UPDATE: Family group says sports betting bill ‘dead on arrival’

Issue likely to start moving in Legislature soon

UPDATE POSTED 3 P.M. FEB. 12, 2022

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – While supporters were touting survey results showing support for sports betting, a family group that has opposed the measure for years says it’s not going to happen this year either.

In a statement Saturday, The Family Foundation said on the eve of the Super Bowl that it thought that if the sports wagering bill gambling proponents say they are going to introduce into the Kentucky General Assembly is similar to their 2020 bill, it will be “dead on arrival.”

“We don’t sense any desire on the part of state lawmakers to expand gambling in this state two years in a row,” said Martin Cothran, spokesman for the group. “We don’t think a sports betting bill will even make it through the first round of the legislative playoffs, much less pass both chambers of the legislature. There is just no sentiment for getting into another ugly and divisive fight on gambling just a year after historic horse racing slot machines only barely made it through.”

“It’ll take a hail Mary for this bill to even reach a vote in either chamber,” he said.

The Family Foundation has opposed past sports wagering bills because sports wagering is not constitutional in Kentucky and because of the social harms to Kentucky families caused by the predatory gambling industry. “The sponsors of these bills keep ignoring constitutional restrictions on gambling and trying to pass a regular statutory law. That’s not going to fly.”

Cothran also said that government promoted sports wagering will only further impoverish Kentucky’s poor by taking money from the hands of Kentucky families and shifting it to the gambling industry. Supporters say it will stop the outflow of money going to other states and only improve the state’s growing tourism industry that revolves around horce racing and gambling, the bourbon industry and sports.

ORIGINAL STORY POSTED FEB. 10, 2022

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Sports betting is a big political winner in Kentucky. Two-thirds of voters support allowing sports betting in the Commonwealth, according to a new survey from Republican pollster Robert Blizzard of Public Opinion Strategies.

By a 65%-26% margin, voters support allowing sports betting at Kentucky horse race tracks and mobile betting through online apps. This is virtually unchanged from 2020, the last time this issue was polled (66%-27%) by Blizzard.

“This poll confirms what we already know, that Kentuckians are ready to legalize sports betting,” said State Rep. Adam Koenig (R-Erlanger), who has introduced sports betting legislation in past sessions of the Kentucky General Assembly. “Surrounding states have already done so and we are losing millions because of it. We are practically landlocked as we lose revenue that could be paying off our $27 billion pension debt and freeing up resources to educate our children, pave our roads, and meet our obligations.”

According to the poll, support for sports betting extends across party lines:

— Republicans: 58% support, 34% oppose

— Independents: 81% support, 10% oppose

— Democrats: 69% support, 22% oppose

Support also extends across the Republican spectrum:

— Strong Republicans: 57% support, 35% oppose

— Soft Republicans: 60% support, 33% oppose

— Conservative Voters: 56% support, 35% oppose

— Trump ’20 Voters: 60% support, 30% oppose

Support rises even higher when voters hear the revenue will go to fund state pensions (74% support, 24% oppose).

In more results, nearly half of Kentuckians (48%) say that have bet on a sporting event in the past. 36% say they have done so more than five times; 28% say they have done so more than 10 times. The poll provides reasonable evidence that Kentuckians are already participating in sports wagering, with other states reaping the benefits.

The statewide of survey of 500 registered voters was conducted February 5-7, 2022 and has margin of error of 4.4%. Robert Blizzard and Public Opinion Strategies have a long track record of successful survey research in Kentucky and has worked for the Senate Republican Caucus Campaign Committee, the House Republican Caucus Campaign Committee, the Republican Party of Kentucky, and numerous GOP campaigns.

States immediately surrounding Kentucky, including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia, have already acted on sports betting. In total, 33 states plus the District of Columbia have acted on sports betting.