Initial Kentucky Sports Betting Weekly Totals Plus Other Bits and Bites

• Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) reported $68 million in sports bets were made from Thursday, Sept. 28, to Sunday, Oct. 1
• More than $72 million bet in total from online and retail sports from early September to start of October
• Circa Sports is planning a retail sportsbook at a famous race track as it waits to launch online sports betting in the commonwealth

Kentucky sports betting figures for the month of September have yet to be released, but Gov. Andy Beshear (D) has lifted the veil on the commonwealth’s performance since launching retail sports betting on Sept. 7 and online sports betting on Sept. 28.

According to Gov. Beshear, from Thursday, Sept. 28’s online sports betting launch through Sunday, Oct. 1, Kentuckians wagered more than $68.5 million in online and retail sports betting in the state.

Beshear lauded the figures, proclaiming the dollars will stay in the commonwealth instead of bettors crossing over into other states to wager on sports.

Nearly $73 Million Bet Through Oct. 1

In total, from Thursday, Sept. 7’s retail sports betting launch through Sunday, Oct. 1, nearly $73 million has been bet on sports through online and retail sportsbooks.

Gov. Beshear announced more than $4.5 million in retail sports betting in two weeks after the Sept. 7 brick-and-mortar launch. Add that to the $68 million after online sports betting launched, and nearly $73 million has been bet through Oct. 1.

“This is a strong number that certainly reflects the excitement Kentuckians have for the opening of sports wagering,” Gov. Beshear said in a press release. “With college football and the NFL season underway, plus the launch of mobile wagering, we expect that number will grow significantly.

$68 million

That's the amount wagered from Thursday to Sunday from in-person and mobile sports betting in Kentucky. The best news is those dollars are staying right here to help build a brighter future for all our families.

— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) October 5, 2023

The following sports betting apps are currently live in Kentucky:

• Bet365 Kentucky
• DraftKings Kentucky
• FanDuel Kentucky
• BetMGM Kentucky
• Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• Barstool Sportsbook (will rebrand to ESPN BET later this year)

Circa Sports has also been licensed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and plans to launch later this year. It also recently announced plans to launch a brick-and-mortar sportsbook at a famous Kentucky race track.

Circa Sports Coming to Kentucky Downs

As reported in The Nevada Independent, Circa Sports has an agreement in place to bring a brick-and-mortar sportsbook to the historic Kentucky Downs racetrack. Circa Sports currently has a partnership for an online sports betting license with ECL Corbin, LLC, at its Cumberland Run harness track.

Kentucky is the fifth state Circa Sports has been awarded a sports betting license. It has yet to announce a launch date for its online sportsbook.

Circa Sports will have to apply for a new license with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to build the brick-and-mortar sportsbook.