Sports betting bill finally passes in Kentucky

The moment you have all been waiting for has arrived. After seeing its border states move forward, Kentucky decided to join the party. On Thursday evening, the bill to legalize, regulate, and tax sports gambling finally passed.

We will now be able to legally wager on games in the great state of Kentucky. What a time to be alive.

The bill needed just 23 votes to pass and got to that number quickly. House Bill 551 passed with a 25-12 vote. The Courier-Journal’s Joe Sonka has published the full results of the vote as you can see who voted yes and who voted no.

HB 551 to legalize sports betting in Kentucky passes 25-12. #kyga23 pic.twitter.com/fCMfrf9Vrb

— Joe Sonka 😐 (@joesonka) March 30, 2023

Gov. Andy Beshear will now need to sign the bill into law and all signs point to that be very likely to happen.

At some point in the near future, Kentuckians will be able to download whatever gambling app they prefer and legally bet on the Philadelphia 76ers on a random Wednesday night in January or let a six-team moneyline parlay ride for a college football Saturday in October. Instead of losing money with Kentuckians leaving the state to legally make wagers, all of these bets can now be made within our state’s borders.

Kentucky now joins Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia as states in the same region that will legally allow sports gambling. The Bluegrass State was the last to join the party, but now we are officially in the club. Expect sportsbooks to pop up at popular horse race tracks — Churchill Downs, Keeneland, etc. — in the near future. Kentucky Speedway will also likely add a sportsbook.

Enjoy the future sweats as you try to squeeze out an under on NFL Sunday. Please remember to always gamble responsibly.