HomeNBA Betting in Kentucky

NBA betting in Kentucky

Beginning in September 2023, sports betting, including NBA betting in Kentucky, has been legal as there is now no shortage of options in terms of betting basketball in the Bluegrass State. With eight online sportsbooks operational in Kentucky, we here at KYBetting.com have you covered with everything you need to know about the industry.

Johnny Covers By: Johnny Covers
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Today, we are going to take a closer look at what to anticipate in terms of NBA betting in Kentucky for those interested in betting on hoops in the state. 

About the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is North America’s professional basketball league, currently comprising 30 teams across the United States (29) and Canada (1). Founded on June 6, 1946, the NBA was formed following the merger of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL).

Home to the best basketball players to walk the planet such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, the NBA is as popular as it’s ever been across the world. With an increasing presence throughout Europe, and as of late, Asia, the NBA is truly a worldwide brand and has impacts on culture, social issues, and even fashion.

Today, the NBA is broadcast in more than 200 countries and 40 languages, as the international fan base has exploded in recent years. In addition to an 82-game irregular season, the NBA holds annual events such as the NBA All-Star Game, NBA Summer League, NBA In-Season Tournaments, and NBA Playoffs. Social initiatives such as NBA Cares have also been formed to address the social issues of the day while giving the league a charitable arm.

While the NBA does not have a franchise in every state, such as Kentucky, NBA betting in Kentucky and throughout the United States has continued to grow in popularity over the years. With more than half the states in the country now having legal NBA betting, there is no stopping the growth of NBA betting in Kentucky and beyond.

Types of NBA betting promos that Kentucky sportsbooks offer

With eight online sports betting sites offering NBA betting in Kentucky, there are now more outlets than ever when it comes to betting on basketball. Let’s take a closer look at a few of the types of NBA betting promos that Kentucky sportsbooks offer today.

  • NBA Profit Boosts: Offered by a few of the online sportsbooks offering NBA betting in Kentucky, NBA Profit Boosts are available on select games. Offering increased odds of anywhere from 20% and higher, NBA Profit Boosts increase the odds and payouts of your bet. As an example, if you make a wager at +100 odds, and use an NBA Profit Boost, your new odds will be listed at +120. It’s important to note that these often require the odds to be -200 or shorter (i.e. -140, -180, etc.)
  • NBA No Sweat Same Game Parlay: Made popular by DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook, the NBA No Sweat Same Game Parlay is a bonus type focused on Same Game Parlays. In this promo type, when you make a 3+ leg Same Game Parlay, you get the amount risked back in the form of bonus bets if it is a loser. Typically, the maximum amount you can risk is $100, and this promo is invalid if the SGP is a winner.
  • NBA Future Profit Boosts: Offred exclusively by FanDuels Sportsbook, who is also an official betting partner of the NBA, the NBA Future Profit Boost focuses on NBA futures and increases the payouts. As an example, if the Cleveland Cavaliers are +1000 to win the NBA Finals, using an NBA Future Profit Boost would increase their payout to +1300.

Yes, it is legal to bet on the NBA in Kentucky, via all eight of the currently legal online sportsbooks. At each of them, which currently includes, Bet365 Kentucky (Revolutionary Racing), BetMGM Kentucky (Revolutionary Racing), PENN Entertainment/ESPN Bet (Ellis Park), Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky (Keeneland and Red Mile), Circa Sportsbook Kentucky (Cumberland Run), DraftKings Kentucky (Cumberland Run), Fanatics (Oak Grove), and FanDuel Kentucky (Churchill Downs), there is a full menu of NBA betting in Kentucky options.

Since sports betting went live in the state in September 2023, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) has monitored and regulated the industry in the state. Historically overseeing just the horse racing industry, following the passing of House Bill 551 in March 2023, the commission has also overseen sports betting.

Prior to March of 2023, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), such as FanDuel DFS KY and DraftKings DFS KY, were the only options in terms of getting action on the NBA.

With both online and retail sports betting legal in the state, NBA betting in Kentucky is an increasingly popular market and has been legal now for more than a year.

Despite the state having no NBA franchises, the state still loves its basketball, as a great high school basketball scene is complimented by its college programs. Home to some of the best college basketball in the country, including the Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals, NBA betting in Kentucky is at an all-time high and fully legal.

How do I start betting on the NBA in KY?

When you first start betting on the NBA in KY, there are a few steps to keep in mind throughout the process. Below are the few steps required to start betting on the NBA in KY.

  1. Get Welcome Offer: At KYBetting.com, we have each NBA betting in Kentucky site has a full review, breaking down the pros and cons of each. Choose the online sportsbook that works best for you, and click the “Get Bonus” button at the top of the page. From here, you’ll automatically have the best welcome offer available applied to your account.
  2. Choose Login Credentials: The first thing the NBA betting site in Kentucky will ask for is your desired login credentials, which will include your email address and chosen username, as well as a password.
  3. Enter Legal Information: After your new login credentials are entered, the KY betting site will now ask you to confirm your identity. This will include entering information such as your first and last name, home address, phone number, date of birth, gender, and the last four digits of your social security number.
  4. Deposit Money: Thanks to the oversight provided by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC), there is no shortage of options when it comes to depositing funds onto NBA betting in Kentucky sites. Keeping in mind the terms and conditions of any welcome offer you accept, deposit a minimum of $10 with on of the many options available including PayPal, Venmo, Debit/Credit Card, Online Banking, Wire Transfer, and more.
  5. Start NBA Betting in Kentucky: Now that your new online sports betting account in Kentucky is set up, the time has come to start betting on the NBA. Head to the NBA betting section of the sportsbook, choose your bet type and game and enter the amount of money you want to “Risk” into your bet slip. From there, you will see the potential payout, and hitting “Confirm” will lock in your wager.

Best Kentucky sportsbooks for NBA betting

With nearly double-digit Kentucky sportsbooks for NBA betting, you as a bettor have no shortage of options when it comes to getting in on the action. As part of the sports betting legislation in the state, each Kentucky sportsbook must partner with a retail casino in order to offer NBA (and other) betting. Let’s look at the four best Kentucky sportsbooks for NBA betting that are operating in the Bluegrass state today.

FanDuel Kentucky

FanDuel Sportsbook

Shortly after House Bill 551 passed in March 2023, one of the state’s two long-time DFS operators was quick to enter the sportsbook space. As an established partner of the NBA when it comes to NBA betting, FanDuel Sportsbook quickly became a leader in the space within the state. Offering a variety of NBA promos throughout the regular season and playoffs, FanDuel Sportsbook KY also has one of the most robust NBA prop betting menus in the market today. In Kentucky, they partner with Churchill Downs to fulfill their retail partner requirement.

DraftKings Kentucky

DraftKings Sportsbook

Just like FanDuel, beginning in 2014, DraftKings established a presence in the DFS space in Kentucky. Their presence in the Bluegrass state made the DraftKings Sportsbook KY product a no-brainer on day one of legislation, launching in September 2023 with the first round of online sportsbooks to go live in the state. Offering NBA betting every day starting with the NBA summer league through the NBA finals, the NBA betting menu at DraftKings Sportsbook KY is continually one of the best in the state. DraftKings’ Same Game Parlays are one of the most exciting ways to get involved in NBA betting, as they give you multiple bets (legs) within a single NBA game.

Caesars Kentucky

Caesars Sportsbook

With a name synonymous with gambling and sports betting throughout the country, Caesars Sportsbook KY is also one of the best NBA betting in Kentucky options. Their Caesars Rewards program gives you points to earn points for every wager you place involving the NBA, or any other league they offer. In Kentucky, they partner with Red Mile Racing for their retail partnership requirement and offer a variety of promotional offers that can be used for NBA betting.

BetMGM Kentucky

BetMGM Sportsbook

The BetMGM Sportsbook in Kentucky rounds out our list of the best NBA betting in Kentucky, as they offer dozens of bet types for each game of the NBA season. Their ‘Edit My Bet’ feature allows you to even edit parlays already in motion, giving you an added level of flexibility when it comes to your NBA betting options. Since their launch, they have been partnered with Sandy’s Game and Racing to meet their retail partner requirement.

Which NBA teams that I can bet on are in or close to Kentucky?

Despite having two college basketball powerhouses in the Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals, Kentucky does not have any NBA teams within state lines. There are a few that are near the Kentucky border, however, as we look at which NBA teams you can bet on that are close to Kentucky.

  • Indiana Pacers: The closest NBA team to Kentucky is the Indiana Pacers, located in Indianapolis, IN. For residents of Northern Kentucky, specifically Louisville, you can get to Indianapolis in just under two hours.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers: Located at least four hours from the Kentucky border, depending on where you are, the Cleveland Cavaliers are another team that is relatively close to the state. Winning a championship in 2016, the Cavs continue to put a good product on the court each and every year.
  • Atlanta Hawks: For residents located in Southern Kentucky, a drive to Atlanta to see the Hawks play can be managed. For much of the southern part of the state, the Hawks are your best bet to see the NBA in action.
  • Memphis Grizzlies: For residents located in Western Kentucky, the Memphis Grizzlies are located in Memphis, TN. For those in Southwestern Kentucky, the Grizzlies will be your closest opportunity to see the NBA in action.

Advice for NBA wagering in Kentucky

Whether you are just starting NBA betting in Kentucky or a seasoned veteran, there are a few things you should know about betting on the league. Based on more than a decade of experience, below is some advice for NBA wagering in Kentucky.

  • Bet NBA Props: With props on every player in the starting lineup for nearly every NBA game, and dozens of bet types to choose from, there are too many NBA props for oddsmakers to focus on each. If you, as a bettor, focus solely on the NBA prop betting market, you can often find value given the pure number of options available.
  • Scheduling: With 82 NBA regular season games, plus dozens more in the playoffs, players resting has become a major issue for the league. Study the team’s schedules and coach’s patterns for resting players, to identify areas that you can take advantage of.
  • Coaching: Coach’s records against certain teams and in certain cities are widely available online, and can be used when NBA betting in Kentucky. Take a look at coaching matchups for each game, and see where you can spot some soft spots in the market.

FAQ

Is there an NBA team in Kentucky?

No, there is no NBA team in Kentucky, with the closest being the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, IN, just two hours from Northern Kentucky.

Is it secure to bet on the NBA in Kentucky?

Yes, thanks to the regulation and oversight provided by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC), it is completely safe and secure to bet on the NBA in Kentucky.

Who is the biggest star in the NBA to come from Kentucky?

The biggest star in the NBA to come from Kentucky is Anthony Davis from the University of Kentucky. The #1 overall pick in 2012 by the New Orleans Hornets (Pelicans), Davis is now a star for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Who is the favorite to win the 2024 NBA Championship?

The favorite to win the 2024 NBA Championship is the Boston Celtics, who claimed the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs with the best regular season record in the East.

Author Details

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers is a distinguished sports betting expert and author at KY Betting. With nearly ten years of industry experience, Johnny has earned acclaim for his outstanding handicapping abilities. His insightful perspectives have graced several esteemed sports and betting publications, such as All-In Magazine, Blitz Predict, FantasyPros, Betting Pros, Sportsbook Review, Golf Monthly, and OddsChecker. Johnny's dedication to delivering precise and valuable content has solidified his status as a trusted authority in the sports betting world, making him an invaluable asset to the KY Betting team.