{"id":266572,"date":"2023-03-28T18:33:24","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T23:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=266572"},"modified":"2023-05-25T06:09:21","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T11:09:21","slug":"kentucky-sports-betting-bill-set-for-photo-finish-as-lawmakers-return-to-end-session","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/kentucky-sports-betting-bill-set-for-photo-finish-as-lawmakers-return-to-end-session\/","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky Sports Betting Bill Set for Photo Finish as Lawmakers Return to End Session"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Kentucky General Assembly returns to Frankfort for the final two days of its 2023 session on Wednesday. Many will be watching to see if lawmakers can pass a sports betting bill before the clock runs out.<\/p>\n

\"KY_Senate\"<\/a>
The Kentucky State Senate chambers in the State Capitol in Frankfort. Lawmakers return Wednesday to begin the final two days of the session, and one of the key questions remaining is whether they will legalize sports betting before the session ends Thursday night. (Image: Casino.org)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sources have told Casino.org<\/i> they are close to the 23 votes needed to pass the House Bill 55<\/a>1 in the Senate. It could be down to getting a single lawmaker on board to pass the bill, sponsored by state Rep. Michael Meredith (R-Oakland).<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, the bill passed the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee by a 9-1 vote<\/a>. It was a key step for the measure, considering that it did not get a committee hearing in the chamber before the session ended.<\/p>\n

If the votes are there \u2013 and provided that chamber does not amend the bill \u2013 it would head to Gov. Andy Beshear\u2019s desk, and the Democratic leader has already indicated he would sign the bill into law.<\/p>\n

The General Assembly session is scheduled to end Thursday night.<\/p>\n

Full Court Press Initiated<\/h2>\n

With reports circulating about the close nature of the vote, both FanDuel and DraftKings went to social media to encourage Kentuckians to contact senators and urge them to pass the bill. The two major sports betting operators , along with BetMGM and Fanatics, are part of the Sports Betting Alliance that seeks to legalize sports betting across the country.<\/p>\n

American Gaming Association President and CEO Bill Miller sent a letter<\/a> to lawmakers in the chamber, saying Kentucky \u201chas an important opportunity\u201d to join 36 states and the District of Columbia in regulating sports betting.<\/p>\n

Miller also noted that six of the seven neighboring states already have legalized it. He also pointed to a report from GeoComply last week that identified nearly 300,000 geolocation checks by more than 23,000 Kentucky-based accounts during the first week of the NCAA Men\u2019s Basketball Tournament.<\/p>\n

Nearly 80% of those checks were for online sportsbooks in Indiana and Ohio.<\/p>\n

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This consumer demand makes clear that the alternative to creating a legal marketplace is that Kentuckians will continue betting in the illegal market, with no consumer protections and no benefits generated for the state,\u201d<\/strong> Miller wrote.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And as many lawmakers make their way to the Capitol, they\u2019ll pass a billboard the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce posted last week calling for HB 551 to pass.<\/p>\n

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Our last billboard for the 2023 General Assembly! You only have a few days to let your legislator know you support sports wagering. Here\u2019s a link to contact them: https:\/\/t.co\/PoH4d0wsKU<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/LQwsHOtQVY<\/a><\/p>\n

— Ashli Watts (@AshliWatts) March 24, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n