Governor Announces 7 Applicants For Kentucky Sports Betting Licenses

During this week’s Team Kentucky press conference, Gov. Andy Beshear announced seven mobile operators applying for Kentucky sports betting licenses. Retail sportsbooks are slated to launch on Sept. 7, while mobile betting apps in Kentucky are set to launch on Sept. 28.

Seven Operators Aiming To Launch Kentucky Sportsbooks

Residents are less than two months away from seeing the fully realized sports betting market in Kentucky. Now is the time fans will see which operators are working to launch. These seven potential sportsbooks must partner with a local racetrack in order to gain market access.

So far, only BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, and FanDuel have announced partnerships with Kentucky operators. The remaining applicants either are still working on curating these deals or have yet to announce,

Kentucky Online Sportsbook Applicants:

• Bet365 Kentucky
• BetMGM Kentucky
• Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky
• Circa
• DraftKings Kentucky
• FanDuel Kentucky
• PENN Sports Interactive (ESPN BET)

A standout in the list of applicants is PENN Sports Interactive and recently announced ESPN BET. PENN is targeting a November launch for its new sportsbook partnership.

Kentucky Sports Betting Progressing Towards Launch

This announcement of applicants shows that Kentucky is on track to launch on its target dates. In addition to the seven online applicants, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission revealed seven retail sportsbook applicants. The list includes Churchill Downs and The Red Mile.

“The countdown is on. Kentuckians can plan to place their first sports wagers, at a retail location, in just 28 days,” said 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.”

Gov. Beshear has also recently approved a problem gambling fund ahead of launch. This approval will allocate funds for responsible gambling efforts as sports betting makes its way to residents. The fund is known as the Problem Gambling Assistance account. Additionally, a Sports Wagering Advisory Council was formed.

The Bluegrass State is set to be an attractive betting market for operators. Gov. Beshear has stated that the market is projected to generate more than $23 million in revenue. Online betting will likely be the dominating betting force in Kentucky as it has been in all other markets.

The mobile market will help Kentucky see a lot of action. Additionally, launching during the early weeks of the NFL season will surely give the market a boom in activity.