The Kentucky House of Representatives has approved a series of measures that would reshape the state’s sports betting and gaming landscape, including raising the legal gambling age, restricting certain wagers, and introducing new rules for operators. The proposals now head to the Senate for consideration before the legislative session concludes.

Lawmakers passed House Bill 904 by a 79-15 vote, introducing several changes to sports wagering, fantasy contests, and charitable gaming. On the same day, House Bill 604 also cleared the chamber with the same margin, setting out requirements for how sportsbooks handle wagers and placing additional oversight on emerging betting markets.

Changes to Betting Age and Wager Types

One of the most significant provisions in HB 904 would increase the minimum age for sports betting in Kentucky from 18 to 21. The bill also seeks to prohibit proposition bets involving individual college athletes in the state. These wagers, commonly referred to as prop bets, focus on specific in-game performances or outcomes tied to a single player.

Rep. Michael Meredith, who sponsored the legislation, acknowledged that the change in age requirements does not fully align with his personal stance. “I’m a strong believer in, if you’re 18 and you’re an adult by every other standard, you should be an adult by all standards,” Meredith said earlier this month, according to the Kentucky Lantern. “They want the age raised, and so we did it, despite my personal concerns about that.”

Supporters argue that limiting prop bets tied to college athletes addresses concerns about player safety and integrity. Meredith pointed to incidents at the professional level as part of the reasoning behind the restrictions. “We’ve seen some high-profile cases where folks have been manipulating a game at the professional level, and so we wanted to put some protections in for our in-state student athletes in that space too,” Meredith said.

The legislation also targets prediction markets, a growing segment where individuals trade on the outcomes of future events. HB 904 would prevent licensed betting operators, horse racing tracks, and fantasy sports companies in Kentucky from participating in such markets.

“Prediction markets have started moving into the space of betting on ball games, sporting events, and even prop bets on athletics as well,” Meredith said. “There has been a large-scale discussion at the national level, led by states across the country, on what is the place for regulation in these markets. Should states be able to regulate those sports-related event contracts? And we still don’t know the answer to that yet.”

New Rules for Operators and Market Structure

House Bill 604 introduces a separate set of requirements focused on sportsbook operations. If enacted, it would make Kentucky the first state to require online betting platforms to accept wagers of up to $1,000. The measure reflects ongoing debates across the country about limits imposed on bettors, particularly those considered more experienced.

During the legislative process, Rep. Nick Wilson proposed an amendment allowing sportsbooks to refuse certain wagers under specific conditions, such as suspected irregular activity or large cumulative bets. The amendment also outlined scenarios where the requirement could be suspended, including when a bettor has already wagered $5,000 in a single day or when a bet could lead to a payout exceeding $1 million.

Meredith opposed the change, raising concerns about altering business practices while the market continues to develop. “I just have a lot of concerns with making a change like this in the business practices of the licensees, … in a time when we still don’t have a mature marketplace on this, in a time when we are doing major, major things to change this, and when the national market is doing major, major things to change our regulated industry,” he said.

Despite those objections, the House adopted the amendment and moved the bill forward. Additional provisions in HB 604 include taxing revenue from prediction markets at the same rate as online sportsbooks, set at 14.25%, and introducing regulations for daily fantasy sports operators, which currently operate without formal oversight in the state.

Impact on Charitable Gaming and Community Groups

Beyond sports betting, HB 904 also addresses long-standing concerns within Kentucky’s charitable gaming sector. Organizations that rely on gaming activities to fund their operations have often worked within unclear regulatory frameworks.

Supporters say the bill would provide clearer rules and improved accountability. Mike Mulrooney, founder of Shirley’s Way, expressed optimism about the changes. “This is really going to fix a lot of things and set some new regulations that have been needed in the industry for a long time,” Mulrooney said. “But it also is going to give organizations the ability to maybe pick up one extra location to expand their game, which would bring in more money for their missions.”

The proposal would also formally authorize and regulate fantasy contests while allowing horse racing venues to offer fixed-odds wagering alongside existing pari-mutuel systems.

Advocates for nonprofit groups say clearer guidelines could strengthen their ability to serve communities. Cortney Burden, board president of Active Heroes, emphasized the potential benefits for organizations that depend on charitable gaming. “The veteran organizations like Active Heroes, American Legion, VFWs, they do so much more than veterans camaraderie,” Burden said. “They give to the communities. They give to the families. It’s easier for us to train and hold ourselves accountable when we have a target.”

Not all groups support the legislation. The Family Foundation has raised concerns about the broader impact, warning that expanded gambling measures could have unintended consequences. The organization stated, “This shift will encourage even further predatory gambling expansion and could be a catalyst to invite full gambling ‘legalization’ in Kentucky.”

With both bills advancing through the House, attention now turns to the Senate, where lawmakers have limited time to decide whether the proposed changes will become law.