Kentucky sports betting will soon be welcoming a ninth online sportsbook.
The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corp. approved Prime Sports for a Kentucky sports betting license for the 2025 licensing year at its Tuesday meeting. The commission also renewed service provider licenses for 2025.
The Bluegrass State will be the third market for Prime Sports, partnering with Churchill Downs to be the famous horse racing venue’s first online partner. Prime Sports is also live in Ohio and New Jersey.
Prime Sports in Kentucky
Prime Sports launched in Ohio in September 2023, promising to be a “premium sportsbook that caters to both professional and recreational bettors alike.” The sportsbook later launched in New Jersey in April 2024.
The sportsbook promises reduced juice for sharp bettors or recreational bonuses for the everyday player.
Prime Sports also says it offers high and known limits for all customers.
Churchill Downs partner
Before Kentucky sports betting launched, Churchill Downs shuttered its TwinSpires Sportsbook operation. Rather than languish in the sports betting market, the company pivoted to sell its horse racing product to other sportsbooks.
Its first two B2B clients were FanDuel and DraftKings.
While Prime Sports is Churchill Downs’ first online partner, the company has retail sportsbooks across its locations in Kentucky through a partnership with Kambi. Each of the state’s nine tracks can partner with up to three online operators. Three other Churchill Downs Inc. tracks are partnered with an online sportsbook: Ellis Park, Oak Grove and Newport Racing & Gaming.
Kentucky sports betting update
The meeting also included a recap of sports betting in the Bluegrass State. Since the launch in September 2023, more than $2.9 billion has been wagered. Kentucky has collected more than $46 million in taxes.
The state has eight active online sportsbooks:
- Bet365 (partnered with Sandy’s Racing and Gaming)
- BetMGM (Sandy’s Racing and Gaming)
- Caesars (The Red Mile)
- Circa Sports (Cumberland Run)
- DraftKings (Cumberland Run)
- ESPN Bet (Ellis Park)
- FanDuel (Newport Racing & Gaming)
- Fanatics (Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel)
