Kentucky lawmakers override governor's veto to implement new sports betting regulations

A wide-ranging overhaul of Kentucky’s sports betting laws will take effect in 90 days after lawmakers voted Tuesday to override a veto by Gov. Andy Beshear, clearing the way for new age limits, betting restrictions, and regulatory changes.

The measure, House Bill 904, introduces a series of shifts across sports betting, horse racing, and fantasy sports. Under the new law, the minimum age for sports betting will rise from 18 to 21, affecting access to both retail and online sportsbooks across the state. The change aligns Kentucky with most other U.S. jurisdictions.

Another provision calls for a ban on certain college-related proposition bets tied to in-state athletes, particularly those dependent on negative performance outcomes. The law also blocks operators from offering prediction markets or entering into partnerships with trading platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket.

The restriction on prediction markets impacts operators across sports betting, fantasy sports, and horse racing. Companies including DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics, which launched such platforms in late 2025, will be unable to introduce them in Kentucky, although none currently operate prediction markets in jurisdictions where they hold sportsbook licenses.

The override passed with strong majorities, with the Senate voting 67-7 and the House 26-5, as the Republican-dominated legislature moved to reverse one of several vetoes issued by Beshear during a recent recess. According to Fox56 News, most of the 32 bills he rejected were ultimately overridden.

Gov. Andy Beshear

The legislation also formalizes oversight of daily fantasy sports by requiring operators such as Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks to obtain licenses. At the same time, it authorizes fixed-odds wagering on horse racing, expanding beyond the pari-mutuel system that has traditionally defined the sector.

A provision within the law introduces what is termed a “minimum bet limit,” defined as “the amount a bettor can win, not how much can be staked or collected.”

Beshear had vetoed the bill a day earlier, citing concerns over a clause that would allow regulatory agencies to implement both emergency and standard rules without his approval.

He wrote that such a change would “prevent the Governor from carrying out his constitutional duties, and allow boards and agencies to impose rules on Kentuckians without executive oversight.”

Lawmakers had approved the bill earlier in the month with the expectation that it could face a veto, positioning themselves to override it before the session’s conclusion.