Churchill Downs’ Derby City Gaming Downtown opens

Churchill Downs’ Derby City Gaming Downtown in Kentucky has opened its doors to the public.

The US$90m investment, a 43,000sq.ft Kentucky Derby-themed entertainment venue in Louisville, is CDI’s sixth racing machine entertainment venue in the US state.

The two-storey property offers a gaming floor with 500 HRMs, three food and beverage outlets and the First Turn Sports Bar, which hosts the property’s sportsbook alongside a stage for live entertainment.

The venue was opened exactly 150 days before the 2024 Kentucky Derby on May 4 and the site will result in over 150 permanent jobs, CDI said.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Churchill Downs “brings folks from across the state and across our world together” and is aiming to ensure “their future and our future as Kentucky is brighter than ever.”

Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen added that Derby City Gaming Downtown will “bring new energy to our downtown and stimulate investments like it.”