Bill H 175, introduced by Rep. Adam Koenig this past spring, would have legalized both online poker and sports betting. Online poker would be regulated by the state lottery under the bill, while the Horse Racing Commission would oversee sports betting and daily fantasy sports.
In Kentucky, though, there are a few good reasons to expect the next incarnation of H 175 to pass. One major cause of optimism has to do with a quirk of Kentucky’s legislative system. Lawmakers work on a two-year cycle, with the state’s budget laid out in even-numbered years. In those years, the rules work differently for bills related to revenue.
If a bill proposed in a non-budget year seeks to generate or appropriate revenue, it requires approval from 60% of the 100-member House to pass. In a budget year, however, it requires only a simple majority of 51 votes.
Even years also have longer sessions, giving Koenig more time to secure the required votes. The sponsor has indicated that he expects his fellow lawmakers to be more focused on tax revenue this year as they work on the budget.
Under projections from 2019, legal sports betting and poker would drive $20 million to $50 million in revenue to the state annually.
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