LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It's been no secret Kentucky has seen a boom in sports betting since its launch in September, but this weekend may prove to be the most lucrative of them all for venues, with Super Bowl LVIII airing across the state.
Over at the Downtown Derby City Gaming's First Turn Bar, sports betting kiosks stayed full for hours, as one after another, hopefuls made their bets on the big game.
"Kansas City because of their defense," one bettor said.
"Christian McCaffery plays for San Francisco, so I'm kind of rooting for him,"Gary Rogers, who roots family roots for the Carolina Panthers, said. "But Kansas City, I like them too."
"This is going to be interesting because we've not ever had sports betting for Superbowl," General Manager of Derby City Gaming and Hotel, in Newburg, said.
You can add it to the growing list of firsts Kentucky's betting venues saw this last year when lawmakers finally passed House Bill 551, legalizing sports betting in the Commonwealth.
"Long overdue, long overdue. We let cars drive over the bridge here in Indiana, it's long overdue," Rogers said.
And now Kentuckians join an estimated 26% of adults in betting on the Super Bowl, according to the American Gaming Association, which expects a record 67.8 million Americans will put money on the game. That's a 35% increase from 2023.
The association also predicts bettors plan to wager an estimated $23.1 billion, which up from $16 billion in 2023.
The Derby City Gaming and Hotel venue off Poplar Level Road is hoping to capitalize off that this weekend.
"We have tons of things lined up with the game -- a huge TV to watch it, representatives from Patron, and we'll have some swag," Harmon said. "Have some of the best chicken wings we can argue."
In this past October alone, the first full month of legalized sports wagering, Kentuckians spent over $294 million dollars at in-person sportsbooks and on mobile apps, according to state data.
That's lead to a heightened plea to help those struggling with addiction.
In January, WHAS11 News reported that calls to the Problem Gambling Helpline have doubled from last August to October -- ever since legal gambling started.
If you or someone you knew is struggling with or addicted to gambling, please call the Problem Gambling Helpline at +1 (800) 522-4700.
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