FRANKLIN — Even after last year's legalization of sports betting in Kentucky, the odds were high that those itching to gamble on college and professional sports in a plush, Las Vegas-like retail setting would have to leave the state. Wanna bet? Enhancing the mobile sports-betting app it launched last year, Circa Sports Kentucky on Monday unveiled a temporary retail sportsbook in a small space inside Franklin's The Mint Gaming Hall at Kentucky Downs while outside work was underway on a permanent, 13,000-square-foot sports-betting destination that will mirror Circa's massive Las Vegas sportsbook facility. "Circa's Las Vegas facility is considered the largest sportsbook in the country," said Johan Mirkovic, vice president and general manager of The Mint at Kentucky Downs.
"We will nearly replicate it here." Circa Sports Director of Operations Jeff Benson, on hand for Monday's launch of the temporary facility, confirmed that the Franklin building will rival what his company has in Nevada. "This will have 85 to 90% of the footprint of our Las Vegas location," Benson said.
"It will be a game-changer for people in Kentucky." The permanent sports gambling building will be attached to The Mint, which has grown in size thanks to the popularity of the slot machine-like historical horse racing machines that have fueled the growth in purses for Kentucky Downs live racing. Mirkovic believes the partnership with Circa will further enhance Kentucky Downs and The Mint, owned since 2018 by a.