A Kentucky politician, Representative Adam Koenig, a Republican, last week introduced a bill that would legalize and regulate sports betting, online poker and daily fantasy sports contests within the state of Kentucky.
Fourteen other lawmakers in Kentucky are sponsoring Koenig’s legislation.
The bill is formally known as House Bill 175, and was referred to the House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee. The bill would cover pro as well as collegiate sports but would not allow wagers to be placed on teams based in the Bluegrass State.
The legislation comes despite the fact that a Republican administration in the White House has opposed states’ rights with regard to regulation of online gambling.
Since the Supreme Court’s decision last year to throw out the sports betting ban that was in place from 1992 until 2018, a number of states have moved to legalize and introduce the activity, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania and Koenig is, therefore eager to introduce the measure.
The bill would require online poker to be overseen by the state lottery while sports betting would be regulated by the Horse Racing Commission and DFS would be regulated by the Public Protective Cabinet.
Koenig commented that in light of last year’s Supreme Court decision, it is time that they take the proactive step of providing adults the freedom to legally engage in sports betting. He also said that Kentucky has a chance to be ahead of the curve on this issue, while also potentially capitalizing on much-needed revenue gains without raising taxes.
