Thursday is going to be a big day in the United States sports betting industry, and it’s not just due to the fact that the 2023 NFL season is set to begin. The state of Kentucky is set to launch retail sports betting, getting it done on the date of the original projected launch date.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is in charge of the sports betting market in the state of Kentucky, and it worked quickly to make this launch possible. All of the horse racing tracks in the state are allowed to apply for a sports betting license, and there will be seven locations opened for business on Thursday.
Churchill Downs, Inc. is planning a huge celebration on Thursday morning, and Governor Andy Beshear will make the first wager at the legendary race track. Bettors are expected to be ready to make some wagers on Thursday morning as they have been waiting a long time for this day to come.
Even though Churchill Downs is expected to be the most popular retail sports betting location in the state, there will still be other great options. Here are the six other race tracks that are planning to offer retail wagering:
- Derby City Gaming and Hotel
- Ellis Park Racing and Gaming
- Newport Racing and Gaming
- Oak Grove Racing, Gaming, and Hotel
- The Red Mile
- Turfway Park Racing and Gaming
Long Road to Legalization
This launch of sports betting in Kentucky is going to celebrate the end to an extremely long and frustrating process for lawmakers. Kentucky looked like a state ready to legalize sports betting many years earlier, but things just always fell apart before a final vote was made.
Governor Beshear really worked hard to get sports betting legalized in the state as he made his support of the industry clear. Getting the horse racing industry involved was important as well, as those race tracks wanted the ability to offer sports betting.
The one thing that Kentucky was able to do well was plan for the launch in short order after a bill was made a law. Sports betting was only legalized earlier this year, and getting things up and running by September was a huge goal to reach.
With Kentucky now joining the legal sports betting industry, nearly every state in the Midwest portion of the country has legalized this form of betting.
Mobile Launch Coming Later
While the launch of retail sports betting on Thursday is going to generate plenty of excitement in the state, this isn’t going to make everyone happy. Retail wagering does still require some traveling, and most sports bettors are going to be waiting for the launch of online wagering.
Mobile sportsbooks are coming to the state, but that launch isn’t set to occur until September 28th. Several of the top operators in the industry have already secured a mobile sports betting license, and there will be some great options available in three weeks.
Pre-registration promotions are already available in the state of Kentucky, and sports bettors are encouraged to take advantage of those offers before September 28th.
