On June 14, 2023, Governor Phil Scott signed H.127 into law, legalizing sports betting in Vermont. Legal sports betting is expected to launch in the state in December 2023. NCPG recognizes that through their hard work, Kentucky has established the first-ever state funding for gambling addiction. Although NCPG did submit testimony on the bill, the bulk of the work was done by our state affiliate, the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling. Although an important cause, NCPG believes it is appropriate that gambling tax revenue be used to help prevent and treat only gambling addiction. In addition, monies in the problem gambling assistance fund created by the bill are not earmarked strictly to prevent or treat gambling addiction, they can also be used to prevent and treat other addictions.
Studies have shown that the younger a person begins gambling, the more likely they are to develop a problem. For one, the bill sets the legal sports betting age as 18 rather than 21, like most states. Although the bill does include some important problem gambling provisions, such as 2.5% of tax revenue dedicated to a problem gambling assistance fund, the bill also has some shortcomings. On March 23, 2023, Governor Andy Beshear signed HB 551 into law, making sports betting legal in Kentucky.
