Kentucky may soon allow counties to decide on casino gambling through House Bill 33, filed by Rep. Thomas Huff (R-Bullitt). The bill would establish the Kentucky Racing and Gaming Corporation (KHRGC) to regulate commercial casinos, pending approval from the General Assembly and Governor Andy Beshear.

Key provisions of the bill include:

• 21% tax on monthly gross gaming revenue from slots, table games, and sports betting
• $3 admission fee per casino visitor
• Revenue directed to Kentucky's General Fund

County eligibility requirements:

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

Following voter approval, counties must:

1. Issue competitive bid requests for casino proposals
2. Select a gaming developer/operator
3. Submit proposal to KHRGC for review

This gaming expansion effort follows Kentucky's recent legalization of online sports betting in 2023 and historical horse racing (HHR) machines in 2021. HHR has proven successful, generating:

• $800 million monthly handle in 2024
• $302.4 million in gross revenue (July-November 2025)
• $26.9 million for horse racing development
• $23 million for the state's General Fund

While Kentucky remains largely conservative with 60% of adults considering religion very important, recent gaming expansions suggest potential openness to casino legislation, despite Republicans holding significant legislative majority (80/100 House seats, 31/38 Senate seats).

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