Kentucky’s gaming regulatory body is making strides in its first month as it becomes independent from the state’s executive branch. Earlier this week, the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation announced the hiring of Susan Speckert to be its first COO.
Speckert, a Lexington resident, served as the city’s law commissioner and was previously an assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. However, she has experience in the gaming industry, having worked for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission as its general counsel. Her responsibilities included creating regulations for historical horse racing, a parimutuel game that plays like a slot machine but uses the outcomes of previously run races to determine if the wager wins.
“Susan’s commitment to and knowledge of the horse racing industry is well known,” KHRGC President & CEO Jamie Eads said. “Her professional experience makes her uniquely qualified to serve as the KHRGC’s first COO.”
She will start her new position on Aug. 19. Shortly after announcing Speckert’s hiring, the corporation announced it was seeking to fill two other C-level positions: CFO and COO.
In June, Hannah Simms became the director of sports wagering. According to her LinkedIn profile, Simms is a lawyer who worked for more than six years at the University of Kentucky, her last role there being the associate dean of students.
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What Is The KHRGC?
The corporation was created through a bill passed by the General Assembly earlier this year to replace the KHRC. As a corporation, the KHRGC will oversee horse racing, historical horse racing and Kentucky sports betting as the commission did.
Kentucky sports betting will mark its one-year anniversary in September. The state has eight approved online apps, including Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM Kentucky, and brick-and-mortar sportsbooks at seven racetracks and their affiliated HHR venues. Through May, more than $1.9 billion has been wagered across the commonwealth, with the state claiming nearly $32.5 million in taxes.
Starting next July, the corporation will also regulate charitable gaming.
Under the old setup, the KHRC was an agency under the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet, with its board members appointed by the governor. As a corporation, the KHRGC will still be a public entity.
However, it will run independently, like the Kentucky Lottery Corp. The governor will continue to make board appointments, but those appointments will now need to be approved by the state Senate during the next legislative session.
At a KHRGC meeting last month, Chairman Jonathan Rabinowitz said the transition into an autonomous agency will likely take three months at a minimum to complete.
USA Today photo by Kate Cassady.
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