• About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Colorado
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • Ohio
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetMGM Bonus Code
    • Bet365 Bonus Code
    • Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code
    • ESPN BET Promo Code
    • Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetRivers Promo Code
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Colorado
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • Ohio
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetMGM Bonus Code
    • Bet365 Bonus Code
    • Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code
    • ESPN BET Promo Code
    • Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetRivers Promo Code
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
No Result
View All Result

Sports Betting Bill Passes Through Kentucky House Of Representatives

Will the Senate be more receptive to sports wagering legalization than last year?

Bennett Conlin by Bennett Conlin
March 13, 2023
in Legislation
kentucky-mens-basketball-players-celebrating

Carly Mackler/Getty Images

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A bill that would legalize sports betting in Kentucky, HB 551, passed through the state’s House of Representatives Monday evening. It’s a positive step forward for sports betting supporters, but winning approval in the Senate is expected to pose a tougher challenge. 

Kentucky’s legislative session is scheduled to end on March 30, giving state senators just a couple more weeks to pass the sports betting bill. 

HB 551 – the sports betting bill – passes out of the Kentucky House on a 63-34 vote.

Next stop: the Senate. That’s the challenge for this bill. As of late last week, they did not have the votes there. But they’re close. @LEX18News pic.twitter.com/DIDXCk13Lp

— Karolina Buczek (@Karolina_Buczek) March 13, 2023

Kentucky is bordered by six states — Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia — that all allow legal mobile sports betting. Bill sponsor Rep. Michael Meredith hopes Kentucky can take advantage of the potential tax revenue from legalizing sports wagering. 

“Not only have six of our seven border states [legalized sports betting], but 46 counties of the 120 counties in Kentucky border a state that has legalized sports betting within their borders,” Meredith said. “You literally just have to drive across the county line or across the river to take part in their programs.”

Bill details

HB 551 would allow nine licensed horse tracks in the state to offer retail and online sports betting. Each track could partner with up to three online sports betting operators, which could result in as many as 27 mobile sportsbooks in Kentucky. An amendment to the bill eliminates the need for in-person registration for mobile betting. 

Adjusted gross revenue would be taxed at 14.25% for online bets and 9.25% for in-person wagers, with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission as regulator. Meredith cited an estimate that once fully implemented, sports betting could bring in roughly $20 million in annual tax revenue. 

Sign Up For The Sports Handle Newsletter!
I also want to receive information and offers about online sportsbooks (eg. odds boost, welcome offers)

A couple of proposed amendments Monday were shot down in the House. One of those would have banned the deposit of funds into betting accounts via credit card. Another failed amendment hoped to raise the legal age for betting from 18 to 21. 

The bill was successfully amended recently to send 2.5% of tax revenue to a problem gaming fund.

Senate remains a challenge

Last year, a bill to legalize sports wagering in Kentucky also passed through the House, but the effort failed in the Senate, which could remain a hurdle to passage.

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has been an outspoken supporter of legalized sports betting. Beshear even called out Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer last year, as the sports betting debate became contentious. 

“My thought is, if Damon Thayer wanted sports betting to pass, he’d get it passed,” Beshear said. “It’s time. The people of Kentucky absolutely want this.”

Thayer has said previously that he supports sports betting initiatives, but he’s had trouble wrangling the votes needed to pass the legislation.

For a different outcome in 2023, the Senate will need to move fairly quickly with just a couple of weeks left in the legislative session. The debate could come down to the final days of the legislative session, as sports betting stakeholders lobby for support from senators.

ShareTweetShare
Bennett Conlin

Bennett Conlin

Bennett Conlin is a sports betting reporter. He began his sportswriting career crafting recaps of family wiffle ball games. He’s covered more meaningful games since those early days, most recently writing about the University of Virginia’s athletic programs for The Daily Progress. Bennett can be reached at [email protected].

This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only.

Related Posts

BetMGM Kentucky bonus code graphic featuring Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
Promotions

BetMGM Kentucky Now Live: Get $1.5K Back in Bonus or Bet $10, Get $200 Offer All Weekend

September 28, 2023
FanDuel Kentucky promo code graphic featuring Hilltoppers quarterback Austin Reed.
Promotions

FanDuel Promo Code Kentucky: Earn $5K No Sweat First Bet or Bet $5, Get $200 Offer for KY Launch

September 28, 2023
Load More

Top Stories

guitar-hotel-hard-rock-florida

Court Decision Clears Way For Hard Rock Bet To Launch In Florida … But Will It?

September 28, 2023
system error

Schuetz: Palpable Errors In Sports Betting, And The Palpably Bad Decisions That Follow

September 25, 2023
taylor swift donna kelce

Will Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce Relationship Make Sports Bettors Out Of More Women?

September 28, 2023
have-a-game-plan-bet-responsibly-screenshot

Bettors Know All About Responsible Gambling, But Most Don’t Use Tools

September 12, 2023

State Sports Betting Guides

Sports Betting in Kentucky

Kentucky Sports Betting – Welcome Offers & Best Legal Sportsbook Apps for 2023

by Dukes Wooters
September 28, 2023

Ohio (U.S. state) flag waving against clear blue sky, close up, isolated with clipping path mask alpha channel transparency, perfect for film, news, composition

Ohio Sports Betting – All Online Sportsbooks, Bonus Offers, and News 2023

by Brian Pempus
September 29, 2023

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

Michigan Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
September 6, 2023

VA captial

Virginia Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonus Offers

by Brett Smiley
September 1, 2023

nj flag

New Jersey Sports Betting — Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
September 6, 2023

Canada Sports Betting Guides

Canada Sports Betting – Best Sportsbook Apps 2023

British Columbia Sports Betting – Legal Update, Available Sportsbooks, and FAQ

Ontario Sports Betting – Legal Status And Where To Play

SportsHandle

  • Analysis
  • Casino
  • Features
  • Horse Racing
  • Industry
  • Legal
  • Legislation
  • Lottery
  • Opinion
  • Podcasts
  • Poker
  • Politics
  • Promotions
  • Regulation
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized

Better Collective

This website is owned and operated by Better Collective USA. Trademarks and copyrights referenced on this website are and shall remain the exclusive property of their respective owners and/or licensors. Please be sure to visit the operator’s website(s) to review their terms & conditions. We advise you to read these carefully as they contain important information. Copyright © 2023 USBets.com | Better Collective USA
21 Play Responsibly
Gamble Aware West Virginia
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
GameSense

Search Sports Handle

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling

No Result
View All Result
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Colorado
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • Ohio
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetMGM Bonus Code
    • Bet365 Bonus Code
    • Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code
    • ESPN BET Promo Code
    • Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetRivers Promo Code
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News