We will know a lot more about the Kentucky sports betting landscape on Aug. 17.
That’s because Churchill Downs Inc. is “working toward” making an announcement regarding all its retail sports betting properties and its online sports betting partnerships that day. Tonya Abeln, CDI’s vice president of communications, informed PlayKentucky of the company’s plans via email Monday morning.
Currently, we know that Caesars Sportsbook (via Keeneland and Red Mile) and FanDuel (via Churchill Downs) have locked in their places in the Kentucky online sports betting landscape. We also know there will be a BetMGM Kentucky, as the company confirmed its intentions for a Kentucky launch in its quarter two earnings call last week.
CDI news will be a big splash
Beyond those three, however, it’s been crickets in terms of sports betting partnerships.
Obviously, we expect major players to launch Bluegrass State products, like Bet365 Kentucky and DraftKings Kentucky. Circa Sportsbook, WynnBET and Fanatics Sportsbook are also thought to be likely candidates.
But nothing regarding those sportsbooks has been confirmed. Not publicly, at least.
That could change Aug. 17.
Based on current relationships with CDI, Bet365 and DraftKings could very well be among the partners CDI announces on Aug. 17. CDI is partnered with Bet365 for sports betting in Pennsylvania, and DraftKings uses CDI’s technology for its horse betting app, DK Horse. Extending that partnership to sports betting makes sense.
Operators working with CDI will be online only
Whichever additional operators CDI chooses to work with will only be online partners.
Abeln told PlayKentucky last week that all retail sportsbooks at CDI properties will be unbranded. That means you won’t see names like FanDuel or DraftKings attached to the in-person sports betting venues at Churchill Downs, Derby City Gaming, Derby City Gaming Downtown, Turfway Park, Ellis Park, Newport Racing & Gaming, Oak Grove or the future Ellis Park extension site.