Based on the earliest of returns, the addition of brick-and-mortar sports wagering outlets at Kentucky racetracks may be spurring added interest in pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing.
That’s the good news in looking at the first two months of legal sports wagering in Kentucky. While in Kentucky there’s no money from sports betting specifically set aside for racing, the brick-and-mortar sports wagering outlets are tied to the state’s tracks. Racing executives hoped this approach would be an added attraction to bring people—specifically bettors—to the tracks. And once there, perhaps sports bettors would try their luck at racing.
That trend appears to have started since sports betting in Kentucky launched in early September.
