BetMGM will partner with Sandy’s Racing & Gaming in Ashland for a retail Kentucky sportsbook and access to the online market, the companies announced Monday.
The Ashland simulcast facility, historical horse racing machines and retail BetMGM Sportsbook are scheduled to open in October. The racetrack will open by spring 2025.
BetMGM is one of four companies that has confirmed intentions to enter the Kentucky sports betting market. They will join Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings and FanDuel as the first four operators in Kentucky.
Sandy’s will have a BetMGM-branded retail sportsbook
The deal gives the Las Vegas-based gaming giant access to the industry, ensuring a BetMGM Kentucky platform. Additionally, the partnership brings a BetMGM sportsbook to Sandy’s.
Despite four operators announcing intentions to crack the market, only three partnerships are confirmed. Caesars Sportsbook partnered with Keeneland and Red Mile, while FanDuel inked a deal with Churchill Downs.
But Caesars and BetMGM are the only operators to have brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in their name.
Churchill Downs said it won’t brand their retail sportsbooks in another company’s name. The Louisville-based company owns eight of the 14 venues eligible for a retail sports betting operation.
A Revolutionary Racing spokesperson told PlayKentucky it is still working on potential other online partnerships.
“We continue to have discussions with other sportsbook companies regarding online wagering partnerships and hope to announce those in the weeks ahead,” the spokesperson said.
BetMGM also told PlayKentucky it will only allow bettors 21 and over in Kentucky.
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Sandy’s teased the BetMGM deal for quite a while
At the end of June, Revolutionary Racing VP of Government Relations Conor Lucas said the venue would partner with one of the four largest operators in the US.
Sandy’s Racing & Gaming is a joint venture between Revolutionary Racing and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
But Caesars and FanDuel already announced deals. And DraftKings has an existing relationship with Churchill Downs. That made BetMGM the most likely choice for a partner.
“Name recognition is also obviously important,” Lucas told PlayKentucky. “Outside of FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM and Caesars, it’s pretty small fractions after that. Those guys have 90% of the market, 80% of the market in most states. The rest is 2%, 5%. For us, we want to go for one of those big four.”
They did.
