A proposal introduced in the Kentucky General Assembly seeks to change several aspects of the state’s gambling framework, including increasing the legal sports betting age and restricting certain wagering options tied to college athletics. Lawmakers filed House Bill 904 on March 4, and the measure still awaits assignment to a committee in the House.

State Representatives Michael Meredith and Matt Koch sponsored the legislation, which outlines several regulatory changes across sports wagering, fantasy contests, and horse racing. Supporters argue that these adjustments would strengthen consumer protections while adapting the state’s rules to developments in the rapidly expanding sports betting sector.

The proposal arrives less than three years after Kentucky launched its regulated sports wagering market in September 2023. Since then, betting activity has grown steadily across the state.

Proposal Seeks Age Increase And Restrictions On Prop Bets

One of the central provisions of House Bill 904 would raise the minimum age for sports betting from 18 to 21. The change would bring Kentucky closer to the standards used by many other states with legal wagering markets.

The bill also introduces a ban on proposition wagers tied to Kentucky college athletes. Proposition bets typically allow gamblers to place wagers on specific individual outcomes within a game, such as the number of points scored by a particular player. The measure would remove those wagering options in an effort to address integrity concerns surrounding collegiate sports.

According to Brad Taylor, host of the sports betting radio program Bottomline with Brad Taylor, the restriction reflects ongoing concerns about potential manipulation in athlete-specific wagers. He noted that similar integrity issues have appeared in other professional leagues.

“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 suggested that younger athletes could face greater vulnerability to outside influence because of financial pressures.

“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 proposed legislation would also permit fixed-odds wagering on live horse races at racetracks. That form of betting would exist alongside the traditional pari-mutuel system already used in the industry.

Despite the proposed increase for sports wagering, the minimum betting age for horse racing activities, including wagers made through historical horse racing machines, would remain at 18.

Fantasy Sports Regulation And New Consumer Protections

House Bill 904 also seeks to formally recognize fantasy sports contests under Kentucky’s gambling laws. Under the proposal, operators offering these contests would fall under the supervision of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation.

In addition to fantasy sports oversight, the bill outlines several broader measures affecting gambling operations in the state. These include stronger rules governing charitable gaming activities, new consumer safeguards such as self-exclusion lists, and additional resources intended to help individuals experiencing problem gambling.

Supporters of the bill believe the regulatory updates would align Kentucky’s market with practices seen elsewhere in the United States.

In comments reported by the Lexington Herald Ledger, Meredith said, “We created a nationally recognized structure for sports wagering in the commonwealth a few years ago. 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.”

Advocates for responsible gambling have also expressed support for raising the betting age. Ronsonlyn Clark, President of the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, warned that younger bettors may face severe financial and emotional consequences when gambling problems develop.

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

Clark added that serious gambling harm can lead to extreme outcomes for some individuals.

“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.”

Rapid Market Growth Since Legalization

Kentucky’s regulated sports betting market began operations following the US Supreme Court’s 2018 decision that removed the federal prohibition on state-authorized sports wagering. After legalization in 2023, the market quickly expanded.

Financial data illustrates that growth. During fiscal year 2025, wagers in Kentucky exceeded US$2.8 billion. That betting activity generated approximately US$41 million in tax revenue for the state.

Early figures for 2026 also indicate continued momentum. Nearly US$1.9 billion has already been wagered this year.

Last September, Governor Andy Beshear reflected on the early years of regulated wagering in Kentucky and said the system was performing well.

While the market has expanded rapidly, House Bill 904 suggests that lawmakers are now considering additional safeguards and regulatory adjustments as betting participation increases across the state.

Source:

New bill would raise Kentucky sports betting age to 21, ban some prop bets, kentucky.com, 5 March 2026.

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