Kentuckians are three weeks away from being able to place a legal sports wager in the state.
Governor Andy Beshear provided a timeline on Thursday as the state gears up for the first official start date on Sept. 7 for in-person bets at licensed retail facilities.
The Governor said Kentuckians can pre-register an account with approved mobile applications starting on Aug. 28.
A list of approved retail facilities and mobile applications will be released Aug. 22, following the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) meeting.
“The countdown is on. We are just three weeks away from sports wagering in Kentucky,” said Gov. Beshear. “We are ready to deliver the quality entertainment experience Kentuckians asked for, while bringing money to the state to support pensions and free up funds that can be used to build a better Kentucky.”
On the 22nd, the KHRC will meet to vote on license applications. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) has received applications from seven of the
state’s licensed racetracks:
- Churchill Downs, Louisville;
- Cumberland Run, coming soon to Corbin;
- Ellis Park, Henderson;
- Oak Grove Gaming and Racing, Oak Grove;
- The Red Mile, Lexington;
- Sandy’s Gaming and Racing, coming soon to Ashland; and
- Turfway Park, Florence.
Come Sept. 28, approved mobile applicants can start taking wagers. Mobile service providers that have applied for a license to operate in Kentucky include:
- Bet365
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- Circa
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- Penn Sports Interactive
Kentucky chose a tiered implementation, which has been used in multiple states and which allows for testing of policies and procedures before the full rollout that includes mobile applications.
“The KHRC is excited to open sports wagering and is working efficiently to meet the necessary deadlines. This is a careful process dedicated to wagering integrity and protecting bettors in the state of Kentucky,” said Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Chairman Jonathan Rabinowitz.
After years of pushing to get sports betting passed, on March 31, 2023, Gov. Beshear signed bipartisan legislation – House Bill 551 – legalizing sports wagering in Kentucky.
Sports betting will generate an estimated revenue increase of $23 million a year upon full implementation that will be dedicated to the Kentucky permanent pension fund and 2.5% to the problem gambling assistance account. The bill also established a new excise tax on sports wagering: 9.75% on the adjusted gross revenues on wagers made at a licensed facility and 14.25% on wagers placed online or on a smart phone.
For more information about sports wagering in Kentucky, visit KHRC.ky.gov.