/** * dev demo deploy */ //dev demo or none if (!defined('TD_DEPLOY_MODE')) { define("TD_DEPLOY_MODE", 'deploy'); } do_action( 'tdc_header' ); if ( has_action( 'tdc_header' ) ) { return; } ?>

Why Kentucky Should Legalize Sports Betting, Part II: The 2023 Election

Must read

[ad_1]

Posted on: February 4, 2023, 02:10h. 

Last updated on: February 4, 2023, 06:25h.

NOTE: This is the second in a series of pieces I’m writing stating my case for why Kentucky needs to legalize sports betting. You can read my first piece here.

When the debate over legalizing sports betting in the Kentucky General Assembly picks up later this month, you may hear some people say they want to see it happen, but that now’s not the right time.

Beshear
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (left, center) prepares to give his State of the Commonwealth address to the Kentucky General Assembly last month at the State Capitol. Beshear is a supporter of sports betting who is running for reelection this year. (Image: Casino.org)

They will say that Republicans, who control both chambers in the state legislature, do not need to hand Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, a legislative victory in a year he’s seeking re-election.

Those people would be wrong. Here’s why.

Election Still Several Months Away

Let’s start in 2019. At that time, just a year after The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) decision in the US Supreme Court, then-Kentucky Attorney General Beshear was the Democratic nominee for governor, facing then-Gov. Matt Bevin. It was a bitter election that was decided by just 5,136 votes out of the more than 1.4 million ballots cast.

A key plank in Beshear’s campaign platform was a call for expanded gaming in the state. That ran counter to Bevin, a Republican who wasn’t particularly well-liked in his party, and who frequently spoke against legalizing sports betting and casinos. While there were a couple of other issues, Beshear’s position on gaming did motivate some voters to go to the polls for him, so it was a pivotal issue leading to his narrow victory.

Would signing a sports betting bill into law allow Beshear to take a victory lap? Barring something unexpected, the answer would be yes. But that victory lap would likely happen some seven months before the November election.

A lot can happen politically in seven months. Last year, during that amount of time, we went from what was expected to be a Republican romp in national elections to the Democrats winning the US Senate and nearly holding on to the US House.

Beshear would still tout sports betting on the campaign trail. Still, its impact would be muted as voters, especially Republican voters, who picked Beshear four years ago because of his views on the subject would need to find another reason to vote for him. Democrats and maybe Independents probably would stay with him. But Republicans, who make up the state’s largest political party, likely would gravitate back to their candidate – especially since it was a Republican majority in the legislature that passed the bill.

GOP Candidate Backing Gaming Isn’t a Sure Bet

And speaking of the Republican gubernatorial candidate, we don’t know who that is yet. We won’t until the May primary, which occurs some six weeks after the General Assembly session ends. That’s another reason why GOP lawmakers should consider passing sports betting in this session.

There are 12 candidates in the Republican primary, but probably no more than four or five who have viable shots of winning the nomination. However, there is no runoff provision in the primary, which means the winning candidate could finish with maybe 30% of the vote.

A survey last year found that 58% of Kentucky Republicans support sports betting. While that’s good news for supporters, that also means there’s enough opposition out there that could coalesce around a candidate who touts socially conservative stances on issues like gaming. That could help that candidate win the nomination.

I’ve covered Kentucky politics and government for more than 20 years, and I’ve seen how much of an impact the Family Foundation of Kentucky and its supporters can have on races in Kentucky.

In 2015, I was in Morehead covering Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis and her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. There were large and vocal demonstrations both for and against her, and the day the clerk’s office finally began issuing licenses, I saw supporters of Davis take handfuls of voter registration cards. They said they planned to start registration drives, and it was one of the reasons why Bevin ended up winning the governor’s race that year.

Beshear is a popular governor. But as I mentioned earlier, there’s still a long time until the election, and whoever ends up as the Republican candidate will have a substantial campaign backing them up and trying to take some of the shine off the current governor.

And also remember that Beshear barely won despite facing an unpopular incumbent. His reelection is not a certainty. An anti-gaming candidate could still win in November, and if sports betting does not make it through the legislature this year, that will impact its chances of passing over the next four years.

Passing sports betting in this session gets the subject off the table and avoids that possibility.

[ad_2]

Source link

More articles

Latest article

Ibu Sumarni Penjual Kue Di Lohbener Menang Mahjong Ways 2 Pak Rusman Karyawan Pasar Juntinyuat Dapat Hoki Digital Ibu Hamidah Pkl Bangodua Pulang Bawa Rp178 Juta Dari Mahjong Mahasiswa Kroya Menang Mahjong Ways 2 Saat Belajar Malam Ibu Ratna Penjual Beras Di Jatibarang Dapat Rp200 Juta Mahjong Pak Tarjo Petani Pasekan Dapat Kejutan Multiplier Mahjong Ibu Sumiati Penjaga Kantin Balongan Dapat Hoki Mahjong Ways Pak Darto Petani Sliyeg Bisa Beli Motor Karena Mahjong Ibu Nuraini Warga Kertasemaya Tembus Jp Dini Hari Mahjong Anak Kosan Di Lohbener Main Jam 03 27 Dan Menang Mahjong Warga Karawang Berhasil Wd Rp25 Juta Setelah Main Mahjong Ways Main Mahjong Ways Ibu Rumah Tangga Di Medan Bisa Wd Tiap Hari Pemuda Bekasi Tembus Wd Mahjong Ways Usai Coba Spin Tengah Malam Mahasiswa Jogja Tak Sangka Bisa Wd Dari Mahjong Ways Modal Receh Petani Subang Bisa Renovasi Rumah Setelah Wd Dari Mahjong Ways Pekerja Pabrik Tangerang Wd Rp30 Juta Dari Mahjong Ways Lewat Hp Jadul Main Mahjong Ways Sebentar Remaja Depok Langsung Wd Ke Rekening Guru Sd Di Solo Wd Mahjong Ways Setelah Daftar Dan Spin Pertama Ibu Warung Bandung Viral Usai Berhasil Wd Mahjong Ways Berkali Kali Nelayan Makassar Tak Menyangka Mahjong Ways Bikin Bisa Wd Setiap Minggu Ibu Sumarni Jual Kue Lohbener Menang Mahjong Ways 2 Subuh Pak Rusdi Pasar Juntinyuat Dapat Hoki Digital Mahjong Ibu Hamidah Bangodua Bawa Pulang Rp178 Juta Dari Mahjong Mahasiswa Kroya Menang Mahjong Ways 2 Sambil Belajar Ibu Ratna Jual Beras Jatibarang Menang Rp200 Juta Mahjong Pak Tarjo Petani Pasekan Auto Jp Karena Mahjong Ways 2 Ibu Sumiati Penjaga Kantin Balongan Dapat Hoki Mahjong Pak Darto Sliyeg Bisa Beli Motor Dari Mahjong Ways 2 Ibu Nuraini Kertasemaya Menang Dini Hari Dari Mahjong Anak Warnet Lohbener Tembus Mahjong Ways 2 Jam Ganjil Nenek Penjual Daun Pisang Di Garut Sujud Syukur Saat Mahjong Ways 2 Muncul Beruntun Pemuda Kasir Indomaret Di Batang Terpaku Lihat Perputaran Mahjong Ways 2 Di Pagi Butaw Penyortir Kardus Di Margonda Gemetar Saat Kombo Mahjong Ways 2 Tak Berhenti Wanita Pembuat Lilin Di Karanganyar Temukan Keajaiban Di Mahjong Ways 2 Siswa Homeschooling Di Cibinong Diam Membisu Saat Mahjong Ways 2 Berulang Sendiri Pak Leha Sopir Keliling Di Banjarnegara Bergetar Lihat Alur Mahjong Ways 2 Sore Itu Gadis Penyulam Di Kampung Bambu Bicara Pelan Saat Mahjong Ways 2 Bawa Harapan Tukang Tambal Ban Di Tegal Langsung Istighfar Lihat Pattern Mahjong Ways 2 Buruh Pengupas Kulit Jengkol Di Ciamis Tiba Tiba Diam Saat Mahjong Ways 2 Menang Pemuda Pengantar Tempe Di Pasar Rejowinangun Tertegun Karena Mahjong Ways 2 Bocoran Rahasia Mahjong Ways Jentoto Hari Ini Yang Bikin Auto Menang Pola Main Mahjong Ways Jentoto Terbaru 2025 Dibongkar Para Pemenang Trik Jitu Main Mahjong Ways Di Jentoto Viral Di Komunitas Game Cuan Tips Dari Pemain Veteran Untuk Mahjong Ways Jentoto Yang Viral Banget Bocoran Polanya Sudah Terbukti Mahjong Ways Jentoto Banjir Cuan Hari Ini Ternyata Ini Trik Mahjong Ways Jentoto Yang Sering Dipakai Para Pro Player Pola Rahasia Mahjong Ways 2025 Di Jentoto Sudah Diuji Ratusan Orang Tips Dan Trik Terbaru Main Mahjong Ways Di Jentoto Agar Meledak Cuan Viral Pola Bermain Mahjong Ways Jentoto Hari Ini Banyak Yang Berhasil Bocoran Mahjong Ways Jentoto 2025 Bikin Heboh Komunitas Game Online Rahasia Terbesar Menang Mahjong Ways Di Suletoto2 Yang Jarang Orang Tahu Pengalaman Pemain Dapat Hadiah Besar Dari Mahjong Ways Di Suletoto2 Cara Main Mahjong Ways Di Suletoto2 Agar Setiap Spin Bisa Dapat Bonus Kenapa Mahjong Ways Di Suletoto2 Sering Bagi Hadiah Lebih Banyak Dari Biasanya Fakta Viral Mahjong Ways Suletoto2 Bikin Netizen Heboh Karena Cuan Tiap Hari Panduan Lengkap Main Mahjong Ways Di Suletoto2 Untuk Pemula Sampai Pro Alasan Utama Kenapa Mahjong Ways Di Suletoto2 Lagi Ramai Dibicarakan Netizen Mahjong Ways Di Suletoto2 Bisa Jadi Game Paling Untung Tahun Ini Strategi Main Mahjong Ways Suletoto2 Yang Bisa Naikin Chance Menang Maksimal Mahjong Ways Di Suletoto2 Jadi Viral Karena Banyak Pemain Dapat Hadiah Besar Bocoran Pola Mahjong Ways Kaisar800 Hari Ini Dijamin Tembus Auto Jackpot Trik Main Mahjong Ways Di Kaisar800 Versi Player Pro Dengan Winrate Tertinggi Tips Rahasia Mahjong Ways Kaisar800 Agar Tetap Cuan Meski Modal Tipis Update Pola Gacor Mahjong Ways Kaisar800 Hari Ini Bocoran Tiket Hoki Terbaru Trik Dan Strategi Mahjong Ways Kaisar800 Agar Tidak Zonk Di Pola Terbaru Pola Terkuat Mahjong Ways Kaisar800 2025 Dengan Trik Kombinasi Auto Untung Bocoran Jalur Menang Mahjong Ways Kaisar800 Hari Ini Dari Komunitas Rahasia Cara Main Mahjong Ways Di Kaisar800 Dengan Polanya Yang Lagi Trending Trik Baru Mahjong Ways Kaisar800 Yang Viral Di Tiktok Dan Terbukti Cuan Tips Pola Main Mahjong Ways Kaisar800 Agar Hoki Stabil Tiap Hari Warga Lokal Main Mahjong Ways Suletoto2 Viral Banyak Pemain Auto Cuan Menang Bermain Game Mahjong Ways Suletoto2 Banjir Hadiah Panen Uang Ibu Sumantri Main Mahjong Ways Di Suletoto2 Raup Puluhan Juta Buk Ade Jadi Okb Main Mahjong Ways Suletoto2 Mesin Cuan Viral 2025 Warga Bekasi Senang Bermain Mahjong Ways Suletoto2 Kasih Jackpot Ratusan Juta Warganet Gempar Viral Mahjong Ways Suletoto2 Pemula Menang Besar Kini Warga Lokal Beramai Ramai Bertanya Kenapa Mahjong Ways Di Suletoto2 Viral Buk Ongki Main Mahjong Ways Suletoto2 Modal Receh Cuan Gede Artis Banjarmasin Main Slot Mahjong Ways Suletoto2 Favorit Maxwin Kesukaan Mak Jonimahjong Ways Suletoto2 Dihujani Testimoni Menang Wanita Penjahit Larut Malam Di Majalengka Tersentuh Saat Mahjong Ways Beri Berkah Pemuda Pemotong Ikan Di Tpi Pamekasan Mendadak Terdiam Lihat Mahjong Ways Menang Nenek Pembuat Anyaman Di Lampung Kaget Lihat Kombinasi Mahjong Ways Detik Itu Ibu Penjual Pecel Di Ponorogo Bergetar Saat Garis Mahjong Ways Mengisi Penuh Penarik Gerobak Di Kalideres Senang Bukan Main Saat Polanya Kena Di Mahjong Ways Laki Laki Pembuat Kerupuk Di Kampung Cidahu Melongo Saat Mahjong Ways Meledak Penjual Tahu Di Brebes Lihat Layar Hp Lalu Sujud Karena Mahjong Ways Beruntun Tukang Potong Rambut Keliling Di Indramayu Diam Seribu Bahasa Karena Mahjong Ways Ibu Muda Pengupas Bawang Di Demak Berkata Pelan Saat Mahjong Ways Muncul Tiba Tiba Remaja Penjaga Rental Di Temanggung Peluk Temannya Usai Combo Mahjong Ways Penuh