Who Owns Kentucky Downs Casino?

In May 2019, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that the state owns the Kentucky Downs Racetrack and Casino in Franklin, Kentucky. The court’s decision came after a years-long legal battle between the state of Kentucky and the track’s owner, Churchill Downs Inc.

The dispute began in 2015 when Churchill Downs filed a lAWSuit against the state, arguing that the track should be able to offer more gambling options, such as adding historical horse racing machines. The state countered that only the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission had the authority to approve new gambling options at the track.

A lower court ruled in favor of Churchill Downs, but the state appealed to the Kentucky Supreme Court. In its ruling, the court said that because the track was built on land leased from the state, and because it operates under a special set of regulations designed for horse racing tracks, it is effectively owned by the state.

The ruling could have far-reaching implications for other horse racing tracks in Kentucky that are also leased from the state. It is unclear if those tracks will now be required to get approval from the Horse Racing Commission before adding new gambling options.

The decision is a victory for those who argue that gambling should be tightly regulated in Kentucky. It ensures that any expansion of gambling will be done through a transparent process with input from all stakeholders.

Who owns Kentucky Downs Casino? The answer is complicated but in short, the state of Kentucky does.