Sports betting coming to Kentucky in September, just in time for football

The wait is almost over. Sports gambling is coming to Kentucky in less than sixty days.

On Monday, Governor Andy Beshear and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission announced that sports gambling will be available throughout the Commonwealth in time for football this fall. In a meeting at The Red Mile in Lexington, the committee unanimously approved new emergency regulations that will govern sports wagering and get the ball rolling in Kentucky so it’s up and running before kickoff.

Governor Beshear followed the vote with a signature to make it official.

We’re betting on sports (legally) in 59 days, Kentucky.@GovAndyBeshear pic.twitter.com/ONDzdogKgB

— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) July 10, 2023

With the stroke of Beshear’s pen, Kentuckians will be gambling on September 7, the Thursday before the opening weekend in the NFL. Only the retail locations will open on that date, followed by mobile betting three weeks later, starting Thursday, September 28.

“There are so many reasons this is going to benefit our state,” said Beshear. “Bringing sports wagering to Kentucky means more money to support our pensions, our hardworking people in law enforcement, our educators, and every state, city, and county employee. I want to see any freed-up dollars going to support public education, economic development, disaster recovery, and other necessary projects, like providing clean drinking water to our families and building safer roads and supporting high-speed internet. These are investments that help us build the Kentucky that we all want, and the Kentucky that our kids deserve.”

The state’s licensed horse racing facilities can apply to house a retail sports book at its main location. These facilities include Churchill Downs (Louisville), Ellis Park (Henderson and Owensboro coming soon), Keeneland (Lexington), Turfway Park (Florence), Kentucky Downs (Franklin), The Red Mile (Lexington), The Mint Gaming Hall (Bowling Geen and Williamsburg), Derby City Gaming (Louisville), Newport Racing and Gaming (Newport), Oak Grove Racing and Gaming (Oak Grove) and new sites opening soon in Ashland and Corbin. Those sportsbooks will be taxed at 9.7%, while mobile betting will be taxed at 14.35%, Beshear confirmed.

The minimum age to bet on sports will be 18 years old, consistent with Kentucky’s other gambling laws, State Rep. Michael Meredith explained.

Finally, the wait is (almost) over. This upcoming football season, the days of driving across the river or losing money to Costa Rica, are behind us.