The newest state for legalized wagering in America is the Bluegrass State, which opened the Kentucky sports betting era in full, including mobile betting apps, on Thursday morning. Kentucky will follow their northern neighbor, which launched on New Year’s Day, and Massachusetts as the nation’s third opening of 2023.
The bluegrass state joined the more than 30 states and the District of Columbia with some form of legalized wagering earlier this month when a handful of retail Kentucky sportsbooks opened their doors to the public. We used Kansas as a model, as the state has similar adult population numbers and has zero professional sports teams in the state limits but does have two “Power Five” college teams.
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Select States in First Year of Sports Betting
Below you'll find a list of some states and how they performed in their first year of legalized sports betting. Keep in mind that Kentucky's numbers are projections from us at BetKentucky.com.
| State | Population | 1st-Year Handle |
| Kentucky | 4.5 million | $2.8 billion* |
| Arizona | 7.28 million | $5.43 billion |
| Colorado | 5.8 million | $2.3 billion |
| Illinois | 12.67 million | $5.5 billion |
| Indiana | 6.8 million | $1.2 billion |
| Iowa | 3.2 million | $391 million |
| Louisiana | 4.66 million | $1.85 billion |
| Michigan | 10.1 million | $1.98 billion |
| Montana | 1.1 million | $27.8 million |
| Pennsylvania | 13.0 million | $1.165 billion |
| Tennessee | 6.9 million | $2.3 billion |
| Virginia | 8.6 million | $3.22 billion |
| Washington, D.C. | 689,545 | $34.7 million |
| Wyoming | 576,851 | $135.8 million |
BetKentucky.com projections
Must be 21+ and physically present in AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY or Washington, DC. New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First wager after registration must qualify. Min. Odds: -500. Max. Bonus Bet: $250. Awarded as non-withdrawable Bonus Bet that expires 14 days after receipt. Bonus Bet amount not returned for winning bets. Void where prohibited. See http://Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Know When To Stop Before You Start®. Gambling Problem? CO, IL, KY, MD, MI, MO, NJ, OH, TN, VA, WV, WY, KS (Affiliated with Kansas Crossing Casino), ME (Licensed through the Mi’kmaq Nation, Penobscot Nation, and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, federally recognized tribes located in the State of Maine), NC (Licensed through Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise), PA (Affiliated with Harrah's Philadelphia): If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) or MD: visit http://mdgamblinghelp.org or WV: visit http://1800gambler.net ; AZ: Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP; IN: Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT; IA: Call 1-800-BETSOFF; LA (Licensed through Horseshoe Bossier City and Caesars New Orleans), Washington, DC (OLG Class A licensed Operator): Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2025, Caesars Entertainment Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER DC, LA: Call 1-800-522-4700 MA: Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit http://gamblinghelplinema.org NY: Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369)
Kentucky Primed For Historic Year 1
It’s no wonder why national sportsbooks have their eyes on the Bluegrass State, as projections indicate it could stand with some of the nation's top markets in its first year of operations. Using Kansas as a model, Kentucky sportsbook apps are projected to rake in just over $2.8 billion in handle during their first year of operations.
That’s based on Kansas’ first-year sports betting handle total ($1,850,720,950) divided by the state’s population (2,937,847), equaling $629.96 per resident. From there, we multiply that per capita figure by Kentucky’s population (4,505,836), equaling a total figure of $2,838,488,553 for the first calendar year of operations. That total figure averages out to roughly $236.5 million per month, with peaks and valleys associated with the seasons.
If Kentucky is able to take in more than $2 billion in first-year handle, it would rank in the same ballpark as states like Tennessee and Colorado ($2.3 billion each), Michigan ($1.98 billion), Indiana ($1.2 billion), Pennsylvania ($1.165 billion) and Louisiana ($1.85 billion). We’ll know more about where Kentucky’s fledgling sports betting marketplace goes in the months ahead, though, for now, we know that the Bluegrass State offers limitless potential for operators and Bluegrass State residents alike.
Follow BetKentucky.com for more sports betting insights, developing updates and news, and for the best Kentucky sportsbook promos the industry has to offer.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit http://gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new customer. Must register new account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to receive $200 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Token expires 1/11/26. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: http://sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos . Ends 1/4/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
![quote]( "quote")
