Derby City Gaming Downtown

What Derby City Gaming Downtown does

Derby City Gaming Downtown is a walk-in gaming and entertainment venue located at 401 W Market Street in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, directly across from the Kentucky International Convention Center. The property is wholly owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN), the public company behind the Kentucky Derby. Its core product is nearly 500 Historical Racing Machines (HRMs) — gaming devices that operate on pari-mutuel wagering using outcomes from recorded historical horse races rather than random number generators — supplemented by seven sports betting kiosks, two simulcast racing kiosks, a designated smoking gaming patio with 100 HRMs, and pari-mutuel video poker.

The venue serves adult consumers aged 21 and older in the Louisville metropolitan area, with two customer segments described in the data: a primary segment of Adult Entertainment Seekers looking for gaming, nightlife, and live entertainment, and a secondary segment of Convention and Tourism Visitors from the adjacent Kentucky International Convention Center and nearby hotels. Marketing is conducted through the property's website, Facebook and Instagram presence, and the FastTrack Rewards loyalty program shared with other Churchill Downs Incorporated gaming properties.

Revenue is generated across multiple streams: pari-mutuel gaming wagers on HRMs and video poker, sports wagering via kiosks, food and beverage across three on-site venues (First Turn Sports Bar & Stage, Fascinator Wine Bar, and Trophy Bar Bourbon & Cigars), event space rental for private and corporate events, and gift shop sales of Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs branded merchandise. Pricing for gaming activities is determined at the player level; the property publishes tiered self-parking garage rates ($3–$12) and a structured Monday–Friday happy hour program. Hours of operation run Sunday–Thursday 10AM–3AM and Friday–Saturday 10AM–5AM.

Name

Derby City Gaming Downtown

Legal name

Derby City Gaming Downtown

Website

https://downtown.derbycitygaming.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Derby City Gaming Downtown is a downtown Louisville gaming and entertainment venue owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated, offering nearly 500 historical horse racing machines, sports betting, three restaurants, and event spaces for adult consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casino Gaming and Entertainment

NAICS

Casinos (except Casino Hotels) (71321), Gambling Industries (7132)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Racetrack & Race Meeting Operations (MPAEADAA)

Keywords

• Historical horse racing
• Sports betting kiosks
• Gaming entertainment venue
• Pari-mutuel wagering
• Casino gaming floor

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Gaming Wagers: Revenue generated from pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse races through Historical Racing Machines (HRMs) and video poker. The house takes a percentage of the wagering pool.
2. Sports Betting: Revenue from sports wagering through seven sports betting kiosks located in First Turn Sports Bar
3. Food and Beverage: Revenue from three on-site restaurants: First Turn Sports Bar, Fascinator Wine Bar, and Trophy Bar Bourbon & Cigars
4. Event Space Rental: Revenue from hosting private events, parties, happy hours, and corporate gatherings in their venue spaces
5. Gift Shop Sales: Revenue from Kentucky Derby merchandise and branded apparel sold at the Kentucky Derby Gift Shop

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Derby City Gaming Downtown operates a walk-in gaming and entertainment complex in downtown Louisville featuring nearly 500 Historical Racing Machines (HRMs) that use pari-mutuel wagering based on recorded historical horse races. The venue also offers sports betting kiosks, simulcast horse racing wagering, three on-site bars and restaurants, live entertainment, private event hosting, and a Kentucky Derby branded gift shop.

Product overview

Derby City Gaming Downtown is a gaming and entertainment complex offering a unified portfolio of gaming and hospitality services. The core offering is nearly 500 Historical Gaming Machines (HRMs) featuring pari-mutuel historical horse racing games, complemented by a Race & Sports Book with seven sports betting kiosks and two simulcast racing kiosks. The hospitality portfolio includes three restaurant and bar venues (First Turn Sports Bar & Stage, Fascinator Wine Bar, Trophy Bar Bourbon & Cigars), a Kentucky Derby Gift Shop, and flexible event spaces. The FastTrack Rewards program provides a unified loyalty platform shared with sister property Derby City Gaming & Hotel and other Churchill Downs Incorporated properties. The property also features designated smoking areas and live entertainment offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FastTrack Rewards: The loyalty rewards program for Derby City Gaming properties, allowing members to earn points and access exclusive promotions.
• First Turn Sports Bar
• Fascinator Wine Bar
• Trophy Bar Bourbon & Cigars
• Kentucky Derby Gift Shop

Products and services

• Historical Racing Machines (HRMs)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Churchill Downs IncorporatedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDerby City Gaming Downtown is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI), the legendary company famous worldwide for the iconic Kentucky Derby. CDI is a parent company providing brand equity, operational support, and the FastTrack Rewards program shared across CDI gaming properties including sister property Derby City Gaming & Hotel.

Scale indicators4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Churchill Downs Racetrack: Flagship live horse racing venue and home of the Kentucky Derby operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated. Comparable as the parent brand and traditional racing operations supporting the HRM venue's pari-mutuel ecosystem.
• Penn Entertainment: Multi-property gaming operator with regional casinos and ESPN BET sports betting. Comparable as a broad incumbent pursuing omni-channel gaming and loyalty integration across regional properties.
• Boyd Gaming: Diversified regional casino operator with multiple properties across the U.S. Comparable as a broad incumbent with a mix of regional gaming, F&B, and loyalty programs.
• Bally's Corporation: Regional and international gaming operator with casinos, sports betting, and integrated resorts. Comparable as a multi-property operator competitively expanding gaming and entertainment footprints.

Regional players

• Caesars Southern Indiana: Regional casino across the Ohio River from Louisville offering slots, table games, and F&B. Competes for the same Louisville metropolitan gaming and entertainment dollars.
• Belterra Casino Resort: Indiana-based casino resort operating slots, table games, and entertainment. Competes with Derby City Gaming Downtown for the Louisville-area gaming and entertainment market.
• Horseshoe Indianapolis: Indiana casino and racing venue with HRM-style and slot gaming. Comparable as a Midwest regional racino tapping the same Kentucky/Indiana cross-border gaming population.

Direct peers

• Red Mile Gaming & Racing: Lexington, Kentucky HRM venue operating under pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse races. Directly comparable business model, regulatory structure, and customer base to Derby City Gaming Downtown.
• Derby City Gaming & Hotel: Sister property operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated in the Louisville metro area. Offers HRMs, sports betting, F&B, and hotel accommodations, sharing the same FastTrack Rewards program and operational playbook.
• Turfway Park: Northern Kentucky horse racing and HRM venue owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated. Mirrors the pari-mutuel HRM business model and competes with Derby City Gaming Downtown for regional gaming spend.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/derby-city-gaming-downtown

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Derby City Gaming Downtown