Issue Position: Sports Betting

Issue Position

Two summers ago the United States Supreme Court overturned a federal law that prohibited states from allowing sports betting in their states (other than about 4 that already had it when Congress passed the law in the early 1990s). I immediately jumped on this and started the process to introduce and pass a bill to bring sports betting in Kentucky.

Last session the Chairman of the committee to which the bill was assigned, Adam Koenig, introduced a bill and got it passed out of the committee. Unfortunately, the bill then stalled and did not pass the House of Representatives. I believe the votes are there to pass the bill, and we need to get back at it and pass the bill this coming session. After all, most states around us have already passed the bill and will be preying on our citizens, once again.

My support is based on two independent considerations. First, Kentucky needs to find new revenues to provide the services that our citizens want. And there aren't many places to find new revenues. Sports betting is the beset chance and it is predicted to bring in tens of millions of dollars per year. That won't solve all of our problems, but I'm sure we could find a good use for that money. Second, whether it brings in any money or not, it is not the proper role of government to try to jail me for placing a $5 bet on the RedSox to defeat the Yankees.

In sum, I support sports betting and will work to help it pass this coming year.

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