The state of Kentucky may soon launch sports betting services

Updates on Sports Betting Launch Industry

Updates on Sports Betting Launch Provided by Kentucky Governor

By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 28 August 2023

Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

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The governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, has recently provided an update as the launch of legal sports betting looms closer in the state.

Kentucky’s governor unveiled several key dates, and these relate to both retail and online sports betting. Many sports fans across the state are getting geared up for the launch, which will go ahead very shortly, just in time for the football season.

The timing of the launch is great news for both sports fans and the state, as there will already be huge droves of bettors eager to wager on NFL games.

The launch of sports betting will bring in a lot of money for the state as well as an excellent form of entertainment for sports fans across the state. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is now in the throes of voting on sports betting license applications.

Protecting Bettors and Ensuring Integrity

Beshear expressed his delight that sports betting was just weeks away from launch, and he outlined a couple of important dates in relation to the launch.

He confirmed that betting in person would begin at 10:00 a.m. on September 7th at licensed retail sportsbooks. He also confirmed that the earliest sports fans would be able to register for an account with approved mobile sports betting operators would be August 28th from 6:00 a.m.

Kentucky has decided to tier its sports betting rollout, as a number of other states have done in the past. Regulators decided on this approach because it would allow for any issues to be ironed out in the early stages before the full launch of sports betting across the state.

Officials from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission also pointed out that the process was a time-consuming one that had to be carried out with care to ensure integrity and protection for bettors.

Kentucky Horse Racing Commission chairman Jonathan Rabinowitz said:

The KHRC is excited to open sports wagering and is working efficiently to meet the necessary deadlines. This is a careful process dedicated to wagering integrity and protecting bettors in the state of Kentucky.

The state governor said that gaming officials were getting ready to ensure the people of Kentucky could enjoy a superb entertainment experience, which many have been hoping to enjoy for years. Now that things are moving full steam ahead, regulators want to ensure they get it just right.

Beshear also said that the launch of sports betting in Kentucky would help to support pensions, which would then free up money to be used for other vital services across the state.

Betting Applicants Announced in Early August

The applicants for retail and online betting were announced by Beshear in early August, along with retail betting locations.

In addition, he stated last month that sports fans in the state would be able to place their first bets in September, and regulators have so far managed to stay on schedule with this. Emergency regulations relating to sports betting were also approved at that time to enable the process to move forward.