Kentucky’s House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee moved an amended legal digital sports betting bill out of committee Wednesday, and the next stop will be the House floor.
Kentucky has long struggled to determine how or if to legalize wagering. Several bills have gotten out of committee over the last five years, but even with public and enthusiastic support from Gov. Andy Beshear, none has passed both chambers.
The latest bill, HB 551, would allow up to 27 digital platforms in addition to brick-and-mortar sportsbooks at horse racetracks and parimutuel facilities. According to the bill, adjusted gross revenue would be taxed at 14.25% for digital bets and 9.75% for retail wagers, and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission would be the regulator.
Up until this year, Adam Koenig had been the sponsor of legal wagering and gambling bills, but he was not reelected in November. Koenig attended Wednesday’s hearing and was called out by the committee chair as a special guest at the top of the meeting. Rep. Michael Meredith, who authored HB 551, said that Koenig “laid a ton on foundation for this bill” in the previous three years.'