Kentucky is one of the US states that are famously still dragging behind when it comes to the legalization of online sports betting.
In 2020, Rep. Adam Koenig introduced the sports betting bill HB 241. However, there was no real interest. In 2021, Koenig introduced the bill again, but still, there was not enough interest to get things rolling.
However, if looking at the consensus of Kentucky residents today, it appears that the majority would have supported this bill that would’ve brought online betting to live in the Bluegrass State.
If you’ve kept up to date with the latest
legal gaming news, you’ll probably be aware that the State of Kentucky may not have legal sports betting. However, there are other types of legal wagering that is alive and well like horserace wagering as well as the famous Daily Fantasy Sports offered by Fanduel and DraftKings. So, why not sports betting? Well, it looks like things might be changing this year, and looking at a poll that collected the opinion of the Bluegrass State public, it’s high time.
The People have spoken
A recent study conducted by the Public Opinion Strategies for Kentucky Sports Betting Now, indicates that almost two-thirds of Bluegrass State residents support legalizing sports betting.
Additionally, the poll finds all political parties are in support of both in-house and
online sports betting, with the highest percentage being 81% from independents.
Further analysis of the survey concluded:
- 69% of Democrats endorse sports betting
- 81% of Independents endorse sports betting, as previously mentioned.
- 58% of Republicans endorse sports betting
If somebody was looking for a sign, here it is! The people really have spoken.
Kentucky and sports betting revenue
With Ohio Governor Mark DeWine signing the HB 29 into law on December 22, 2021, which legalized sports betting online and on-site in the state of Ohio, the only remaining state now bordering Kentucky without a legal sports betting industry in Missouri. However, this may not be the case for long as Missouri pre-filed several sports betting bills to be heard during the 2022 legislative session.
The Bluegrass State is thus losing out on millions in potential tax revenue as residents from the State of Kentucky have to travel over the state border to neighboring states to place their bets. The most popular states include West Virginia and Tennessee where anyone, whether a permanent resident of the state or not, can wager as long as they are of legal age a in within the state lines.
If Missouri also legalizes sports betting, this can have a dramatic effect on Kentucky’s finances as the state will be isolated between states that offer an extremely lucrative service it does not.
It’s 2022. It’s now or never.
This year, an attempt to pass a bill for the legalization of sports betting in the state of Kentucky will be the third one. Will it be successful?
With some notable political figures openly supporting sports betting in Kentucky, it looks like Kentucky is ready to take the next step and start with the regulation process again.
Sports betting has recently been called a “natural extension of pari-mutuel horse racing betting,” by a prominent politician, which rationalizes why sports betting should not only be supported in the state of Kentucky but also introduced and regulated.
Lawmakers and sports bettors are rooting for the official authorization of sports betting in 2022 in the Bluegrass State as it will be the third attempt. This year, Koenig plans on introducing revamped and new sports betting bill during the 2022 spring legislative session, which will run until April 14.
Even though Koenig’s previous sports betting bills failed, things are looking different this year, and a notable state legislative rule change can shift the odds into his favor this year. For example, beginning with the spring legislative session, the percentage of approval necessary for a bill to pass is dropping to 50%.
This just makes it that much more likely that the sports betting bill receives the support it needs to pass. And, at this point, it is already receiving bipartisan support, so let’s keep our fingers crossed.
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