Kentucky edges closer to legal betting and igaming
Kentucky House Bill 606 would allow online and in-person sports wagering, fantasy contests and online poker to be legalised in Kentucky.
It was primarily sponsored by representative Adam Koenig, who previously filed legislation attempts to legalise online sports betting in January 2021.
Other sponsors included Alan Gentry, Michael Meredith, David Osborne, Kimberly Banta, Rachel Roberts, Thomas Huff and Cherlynn Stevenson.
The bill was initially introduced in the middle of February, and was passed by the Committee for Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulation on 16 March. It will now go to the House Rules Committee.
Bill 606 is identical to a bill going through the Senate right now, Senate Bill 213. This bill permits wagering only in the state at licensed racetracks, professional sports venues or on a mobile app, for which in-person registration will be mandatory.
Tracks and venues are only allowed to partner with one provider at a time, using a format available in both a retail and online capacity.
Sports betting licencees will be subject to a 9.75% tax rate on adjusted gross revenue from retail bets, while online bets will be taxed at 14.25%.
This registration requirement will then lift from 2024, when players aged 18 and above will be able to download an app anywhere.