Kentucky, Minnesota Fighting For 18+ Sports Betting Age

• Both Minnesota and Kentucky are undergoing the approval of regulated sports betting.
• Minnesota is concerned about the ability to bet on sports at 18 in their jurisdiction.
• With an age of 18+, Kentucky has assistance by heavily funding problem gambling.
• Minnesota Representative vowed to have 40% of sports betting revenue go into problem gambling.

ST. PAUL, Minn – Regulated sports betting is becoming closer to reaching success in Minnesota with bill H.F. 778 undergoing discussions.

Moved to the House’s judiciary committee by a 7-5 vote, MN HF 778 still must pass through the House and Senate.

Still, lawmakers were hesitant on Tuesday regarding concern for the minimum age to bet in Minnesota. Set at 18, many wanted to see a change to 21.

When proposing the legal sports betting bill , Representative Zack Stephenson assured the committee that 40% of the sports betting revenue tax would be designated to go straight into problem gambling.

Using Kentucky As A Guide

Under the proposed measure set out by Representative Adam Koenig, Kentucky sports betting would make sports betting regulated both online and physical locations.

Kentucky set a strong stance; however, in the focus of problem gambling compared to other states with legal sports betting.

House Bill 606 would give $225 million dollars to gambling helplines to guarantee that they could handle people 18 and older betting on sports.

Stereotypes Surrounding The Betting Age

Jake Grassel, a member of the Citizens Against Gambling Expansion, voiced his concerns about Minnesota citizens increasing in betting addiction and how it would affect individuals or families’ financial statuses.

The fear revolved around the idea that young people (18) would become addicted to the easy habit of betting on sports from the comfort of their couch until they were literally bankrupt.

However, data conducted from the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association revealed that 50% of sports bettors are 35+, with the average age being 38.1.

Additionally, only about a fifth of Americans 18+ participated in sports betting.

Even though data shows that people that are 18 do not conduct the majority of online sports betting, state lawmakers are still hesitant to approve of legal sports betting from ages 18 and up.

Methods shown from Kentucky could be the catalyst needed for Minnesota to create stronger guarantees.

News tags: Betting Age | Kentucky | KY HB 606 | Minnesota | MN HF 778