A Kentucky House vote on sports betting legislation is anticipated this week. The bill won unanimous approval in a House committee last week. One of the interested onlookers was Kentucky Thoroughbred Association Executive Director Chauncey Morris. Morris said those in the horse racing business view sports wagering on college and professional sports as complimentary.
“There’s not a finite amount of discretionary income in the Commonwealth or in the United States. And so, we know that folks that are legally betting on horse racing also want to legally bet on other professional and amateur sports,” said Morris.
Under the bill, Kentucky’s racetracks would be the licensed sites for sports wagering. Morris says the tracks are already equipped with television monitors and a customer base. The KTA director is optimistic that legalized sports wagering would boost betting on horse races.
The measure doesn’t include any provision to set aside funds to assist problem gamblers.
Mike Stone is with the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling. Stone said his organization has been lobbying for such a requirement for 23 years with no success so far.
“Whether it’s fiscal, whether it’s a belief that people still have that gambling is just a moral issue and just stop and the stigma attached to it. Whatever that is, we haven’t got that pushed over the hurdle,” said Stone.
Stone said a bill to establish such a designated fund passed the House previously but failed to get through the Senate.
Meredith noted he is interested in looking to set up such a state-supported program during next year’s budget session.
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