ESPN Bet Sportsbook is now live in Kentucky. Sign up with ESPN Sportsbook, no promo code required, and claim $1,200 in bonuses, as part of the two-part sign-up offer.
Best Kentucky sportsbook sign-up bonuses
Customers at ESPN Bet have access to every major American sport, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. Kentucky bettors can wager on college football and basketball, so every game involving the Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals has odds too. Beyond that, ESPN Sportsbook provides pre-game and live betting on US and international golf, tennis, and soccer games.
ESPN Bet provides odds that match and sometimes surpass those of DraftKings and FanDuel. While the site’s daily boosts fall short of the odds boosts you’ll find at DraftKings, they are not far behind. The $1,200 welcome bonus is one of the best in the business and a great way for new users to get started with ESPN Bet Sportsbook.
ESPN Bet Sportsbook Quick hitters
- User experience: iOS and desktop users give it high ratings, while the Android app could use some improvement.
- Odds: NFL odds are better than average, and MLB odds are competitive, while totals bets favor ‘under’
- Promos: The welcome bonus is top of the line, while daily boosts are just below DraftKings’
- Best feature: The Exclusives tab provides seasonal futures boosts and odds boosts.
ESPN Bet Kentucky bonus code
When you sign up with ESPN Bet Sportsbook Kentucky you’ll instantly qualify for the $1,200 welcome bonus. ESPN matches your first deposit 100% up to $1,000. Additionally, you get $200 in bonus bets when you make your opening wager.
| ESPN Bet Bonus Code | No code needed |
|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | • 100% deposit match up to $1,000 • Bet anything, get $200 in bonus bets |
| Terms | • 20x playthrough requirement on deposit match • $200 comes as four $50 bonus bets |
| Best Feature | Odds boosts on five or more sports each day. |
| Online Since | November 14, 2023 |
| Last Upddated | 2023 |
Terms and conditions apply to all offers. Please see ESPN Sportsbook Kentucky for details. 21+ Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER+
Maximizing the ESPN Sportsbook welcome offer
How how to make the most out of the two ESPN Bet Sportsbook welcome promos.
- 100% deposit match up to $1,000 – Your initial deposit is matched 100% up to the $1,000 limit, so to get the full $1,000 in bonus cash you need to deposit at least $1,000. Then, you need to release those bonus funds. To do that you have to make bets with odds of -200 or longer. For every $10 in qualifying bets you make, $0.50 in bonus funds is released. So, to release the full $1,000, you must make $20,000 in qualifying bets. You are given 30 days to do this before any unclaimed bonus money expires.
- Bet anything, get $200 in bonus bets – When you make your first cash bet at ESPN online sportsbook, you get four $50 bonus bets. These bonus bets are yours do use however you want.
Is ESPN Bet Sportsbook legal in Kentucky?
Yes, ESPN Bet is licensed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and the online sportsbook went live on Nov. 14, 2023. Kentucky Online sports betting as a whole launched on September 28, 2023.
Getting started at ESPN Bet Sportsbook in KY
Customers can sign up at ESPN Sportsbook with a desktop computer, smartphone, or tablet. All new registrants are eligible for the welcome bonus. No ESPN promo code is needed to activate the $1,200 offer.
While the Google Play Store and App Store allow downloads of the ESPN Bet app at age 18, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old to play at ESPN Sportsbook in Kentucky.
How to register at ESPN Bet on mobile devices
- Visit the ESPN Bet homepage. Scroll to the bottom of the page, where you’ll see two links. One says “Download on the App Store” and the other says “Get It On Google Play.”
- Android users must download the app on the Google Play Store. Apple iOS users must download the app on the App Store.
- To sign up, give a valid email, create your username, and add a strong password.
- The optimal promo code box is available, but not required. Swipe “Apply” if you add a bonus code. Swipe “Next Step” to complete the form.
- ESPN Bet gives users several security questions. Select your two preferred security questions, then save your answers to your computer for future reference.
- Select your preference on how often the site asks you these questions.
- Activate your biometric login credential software if prompted. If not, this is already active.
- Finally, enter your first and last name, physical address, phone information, and Social Security number (last four digits only).
How to register at ESPN Bet on desktop computers
- On a desktop computer, click on the “Sign Up” button at the top of the homepage. Find this on the right side in blue letters.
- As with mobile registration, add a valid email, create a unique username, and add a strong password.
- Add a promo code if you have one.
- Choose two security questions and create answers that are easy to remember. Jot these down and save them to your computer.
- Add your first and last name, physical address, phone number, and the last 4 digits of your SSN.
- If ESPN Bet asks for your biometric login credential software or other geolocation software to be activated, please do so.
Some customers might be asked to further verify their identity. This might happen if you’ve moved recently, especially if you’ve moved from out of state. You’ll need to upload a photo identification to the site. A driver’s license is the standard photo ID used.
ESPN Bet Kentucky mobile app and rating (4.2/5)
Customer experiences on the ESPN Bet mobile app vary based on device type. Bettors on the App Store tend to like the experience, while Play Store reviewers report several issues. Let’s break down how ESPN Sportsbook performs across some key criteria.
- Ease of logging in: 4.3/5 – Users can easily log in with facial recognition or fingerprints.
- Ease of placing bets: 4.2/5 – Most iPhone users give it high marks, though Android users report a variety of tech issues.
- Overall speed: 4.1/5 – The speed of the iPhone app is excellent, while some Android users complain it updates too often.
- Ability to place parlays: 4.1/5 – Android parlay bets get lost due to updating too quickly. It’s easy to switch odds types on iOS devices.
- Ability to place single-game parlays: 4.3/5 – Click the “Boost” link to find readymade single-game parlays in 5 to 10 sports at once.
- Overall: 4.2/5: ESPN Bet has a simple layout and speedy updates for iOS users. Android bettors give a far lower average rating.
ESPN Bet Sportsbook vs. DraftKings Sportsbook
ESPN Bet edges out DraftKings when it comes to standard odds, while DraftKings wins when it comes to daily boosts. Let’s take a closer look at some points of comparison.
| Feature | ESPN Bet | DraftKings |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Boosts | 25%-30% | 30%-50% |
| Promotions | Yes | Yes |
| Single-Game Parlays | Yes | Yes |
| Standard Odds | -110 | -110 |
| Top Benefit | Welcome Bonus | Welcome Bonus |
| What's Lacking? | Better loyalty club | More daily boosts |
| App Rating | 4.2 | 4.7 |
Daily boosts and promotions
DraftKings is an industry leader with 30% daily boosts on most sports, plus odds boosts up to 50% on select games. ESPN Bet’s odds boosts tend to be in the 25% to 30% range. Those are good but don’t measure up to what DraftKings is cooking.
Meanwhile, DraftKings doesn’t offer anything like ESPN’s insured first bet. That’s unfortunate because first-time bettors do typically enjoy the security of getting bonus bets back after a lost initial wager.
Odds comparison
On the other hand, ESPN Sportsbook often beats DraftKings when it comes to everyday odds. That’s especially the case with NFL and college football games. It’s less so with Major League Baseball games, though the odds are consistently better. Roughly 40% of the bets are the same, while 30% to 35% favor ESPN Bet. The remaining 20% to 25% favors DraftKings.
In short, it’s close between the two sites, but ESPN Bet’s standard odds are slightly better.
Compared to other top sportsbooks, ESPN Bet supplies totals lines that favor ‘under’ bettors. That’s because the lines tend to skew 0.5 to 1.0 points higher than average. For instance, if DraftKings has an over/under of 46.5 on a Louisville football game, ESPN Bet is likely to have an over/under of 47 or 47.5.
In this case, if you want to bet the under, you should bet on ESPN Bet. If you want to bet the over, it’s better to use DraftKings or FanDuel. It’s not an every-game phenomenon but a definite trend.
App comparison
DraftKings has had nearly 10 years to improve its app, so it has high marks on the Play Store and the App Store. ESPN Bet is taking over a three-year-old Barstool Sportsbook app but has barely arrived as its own brand. That partially explains the rating disparity.
ESPN Bet’s iOS app is equal to the DraftKings iOS app. Its Android software still has issues. The parlay builder updates too quickly, which causes people to lose their in-progress parlays. This has improved over time, as the Play Store ratings tend to be higher now than they were a year or two ago.
ESPN Bet vs. DraftKings: overall comparison
While DraftKings still has a better product, ESPN Bet is closer than one might expect. Having better odds outweighs many other flaws. At the very least, Kentucky bettors should have an ESPN Bet account and a DraftKings account, so they can compare the odds on both sites. ESPN Sportsbook will have better odds often enough to be worth the customer’s time.
Live betting options at ESPN Sportsbook
- The live betting page is simple in design. ESPN Bet identifies most sports by the league name or event name, so you’ll see categories like NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, The Masters, and March Madness. The current live bets are displayed on one page with each sports event organized in its own scoreboard.
- The bet slip is on the right side of the page. It contains options for straight bets and parlays. To find specific categories of bets, use the top menu. In this case, sports are named in general terms, so you’ll find options like Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Hockey, Tennis, Table Tennis, and CS:GO.
- On the menu on the left of the screen, you’ll see all live betting options. Those that are active currently have the word “Live” next to them in red letters. These mix league names (NFL, MLB, La Liga) with event names like the Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. It might take scrolling, but you can find every live in-game betting option.
- If you want to bet on Kentucky Wildcats or Louisville Cardinals football games, search for them under NCAAF. If you want to find daily boosts, click on the “Boosts” link at the top of the left menu. The live betting page offers various types of in-game bets: player props, team props, or game props. This includes halftime bets in football and basketball, third-period bets in hockey, and both First Inning or First 5 Innings in baseball.
Banking, customer service, and setting limits at ESPN Bet Sportsbook
How to add funds or cash out
ESPN Bet supports six deposit and withdrawal methods, which work for both actions.
Adding Funds
Bettors have six major options for adding funds at ESPN Bet Sportsbook. The site accepts major credit cards and debit cards. All payment options should have funds arriving instantly.
- Credit Card: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
- Debit Card: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Amex
- PayPal
- Play+
- ACH/E-Check: Using the VIP Preferred system.
- Online Banking
Cashing Out
When cashing out funds, you can use the same methods. Since ESPN Bet has no Kentucky land-based partner, no option exists for cashing out at a retail sportsbook’s cash cage. Withdrawal times for each type are listed below.
- Credit Card: 3-5 business days.
- Debit Card: 3-5 business days.
- PayPal: 1-2 business days.
- Play+: Instant cashouts.
- ACH/E-Check: 3-5 business days.
- Online Banking: Up to 14 business days.
How to contact ESPN Bet customer service in Kentucky
- Most pages on the ESPN Bet website have a “Support” link near the bottom of the page. When you click on this, it opens the live chat feature.
- ESPN Bet has a “Contact Us” button on the menu at the bottom of the desktop pages. Click on this link, then click the “Email Us” option on the page that pops up. When you do, a contact form appears. Add your email, a title (subject), and your request’s details. If you need to attach documents to explain your situation, the form has an attachments option.
- The contact page also has a “Request Callback” option, which takes you to a red support ticket. You’ll be asked “How can we help?” and be able to add a text about your question or concern. Give your phone number and the staff will call you back shortly.
How to set limits at ESPN Bet
- ESPN Sportsbook gives bettors five tools to gamble responsibly at the site. The options are Time Limit, Deposit Limit, Spend Limit, Max Single Wager Limit, and Loss Limit. In all five cases, bettors can set a limit on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
- When you set a limit, it goes into effect immediately. This applies for the rest of the set period and cannot be reset until that period has elapsed. This is to keep a bettor from changing their mind later once the competitive spirit takes over.
- Also, ESPN Sportsbook gives customers the option to set a cool-off period. This period can be anytime between 72 hours and 3 months. Once again, this goes into effect immediately and cannot be reversed.
- Three other responsible gaming tools exist at ESPN Bet: Limit History, Reality Check-In Interval, and Exclude Payment Methods. The first lets you see your limit history, while the second sets how often the site reminds you about your activity (gaming sessions). The third lets you exclude a favorite payment method to make spending harder.
ESPN Bet Sportsbook betting locations and partnerships
ESPN Bet Sportsbook does not have a land-based partner in Kentucky yet. The closest retail betting location associated with ESPN Bet and Penn Entertainment is Ellis Park Racing & Gaming near
ESPN Bet Sportsbook Kentucky FAQ
Why should I use the bonus code at ESPN Bet Sportsbook?
You don’t need an ESPN Bet bonus code to claim the $1,200 welcome bonus.
Does ESPN Bet Sportsbook offer odds boosts or early cash-out betting?
Like most online sportsbooks, ESPN Bet supports early cashouts on winning bets. Use the bet slip to initiate the early cash-out option. While it applies only to select bets, it works for most straight bets and parlays.
Is ESPN Bet a legitimate sportsbook for Kentucky sports bettors?
Yes. ESPN Bet is not only legitimate but also has an impeccable background. It is the official sportsbook of the ESPN network, the biggest name in sports broadcasting. Like ESPN and ABC, the site is owned by the Disney Company.
ESPN Bet Sportsbook is part of a $2 billion partnership between ESPN and Penn Entertainment, the Pennsylvania land-based casino and horse track operator. Penn Entertainment has gaming businesses in 17 US states.
Why can’t I download the ESPN Bet Sportsbook app on my iPhone or my iPad?
Most likely, you need to enable your geolocation service on your iPhone or iPad. This is available with a download on desktop devices and a GPS ping on iOS and Android devices. If you don’t prove you’re inside Kentucky, the software may not let you download the app.
How does ESPN Bet pay me if I win?
ESPN Bet supports withdrawals using credit cards, debit cards, ACH or e-check, online banking, Play+, or PayPal.
What is the fastest way to make a withdrawal at ESPN Bet?
Play+ is the fastest option. Use Play+ to access funds at an ATM or anywhere that Discover Card withdrawals are allowed. Also, you can create an account on the Play+ website, and then transfer funds to a PayPal account or bank account.
If you use ACH, e-check, or online banking, the payments arrive within 3 to 5 business days. PayPal withdrawals are instant but take an extra 1-2 days to arrive in your bank account once you ask for a withdrawal. Paper checks take up to 14 business days to arrive.
