Red Mile makes room for Caesars sports betting to come inside
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — It’s been two months since sports betting was legalized in Kentucky and Caesars Sportsbook has wasted no time.
As of Tuesday, Caesars locked in partnerships with Keeneland and Red Mile Gaming & Racing to add more opportunities for sports wagering.
By August and at the start of the NFL season, Kentuckians will see a Caesars brick & mortar facility inside both Keeneland and Red Mile. They will also be able to place sports bets in Kentucky, through the Caesars mobile app.
At Red Mile, it will be in the former clubhouse. The new space is going to be called, The Red Room.
Mary Catherine Jones, vice president of operations at Red Mile said, “We will have tickers and the data boards and obviously all the TVs because that is critical. And then, of course, we will have tellers in person that will be able to take wagers and then as well as kiosks that will be available for folks to place their bets as well.”
Jones said she believes sports wagering will bring in new clientele that’s never experienced the beauty of the horse industry.
“And in the end, the goal is to bring awareness and support for horse racing as well,” Jones said. “And obviously specifically at red mile are harness racing, simulcasting, and all of our other products.”
As for the mobile app, Dan Shapiro, senior vice president and chief development officer for Caesars Digital, said Kentuckians will have access to a full menu of college football, college basketball, pro sports, and international sports.
“What people in the Commonwealth will be able to do is download the caesars sportsbook app, register for our app, and then bet on sports, whether they’re in Kentucky or throughout the world,” Shapiro said.
Gov. Andy Beshear asked Caesars to get its sportsbook ready by the start of the NFL season and Caesars said that’s doable.
“It’s going to be very similar in terms of the sports we offer, the types of bets we offer, the odds,” Shapiro said. “So this is an opportunity really to keep folks betting in the state, generating tax revenue for the Commonwealth and providing the convenience to folks who might otherwise, you know, you having to drive to another state.”
The Horse Racing Commission is still finalizing regulations for Caesars. That is expected to be complete by August.
