DraftKings Sportsbook has operated legally in Kentucky since September 28, 2023, when the state launched mobile sports wagering under House Bill 551.1Commonwealth of Kentucky. Gov. Beshear: Sports Betting Three Weeks Away, Sept. 7 is Opening Day for In-Person Wagers To use the app you need to be at least 21 under 2026 legislation, physically located inside Kentucky every time you place a wager, and verified through the platform’s identity check. The sections below walk through eligibility, account setup, funding, available markets, taxes, and the tools built in for cutting yourself off if you need to.
Who Can Bet
Kentucky’s original law set the minimum age at 18, making the state an outlier.2Justia Law. Kentucky Revised Statutes 230.805 – Racing Commission to Institute System of Sports Wagering House Bill 904, passed during the 2026 session, raises that minimum to 21.3Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. 26RS HB 904 If you’re between 18 and 20 with an existing account, expect to lose access once the new requirement takes effect.
Location matters as much as age. State law requires that bettors be physically inside Kentucky when placing a wager.2Justia Law. Kentucky Revised Statutes 230.805 – Racing Commission to Institute System of Sports Wagering DraftKings enforces this with geofencing that checks your phone’s GPS or your computer’s IP before accepting any bet, and it rechecks periodically during a session. Cross the Ohio River or drive down to Nashville, and the betting interface locks until you return. Keep location services on whenever you’re using the app.
Some people are barred regardless of age or location. Kentucky regulations define a “prohibited patron” to include anyone wagering on behalf of someone else, anyone on a voluntary or involuntary exclusion list, and anyone betting in violation of state or federal law.4Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. 809 KAR 10:001 – General Provisions Athletes, coaches, referees, and team staff cannot bet on their own sport.
Setting Up Your Account
Download DraftKings Sportsbook from the Apple App Store or Google Play. A desktop version is available if you prefer. Before you start the sign-up, have these on hand:
- Your full legal name, exactly as it reads on your government ID
- Date of birth
- The last four digits of your Social Security number
- Your home address as it appears in public records
- An email address for multi-factor authentication and notices
Accuracy on this form is worth the extra minute. A typo in your name or address can bump you from instant approval into manual review. Submitting the form kicks off an automated Know Your Customer check against third-party databases, which usually finishes in seconds.
When the automated check doesn’t clear, often because of a recent move, a name change, or a thin credit file, DraftKings will ask for a photo of your driver’s license or a recent utility bill. Manual review generally takes 24 to 48 hours. Until your identity is fully verified, you cannot place wagers, deposit, or withdraw.2Justia Law. Kentucky Revised Statutes 230.805 – Racing Commission to Institute System of Sports Wagering
Funding Your Account
Once verified, open the wallet section of your profile. Kentucky users can fund an account through:
- Visa or Mastercard debit cards
- Online banking transfers from a linked checking account
- PayPal and Venmo
- Play+ and similar prepaid cards
Credit cards are no longer accepted. Most major sportsbooks dropped them in 2024 and 2025 after banks began treating the charges as cash advances, with the fees and interest rates that go with them. Any guide suggesting otherwise is out of date.
The minimum deposit is $5 for most methods; wire transfers require $100.5DraftKings. Depositing on DraftKings – Overview Available methods vary by jurisdiction, so the exact list in your app may be shorter.
Withdrawals run through the same wallet. Pick a verified payout method, enter an amount, and confirm. PayPal withdrawals typically clear within 48 hours, online bank transfers take two to five business days, and mailed checks take seven to ten. DraftKings sometimes requires that your initial deposit be returned to its original source before releasing further funds through a different channel.
What You Can Bet On
Kentucky places few restrictions on bet types. DraftKings carries the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college sports, soccer, golf, tennis, MMA, and other markets, with moneylines, point spreads, totals, parlays, same-game parlays, futures, and player props.
The notable restriction comes from HB 904: proposition bets tied to individual performance statistics for athletes on Kentucky-based college teams are prohibited where the wager depends on the athlete falling short of a threshold or having a negative outcome.3Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. 26RS HB 904 You won’t find certain player props for University of Kentucky or University of Louisville athletes. Standard game lines and team-level bets on those schools are still available. Wagering on amateur youth sporting events is also prohibited.
Live Betting and Cash Out
Live in-game wagering is available on most major events. Odds move in real time, and you can place new bets on things like the next team to score. The interface shows live odds next to a scorecard.
Cash Out lets you close an active bet before the game ends for whatever amount the platform offers at that moment, which may be more or less than your original wager. A yellow Cash Out indicator on your bet slip tells you the option will be available. To use it, open My Bets, select the Cash Out tab, and confirm; funds appear immediately.6DraftKings. What is Cash Out It isn’t offered on every bet or every sport.
What You Owe in Taxes
Every dollar you win is taxable income, whether or not you receive paperwork. The IRS doesn’t condition the obligation on getting a W-2G.
DraftKings is required to withhold 24% of your winnings when the payout minus your wager exceeds $5,000. The withholding happens automatically and you’ll receive a W-2G. If you don’t provide a valid taxpayer identification number, backup withholding at the same 24% rate applies to all reportable winnings.7Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754
Kentucky imposes a flat 3.5% income tax for 2026, and that rate applies to gambling winnings.8Kentucky Department of Revenue. 2026 Kentucky Withholding Tax Formula On your federal return, you can deduct gambling losses against winnings if you itemize, but only up to the amount you won; losses can’t produce a net deduction. Keep a running record of every bet, wins and losses alike. The My Bets section has a transaction history, but your own spreadsheet is a useful backup for tax season.
Responsible Gambling Tools
Kentucky requires every licensed sportsbook to maintain a self-exclusion list for bettors who want to cut themselves off from wagering.9Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. 809 KAR 10:007 – Self-Exclusion List Enrolling collects your name, address, and date of birth, and the exclusion can be temporary or permanent. Once you’re on the list, DraftKings is legally required to block your account.
Short of formal exclusion, DraftKings offers daily, weekly, and monthly deposit limits, wagering limits that cap how much you can stake in a given period, and a cool-off feature that suspends your account for a chosen number of days. These controls live in the responsible gaming settings and take effect immediately when you turn them on. Loosening a deposit limit involves a waiting period before the change takes effect; the delay is intentional.
If gambling has stopped feeling like entertainment, the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling and the national helpline at 1-800-522-4700 offer free, confidential support.