Kentuckians will have a chance to see their state’s sports betting regulations soon.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission held a meeting Tuesday afternoon. Chairman Jonathan Rabinowitz started the meeting with a Kentucky sports betting update.
At the end of his update, Rabinowitz said the initial drafts of the regulations were written. They will be available on the KHRC’s website in the next few weeks.
As a result, the commission will convene next month to review and vote upon the industry’s rules.
“Initial drafts have been shared with our licensed associations and industry stakeholders,” Rabinowitz said. “And they will be available for public review at KHRC.ky.gov in the next few weeks. To keep this progress moving, a tentative special meeting of this committee is planned for early July to review and approve these regulations.”
The next scheduled KHRC meeting wasn’t until August 15.
Regulations were taken from other states
In his opening, Rabinowitz revealed that regulators from other states were meeting with commissioners to share best practices. Kentucky rule-makers met with regulators from Massachusetts, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio and Colorado.
“For the past two months, members of the KHRC staff, KHRC commissioners and members of the (Public Protection Cabinet) have been meeting with regulators from other states, industry experts, service providers and licensed associations with the goal of drafting clear and concise administrative regulations to govern sports wagering in Kentucky,” Rabinowitz said.
It was already public knowledge Rabinowitz met with Jordan Maynard, a commissioner on the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, last month.
KHRC met with MLB and problem gaming programs
Rabinowitz didn’t disclose specifics from the discussion with other states’ regulators. But he did say that Kentucky met with problem gambling groups in Ohio. Kentucky will likely similarly structure its programs.
The state’s legal counsel met with professional sports leagues to discuss emerging legal issues in the industry. Rabinowitz specifically mentioned Major League Baseball. On the other hand, he didn’t say which legal issues they discussed.
Lastly, the KHRC announced it hired Gaming Labs International to provide consulting services and training for its staff.
Kentucky sports betting launch timeline
The official launch of sports betting sites in Kentucky is expected to take place towards the end of September 2023. These sites will provide state bettors with a convenient way to enjoy sports betting from the comfort of their own homes or mobile devices and are likely to include the following:
- DraftKings Sportsbook KY
- FanDuel Sportsbook KY
- BetMGM Sportsbook KY
- Caesars Sportsbook KY
- Bet365 Sportsbook KY
Read our dedicated reviews to find out more about these sportsbooks and the promotions they are likely to offer in Kentucky.
