Kentucky regulators are diversifying the portfolio of events residents can wager on at the state’s sports betting sites.
The Kentucky Sports Wagering Advisory Council met Thursday and voted to recommend the addition of Formula 1 racing, the National Rugby League of Australia and New Zealand, the Professional Fighters League and Bellator mixed martial arts organizations, and the UTR Pro Tennis Tour to the state’s legal sports betting catalog.
Those leagues, pending further approval by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC), will join the MLB, NBA, NFL, and several others already on the menu of legal sportsbooks in the state.
One more week
Kentucky sports betting began on September 7 at brick-and-mortar racing and gaming facilities. Online sports betting sites will officially join the mix on the morning of September 28, although residents can already pre-register and deposit with operators.
In other words, when online sportsbooks began accepting action in Kentucky next week, bettors 18 and older could get a wager down on the Grand Final of the National Rugby League. That may depend on which sports betting site you use, however, as certain operators, such as Caesars Sportsbook, will only take wagers from those 21 and older as they do in other states.
A growing catalog
Additional events and leagues could be added to the state’s sports betting catalog in the future, as regulators opted for a gradual approach. However, an earlier meeting of the advisory council made it clear that non-sporting events, such as awards, will remain off the menu.
Gov. Andy Beshear appointed members of the council in August, and the body, as its name suggests, is there to advise the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission about sports betting. And, on Thursday, the council got a bit of insight into the age restrictions in the state for bettable leagues and events, which could be a concern for sports such as tennis.
“The limitations for age restriction on sporting events in the regulations pertain to team events, where more than half of the team is under 18 years of age,” KHRC Director of Sports Wagering Hans Stokke told the council. “So those would be prohibited under our regulations, but individual sports where minors are competing in a professional context. That is permissible for sports wagering in Kentucky.”
Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the 
to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
