While Kentucky sports betting is live, the action of the first two weeks is likely a fraction of what it will be in seven days.
In-person Kentucky sports betting launched September 7. While sportsbooks have reportedly stayed busy, bettors will more than flood the market next week when mobile operators launch. In states with both options, mobile sports betting attracts more than 90% of monthly handle.
Online Kentucky sportsbooks go live September 28, ready to capture the NFL betting action in Week 4 and beyond.
What’s in store for Kentucky sports betting
There have been several staggered starts for legal sports betting markets. Most recently, Maryland and Massachusetts rolled out live sports betting in stages.
Here are the differences in handle from the first full in-person month to the first full month with online sports betting:
- Maryland, January 2022 handle (in-person began December 17, 2021): $32.5 million
- Maryland, December 2022 (online live November 23, 2022): $497.1 million
- Massachusetts, February 2023 (launched January 31): $25.0 million
- Massachusetts. March 2023 (online live March 10): $584.5 million
A more apt comparison?
Both Maryland and Massachusetts have larger populations than Kentucky, approximately 6.2 million and 7 million people compared to 4.5 million. A more similar comparison might be Louisiana, which has a population of approximately 4.6 million.
- Louisiana, November 2021 handle (first sportsbooks opened October 31, 2021): $27.6 million
- Louisiana, February 2022 handle (first online sportsbooks launched January 28, 2022): $238.4 million
The stark difference in retail versus mobile handle will not be as evident in Kentucky, as both options begin in September, but it helps demonstrate the mass use of online sports betting.
In-person sports betting forges ahead
In-person sportsbooks opened across Kentucky earlier this month.
Caesars has a sportsbook open at The Red Mile, which has been crowded both weekends, according to Jim Goodman, director of wagering development at Keeneland. Caesars will also have people on-site to assist with mobile registration at Keeneland when its fall meet begins October 4.
That includes six at Churchill Downs-owned properties with race and sports books. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has not encountered any significant problems through the first two weeks of action, according to a spokesperson.
Online sportsbooks prepping for Kentucky
Eight online sportsbooks have licenses for Kentucky. Most will be ready to go live on or shortly after next Thursday.
Those sportsbooks are:
- Caesars
- Bet365
- BetMGM
- Circa Sports
- DraftKings
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- FanDuel
Penn Interactive also has a license, but its plans for the new ESPN Bet are not yet known.
Kentucky regulators meeting Thursday
The KHRC will meet Thursday to determine the sports approved for online sports betting. It approved the in-person catalog last month.
So far, sportsbooks can offer a wide array of sports across US and international leagues, both professional and collegiate.
LSR reporter James Gazzale contributed to this story.
The post Kentucky Sports Betting Staggered Start Has Interesting Parallels appeared first on Legal Sports Report.
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