Louisville, Kentucky — As soon as per week, Wade Yeoman makes the brief drive throughout the Ohio River from his Louisville workplace to Jeffersonville, Indiana, the place he grabs lunch and low and locations small bets on sports activities utilizing his cell phone. To do.

What you could know

• Followers are driving throughout state strains to wager on sports activities
• Kentucky is certainly one of 14 states that don’t enable observe.
• The invoice that handed the Home final 12 months by no means reached the Senate ground for a vote
• Rep. Al Gentry plans to co-sponsor new bipartisan invoice to legalize sports activities betting this 12 months

Kentucky is certainly one of 14 states that doesn’t enable the observe, so he’s certainly one of many Kentuckians who journey throughout state strains.

“Whereas I watch for them to pour my espresso, I pull up Draft Kings,” he stated.

Wade Yeoman usually travels to Indiana to wager on sports activities. (Spectrum Information 1/Erin Kelly)

Yeoman stated it makes watching the sport extra fascinating.

“It is foolish and an ideal instance of why I feel it is foolish. I work in downtown Louisville and I drive throughout the river to play sports activities betting or drive the identical distance on 65 and wager on authorized horse races at Churchill Downs and Kentucky.

Yeoman makes use of the Draft Kings and FanDuel apps and considers himself an informal bettor.

He is aware of 30-40 individuals doing the identical factor. He stated.

“It is not like we coordinate and are available right here collectively, however you realize, I’ve quite a lot of grad and undergraduate mates who’re like, ‘Oh, I am approaching Monday,’ or ‘I am approaching Tuesday.’ Or lots of people throughout soccer season are available in on the Friday earlier than all of the video games begin,” Yeoman stated.

Apply is allowed in all states round Kentucky besides Missouri. According to the American Gaming Association.

Rep. Al Gentry (D-Louisville) stated he has been attempting to legalize sports activities betting since 2018.

Rep. Al Gentry will co-sponsor a brand new invoice to legalize sports activities betting. (Spectrum Information 1/Erin Kelly)

“Persons are actually crossing borders, parking, betting on their telephones, and people tax revenues are flowing from this state to different states,” Gentry stated.

co-sponsored House Bill 606 Final 12 months, with former Congressman Adam Koenig.

The invoice handed the Home over the opposition of some Republicans like Rep. Josh Calloway (Rep.- Irvington).

Callaway stated in March 2022, “We’ve a tremendous self-control downside in our society, and that is what considerations me about this explicit invoice.

The invoice by no means entered the Senate.

Senate Speaker Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) stated leaders saved it alive by studying.

“It did not create a surge of assist of any form,” he stated final April.

Gentry plans to co-send a brand new bipartisan invoice to be launched subsequent month and believes it can have the votes to go it.

“We consider it can legalize sports activities betting, be ruled by the Horse Racing Fee in a lot the identical manner it was earlier than, and generate greater than $20 million a 12 months in state tax income,” he stated.

Yeoman known as on lawmakers to place the subsequent invoice to a vote.

“Do not let me leap in a automobile and cross a river to position a wager,” he stated. “Ridiculous”

However just like the Tremendous Bowl, with extra video games on the horizon, the Yeoman can be again throughout the river in the identical manner.