A Derby for Adults: Kentucky House of Representatives Passes New Sports Betting Bill

Kentucky’s House of Representatives passed House Bill 904 with a favorable vote of 79-15. The bill will raise the minimum age for sports betting in the state to 21 and strengthen consumer protection. There are also plans to ban prop betting on Kentucky college athletes. Check out our article to learn more about the bill and its provisions.

House Bill 904

House Bill 904 was introduced to the House of Representatives by Republican Representatives Michael Meredith and Matthew Koch. One of the key reforms introduced by the bill is raising the minimum age for sports betting from 18 to 21. It will also ban prop betting on Kentucky college players, which the representatives hope will reduce bribery and harassment.

“It would also ban prop betting on in-state collegiate athletes, those who play for Kentucky teams. This would take away any incentive for bribery or harassing a player for not meeting a goal.”

Michael Meredith, Republican Kentucky Representative

The bill will also introduce regulations for fantasy sports by bringing them under the supervision of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. If federal courts allow prediction markets to continue operating legally, the bill is prepared with a framework for their taxation. The bill passed the House of Representatives and will now be examined by the Senate.

Other Provisions

The state also has plans to expand its gambling options further. For example, the bill would legalize fixed-odds wagering on horse betting. Citizens are dissatisfied with the current pari-mutuel system, as it’s manipulated by computer-assisted wagering teams that place large bets on pools and tank the odds right before a race. A few of the other provisions include:

• A purse stabilization fund funded by a 15% excise on adjusted gross revenue from the fixed-odds wagers. That will keep the prize pool stable and enable more efficient modernization.
• Sportsbooks will no longer be allowed to limit a customer’s winnings from a bet.

Individuals who owe more than $1,000 in child support arrears will also be banned from sports betting until their debt is cleared. The attorney general’s office will compile a list of such people and will share it with regulators, so they can monitor them. The bill also includes a provision to create a task force to examine charitable gaming activities and identify oversight practices.

Kentucky’s Casino Bill

Kentucky has come a long way since 2023 when it first legalized sports betting. Now, lawmakers like Representative Thomas Huff are introducing bills, such as House Bill 33, that could legalize land-based and riverboat casinos. Counties could become eligible for building casinos if they pass some requirements, such as:

• Having 30,000 or more citizens, unless it already has a horse racing facility.
• A voter referendum to approve casinos can be initiated by gathering 25% of the population’s signatures or by the legislative body passing an ordinance.
• If a county has fewer than 30,000 citizens, it can partner with neighboring counties to try to approve a casino in the area.
• If the county has a horse racing facility, a referendum can be held to approve the construction of a casino on the facility’s property.

Should a casino be approved, operators can submit license bids, which could cost a minimum of $750,000 for land-based casinos and $550,000 for riverboat casinos. Operators will also be taxed 21% of their revenue. The bill was introduced in January 2025 and hasn’t made much progress, but it shows lawmakers are interested in further expansion.

Bills in Other States

While Kentucky focuses on sports betting, states like South Carolina are also advancing their own bills. The Equine Advancement Act will allow players to place bets through mobile devices only when they’re physically present on designated racetracks. While betting will be limited to races in South Carolina, lawmakers like Senator Michael Johnson hope this will provide funding for the equine community.

“The goal is to take the proceeds from this and pump that directly into our equine industry, horse training, horse farms, horse racing, all of those things, so that they have an opportunity to compete with the other states that already have this.”

South Carolina Senator Michael Johnson

Meanwhile, Wisconsin is getting closer to legalizing sports betting after AB601 received Senate approval by a 21-12 vote. It passed the Assembly in March and is now awaiting Governor Tony Evers’ signature. However, there is still some discontent, as some tribes oppose the bill, so it remains unclear whether it will pass the final hurdle.