(WKYT) -A bill introduced in the Kentucky House Wednesday would raise the legal sports betting age from 18 to 21 and ban proposition bets on Kentucky student athletes.
House Bill 904 includes several provisions affecting gambling and horse racing in Kentucky:
- Regulation of fantasy contest operators
- Fixed-odds wagering on live horse racing
- Raising the sports wagering age from 18 to 21
- Tightening rules on charitable gaming
- New consumer protections, including self-exclusion lists and problem gambling resources
- A new purse stabilization fund for horse racing
The bill comes as problem gambling advocates say younger bettors face serious risks. Ronsonlyn Clark, President of the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, said raising the betting age could have life-saving consequences.
“Everyone does it is something that people say, especially young people that are gambling,” Clark said.
Clark said one in five problem gamblers will attempt suicide, often because of overwhelming debt.
“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.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, also available 24/7.
Student bettors weigh in
Not everyone supports the change. Dylan Froyo, a 19-year-old University of Kentucky student, said betting makes games more enjoyable and that he bets responsibly.
“I just can’t imagine not being able to do it anymore,” Froyo said. “It’s what I look forward to when I’m watching a game or something. It always makes it more exciting.”
Prop bet ban raises integrity concerns
The bill would also affect bettors over 21 by eliminating proposition bets on Kentucky student-athletes. Brad Taylor, host of the sports betting radio show Bottomline with Brad Taylor, said the prop bet ban is one way to protect the integrity of college sports.
“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 said younger players with less income could be vulnerable to manipulation through prop bets.
“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.
Taylor said many of his listeners are sports bettors under 25, and that losing 18-to-20-year-old bettors could significantly hurt the sports betting industry.
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Anyone struggling with gambling can call 1-800-426-2537.