Kentuckians Will Be Able To Bet On These Sporting Events In 2023

Written By Matthew Bain on July 11, 2023
Kentucky bettors will be able to bet on these 2023 sporting events

We officially know when Kentuckians will be able to place their first legal sports bets: Sept. 7 at retail sportsbooks, and Sept. 28 on mobile sportsbook apps.

That Sept. 7 date is key, because it’s the first day of the NFL season.

But what else is the Kentucky sports betting industry launching in time for?

Put differently, which sporting events will a September launch allow Kentuckians to bet on in 2023?

Let’s take a look.

NFL football

With Kansas City vs. Detroit kicking off the 2023 NFL season on Sept. 7, Kentucky residents will be able to bet on games throughout the full season — at least at a retail sportsbook.

Detroit at Green Bay in Thursday Night Football kicks off Week 4 of the NFL season on Sept. 28. From then on, Kentuckians will be able to bet on NFL games using online sportsbooks as well.

College football

Week 2 of the college football season begins Sept. 7 with Louisville hosting Murray State. The Cardinals are playing the only Division I college football game that day, so all NCAA football bettors in Kentucky — and across the US — will have their eyes on that game.

So, Kentuckians will be able to bet on Louisville, Kentucky and all college football games starting Week 2 at retail sportsbooks.

They’ll be able to do so on sports betting apps like BetMGM Kentucky starting in Week 5. Louisville plays NC State and Kentucky hosts Florida that week.

MLB playoffs, World Series

The MLB postseason begins with the Wild Card Series starting Oct. 3.

That means Kentucky bettors will have full gambling access for the entirely of the MLB playoffs, all the way through the World Series.

NBA tipoff

The 2023-24 season will begin Oct. 24.

College basketball tipoff

College basketball season begins in early November, with some big early-season tournaments starting around Thanksgiving.

Kentucky plays Kansas on Nov. 14 and Miami on Nov. 28. Louisville plays in the Empire State Classic (Nov. 19-20), also featuring UConn, Indiana and Texas.

You’d better believe operators will go heavy on the Kentucky sportsbook promos and bonuses for the start of college hoops season in the Bluegrass State.

Ryder Cup

The Ryder Cup, the US vs. Europe men’s golf competition held every two years, takes place this year Sept. 29-Oct. 1. It’s being played in Rome this year. It’s routinely one of the most bet-on golf events in the world.

NASCAR

There are several NASCAR races on the calendar for Kentuckians to bet on with apps like DraftKings Kentucky:

  • Hollywood Casino 400 (Sept. 10)
  • AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (Sept. 24)
  • YellaWood 500 (Oct. 1)
  • Bank of America ROVAL 400 (Oct. 8)
  • South Point 400 (Oct. 15)
  • NASCAR Cup Series Race at Homestead-Miami (Oct. 22)
  • Xfinity 500 (Oct. 29)
  • NASCAR Cup Series Championship (Nov. 5)

Formula 1

There are also several Grand Prix events on the calendar for Kentuckians to bet on:

  • Singapore Grand Prix (Sept. 17)
  • Japanese Grand Prix (Sept. 24)
  • Qatar Grand Prix (Oct. 8)
  • United States Grand Prix (Oct. 22)
  • Mexico City Grand Prix (Oct. 29)
  • Sau Paulo Grand Prix (Nov. 5)
  • Las Vegas Grand Prix (Nov. 19)
  • Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Nov. 26)

UFC

The UFC has three events for Kentucky residents to bet on in 2023:

  • UFC 293 (Sept. 9)
  • UFC 294 (Oct. 21)
  • UFC 295 (Nov. 11)

UEFA Champions League

Group stage matches in the UEFA Champions League take place from September to December, so any international soccer fans in Kentucky will have plenty of options for legal sports betting.

Solheim Cup

Like the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup pits the US vs. Europe in a women’s golf competition. It will be played this year in Spain, from Sept. 18-24.

Other notable sporting events Kentuckians can bet on in 2023

  • College Football Playoff semifinals, bowl games (December)
  • NCAA women’s volleyball championship (Dec. 14, Dec. 16)
  • Rugby World Cup (Sept. 8-Oct. 28)
  • Davis Cup Finals (Nov. 12-26)
  • Cricket World Cup (Oct. 5-19)
  • FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup (Nov. 16-26)
Photo by AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
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Matthew Bain

Matthew Bain started as a Content Manager for PlayKentucky and other Catena Media sites in 2022. He covered the launch of Massachusetts sports betting and the Prop 26 vs. Prop 27 battle in California. Before that, he spent six years as a sports reporter and then deputy sports editor for the Des Moines Register, during which time he won nine statewide journalism awards, including the Genevieve Mauck Stoufer Outstanding Young Iowa Journalists Award. As deputy sports editor, Matthew oversaw the Register's recruiting coverage while also innovating the outlet's high school sports coverage. Matthew graduated from San Diego State and grew up in California, but he's somehow a Boston Celtics fan. Long story.

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