In a significant move, Kentucky legislators have enacted new regulations concerning sports betting, two years after its legalization. The Republican-majority House of Representatives voted 79-15 in favor of House Bill 904, which raises the minimum age for betting to 21 and bans proposition bets on college athletes from Kentucky.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, who was the architect of the state’s 2023 sports wagering law. He noted that the proposal followed extensive discussions and reflected the views of the “overwhelming majority of the public” who support an increase in the legal betting age.
Meredith expressed his belief that if individuals are considered adults at 18 in all other aspects, they should be treated as adults in the context of betting as well. “They want the age raised, and so we did it, despite my personal concerns about that,” he stated.
Proposition bets, which involve wagering on specific outcomes or events during games, will no longer be permitted for individual college athletes in Kentucky under this new legislation.
Additionally, House Bill 904 establishes licensing and regulatory standards for fantasy sports operators within the state and allows horse racing tracks to offer fixed-odds betting alongside traditional pari-mutuel wagering.
The bill also prohibits horse racing tracks, sports betting operators, and fantasy sports companies in Kentucky from engaging in prediction markets, where users speculate on the outcomes of future events. Meredith highlighted the growing interest in prediction markets within the betting landscape, noting ongoing national discussions about the regulation of these markets.
With an increasing number of states legalizing sports betting, lawmakers are scrutinizing restrictions on proposition bets, as critics warn of potential connections to gambling addiction and player harassment. House Bill 904 is now set to be reviewed by the Kentucky Senate, where it must pass before the end of the legislative session to become law.