The picture of Kentucky sports betting is coming into focus. Seven sportsbook apps have so far applied for licenses in Kentucky, where mobile sports betting is set to launch by Sept. 28.
Governor Andy Beshear shared an update on Thursday, Aug. 10, listing the seven initial applicants that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission will consider at a meeting on Aug. 22.
Kentucky sports betting will begin in person on Sept. 7, which is also the official kickoff of the NFL season. Online sports betting will follow soon after on Sept. 28.
The Seven Kentucky Sportsbooks in the Initial Round of Applications
Beshear’s announcement on Thursday revealed the seven sportsbooks that have applied for mobile licenses in Kentucky.
The KHRC will be considering the following:
- Bet365
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- Circa
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- PENN Entertainment (now ESPN Bet)
More mobile sportsbooks should join the list eventually. In particular, WynnBet has been named in KHRC updates, and Fanatics is rolling out its first sportsbook in the fall and will likely be applying in Kentucky.
What About Retail Sportsbooks in Kentucky?
The Kentucky sports betting law allows each of the state’s nine racetracks to partner with up to three online operators and a retail sportsbook.
Beshear revealed which horse racing facilities have applied for retail Kentucky sports betting licenses.
- Churchill Downs (FanDuel)
- Cumberland Run
- Ellis Park Racing & Gaming
- Oak Grove Racing & Gaming
- Red Mile Racing & Gaming (Caesars)
- Sandy’s Racing & Gaming (BetMGM)
- Turfway Park Racing & Gaming
As noted above, FanDuel and Caesars had already announced their partnerships with Churchill Downs and Red Mile, respectively.
Keeneland is included in the Red Mile umbrella, but Keeneland will not have a brick-and-mortar sportsbook. Red Mile and Keeneland are within one mile of each other, and Red Mile will have a retail Caesars Sportsbook.
More Details on BetMGM and New Sports Betting Facility
Earlier this month, BetMGM became the third major sportsbook to announce a Kentucky partnership with Revolutionary Racing Kentucky.
The deal includes an in-person sportsbook at Sandy’s Racing & Gaming in Ashland, KY.
“Kentucky has a rich history in sports and a passionate fan base,” BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said in a release. “Revolutionary Racing is an ideal partner, enabling us to deliver an entertaining and responsible gaming experience while investing in the state through job creation and tax revenue.”
Revolutionary Racing is currently building Sandy’s Racing & Gaming, which is a $75 million project with partners ELS Gaming and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
The new development includes a 5,200-square-foot BetMGM sportsbook for in-person betting. It will also develop more than 650 slot machine-like devices and 182 acres for the state’s first quarter-horse racetrack, with races to begin in 2025.
