A bill that would bring online poker and sports gambling to Kentucky was passed by its House and will face scrutiny in the Senate Committee on Licensing and Occupations Tuesday. Kentucky’s Senate will again weigh the fate of online poker. (Image: kentucky.gov) Sponsored by Republican House member Adam Koenig (R-Erlanger), HB 606 would allow Kentucky’s seven horse tracks to open online poker and sports book skins, as well as retail sport’s betting facilities within a 60 mile radius of its tracks.
This is the fourth time Koenig submitted a bill that would open his Commonwealth to online poker and sports betting. The Republican lawmaker has been trying since 2019, but faces stiff resistance from his own caucus.
This year’s bill only made it out of Kentucky’s House because voting rules change every-other year.
Kentucky passes its budget every two years — the even-numbered years. In these years, bills concerning revenue flow are approved with a simple majority.
In odd-numbered years, bills require a supermajority of 60%.
Koenig’s bill passed the 100-member House 58-30 on March 18. All 21 Democrats voted to advance it, with 37 Republicans joining them.
Kentucky’s Senate is made up of 30 Republicans and eight Democrats, so unless at least 12 Republicans and all the Dems vote yes, online poker and sports betting will fail a fourth time.
Another challenge to passing a party-splitting bill like this is Kentucky’s abbreviated legislative sessions. This year’s 60-day legislative session ends April 14, and only four more regular session days are scheduled. Democratic Gov. Andy Brasher, who is in favor of online sports betting , can schedule a special session if needed.
After HB 606 is reviewed by the Senate Committee on Licensing and Occupations, lawmakers can debate the bill on the floor, and then vote on it.It’s possible that lawmakers could decide that the estimated $27 million in taxes that would be generated by online sports wagering is too good to pass up, but still don’t like the idea of online poker, and strip poker from the bill.If passed, an online poker license will cost the racetracks $250K. The sites will also have to pay $10K […]
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