Last month, Kentucky lawmakers voted to legalize historical horseracing, in response to a state Supreme Court ruling that some of the machines were not parimutuel under state law. Now the House Licensing and Occupations Committee has unanimously approved a bill establishing a 10-member bipartisan task force to study raising taxes on the machines’ revenue. The task force will present its findings for consideration ahead of the 2022 session.
State Rep. Adam Koenig, sponsor of the bill to legalize HHR, said, “I think this is fair to say this is keeping the commitment that you and I and others made during that debate on the House floor.”
Since HHR machines debuted in 2011, players have bet $10.2 billion in them. Most of the tax revenue derived from the games is directed to the horseracing industry, helping to increase purses among other special funding. HHR also has produced $62 million in general tax revenue for the state.
