FanDuel won’t be the only known sports betting partner of Churchill Downs Inc. for long.
A CDI spokesperson told PlayKentucky Wednesday morning that the Kentucky gambling giant is nearing the end of its negotiation process with other operators for Kentucky online sportsbooks.
“We are still in the process of finalizing a few of our online partner deals and will announce them once complete,” Tonya Abeln, CDI’s vice president of communications, told PlayKentucky. “Of course we are thrilled that FanDuel is among them.”
Retail sports betting is set to launch in Kentucky on Sept. 7, and online apps will go live on Sept. 28.
Potential Churchill Downs Inc. online partners
FanDuel confirmed its partnership with Churchill Downs back in June. So far, two of CDI’s other likely potential partners (based on other current deals involving horse betting or sports betting in other states) — DraftKings Sportsbook KY and Bet365 Sportsbook KY — have not returned PlayKentucky‘s request for comment on their Kentucky plans.
As the biggest gambling company in Kentucky by far, it would make sense CDI would have the negotiation leverage to partner with the biggest companies in sports betting. So does that mean a BetMGM Sportsbook KY is in the mix as well? Time will tell.
We do already know that CDI has applied for retail sports betting licenses at all of its established gambling facilities. Abeln told that to PlayKentucky in the same email she talked about online partnership negotiations.
Once Derby City Gaming opens in downtown Louisville, CDI will run seven racetracks, simulcast facilities and historical horse racing gaming facilities in Kentucky. Does that mean it will have seven online partners? Again, time will tell.
Projecting FanDuel’s role in CDI sportsbook empire
For now, we can only give an educated guess that there will be a retail FanDuel Kentucky either at Churchill Downs or the currently running Derby City Gaming location, just minutes from the historic racetrack.
The only other confirmed sportsbook partnership belongs to Caesars Kentucky, which is gaining market access via a joint deal with Keeneland and Red Mile, the two racetracks in Lexington.
