Legalizing Casino Gambling In Kentucky
- Are Kentucky Online Casino Sites Legal? The number of laws on the books in Kentucky stating online gambling is illegal is zero. Now, there also are no laws regulating online casinos or addressing the legality of it. But, in our opinion, that doesn’t matter to answer the question of whether Kentucky online casino sites are legal or not.
- Oct 23, 2020 Kentucky Gambling Laws – Timeline and Key Statutes The gambling Statutes in Kentucky are very much focused on the organizers of and those profiting from ‘illegal’ gambling activity. So much so that being a mere player in a game is permitted as a defense in a courtroom.
Positive Aspects of Legalized Gambling: - Economic Stimulation : The economy can always use a boost, and legalized gambling could provide that. Offering places to gamble also increases tourism, as indicated by the number of annual visitors to Las Vegas and other gambling havens. Generating billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs worldwide, legal gambling is an exciting way to stimulate the troubled global economy.
- Legal Behaviors : When a population is told that they aren’t allowed to gamble, it’s the first thing that they want to do. Studies of human behavior indicate that people always want what they can’t have, and gambling is no different. It stands to reason that increasing the number of people who are allowed to gamble legally will reduce illegal gaming behaviors.
- Family Revenue : Those who are lucky enough to have a successful professional gambler in their household can attest to the realities of a society that embraces gambling as a legal choice. In a time of economic uncertainty, many families are learning to rely on non-traditional means of support; legalized gambling would make it easier for a professional online poker player to support those that he loves the most.
- Entertainment : Finally, a benefit of legalized gambling is to provide a safe, exciting way to relieve stress. The online gambler who knows that his activities are legal will be far more likely to be less stressed than those who have to ponder the murky legal status of their gaming. Furthermore, legalized gambling as a stress reducer could create an environment where players are happier and more productive in their personal and professional lives.
The only forms of legal gambling in Kentucky are pari-mutuel wagering on racing, charitable gaming such as bingo and the lottery. Casino gambling and slot machines are prohibited under the state.
- Financial Concerns : The act of wagering on the outcome of any given game is a risky one, and the gambler may be spending funds that could be better used elsewhere. Ideally, gamblers will only bet what they can afford to lose, but this often isn’t the case. Instead, those who like to wager often try to compensate for a big loss by betting more and losing again.
- Addiction : Winning a large amount of cash on a wager can be intoxicating; like alcohol and other drugs, the feeling of winning can become addictive. Some gambling addicts firmly believe that they wouldn’t have lost their homes, cars, and families if gambling had been illegal. It’s important to remember to balance this information with personal experience; if you know you’re a responsible gamer, you have nothing to worry about.
- Crime Rates : Cities that have legalized gambling tend to also experience an increase in crime rates. Some argue that increased crime is a result of people losing too much money, but others feel that the large amounts of cash associated with gambling lead to an increase in illegal activity. In order to successfully legalize gambling, officials should consider an increased law enforcement presence.
- Small Businesses Suffer : There is some indication that those communities with legal gambling see a loss in the amount of revenue garnered by small businesses. In addition to providing exciting recreation opportunities, casinos and other gambling establishments tend to support restaurants, bars, and other businesses. When casino visitors come to gamble, they stay for dinner; over time, this tendency can decrease the amount of customers that smaller businesses serve.
What Do You Think?
Now that you’ve read over several pros and cons of legalized gambling, what do you think? Is global economic growth more important than the needs of small businesses? Is gambling as a method of employment acceptable, given the fact that some people get addicted? The issue of legalized gambling cannot be resolved without conclusive answers to questions like these.
By In previous lists of states most likely to consider legalizing online poker, Kentucky was omitted. Not only was it a state that feared any competition for its horse racing industry, Kentucky was at the center of a years-long battle with online gaming companies.
Then-Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear had been so incensed by online poker and casino operators accepting American customers in the mid-2000s that he obtained the court’s permission to seize more than 140 online gaming-related domains in 2008. That move instigated a long and costly court battle involving companies like PokerStars, ultimately resulting in a 2015 court ruling that ordered PokerStars to pay the Commonwealth of Kentucky more than $870 million on behalf of Kentucky residents who paid rake to the site between 2006 and 2011 in violation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). PokerStars appealed that ruling, however, and the Kentucky Court of Appeals overruled that decision in December 2018.
Considering the state’s actions through the years, it was surprising that online poker came up in late 2018 as one of the possible solutions for revenue that could fix Kentucky’s pension problem. And it was even more astounding to see the person’s name on the letter of suggestion: State Attorney General Andy Beshear, the son of the former governor.
Legalizing Casino Gambling In Kentucky Counties
Online poker in Kentucky?!?!? https://t.co/g7czdfg1fw
— Dustin Gouker (@DustinGouker) February 6, 2019
Possible Pension Solutions
In late November of last year, Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear wrote a letter to the legislators of the state with a possible solution to escalating concerns about a public pension funding gap. Instead of raising taxes, he suggested that expanded gaming in Kentucky was the way to go. He wrote:
“The answer is simple – expanded gaming including casino, fantasy sports, and sports gaming, as well as preparing for the eventual legalization of online poker.”
He also noted with regard to sports betting, “We are missing out on our share of these revenues. We cannot afford to continue to make this mistake.”
Of course, it had been 10 years since the former governor seized online gambling domains. And it goes without saying that a father and son are not required to hold the same political positions. It was a strange turn of events, nonetheless.
AG Speaks, House Listens
Not everyone in the legislature was a fan of the idea, but some members of the House agreed with Beshear’s suggestion.
A number of gambling-related bills were introduced in the House this week, two of which will be of particular interest to poker players.
One is HB.175, “an act relating to wagering and making an appropriation therefor.” Essentially, it proposes to change the current laws to permit the regulation of fantasy sports contests, sports wagering, at race tracks, and online poker. As for online poker, it would be allowed for people in Kentucky aged 18 and over, and the Lottery Corporation would establish the regulations and handle all licensing.
The February 5 introduction was a bipartisan effort with 15 sponsors in total: Democratic Representatives Al Gentry, Kelly Flood, Dean Schamore, and John Sims Jr.; and Republican Representatives Adam Koenig, Myron Dossett, Matthew Koch, Derek Lewis, C. Ed Massey, Jerry Miller, Kimberly Poore Moser, Jason Nemes, Sal Santoro, Diane St. Onge, and Majority Whip Chad McCoy.
Legalizing Casino Gambling In Kentucky Lottery
By the end of this week, it has been posted in the Licensing, Occupations, and Admin Regs Committee, of which Koenig is the chair and Koch the vice chair.
Excited to file HB 175 yesterday, which will allow legal sports betting, on-line poker and fantasy sports in Kentucky. It's time to provide the freedom for those who wish to engage in these activities to do so legally. Let's be ahead of the curve Kentucky!https://t.co/zfBRRiMmKF
— Adam Koenig (@repkoenig) February 6, 2019
The second bill of note to poker players is HB.190, “an act relating to the expansion of gaming and making an appropriation therefor.” The legislation intends to put the Lottery Corporation in charge of licensing and regulation for full-fledged casinos in Kentucky, as well as for limited casino gaming at the state’s horse tracks. The bill calls for the legalization of full casino gambling, which would presumably include table games, slots, live poker, and possibly sports betting.
Kentucky Representative and Democrat Dennis Keene is the sole sponsor of the casino bill, and he submitted the bill to the Appropriations and Revenue Committee.
There were also sports betting bills put forth, and the totality of the legislation seems to satisfy Beshear’s request for broad gambling expansion to produce revenue to boost the public pension program.
Time to bring this activity out of the shadows in Kentucky. https://t.co/RhGE0CBqbe
— Adam Koenig (@repkoenig) January 28, 2019
What are the Odds?
It is difficult to know how the gambling-related bills will proceed through committees, but the number of sponsors on HB.175 is a positive sign that it will pass out of its initial committee.
The support of Beshear is clearly influential, and it remains to be seen if his support will translate into action. It will also be interesting to see which members of the legislature may step up to express support or opposition to the bills. Much will be discovered through these processes in the coming months.