Legislation to set aside state funds to help with counseling for compulsive and problem gamblers is headed to the Kentucky House floor. Similar measures have been before state lawmakers 15 times previously.
When originally filed in 2000, the funds for education, prevention, and counseling were to come from charitable gambling proceeds.
Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling’s Mike Stone says the bill now calls for general fund support.
“It’s all funds that we believe can come from instant racing dollars that are new to the state and additional funds of that nature,” Stone said.
Stone said once up and running, the program would need just over $1 million annually to offer reimbursements to community and private behavioral health counselors. He says state revenues from relatively new instant racing betting total more than $3 million each year.
The measure, approved by the House Licensing and Occupations Committee, must still go before the House Budget Committee where its future remains uncertain.
