Kentucky lawmakers have introduced legislation that could reshape several aspects of the state’s gambling framework, including raising the minimum age for sports wagering and restricting certain types of bets on college athletes. The proposal, known as House Bill 904, was introduced on March 4 by Representatives Michael Meredith of Oakland and Matt Koch of Paris. If adopted, the measure would introduce new rules for sportsbooks, fantasy contests, and charitable gaming while adding further oversight mechanisms for the industry.

Sports betting became legal in Kentucky in 2023, with the first wagers placed in September of that year. The market has generated significant activity since launch. State data shows that bettors placed more than $2.8 billion in wagers during the 2025 fiscal year through both online platforms and retail sportsbooks operated by racetracks. Those wagers produced approximately $41 million in state excise tax revenue. Activity has continued into the current fiscal year, with nearly $1.9 billion already wagered.

Proposed Increase to Legal Sports Betting Age

One of the most notable provisions in House Bill 904 would raise the legal age for sports wagering from 18 to 21. While Kentucky currently allows individuals aged 18 and older to place sports bets, the majority of jurisdictions in the United States require bettors to be at least 21.

The bill states that the new age threshold would apply not only to sports wagering but also to fantasy contests and certain charitable gaming activities. The legislation leaves the age requirement for horse racing wagering unchanged, meaning bets on live racing and historical horse racing machines could still be placed by individuals aged 18.

Advocates who support the change have argued that younger bettors face greater risks associated with gambling. Ronsonlyn Clark, President of the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, emphasized the potential impact of gambling addiction among young people.

“Everyone does it is something that people say, especially young people that are gambling,” Clark said.

Clark also described the financial stress that problem gambling can create. “And that’s something these kids can’t handle and that’s where the suicide piece comes in,” Clark said. “If you can’t handle the debt, what’s the next thing you feel like you have to do — you don’t see a way out.”

Not all bettors favor the proposal. Some younger sports fans who currently wager under Kentucky’s existing rules say betting adds excitement to watching games. University of Kentucky student Dylan Froyo, who is 19, expressed concern about losing the ability to place wagers if the law changes.

“I just can’t imagine not being able to do it anymore,” Froyo said. “It’s what I look forward to when I’m watching a game or something. It always makes it more exciting.”

House Bill 904 also addresses proposition bets involving college athletes from Kentucky schools. Under the proposal, sportsbooks and related service providers would be prohibited from offering wagers tied to the statistical performance of individual players in games involving Kentucky-based teams.

These wagers typically focus on outcomes such as how many points a player scores or the number of passing yards recorded during a game. The proposed restriction would not apply to wagers on game outcomes or team results.

Observers who support the measure say the change could help protect the integrity of college sports. Brad Taylor, host of the sports betting radio show Bottomline with Brad Taylor, noted that prop bets could create opportunities for manipulation involving athletes.

“We’ve seen it in the NBA, we’ve seen players in the NFL even get suspended for betting on these prop bets,” Taylor said.

Taylor also pointed out that college athletes may face different financial pressures than professional players. “If you’re an 18, 19, 20-year-old kid and maybe you don’t have all that income that the big professionals have, yeah, it would be easy to say, ‘Yeah, maybe I won’t score as many points tonight and I’ll cash in — maybe my friends will cash in,’” Taylor said.

The radio host added that the proposal could also affect the betting industry’s customer base, as many sportsbook users fall within the younger demographic. According to Taylor, a large portion of his audience consists of bettors under 25.

Additional Regulatory Changes in the Bill

Beyond changes to the legal betting age and prop bet restrictions, House Bill 904 outlines a range of other adjustments to Kentucky’s gambling rules. The legislation would formally bring fantasy sports contests under the state’s sports wagering framework, placing them under the oversight of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation.

Representative Meredith described the intent of the proposal in a statement.

“We created a nationally recognized structure for sports wagering in the commonwealth a few years ago,” Meredith said. “House Bill 904 would bring us in line with much of the country in governing fantasy contests. Our goal is to make sure consumers are protected and have access to the products they are demanding in the marketplace.”

The bill also includes new operational requirements for sportsbook operators. Platforms would be required to verify the identity of customers making deposits or withdrawals and use technology designed to protect personal information. Geolocation tools would ensure that wagers originate from within Kentucky’s borders, and servers used to process bets would need to remain physically located within the state.

Racetracks would continue to play a central role in Kentucky’s sports wagering market. Under the bill, licensed racetracks could partner with as many as three service providers to run sportsbook operations, including mobile and online wagering platforms. The legislation also clarifies the definition of racetrack extension facilities that host wagering on historical horse races.

Local governments would gain the authority to impose occupational licence fees on those racetrack extension venues. County governments, consolidated local governments, and urban-county governments could apply the fees under existing statutes, while cities would receive similar authority for facilities within their jurisdiction.

Representative Koch described the broader purpose of the proposal in a statement.

“It is important that we ensure safeguards are in place to protect consumers and maintain the integrity of lawful wagering and charitable gaming,” Koch said, as reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader. “The Wagering Consumer Protection Act would build on the General Assembly’s previous work to strengthen industry oversight and establish a regulatory framework that supports the long-term success of these industries.”

House Bill 904 has not yet been assigned to a committee in the Kentucky House.