Andy Beshear signed House Bill 551 to “add to the commonwealth’s record-breaking economic momentum, boost tourism, and ensure more money stays in state.” 7, as the NFL regular season began, sports betting rolled out across the state.Īt the end of March, Gov. It’s often the poorest people of our communities who are most vulnerable to the slick advertisement and the promise that Draft Kings puts out and Fan Duel puts out, about getting rich quick.Kentucky residents and visitors are now able to bet on more sporting events than horse racing.

“We recognize expanded gambling preys on poor people. We oppose it because we see the dangers,” KBC Executive Director Todd Gray told lawmakers in March. “We’re not against it because we want to keep folks from having fun or having what is sold to us as innocent and harmless entertainment. The Kentucky Baptist Convention opposed the sports betting bill. But you can bet I will likely support our in-state schools and root against Duke.” When asked what he will put his money on when he places the state’s initial wager, Beshear replied, “I’ll announce it then.

NCAA baseball, softball, basketball, football and hockey.

Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).

for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and to place the first bet.Īmong the sports Kentuckians can wager on from the catalog that was approved a week ago by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s (KHRC) Sports Wagering Advisory Council are: Jacqueline Coleman will be in Northern Kentucky to be with local leaders and Turfway Park and Newport Racing & Gaming executives at 10 a.m. He will also visit the Red Mile in Lexington at 1:30 p.m., where he will be joined by Caesars Sportsbook, Keeneland, and Red Mile Gaming & Racing, for a ribbon-cutting and ceremonial bet event for the grand opening of Caesars Sportsbook at Red Mile. Everything is ready, although there have been some tracks having to do last minutes work to be ready to take them.” “I’ll be excited to be at Churchill Downs, a little before 10 a.m., to make the first bet. Andy Beshear said he’s looking forward to it. Sports wagering, which was legalized by the General Assembly earlier this year, begins today at 12 brick-and-mortar licensed retail facilities across Kentucky, while the use of approved mobile apps won’t begin until Sept.

Places where sports betting is legal