Kentucky casinos handle jumps 23 percent in July

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Handle on gambling devices in Kentucky casinos that generate money for purse subsidies was up 23.4 percent in July compared to July of last year, despite limitations on the number of available devices due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to figures released by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Friday.

Total handle on 1,830 historical horse racing terminals was $270.7 million in July, compared to $219.3 million on 2,834 devices in July of last year, according to the figures. The devices generated $1.87 million in purse subsidies to be distributed through the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, which awards bonuses to Kentucky-bred horses, compared to $1.53 million in July of last year.

In April, officials with the KTDF expressed concern that funding for the KTDF would dry up if the state’s casinos were closed for long. The casinos re-opened in the second week of June at reduced capacity and still generated nearly as much in handle and KTDF funds as the June prior.

The casinos are owned and operated by Kentucky racetracks, which are the only facilities that can receive a casino license under state law.