Another major operator will allow 18-year-olds to wager in Kentucky sports betting.
Bet365 revealed today that its age limit will match what Kentucky lawmakers set in March when they passed House Bill 551. The British-based operator joins DraftKings, which announced it would accept bets from adults under 21 last week. Churchill Downs has also announced its retail race and sports book at its Louisville track will welcome bettors 18 and up. That age limit also aligns with Kentucky’s age limits for betting on horse racing, charitable gaming, and the lottery.
Other States Allow 18 And Up
Kentucky is not the first state to set the age limit at 18. It, however, will likely be the highest-profile state that does so so far. Earlier this year, Ohio Casino Control Commission Executive Director Matt Schuler expressed concern that Kentucky’s lower age restrictions might entice Ohioians under 21 to cross state lines and place bets.
Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Washington state, Washington, D.C., and Wyoming also have age limits under 21. Montana, New Hampshire and Rhode Island all have single operators. The D.C. Lottery controls most of the sports betting in the nation’s capital. However, operators like Caesars, BetMGM and FanDuel offer wagering in and around pro sports venues in the city. Those three operators have all set their age limits at 21.
Washington state sports betting is limited to brick-and-mortar sportsbooks at tribal casinos. Wyoming has four operators, and only DraftKings set its limit at 18. Just as they did in D.C. and Wyoming, Caesars, BetMGM and FanDuel will also not allow anyone under 21 to wager in Kentucky.
Four Sportsbooks Accepting Registrations Monday
Kentucky sports betting apps won’t start for another month, but Monday was still a big day for some operators. Six days after the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved temporary licenses for eight online operators, those sports betting sites could start accepting pre-registrations from interested customers. As a KHRC press release noted last week, the pre-registration process is designed to reduce the stress operators’ systems could face if bettors waited to sign up for accounts when wagering is allowed to start on Sept. 28.
Of the operators that were approved, Bet365, DraftKings and FanDuel all began accepting pre-registrations on Monday. Those sportsbooks were also offering bonuses for signing up early. BetMGM Kentucky sportsbook said it would also accept pre-registrations, although its site was down for routine maintenance early in the day.
Six states that already allow sports betting surround Kentucky, and some residents have accounts set up with operators in those states. For Bet365, DraftKings and FanDuel, Kentuckians who registered elsewhere will not need to register again. BetMGM is uncertain as the operator is developing a single-wallet app that will work across all of its licensed states.
While Kentuckians can pre-register now at some sites, the state will not let them take deposits for accounts until Sept. 7, three weeks before online wagering launches in the state. Sept. 7 is also the day when retail sportsbooks at approved Kentucky racetracks can also start accepting bets.
Learn about all of the top Kentucky sportsbook promos ahead of the expected launch, and visit BetKentucky.com regularly for the latest news and developments in the Bluegrass State.
