Louisville is primarily known as a horse racing town, which makes sense considering it’s home to Churchill Downs, which is the most famous racetrack in America. For traditional sports, the University of Louisville sports teams are the hottest ticket in town, with Louisville residents also having the option to travel to Cincinnati in under two hours to take in the NFL or MLB.
Like everywhere in the United States, sports betting has gained a lot of popularity in Louisville over the past decade. Being a horse racing town, getting action on sporting events came natural, and it’s now very common for Louisville residents to place sports wagers online. On this page I will touch on the legal issues with betting on sports in Louisville, recommend two betting sites that are popular among Americans, and look at the offline betting options in the city.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Louisville?
Sports betting is now legal in Kentucky. Retail (in-person) sports betting launched in the state in early-September, 2023 and the regulated online sports betting market launched later that same month. There are currently 8 regulated online betting apps available for Kentucky residents.
Louisville residents also have the option of placing bets through offshore betting sites that are licensed and regulated outside of the USA, while accepting American bettors. Bovada and BetOnline, our two recommended betting sites outlined below, fall into this category.
Best Sportsbooks for Louisville Residents
- Built for American bettors
- Wide variety of competitive betting lines
- Easy to navigate betting platform
These are our two top rated betting sites for Louisville residents. Both sites are very popular among American sports bettors, and each site is built with American customers in mind. Check out the reviews to learn more about either site.
Offline Sports Betting in Louisville
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs is perhaps the most famous racetrack in the United States. It hosts the Kentucky Derby each year, which is the most watched (and bet on) horse race in the United States annually. The race track is located right in the heart of the city, just a few minutes from the University of Louisville.
In addition to the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs is host to many other notable races each year including the Kentucky Oats, Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, and Stephen Foster Handicap.
Churchill Downs has live racing four or five days a week during racing season, and offers simulcast betting year round.
You can also wager on all Churchill Downs races throughout the year at either of our recommended betting sites listed above.
Churchill Downs also offers betting kiosks at their Race & Sports Book.
Major Sports Teams in Louisville Area
- Louisville Cardinals (NCAA)
- Louisville City FC (Soccer – USL)
- Louisville Bats (Baseball – MiLB)
Even with a population of over 600,000 Louisville really does not have any major league teams that call it home. Louisville residents must travel to Indianapolis, Cincinnati or Nashville to see top level pro sports.
In Louisville the hottest ticket in town is for the Louisville Cardinals sports teams.
How To Bet On Sports Online From Louisville
Follow this three step tutorial to quickly and easily place online sports bets from anywhere in Louisville.
Step 1. Join Bovada.lv
Click the above link and complete the overlay sign up form on the home page to open your account.
Step 2. Deposit Funds
After logging into your account click the ‘Deposit’ link under your accounts drop down menu. Select the deposit method, enter your deposit amount, and follow the instructions to fund your account.
Bovada accepts deposits via Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and MatchPay.
Step 3. Place Your Bets
- Click ‘Sports’ from the top menu bar on the Bovada website.
- Select the sport you want to bet on from the ‘All Sports A-Z’ menu.
- Select the competition or league you’re looking to bet on to narrow your search.
- Select the odds of the bet you want to make to add it to your Bet Slip.
- Enter your risk amount on the Bet Slip and click ‘Place Bet’ to make your bet.
Ready to bet from Louisville? Click here to visit Bovada.lv.