Legislators in the Bluegrass State are making another go at legalizing sports wagering, with Republican state Rep. Michael Meredith filing a bill Wednesday that would make the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission the regulatory agency in charge.
HB 551 marks the fifth consecutive year a sports wagering bill has been filed in the statehouse, though optimism is high this could be the year for passage based on what is not in the bill. There is no language to also legalize online poker and daily fantasy sports, the former having long been a sticking point in the state Senate.
Additionally, Meredith’s bill has bipartisan support with six Democrats and five Republicans signed on as co-sponsors. HB 106, which was filed in January and includes language to legalize online poker and daily fantasy sports, is sponsored exclusively by Democrats, who hold just 20 of the 100 seats in the House.
The sports betting bill has been filed. Rep. Michael Meredith, the primary sponsor, tells @LEX18News the bill would only legalize wagering on sporting events.