They went 7-6 in total and 3-2 in non-conference games. They were also 1-2 after a bye, which is never good. But they still had some good trends that might carryover to this season.

Some of their other trends included:

2-0 as away underdogs
5-1 on the road all together
3-1 as away favorites
5-4 in total as favorites

Look for Louisville to have another solid year in men's football and to end up ranked in the top 25.

University of Kentucky

There's literally not enough praise one could lay at Kentucky's feet to do them justice for the season they had last year. And even though they lost in the Final Four to the Wisconsin Badgers in a highly contested rematch of the year previous, there's nothing anyone on Kentucky's team has to be ashamed about. They were 38-0 entering into that game, and they had covered ATS in around 90% of all their games. For straight wins, obviously, they were 100% to that point. Over the entire planet, the only team that did gamblers close to as well as Kentucky were the Connecticut Lady Huskies and their impressive push for the National Championship in the same sport.

Kentucky not only beat teams all year, they crushed them. They covered the spread with room to spare almost every game, and they forced oddsmakers to start setting higher over scores because the Wildcats were putting up NBA-like scores with their platoon system. And it's not as if Kentucky and coach John Calipari get to play cream-puff schools. They're located in the South Eastern Conference (SEC) alongside teams like the Georgia Bulldogs, the Missouri Tigers, the Tennessee Volunteers and former back-to-back National Champions the University of Florida Gators. Making it through the SEC undefeated is a great accomplishment.

Will it be repeated? The smart money says that Kentucky cannot go 38-1 again. This is a trend that will have some drop off. However, we don't expect much. Expect the Wildcats to continue winning ATS at least 85% of the time next season, and don't be afraid to bet the overs.