Kentucky’s legislature completed action on a major gambling measure Wednesday night, passing House Bill 904 after a series of late votes and procedural adjustments. The measure now moves to Governor Andy Beshear for consideration.
The Senate initially approved HB 904 24-13 shortly after 10 p.m. ET, but a second vote followed when legislators discovered an amendment had been added out of order. The corrected vote mirrored the original tally. The House later agreed to the revised version in a 64-19 vote, allowing the bill to advance before the legislative session entered its recess. Lawmakers will return April 14-15, when they can override a gubernatorial veto if necessary.
Extensive Updates Across Gambling Sectors
HB 904 consolidates multiple efforts to revise Kentucky’s gambling framework, combining changes to sports betting, horse racing, and charitable gaming into a single package. Sponsors spent months refining the measure, producing multiple iterations before presenting the final draft.
Among the updates, the bill raises the minimum age for sports betting accounts to 21 and restricts certain proposition bets on in-state collegiate athletes. It establishes a regulatory structure for fantasy sports operators and introduces fixed-odds wagering for horse racing.
One sponsor explained the process of merging separate initiatives. “Chairman Koch started on the charitable gaming stuff a long time ago,” he said. “I started on the fantasy sports piece a long time ago, and then the other pieces and parts came up over the period of us working on those other parts. Then we merged it all together, but we’ve seen about three or four different prediction market changes as we’ve gone through that process.”
Controversy Over Prediction Market Restrictions
A significant portion of debate in the Senate focused on language regarding prediction markets. The bill restricts how licensed racetracks, sportsbooks, and fantasy operators may connect with federally regulated exchanges within Kentucky, replacing a broader prohibition that would have affected operators nationwide.
Questions about potential consequences, including broadcasting agreements for major events like the Kentucky Derby, generated confusion.
Some lawmakers cited those uncertainties when voting against the measure. “There’s a lot in this bill I really liked. However, given (Howell’s) answers that this might possibly impact the ability of Churchill Downs to air the Kentucky Derby on national television – that’s a very big issue – and I cannot in good conscience vote for this bill at this moment in time,” said one opponent.
Industry Input Shapes the Bill
Sports betting operators played a key role in influencing the final language. Earlier drafts threatened to push major operators out of Kentucky, prompting outreach to customers and public advocacy. “This could mean losing access to FanDuel in Kentucky,” a warning on one app stated. Advocacy groups emphasized potential lost tax revenue and encouraged constituents to contact lawmakers, noting, “Don’t let HB 904 compromise our state’s revenue and your freedom to choose.”
With adjustments to prediction market restrictions, licensed sportsbooks and fantasy operators are expected to continue operating in the state. Lawmakers acted ahead of the veto period to maintain the option of overriding any potential veto. HB 904 now awaits the governor’s review.
Source:
“Kentucky Lawmakers Pass Complex Gambling Bill, Cut National Prediction Market Ban for Licensed Sportsbooks“, gamblinginsider.com, April 3, 2026
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