Kentucky-based entities Kentucky Downs and EquiLottery have entered into an agreement that will allow the use of races from the Franklin, Ky., racetrack as the basis for EquiLottery, a new lottery game based on the results of live horse racing. This marks the first such agreement between a Kentucky racetrack and EquiLottery.
"We applaud the vision of the entire EquiLottery team as they have continued to press forward with an exciting and unprecedented product," said Kentucky Downs SVP and General Manager Ted Nicholson. "This is the only product we have seen that truly has the potential to expand the distribution and exposure of live horse racing. The implications of this are tremendous for the long-term viability of the sport by greatly increasing its popularity and reach in daily pop culture. The time has come for this game to see its day in Kentucky and we are proud to be the first racetrack in the state to sign an agreement with EquiLottery."
The agreement is similar to others signed earlier this year in West Virginia with Penn National Gaming's Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Eldorado Resorts' Mountaineer Park. When Kentucky Downs races are featured through the lottery game, a broadcast rights fee will be paid to the track and split equally into purse funds in exchange for the use of live on track race video in the EquiLottery mobile app. Studies show the ability to watch live races through a mobile device is key to successful player appeal.
"We are very excited about adding Kentucky Downs to our growing stable of racetracks," said EquiLottery Founder and CEO Brad Cummings. "Corey and his team have been leaders in horse racing innovation and there's no doubt what they have done with Kentucky Downs over the years is very impressive. It's a blessing for us to count them as partners as we continue to push for new ways to grow the pie for horse racing and the lottery by expanding both customer bases and creating new revenue opportunities for both industries."
Since its public announcement over the summer of 2014, EquiLottery has worked diligently to develop its lottery product based on the results of live horse racing. During that time, this innovative company has structured agreements with lottery industry leader IGT Global Solutions and tote system leader AmTote International to be able to deliver a cohesive lottery experience for state lotteries and their players. EquiLottery is also in development on its IOS and Android mobile app which will allow players features such as watching races live and on replay, scanning tickets and setting push notifications for upcoming races all from the convenience of their mobile devices.
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