Gambling

Kentucky Sports Betting Tops $1 Billion in Wagers by April

Published: Jul 6, 2025, 10:29 AM
3 min read
Updated: Jul 6, 2025, 10:29 AM

April Revenue Insights

FRANKFORT, KY - July 6, 2025
Less than two years since launching legal sports betting, Kentucky has quietly crossed a major milestone: over $1 billion wagered in just four months of 2025. What’s more impressive is how this new industry is becoming a dependable source of tax revenue, feeding the state’s pension system and funding responsible gambling programs with precision.

In April alone, Kentuckians placed $219.76 million in bets, yielding $23.71 million in revenue for sportsbooks and $3.36 million in taxes for the state.

📊 April 2025 Revenue

MetricApril 2025
Handle$219.76M
Gross Revenue (GGR)$23.71M
Hold %10.79%
Tax Revenue$3.36M

April’s performance further confirms what lawmakers had hoped for when Kentucky entered the regulated betting space in 2023: a high-engagement activity that supports long-term public funds without requiring constant legislative attention.

📈 January–April 2025 Overview

MonthHandleGGRHold %Tax Revenue
Jan$277.12M$32.98M11.90%$4.68M
Feb$224.73M$29.34M13.05%$4.15M
Mar$285.74M$18.92M6.62%$2.74M
Apr$219.76M$23.71M10.79%$3.36M
Total$1.01B$104.94M10.36%$14.93M

🔁 April Year-Over-Year Growth

MetricApril 2024April 2025Change
Handle$187.91M$219.76M▲ +16.9%
GGR$22.85M$23.71M▲ +3.8%
Tax Revenue$3.23M$3.36M▲ +4%

Handle, revenue, and taxes are all trending upward. This growth pattern shows that sports betting in Kentucky is no longer in its early stages, it’s part of the state’s ongoing financial ecosystem.

Compare All U.S. States Sports Betting Revenue

Kentucky Sportsbetting Tax Revenue

Kentucky’s sports betting tax structure allocates proceeds to two primary areas:

  1. Public Pension Fund
    The bulk of tax revenue supports Kentucky’s long-term pension obligations, addressing a critical funding issue for retired teachers, law enforcement, and other public employees.
  2. Problem Gambling Assistance Fund
    A designated share is routed to prevention, treatment, and educational services, ensuring the betting industry grows with safeguards in place.

In April, roughly $168,000 was directed toward gambling support services alone.

Kentucky isn’t chasing headlines, it’s building a functional, high-output market. With steady increases in users and tax revenue, it’s clear that the industry is a reliable revenue stream.

<p><strong>Sol Fayerman-Hansen</strong> is Editor-in-Chief at RG.org with 20+ years of experience in sports journalism, gambling regulation, and tech. His work has appeared in <i>Forbes</i>, <i>ESPN</i>, and <i>NFL.com</i>, covering U.S. and Canadian gambling laws, major sports events, and wagering trends. Since 2023, Sol has led RG.org’s global editorial efforts, focusing on transparency, data accuracy, and regulatory insight. He works closely with researchers and legal experts to uphold E-E-A-T and Trust Project standards.</p><p>📍 Israel/Canada 🌐 English, Hebrew 🎯 Gambling law, responsible gaming, tech in betting</p>
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