Sports betting in Kentucky continues to be a hot topic, and the inaugural gathering of the Kentucky Sports Betting Advisory Council holds immense significance. Why? Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear put together this newly formed council to provide guidance and support to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) in overseeing sportsbook operations.
During this inaugural meeting, the council deliberated and subsequently voted in favor of a proposed sports-wagering catalog. This document details the different betting options available and specifies the events and leagues on which bets can be placed. But what’s most significant is that it falls short for a lot of people.
Horse racing is one noteworthy exclusion since Kentucky residents will have to go to the track or download separate horse-racing applications to bet on the sport of kings.
“We did consider several other jurisdictions’ catalogs and what those represent,” KHRC Director of Sports Wagering Hans Stokke told the council. “There are some omissions from this catalog that will not be allowed in Kentucky that you might find in other jurisdictions, particularly any dogs or horse races will not be included in our catalog.”
What Is on the Menu?
Before we get into what’s missing from the sports betting menu in Kentucky, let’s establish what you can bet on in the Bluegrass State. Here’s a list of the biggies:
- The National Football League (NFL)
- Major League Baseball (MLB)
- The National Basketball Association (NBA)
- The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA)
- NCAA baseball, softball, basketball, football and hockey
When it comes to esports competitions that may be bet on, the catalog is pretty extensive. League of Legends, Overwatch League, and Valorant contests are a few examples.
Kentucky bettors will also be able to put some money down on European professional soccer and the LIV Golf Tour. Additionally, there are options to bet on less conventional events such as cornhole, netball, UFC, and even the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
The approved wager types cover all the classics as well, including:
- Single-game bets
- Teasers
- Parlays
- Totals
- Moneylines
- Pools
- Props
- In-game action
If a licensee asks for it, the KHRC may consider approving additional wagering types. The governing authority for a sport may ask that particular wager types be restricted or disallowed.
What’s Missing From the Menu?
But what people are talking most about is what is missing from the menu. It starts with horse and dog racing, but it doesn’t end there.
Both NCAA volleyball and pickleball, which have recently been introduced in 11 states, are conspicuously absent from Kentucky’s list of authorized wagers. Pickleball is considered to be one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.
“Those (NCAA, beach volleyball) are a couple more things that we will consider, even possibly in time for our mobile launch,” Stokke said. “There were some that were left off of there that we didn’t feel we had adequate time or research to add to our initial offering, but would be happy to consider even in time for that Sept. 28 launch.”
So, although the menu doesn’t appear to be complete, it sounds like there are plans to add to it in the very near future.
Sports Betting in Kentucky on the Verge of Launching
Regardless of what many think is missing from the menu, excitement for sports wagering in Kentucky is building. We are less than a week away from the opening of retail locations and about a month from launching mobile applications for sports betting.
Kentucky opted for a phased approach to its sports betting implementation, a strategy previously adopted by several other states. This method facilitates the trial of policies and procedures before fully launching features, such as mobile applications.
When fully implemented, sports betting is anticipated to boost state revenue by around $23 million annually. The additional cash will be used to oversee the regulation of sports betting before being allocated to the Kentucky Permanent Pension Fund. Additionally, 2.5% will go toward the Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ problem gambling help fund.
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