Lawmakers in Kentucky have introduced new legislation that could significantly change the state’s sports betting regulations. The proposal, known as House Bill 904 (HB904), aims to adjust several rules governing wagering activity, including restrictions on certain types of prop bets and an increase in the legal betting age.
A major point of the proposed bill will bar prohibited sportsbooks from providing proposition betting options on individual players participating in any college athletics competition involving an institution located within the state of Kentucky.
Pursuant to the proposed measure, additional compliance obligations would be imposed on licensed sportsbook operators, including verification of patrons’ identities when patrons deposit or withdraw funds from their respective gambling accounts and implementing suitable safeguards of patrons’ personal information by employing adequate technological measures.
Moreover, licensed sportsbooks will be required to employ geolocation systems in order to ensure that bets or wagers placed with Kentuckians are done so only by people physically located within the Commonwealth. As part of this requirement, all servers used for processing sportsbook wagers will also need to be located in Kentucky to help facilitate enforcement efforts.
Another significant aspect of the legislation relates to changing the legal gambling age to 21 for all residents of Kentucky. Currently, the age at which a person can legally gamble in Kentucky is 18 years, but the proposed legislation will mandate that all bets made on sports events, fantasy sports contests or charitable gaming activities will be made by persons who are at least 21 years of age (if passed).
Many other jurisdictions allow for the legal gambling age of 21 across nearly all forms of wagering; however, the legal gambling age in Kentucky is 18 which places the state among a limited number of jurisdictions that authorize gambling for individuals under 21 years of age. Other jurisdictions that allow for residents to legally wager at 18 years of age are Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Washington D.C., and Wyoming.
Local governments would also gain the authority to apply occupational licence fees to these racetrack extension venues. County governments, consolidated local governments, and cities would be permitted to impose such fees under existing state statutes.
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