Responsible Gambling Advocates Push Back KY Sports Betting

It's still illegal to bet on sports in Kentucky despite efforts to legalize it. It's legal to gamble on horse racing in the state. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned PASPA in May 2018.

State Rep. Adam Koenig tried to introduce a sports betting bill to the state congress earlier this year but the Senate objected to it. Sen. Damon Thayer remains optimistic it will get done.

Sports betting is an extension of betting pari-mutelly on horses. There is still a lot of anti-gambling sentiment in this building.

Mike Stone, the executive director for the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, met with the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations last week.

As many as 64,000 Kentucky residents are addicted to gambling and 165,00 more exhibit signs of problem gambling. The director of the Kentucky Center for Problem Gambling Prevention wants to see if sports betting can be regulated in the state.

Responsible Gambling Advocates Push Back KY Sports Betting. They argue that education programs should be funded to prevent gambling addiction and educate people about the potential of gambling.

Kentucky's neighbors enjoy legal sports betting. The next legislative session starts on January 3. Lawmakers should take up the issue in 2023.