Kentucky's proposed House Bill 33, filed by Rep. Thomas Huff (R-Bullitt), aims to give counties and their voters the power to decide on commercial casino gambling in their communities. If passed, the Kentucky Racing and Gaming Corporation (KHRGC) would regulate these brick-and-mortar casinos.

Key aspects of the bill include:

• 21% tax on monthly gross gaming revenue (GGR) from slots, table games, and sports betting
• $3 admission fee per casino visitor
• Revenue would go to the state's General Fund

County Requirements:

• Must have at least 30,000 residents to qualify
• Smaller counties can partner with neighbors to meet the population threshold
• Counties with licensed racing associations are exempt from population requirement
• Local referendum needed through either:
  • County legislative body ordinance
  • Citizen petition with signatures from 25% of previous election voters

Current Gaming Landscape in Kentucky:

• Historically opposed to gambling expansion
• 60% of adults consider religion "very important"
• Republican-controlled legislature (80/100 House seats, 31/38 Senate seats)
• Recently approved:
  • Online sports betting (March 2023)
  • Historical horse racing (HHR) machines (2021)

HHR Performance (July-November 2024):

• Monthly handle: approximately $800 million
• Total gross revenue: $302.4 million
• Revenue distribution:
  • Tracks: $252.5 million
  • Horse racing development: $26.9 million
  • State General Fund: $23 million

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