Kentucky has joined the rising record of states providing authorized sports activities betting. The state formally launched reside retail betting Thursday morning, with on-line wagering approaching board later this month on Sept. 28.
The Bluegrass State turns into the thirty fifth state to permit sports activities betting in some kind, both at reside betting places, on-line, or each.
After a number of makes an attempt by state legislators since 2020, a invoice legalizing betting handed within the spring with Gov. Andy Beshear (D) signing the invoice.
Betting within the state is regulated by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and the state made a reasonably fast turnaround in going from passage to launch in comparison with another states. Kentucky has a deep historical past in horse race wagering, however now residents can wager on different sports activities as effectively.
Unlike most states that set the authorized betting age at age 21, Kentucky bettors can wager on the age of 18, which stays in keeping with the age to guess on horses. However, some operators, together with FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook, have chosen to maintain the age at 21 on their very own platforms.
The addition of sports activities wagering matches many of the neighboring states which have additionally legalized the follow, together with Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. That will assist maintain Kentucky residents’ cash within the state and improve tax income. Some have estimated that determine to vary from $20 to $30 million yearly.
Getting Betting Underway
Gov. Beshear reportedly made Kentucky’s first guess on Thursday morning at Churchill Downs, house to the Kentucky Derby since 1875.
“We have a historic day ahead of us, Kentucky!” the governor famous on Twitter. “After years of hard work, sports betting is legal in the commonwealth – and I am proud to be placing the first bet at 10 a.m. EDT at Churchill Downs.”
The governor guess the over on the University of Kentucky and Louisville soccer wins, in addition to the beneath on rival Duke’s complete wins. The timing of the guess was later contested by State Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer®, who claimed on social media to have made the primary guess 75 miles away at a Lexington racetrack.
So humorous that not solely is there dispute over who will get credit score for legalizing sports activities betting, but it surely seems there’s now disagreement over who made the primary authorized guess – Dem Gov. Andy Beshear or Senate GOP Leader Damon Thayer pic.twitter.com/ks6xhM9Ln9
— Austin Horn (@_AustinHorn) September 7, 2023
Regardless of who positioned the primary guess, with the faculty and professional soccer seasons now getting underway, there needs to be appreciable curiosity from sports activities followers within the state.
Kentucky is house to a number of gaming amenities and horse tracks. Some of these had been set to start providing betting on Thursday with extra set to open within the coming weeks. Those able to take bets embrace Churchill Downs, Derby City Gaming, Ellis Park, The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland and Cumberland Run, Newport Racing & Gaming, Oak Grove Racing, The Red Mile, and Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.
Sports wagering throughout the nation grew to become authorized in 2018 when the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection, a regulation that initially created a digital ban on sports activities betting outdoors Nevada. The difficulty is now left to states to determine on, which has led to legalization efforts throughout the nation.
