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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (KT) -- A Christian conservative policy advocate is pushing the Kentucky legislature to raise the age limit for sports betting from 18 to 21 years old.
Richard Nelson, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center, told the Kentucky Today Podcast that teenagers do not fully understand the risks involved in gambling on sports.
"Studies show that their brains are not fully developed. They are not masters at making good decisions," said Nelson. "And we see the prevalence of sports gambling, and the popularity of sports gambling with young people in particular, as jeopardizing the health and well-being of our young people."
The legislature legalized sports betting in 2023. Nelson says he would, ideally, like to see that law repealed but, for now, lawmakers should put more guardrails around it to protect young people.
Nelson points to studies which show that young people, especially young men, are at increased risk of becoming addicted to gambling.
"I think at one level, young men are aggressive. They want adventure and live vicariously. Those who have not made a sports team can kind of live out their fantasy. They can bet on the games and root for their team," said Nelson.
"Guys generally are more sports engaged than young women, not totally across the board, but this is one thing that guys do together, and when it comes to gambling or betting on sports, it's something that's more common with the male population."
Nelson believes that sports betting apps, such as Draft Kings and Fan Duel, intentionally target young men.
"They know their market. They know how to get these young men to subscribe to that app. And it's a huge industry," he said. "Sports betting, bookmakers, if you will, are raking in billions of dollars ... and they really are targeting that younger population. They know that if they can get young people involved with gambling, just get their foot in the door, they're going to have a customer, in some cases, for life."
Nelson believes raising the legal age for sports betting to 21 would also help mitigate the problems that have emerged on college campuses involving student athletes.
"Maybe there's a student athlete who misses a big shot in the game, and there's a student on campus that bet on that that game ... It's a recipe for disaster."
Also, Nelson noted, the NCAA is investigating several cases of alleged corruption among student athletes.
"It needs to stop," he said. "There should be no gambling on college campuses, especially from students betting on their own team."
Nelson believes lawmakers missed the implications of setting the sports betting age limit at 18 during the debate over the proposal three years ago.
"I think in the heat of the debate, you had people just opposing expanded sports gambling in general, and they were talking about what it would do to Kentucky -- the possible corruption, the reality that a lot of people lose and, somehow, we overlooked the 18-year-old eligibility," said Nelson.
"I had a conversation with one legislator in particular a couple months ago, and he thought that the age was 21."
Nelson is confident a bill will be filed this session to raise the age limit to 21, but that the "big gambling" lobbyists will press hard against it.
He said that's why it's important for Kentucky Baptists and other like-minded citizens to let their legislators know they support raising the sports betting age limit to 21.
"Regular people like you and me and people in the pews on Sunday mornings, we have a voice, and we have an opportunity to share our opinions and our concerns about an issue, and we're a key part to the puzzle of public policy.
"The Christian community in the commonwealth is a very significant part of the of the political conversation ... and I believe that if we had large numbers of Kentuckians who would contact their legislators and voice their opinions and their concerns on this issue, we can move the needle."
Kentuckians can contact their House and Senate representatives by calling the legislative hotline and leaving a message. The number is (800) 372-7181.
