Published on: March 9, 2026, 12:52 PM.
Updated on: March 9, 2026, 12:52 PM.
- Kentucky legislators are contemplating an increase in the sports betting age
- Currently, individuals aged 18 and older can legally engage in sports betting in Kentucky
- Most states mandate that sports bettors must be at least 21 years old
Kentucky stands out among the 39 states where sports betting is legal, as it permits participation from individuals aged 18 and up. However, this could soon change if pending legislation gains approval.
House Bill 904 proposes several changes to Kentucky’s gaming landscape. Presented by Representatives Michael Meredith (R-Edmonson) and Matthew Koch (R-Bourbon), the bill aims to raise the legal age for sports betting and fantasy sports participation from 18 to 21.
Kentucky ranks as one of the few states allowing an 18-year minimum age for sports betting, along with Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Wyoming. Washington, DC, also permits sports gambling for individuals aged 18 and over.
Kentucky operates both retail and online sports betting overseen by the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. Since the market opened in September 2023, sportsbooks in Kentucky have processed nearly $7 billion in bets, retaining about $724.7 million in wagers.
Mitigating Gambling Risks
Advocates for responsible gaming assert that introducing teenagers to potentially addictive gambling formats like sports betting can lead to increased instances of gambling-related disorders and addiction.
“Research consistently indicates that young individuals face a higher risk of gambling issues due to cognitive development stages and their limited capacity to evaluate risks properly,” Cole Wogoman, Director of Government Relations at the National Council on Problem Gambling, remarked to Casino.org last month.
“This is the reason the majority of states impose a 21-year minimum age for sports betting and casino access,” Wogoman elaborated.
Since the expansion of sports betting in 2018, there has been a noticeable rise in gambling-related issues, according to addiction specialists. Sports bettors lost nearly $17 billion to legal sportsbooks last year, with even larger sums forfeited to unregulated offshore sportsbooks and local bookmakers.
In addition to raising the betting age, HB904 proposes banning sportsbooks from offering prop bets on individual player performances. Such bets have been associated with player harassment at both professional and collegiate levels, as well as match-fixing incidents.
States such as Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio, and Vermont restrict their regulated sportsbooks from providing player prop bets. The NCAA continues to encourage state gaming regulators to amend their regulations accordingly.
Introducing Fixed-Odds Betting
HB904 also aspires to legalize fixed-odds betting in Kentucky. This betting method guarantees that payouts are predetermined when a wager is placed, contrasting with traditional parimutuel betting, where odds and payouts fluctuate until the race begins.
HB904 proposes a 15% tax on revenue from fixed-odds betting terminals, with a significant portion directed toward a newly established “Purse Stabilization Fund” aimed at supporting live horse racing purses.
Fixed-odds betting offers predictability, ensuring payouts regardless of any subsequent shifts in the odds.