As of Thursday, it’s 28 days until sports betting becomes legal in the Commonwealth.
And while some see it as a distraction, or worse, it’s coming to the doorstep of west Kentuckians.
During his Thursday “Team Kentucky” update, Governor Andy Beshear noted all systems remain a go, and plans are “on track” for the September 7 launch at retail locations, and a September 28 launch on mobile devices.
According to Beshear, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has received applications from seven of the state’s licensed racetracks, including:
— Oak Grove Gaming and Racing in south Christian County;
— Ellis Park in Henderson;
—Churchill Downs in Louisville;
— The Red Mile in Lexington;
— Turfway Park in Florence;
— Cumberland Run, soon coming to Corbin;
— and Sandy’s Gaming and Racing, soon coming to Ashland.
Mobile service providers that have currently applied for a license to operate in Kentucky include:
— Bet365;
— BetMGM;
— Caesars;
— Circa;
— DraftKings;
— FanDuel;
— and Penn Sports Interactive.
Beshear also noted that bringing sports wagering to Kentucky not only gives its citizens a much-anticipated new form of entertainment, but “also brings money to the state to support pensions,” freeing up dollars that can be used to build a “better Kentucky” through education, economic development, disaster recovery and other necessary projects — like cleaner water, building roads and high-speed internet access.
In essence, Kentucky’s infrastructure got a huge lift through the American Rescue Plan Act, but stands to gain even more when betting becomes legal.
It’s worth noting again that licensing applications do not guarantee licensure. Furthermore, the hiring of key employees must go through the same rigorous vetting process.
KHRC Chariman Jonathan Rabinowitz said this careful process is “dedicated to wagering integrity, and protecting bettors in…the Commonwealth.”
For more information about the sports wagering in Kentucky, visit KHRC.ky.gov.
