Kentucky Sportsbooks Post Strong June Hold and Yearly Growth
Kentucky’s sports betting operators recorded their third straight month of double-digit hold in June, delivering the highest win rate since February and significant year-over-year growth in both handle and revenue.
High Hold and Stable Revenue
In June, sportsbooks in the Bluegrass State posted a 13.2% hold, their fifth time exceeding 13% since legal wagering began in September 2023. The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation reported $23 million in gross revenue from a $174.8-million handle. Despite a seasonal dip in betting activity after the NBA playoffs, revenue fell by only $3 million compared to May.
The June handle grew 16.3% compared to the same month in 2024, while revenue jumped 45.6%. Month over month, betting volume declined by 16.6%, but operators still generated $22.6 million in adjusted revenue. The state collected $3.2 million in taxes for June, pushing year-to-date tax revenue above $21 million.
Online Dominance Over Retail
Online wagering made up the vast majority of activity, with $171.4 million in bets and $22.7 million in gross revenue – over 98% of the month’s total profit. Retail sportsbooks handled $3.4 million in wagers, earning just $323,000 in gross revenue, their lowest monthly figure since a loss in December 2024.
Churchill Downs contributed more than half of the retail profits, taking in $160,930. The remaining eight retail operators earned less than $50,000 each, and three posted under $10,000. Circa Sports’ newly opened sportsbook at the Mint Gaming Hall the largest in the state.
DraftKings Maintains Market Lead
DraftKings led the online market with $67.5 million in bets and $8.9 million in gross revenue, matching the state’s average win rate. Revenue dipped by only $500,000 from May despite a handle decline of nearly $10 million.
FanDuel followed closely with $53.8 million in handle and $8.3 million in revenue, benefiting from a 15.4% hold. bet365 secured third place, earning $1.7 million from $17.7 million in wagers.
Fanatics Sportsbook posted $1.4 million in profits on $10.1 million in bets, while BetMGM and Caesars both exceeded an 11% win rate. ESPN BET recorded its lowest handle of 2025 at $4.8 million but achieved a double-digit hold for the second straight month. Circa Sports finished in the black with $53,000 in revenue from a $1.6-million handle.
Recommended