What are the odds you’ll ever get to bet on sports in Kentucky? – WLKY Louisville

Ryan Rhodes enjoys sports wagering typically from his mobile phone. But to do so, the Louisville resident has to drive across the Ohio River and place his bet on Indiana soil."To have to drive 15 minutes for something to be legal that I could do from my own couch, it seems a little ridiculous," Rhodes said.That's because betting on sports is illegal in Kentucky both in-person and online.Rep. Adam Koenig (R-Erlanger) hopes to change that with legislation that will legalize online and retail sports wagering.He has not decided when he will file the bill, which will also regulate online poker and daily fantasy sports."God-willing, we'll be able to get it done and we'll be able to wager on the Bengals when they go to the Super Bowl next year," Koenig said.Related: Cincinnati Bengals to take on Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVIMany lawmakers have tried to push through such bills in Frankfort and failed.However, Koenig believes last year's successful passage of a historical horse racing bill, which regulated the slot machine-like betting games in Kentucky, may have softened many state lawmakers' hesitancy to vote for sports betting."I've talked to many of them that voted yes and they went home and they got push-back from one, two, three, four, five people and then it went away," Koenig said. "So the pushback that was perceived on a pro-gaming vote just really isn't what people expected it to be."Many lawmakers feared having to explain their historical horse racing vote in this year's primary elections, only to find they are not being challenged at all, Koenig said.Nevertheless, the Family Foundation of Kentucky plans to fight any attempt to expand gambling in Kentucky and challenge its constitutionality. "We already have a problem here in Kentucky with an underclass that has been exploited in many ways, from easy cash at the local shop to the lottery, and now we're going to throw this on them as well," said Martin Cothran, spokesperson for the Family Foundation of Kentucky. "This is a regressive tax."For sports fans like Rhodes, the cat's already out of the bag. Of all the states bordering Kentucky, only Missouri has not yet legalized sports gaming."We are completely landlocked by other states that have legal sports betting that are reaping all the benefits of Kentucky money and income," Rhodes said.

Ryan Rhodes enjoys sports wagering typically from his mobile phone. But to do so, the Louisville resident has to drive across the Ohio River and place his bet on Indiana soil.

"To have to drive 15 minutes for something to be legal that I could do from my own couch, it seems a little ridiculous," Rhodes said.

That's because betting on sports is illegal in Kentucky both in-person and online.

Rep. Adam Koenig (R-Erlanger) hopes to change that with legislation that will legalize online and retail sports wagering.

He has not decided when he will file the bill, which will also regulate online poker and daily fantasy sports.

"God-willing, we'll be able to get it done and we'll be able to wager on the Bengals when they go to the Super Bowl next year," Koenig said.

Related: Cincinnati Bengals to take on Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI

Many lawmakers have tried to push through such bills in Frankfort and failed.

However, Koenig believes last year's successful passage of a historical horse racing bill, which regulated the slot machine-like betting games in Kentucky, may have softened many state lawmakers' hesitancy to vote for sports betting.

"I've talked to many of them that voted yes and they went home and they got push-back from one, two, three, four, five people and then it went away," Koenig said. "So the pushback that was perceived on a pro-gaming vote just really isn't what people expected it to be."

Many lawmakers feared having to explain their historical horse racing vote in this year's primary elections, only to find they are not being challenged at all, Koenig said.

Nevertheless, the Family Foundation of Kentucky plans to fight any attempt to expand gambling in Kentucky and challenge its constitutionality.

"We already have a problem here in Kentucky with an underclass that has been exploited in many ways, from easy cash at the local shop to the lottery, and now we're going to throw this on them as well," said Martin Cothran, spokesperson for the Family Foundation of Kentucky. "This is a regressive tax."

For sports fans like Rhodes, the cat's already out of the bag. Of all the states bordering Kentucky, only Missouri has not yet legalized sports gaming.

"We are completely landlocked by other states that have legal sports betting that are reaping all the benefits of Kentucky money and income," Rhodes said.

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What are the odds you'll ever get to bet on sports in Kentucky? - WLKY Louisville