Online sports betting sites are catching on in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's director of sports wagering, Hans Stokke, said Tuesday during the regulator’s monthly meeting that they are still awaiting the final audited numbers for the first full month of betting.
Stokke, however, did come bearing some high-level figures about Kentucky sports betting since its launch, such as seven licensees and 10 brick-and-mortar properties handling more than $15 million in in-person wagers since Sept. 7.
“The KHRC is pleased to deliver a sports wagering experience to Kentuckians on time, as promised, in a regulated and responsible context."
- Kentucky Horse Racing Commission director of sports wagering Hans Stokke
Starting to add up
The director added that seven online sports betting sites have launched since Sept. 28, and that, as of Monday, more than $310 million has been wagered with those operators.
Overall, then, more than $325 million has been bet on sports in Kentucky since early September, up from the $250 million Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced last week.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s director of sports wagering, Hans Stokke, said during the regulator’s meeting today that more than $300M has now been wagered in the state via online sports betting sites. pic.twitter.com/1Oym3AKAnN
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) October 31, 2023
Stokke noted the state has already generated more than $4.25 million in initial licensing fees and is already closing in on around $1 million in renewal fees related to sports betting that will be due next year. Kentucky is also expected to add additional retail and online sportsbooks in the near future. One of those is Circa Sports, which aims to launch its mobile sportsbook in the state before the end of the year.
“The KHRC is pleased to deliver a sports wagering experience to Kentuckians on time, as promised, in a regulated and responsible context,” Stokke said. “The sports wagering division conducted initial walkthroughs at each retail facility and is now working through our first compliance visit with those operations. The KHRC has thoroughly vetted each of the mobile sportsbook licensees, including their internal controls, house rules, and technical material.”
