Wednesday’s Kentucky Normal Meeting session ended with out the Senate citing the sports activities betting invoice, which suggests supporters could have simply at some point left – Thursday – to make the Bluegrass State the thirty seventh to legalize the gaming product.
Senate Majority Ground Chief Damon Thayer speaks within the Senate chamber earlier this month. Thayer mentioned Wednesday {that a} invoice to legalize sports activities betting is near getting the votes wanted to cross. The 2023 Normal Meeting session concludes Thursday. (Picture: LRC Public Data)
Rumors swirled across the Capitol in Frankfort about attainable vote counts, with a number of individuals indicating supporters had been only a member away from reaching the 23-vote threshold they should cross House Bill 551 earlier than the clock strikes midnight.
Senate Majority Ground Chief Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown) was requested repeatedly after the Senate adjourned for the night time in the event that they wanted one vote to cross Home Invoice 551, sponsored by state Rep. Michael Meredith (R-Oakland). They’re “shut” is how he responded every time.
There are some undecideds, and I’m hopeful that with a great night time’s sleep and a recent set of eyes that we are able to have the votes to cross it tomorrow,” he advised reporters after the session ended round 9:30 pm.
If the session wraps up Thursday with out the Senate taking over the measure, efforts to legalize sports activities betting must wait till lawmakers return for the 2024 session in January. As well as, it might mark the second straight 12 months the place the Kentucky Senate didn’t vote on the invoice earlier than the session ended.
Democrats ‘United’ for Sports activities Betting
Thayer did say that each one seven Democratic members of the chamber had been on board with the invoice, which means the undecideds are among the many 30 Republican members.
Minority Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas (D-Lexington) concurred.
“It seems to be that method,” he advised On line casino.org after the session. “We’ve been united by way of the essential points for the individuals this session … On this problem, it is a critically essential problem that Kentuckians need. I think that we (Democrats) can be collectively tomorrow.”
Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has mentioned he would signal a sports activities betting invoice into regulation. His profitable marketing campaign for governor 4 years in the past included requires expanded gaming within the state.
If accredited, HB 551 would enable the state’s 9 racetracks to function retail sportsbooks at their amenities. As well as, they’d be capable to accomplice with as much as three on-line operators apiece.
The measure wants 23 votes out of 37 members to cross as a result of the state structure requires any invoice producing income or allocating funds being thought-about in a nonbudget session acquire at the least a three-fifths majority.
On March 13, it handed the Home by a 63-34 margin.
Gaming Trade Lobbies Lawmakers
Lawmakers returned to Frankfort Wednesday for the ultimate days of the session. On Tuesday, American Gaming Affiliation President and CEO Invoice Miller despatched a letter to every senator urging them to legalize sports activities betting.
The Sports activities Betting Alliance (SBA), a coalition of BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics, has additionally been lobbying lawmakers. In line with information from the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Fee, the SBA has spent $13,720 throughout the first two months of the legislative session. The group additionally spent practically $68K final 12 months to push for legalized sports activities betting.
Kentucky isn’t the one state legislature that’s contemplating legalizing sports activities betting. Measures are at the moment lively in a number of states,most notably Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, and Vermont.
