The newly elected governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, a Democrat, campaigned on a platform of legalizing casinos, sports betting, and online gambling.
Beshear narrowly defeated the incumbent governor, Matt Bevin, by a mere 5,150 votes, representing a slim 0.35% margin of the total votes cast.
Beshear secured significant victories in the state’s major urban centers, claiming a lead of nearly 100,000 votes in Jefferson County, encompassing Louisville, and exceeding 35,000 votes in Fayette County, which includes Lexington.
Beshear has pledged to allocate the tax revenue generated from expanded gambling to bolster the pension system for public servants, including educators, law enforcement officers, and firefighters.