Six of Kentucky’s seven abutting neighboring states have already launched sports betting, and a recent Kentucky Horse Racing Commission meeting approved emergency regulations for retail and mobile sports betting in September.
It’s Official!
Governor Andy Beshear signed the emergency sports betting regulations approved by the KHRC at Monday’s meeting and, just like that, the timetable for Kentucky sports betting was put into overdrive.
The emergency regulations cut out some of the red tape necessary to launch sports betting and now the state will begin reaping its share of the profits from the biggest sports betting season on the calendar – NFL and college football.
“I am confident that on Sept. 7 and then on Sept. 28, it’s gonna work,” Beshear said. “It’s gonna be a pretty seamless experience for those spending their entertainment dollars, but I do believe there will be changes over time because we want the very best system that we can.”
The first game on the NFL slate is not-so-coincidentally on September 7th when the Lions meet the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
“Fifty-nine days from now will be just in time for the NFL kickoff, tailgating, and for a large part of the college football season. Sept. 7 is the first regular-season game of the NFL. It’s also when Murray State plays Louisville, and it’s just a couple of days before Kentucky plays EKU,” Beshear added.
Commitment and Fulfilling Promises
There was a foreshadowing of an expedited launch when Beshear said during a weekly press conference back in June, “I will tell you, this is a very ambitious goal to get this launched by the NFL season. But every single one of our cabinets and the [Kentucky] Horse Racing Commission have all committed to making it happen.”
He also noted the commission was heavily focused on hiring auditors, analysts, and other industry professionals to expedite the timeline. “This is a significant milestone,” Beshear said. “With the additional licensing and enforcement responsibilities, we have to add these jobs. That’s the first step toward implementation of this program.”
The governor also added, “[The KHRC] is looking at best practices. These meetings and conversations are occurring right now with an ambitious goal of getting this launched by the NFL season.”
And now we know all the talk of a quick launch was not merely political bluster but promises fulfilled.
Governor Getting It Done
Andy Beshear is getting a reputation as a can-do governor. Had it not been for his unwavering support, sports betting might have never emerged from the legislative process and launched in time for football season.
In the eleventh hour of the most recent legislative session, Governor Andy Beshear, a longtime proponent of online sports betting in the state, finally got the chance to put his pen to paper and allow Kentuckians the right to make a bet without the sweat.
The bill scaled a ponderous hurdle when the Republican-controlled state senate voted 25-12 to approve the measure. It has been a long time coming but watching Kentucky residents flee to bordering states to make a bet and filling neighboring tax coffers proved too much for all but the most strident sports betting opponents.
“Now, after years of urging action, sports betting is legal in Kentucky. We finally did it! Today’s result shows that hard work pays off,” Gov. Beshear said. “Kentuckians will soon be able to place their bets here, and for the first time, we are going to keep those dollars here to support our economy and communities.”
Republican Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer stated in a debate on the floor of his chamber, “We love our sports in the Commonwealth. And people want to be able to make the choice — of their own free will — to make a wager on a sports event, like almost all of our surrounding states.”
Calculators
