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Adam Koenig, a Republican member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, has spearheaded efforts to legalize sports betting in the Bluegrass State in recent years. He’s done so without much luck.
House Bill 241 , which was introduced on Jan. 9, 2021, would’ve legalized sports betting in the state, but it was one of a handful of bills that died in committee this year. Koenig and others also pushed for legal sports wagering in 2019 and 2020.
There’s bipartisan support for legal sports betting, including from Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear , but Koenig has struggled to get all of his fellow Republicans on board. A lack of widespread Republican support remains the critical holdup to allowing sports wagering in the state. Other highlights from Ky. Gov. Andy Beshear’s State of the Commonwealth: “Speaking of laws that unduly restrict us from growth and innovation… It is time to legalize medical marijuana, pass sports betting, and save historic horse racing.” — Chad Hedrick (@ChadHedrickWKYT) January 8, 2021 “We’re not exactly a trailblazing state when it comes to new policy changes in the world,” Koenig said. “We have a large rural population and, therefore, many rural legislators who are reluctant to poke the bear.”
While Koenig’s recent efforts won’t lead to legal mobile or retail sports wagering in 2021, he’s holding out hope that 2022 could be the year Kentucky joins its neighbors in allowing sports betting. Tennessee , Virginia , West Virginia , Illinois , and Indiana all offer legal sports betting options.
“After our vote on historical horse racing earlier this year and our success at passing it, I think there’s more optimism that it might have a shot,” Koenig said. Potential legalization in 2022
Kentucky legalized historical horse racing — a form of betting that allows customers to wager on old horse races via slot-like terminals — in February. The legislation helped reverse the effects of the 2020 Kentucky Supreme Court decision that HHR was not a form of “parimutuel” betting.
The February result was a win for Kentucky’s horse racing industry. The revenue generated from HHR helps keep tracks open and […]
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