Sports Betting Bill Passes KY House, Moves on to Senate

Frankfort, Ky.–The Kentucky House of Representatives passed the sports betting bill, HB 551, on Monday with a 63-34 vote. The bill is now heading to the Senate for approval.

According to the bill’s main sponsor, Rep. Michael Meredith, the legislation would regulate something that is already happening in Kentucky. Kentuckians are either traveling to neighboring states to place legal bets or using illegal offshore sites. The bill aims to provide a legal framework for sports betting within the state and capture some of the tax revenue that is currently lost to other states.

The bill has undergone changes, and a small portion of the tax revenue generated would go towards a new problem gaming fund, as requested by the Senate. Rep. Meredith hopes that these changes will help the bill gain the necessary votes in the Senate.

However, not everyone is in favor of the bill. Some sports betting opponents claim that it will be detrimental to individuals and families in the state.

The biggest challenge for HB 551 is its approval in the Senate, where it currently lacks the necessary votes. However, supporters are hopeful that they are close to securing the votes needed to pass the bill.

If the bill passes in the Senate, Kentucky would join the growing number of states that have legalized sports betting in recent years.

---

Photo: The final house vote on HB 551. (@Karolina_Buczek, Twitter)