The wait for sports betting in Kentucky has hit the stretch run and Churchill Downs is in the lead.
The famous horse racing track just let their in-person sports betting plans out of the gate. This new era in Kentucky sports will start with Gov. Andy Beshear kicking things off with the very first bet at Churchill Downs Racetrack at 10 AM on September 7.
Out of nine places to bet on horse races, Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) owns six:
- Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville
- Derby City Gaming and Hotel in Louisville
- Ellis Park Racing and Gaming in Henderson
- Newport Racing and Gaming in Newport
- Oak Grove Racing, Gaming, and Hotel in Oak Grove
- Turfway Park Racing and Gaming in Florence
But their prominent spot will be under the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs. It will feature 15 sports betting kiosks, a 168-square-foot video screen, and 20 large TVs.
In-Person Betting Perks in Kentucky
But that won’t keep the other locations from offering many perks to anyone looking to place a sports bet at their track. Here’s a breakdown of some of the things would-be bettors will get when they stop in:
- Derby City- 15 sports betting kiosks, 300 sq. ft. video screen, 12 large format televisions
- Ellis Park- 5 sports betting kiosks
- Newport Racing- 10 sports betting kiosks, 20 large format televisions
- Oak Grove- 20 sports betting kiosks, 300 sq. ft. video screen, 8 large format televisions
- Turfway Park- 15 sports betting kiosks, 300 sq. ft. video screen, 16 large format televisions
Each track will also have 15-minute “bet and jet” parking so you can quickly and easily wager in person, even if you can’t stay and watch your game.
Bridget Harmon from Derby City Gaming told WLKY, “We’re expecting big crowds. And the nice thing is, we’re ready for them,” she said. “We’re hoping there’s lines out the door to place that first bet.”
Churchill Downs Inc. is also setting up sports books at Derby City Gaming in Downtown Louisville and a part of Ellis Park in Owensboro. But they won’t be set up in time for the big launch date.
Online Wagering Begins September 28 in Kentucky
Online sports betting will also launch in Kentucky next month. The online sportsbooks will start operating on September 28.
And even though online sports betting is getting big in its home state, Churchill Downs mostly shut down its online sportsbooks called “TwinSpires” last year, but you can still find it in Arizona.
Instead of going all in with TwinSpires, they’re now teaming up with big names like DraftKings and FanDuel to integrate horse racing into those apps.
Churchill Downs didn’t make a huge splash in the US sports betting scene. Before they closed their online betting, they even changed the name of their BetAmerica service to TwinSpires in 2021.
Online Sports Betting Details
On March 31 of this year, Kentucky became the 37th state to regulate sports betting as Gov. Andy Beshear signed HB 551 into law.
Online sports betting is set to begin at 6 AM on September 28, but preregistration for bettors will open on August 28 and the ability to deposit will go into effect on the same day in-person betting in Kentucky launches at 6 AM on September 7.
Lawmakers were hoping to roll out the first online sports betting sites and mobile apps in time for the upcoming football season in the fall, and it looks like they’re getting their wish.
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