Kentucky approves temporary online, retail sports betting licenses ahead of September launch

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced Tuesday that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) has granted temporary licenses to sports wagering operators and service providers. The move comes as the Bluegrass State, on an accelerated push since lawmakers legalized sports betting in late March, readies to launch its market in September.

These temporary licenses offer the opportunity for operations within the state for a period of up to one year, subject to ongoing evaluation. This development now provides clarity to Kentucky bettors regarding the authorized retail establishments for placing sports bets, along with the list of approved mobile applications permitted within the state.

“The countdown continues as we move closer to sports wagering with retail locations opening in just 15 days,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “Thank you to the KHRC commissioners for their dedication to getting this done right and getting it done in time for the opening of the NFL season.”

“We are excited to open sports wagering on our target date as we continue working through this careful process dedicated to wagering integrity and protecting bettors in the state of Kentucky,” said KHRC Chairman Jonathan Rabinowitz.

Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) voted to approve temporary licenses for sports wagering operators and service providers.

Read more: https://t.co/9vycKRro9D pic.twitter.com/WQtuYQGwMe

— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) August 22, 2023

Several Kentucky racetracks, including their associated satellite facilities, have secured approval to establish sportsbooks, with scheduled retail openings commencing on September 7. These facilities include:

• Churchill Downs, Louisville
• Derby City Gaming, Louisville
• Ellis Park, Henderson
• The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland Run, Corbin
• The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland, Williamsburg
• Newport Racing and Gaming, Newport
• Oak Grove Gaming and Racing, Oak Grove
• The Red Mile, Lexington
• Turfway Park, Florence

Additional approvals have been granted for the following forthcoming facilities:

• Derby City Gaming, coming soon to downtown Louisville
• Ellis Park, coming soon to Owensboro
• Sandy’s Gaming and Racing, coming soon to Ashland

The KHRC also voted to approve temporary licenses for nine operators and service providers. Eight firms will operate mobile applications in Kentucky while Kambi was approved as a service provider for retail operations and will not have a mobile application.

Ahead of the online sports betting launch, Kentuckians can pre-register an account with approved mobile applications starting Aug. 28. The service providers licensed to operate a mobile sports wagering application starting Sept. 28 are:

• Bet365
• BetMGM
• Caesars
• Circa
• DraftKings
• Fanatics
• FanDuel
• Penn Sports Interactive

Sports wagering is expected to increase the state’s revenue by an estimated $23 million a year upon full implementation, the official statement said. The increase in revenue will support the oversight of sports wagering and then be dedicated to the Kentucky permanent pension fund. Additionally, 2.5% will support the problem gambling assistance account operated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

House Bill 551 established a new excise tax on sports wagering at 9.75% on the adjusted gross revenues on wagers made at a licensed facility and 14.25% on wagers placed online or on a smartphone. Under the plan, each racetrack is able to partner with up to three online operators.

Bet365 and BetMGM will offer mobile betting in partnership with Sandy’s Racing and Gaming, while BetMGM will also run retail gaming. For its part, Caesars will offer retail and mobile betting with The Red Mile, while Betfair will run mobile betting with Turfway Park.

Penn Sports Interactive, to rebrand as ESPN Bet, partnered with Ellis Park to offer mobile, while Circa struck an online-only partnership with Cumberland Run. DraftKings partnered with Cumberland Run in Corbin for retail and both Cumberland Run and The Mint in Cumberland for mobile betting. Lastly, Kambi will provide retail betting services for Churchill Downs’ Ellis Park, Turfway Park and Oak Grove.