- Kentucky sportsbooks took $206.3 million in bets in August, up 6.8% from August 2025.
- DraftKings and FanDuel handled the same $131.6 million as last August, while BetMGM and Fanatics accounted for 92% of online growth.
- Three years after launch, Kentucky has taken $8.48 billion in bets and $128.3 million in tax benefits.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – DraftKings and FanDuel still own Kentucky sports betting. But in August, they were not the reason it grew.
The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation’s August 2026 sports wagering report shows $206.3 million bet across the state, up 6.8% from August 2025.
Online betting made up $203 million of that total, or 98.4% of all action.
Bettors also had a good month. Online sportsbooks held just 8.4% of bets compared to 11.4% a year ago. As a result, revenue fell 20% to $17.1 million, and Kentucky collected $2.47 million in tax benefits.
The Big Two Stand Still
DraftKings ($72.1 million) and FanDuel ($59.5 million) combined for $131.6 million in online handle. That is 64.8% of the market, and the pair kept 70.5% of all online revenue.
But last August, the duo handled $131.6 million. The difference between the two months was less than $17,000.
So while the market grew by $15.5 million, DraftKings and FanDuel’s share of the legal Kentucky sports betting market fell from 70.2% to 64.8%. Since launch, they’ve taken 71.7% of all online bets in Kentucky.
FanDuel also took a hit at the window. Its revenue dropped 33% to $5.5 million as its hold slid from 13.7% to 9.3%.
BetMGM And Fanatics Close In
That growth landed almost entirely with two books. BetMGM and Fanatics added $14.2 million in handle year over year – 92% of Kentucky’s online growth.
BetMGM handled $17.3 million in August, a 79% jump from $9.7 million. Even better for the book, sports betting revenue more than doubled from $740,443 to $1.66 million.
Fanatics climbed 74%, going from $8.9 million to $15.5 million. Its revenue did slip 27% on a 5.9% hold, but the volume shows Kentucky bettors are making the switch.
| Sportsbook | Aug. 2026 Handle | Aug. 2025 Handle | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | $72.1 million | $71.4 million | +0.9% |
| FanDuel | $59.5 million | $60.2 million | -1.1% |
| bet365 | $21.2 million | $20.4 million | +3.5% |
| BetMGM | $17.3 million | $9.7 million | +79.0% |
| Fanatics | $15.5 million | $8.9 million | +73.7% |
| Caesars | $9.3 million | $9.7 million | -3.6% |
Together, BetMGM and Fanatics took 16.1% of online handle in August, up from 9.9% a year ago. bet365 still holds third place at $21.2 million, but BetMGM is now within $4 million.
Three Years In, $10 Billion In Sight
Legal Kentucky sports betting launched in September 2023. Three years later, the amount of money bet on sports has eclipsed $8.4 billion, generating $907.4 million in revenue and $128.3 million in tax benefits for the state.
Nowadays, $245 million is a standard month for Kentucky, which is the 2026 average through August. With football season now in full swing, Kentucky will cross the $10 billion marker within a few months.
By then, DraftKings and FanDuel will likely still be on top. The bigger question is how much of the market they will still control.
