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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joined the state Horse Racing Commission and lawmakers to announce that Kentuckians can make their first-ever sports bets starting in the fall.
The announcement followed the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission meeting, where members unanimously approved emergency administrative sports betting regulations.
The governor then signed the regulations at the Red Mile, a gaming and racing venue eligible to apply to be a sports betting location.
Retail locations are set to open Sept. 7, 2023, just in time for the NFL kick-off, tailgating and the college football season, followed by mobile applications on Sept. 28.
“This is a historic day for our commonwealth – sports wagering will open for the first time in Kentucky in less than 60 days,” said Gov. Beshear. “Bringing sports wagering to the state not only gives Kentuckians a much-anticipated new form of entertainment but also brings money to the state to support pensions, freeing up money that can be used to build a better Kentucky through the funding of education, economic development, disaster recovery and other necessary projects, like providing cleaner water, building roads and high-speed internet.”
After years of pushing to pass sports betting, on March 31, 2023, Gov. Beshear signed bipartisan legislation Bill 551—-legalizing sports wagering in Kentucky.
“We have worked hard to deliver sports wagering to Kentuckians with regulations designed to protect bettors,” said Public Protection Cabinet Secretary Ray Perry. “Kentuckians can be sure that their bets are safe, their money is protected, and there is effective oversight and enforcement if the law is not followed.”
“The conversations we had with regulators and industry experts laid the groundwork for these clear and responsible regulations,” said Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Chairman Jonathan Rabinowitz. “The commission has a long history of pari-mutuel wagering integrity and is uniquely positioned to protect Kentucky bettors.”
In May, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission announced hiring additional staff to prepare for the sports wagering launch. The commission is in the process of filling 14 new positions.
Starting Tuesday, July 11, Kentucky’s licensed horseracing facilities could apply for a retail sportsbook at their main or licensed satellite locations. The state anticipates that each facility will open a retail location, and many will be ready to launch on Sept. 7.
Each licensed facility will also be permitted to partner with up to three marketing platforms for mobile wagering, to be launched on Sept. 28.
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