Two weeks in, Kentucky sports betting is off to a strong start. Retail wagering debuted on Sept. 7 and, in the past two weeks, sportsbooks in the Commonwealth have accepted over $4.5 million in bets.
“This is a strong number that certainly reflects the excitement Kentuckians have for the opening of sports wagering. With college football and the NFL season underway, plus the launch of mobile wagering, we expect that number will grow significantly,” said Gov. Andy Beshear.
“It has taken many years to get here, but sports wagering is finally a reality in Kentucky. This is a win-win for Kentuckians, who can enjoy a quality entertainment experience and benefit from funds staying right here in our state to help us build a better Kentucky.”
There are currently nine sportsbooks in the state, but more are on the way, including a BetMGM facility at the forthcoming Sandy’s Racing and Gaming.
In just six days, the state will also debut online sports betting on eight platforms, which are:
bet365
BetMGM
Caesars
Circa
DraftKings
Fanatics
FanDuel
Penn
The Sports Wagering Advisory Council met this week and approved a handful of new sports to debut online as betting options. Those include F1 Racing, National Rugby League, Professional Fighters League MMA, Bellator MMA, and Universal Tennis League.
Retail was off to a strong start, but in the long run, it will be online wagering that comprises the bulk of the betting activity in the state. Most states split more than 90% online and less than 10% retail.
