Kentucky legislators have introduced House Bill 904 (HB904), a significant piece of legislation aimed at overhauling the state’s sports wagering framework.
The bill, submitted on March 4, seeks to align Kentucky with broader national trends regarding player safety and operational standards.
College Prop Bet Restrictions
A central pillar of the House Bill 904 is the prohibition of proposition (prop) bets on individual college athletes playing for Kentucky teams. While fans could still bet on the overall outcome of a game, they would be barred from wagering on specific player statistics, such as passing yards or points scored.
The move follows similar efforts in states like Louisiana to curb potential harassment of student-athletes.
Raising the Betting Age
Currently, Kentucky is one of only six US jurisdictions allowing sports betting at age 18. HB904 would raise the minimum age for sports wagering, fantasy contests, and charitable gaming to 21.
Operational and Infrastructure Mandates
The bill also introduces strict technical requirements for operators:
- Geolocation: Must ensure all wagers are placed by individuals physically within Kentucky borders.
- Server Location: Mandates that servers used to process wagers must be maintained within the state.
- Racetrack Extensions: Allows local governments to apply occupational license fees to facilities owned by licensed associations that conduct historical horse racing (HHR) wagering.
Violators of the state’s gambling laws face increased penalties, including Class B misdemeanors for property owners who knowingly permit unlicensed gaming activities.
