Kentucky legislators will get another chance to consider whether they want to permit sports wagering in the state after giving the notion a relatively chilly reception last year. According to The Blood-Horse, Rep. Adam Koenig (R-Erlanger) introduced a bill on Jan. 9 that would permit sports wagering at racetracks and Kentucky Speedway, with regulatory oversight falling under the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
Online sports betting and online poker would also become allowed under the legislation.
Sports wagering is currently permitted in Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Kentucky’s legislature has been considerably less eager to expand gambling in the state in any way.
Similar legislation last year was discussed at the committee level and approved but was not entertained on the House floor. This year’s bill is awaiting assignment to a legislative committee for consideration.
Kentucky’s horse racing industry still awaits a legislative fix to legality issues with historic horse racing which has already been in force in the state and provided revenue the sport has relied upon in recent years.
Read more at The Blood-Horse
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