Why Kentucky Ought to Legalize Sports activities Betting, Half I: It is Already Right here

The Kentucky Basic Meeting is ready to renew its 2023 session subsequent week in Frankfort. Whereas there will probably be a number of payments mentioned within the Home and Senate, there’s one piece of laws that has not but been filed, however which is attracting plenty of consideration.

The Kentucky-Ohio state line marker on the Purple Individuals Bridge connecting Cincinnati with Newport, Ky. On one facet of the bridge, you possibly can legally guess on sports activities. You’ll be able to on the opposite facet, too, however simply not in the identical means. (Picture: Purple Individuals Bridge/Fb)

State Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, is working with colleagues within the Home, in addition to Senate Majority Ground Chief Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, on the most recent iteration of a invoice to legalize sports activities betting within the Bluegrass State. Final 12 months, the Home handed a sports activities betting invoice for the primary time. But it surely was by no means heard within the Senate, because the votes merely weren’t there to go it earlier than the session ended.

However similar to spring coaching for many baseball groups, hope springs everlasting for supporters that this 12 months would be the 12 months for the invoice.

If I needed to set odds on its approval this 12 months, I’d put its passage at +400. There are, I consider, some challenges that also must be overcome, and I query whether or not that may occur this 12 months.

I’ll tackle these at a later time. However for now, I wish to start laying out the explanation why I consider sports activities betting needs to be legalized in Kentucky, my house state, and why it ought to occur this 12 months.

And I’ll begin with the apparent.

Sports activities Betting is Already in Kentucky

By that, I’m not simply speaking about sports activities betting already being authorized in six of the seven states surrounding Kentucky, nor am I simply speaking in regards to the presence of unlawful playing within the state. And I’m additionally not speaking about horse racing, on which pari-mutuel betting has been authorized on this state for greater than 100 years.

No, I’m speaking about the truth that I can go on a every day fantasy sports activities (DFS) web site like PrizePicks or Monkey Knife Battle and guess – ahem, excuse me, pay an entry charge – on whether or not gamers will or gained’t hit sure stat strains of their sport.

A number of weeks in the past, my college-age son advised me some pals of his have been entering into sports activities betting. Realizing they have been positioned in the course of the state and beneath the age of 21, I first assumed they have been utilizing an offshore sportsbook or a bookie. Seems, they’re taking part in DFS.

Many see little or no distinction between a DFS web site and a sports activities betting app. Similar to many don’t see the distinction between a Wheel of Fortune-themed historic horse racing (HHR) terminal and a Wheel of Fortune-themed slot machine. They don’t care what you name the sport. They simply need an opportunity to play and win.

You Can’t Place a Guess, However You Can Purchase One

There’s additionally one other means you possibly can guess on sports activities in Kentucky proper now.

Need to guess on the Kentucky Wildcats to win the nationwide title? You don’t must drive from Louisville, cross the Ohio River, and place a wager within the Hardee’s parking zone on the first Jeffersonville, Ind., exit previous the Lincoln Bridge on I-65 to do it. (Professional tip: If you wish to keep away from tolls, take both the Second Road Bridge from Downtown Louisville into Jeffersonville or I-64 west throughout the river and discover a parking zone in New Albany, Ind.)

No, you possibly can go in your laptop or telephone and search for out there bets at PropSwap, like I did whereas penning this. Consider it as eBay for sports activities bets. I discovered two individuals who put their UK NCAA title futures bets up for bid, and other people in Kentucky — or in 22 different states — should purchase these wagers.

There are professional causes you possibly can cite when arguing why sports activities betting shouldn’t be legalized. However ones that target fears of what it’s going to do to folks or communities if it turns into out there don’t rating factors with me. Sports activities betting, authorized or not, is already out there all over the place, together with proper right here in Kentucky. We’d as nicely have legal guidelines and rules that may shield bettors, and maybe generate some modest income for the state.

As I stated up on the prime, I’ve a number of explanation why I feel Kentucky lawmakers ought to go a sports activities betting invoice. Subsequent time, I’ll get into the political explanation why they need to.