Many in Kentucky can’t wait for the state to adopt legal gambling like many others have in the US.
For example, the potential of Kentucky sports betting was shot down in April, when the Senate decided not to vote on the proposed bill, despite the House passing it along. The delay means the topic will not be considered again until at least 2023.
But there are some residents of Kentucky who stand in the way of progress in this area. One of those entities is The Family Foundation of Kentucky, that advocates for families in the state and biblical values.
It helps represent people who share the same mindsets and beliefs. And they are the leading Christian public policy group within the state.
The Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization that runs through gifts and donations from many around the area.
Since its vision revolves around God and religion, it strongly frowns upon gambling and Kentucky legalizing anything in the space. The Foundation works as the state family policy council (FPC) to stride toward:
“A nation where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished.”
Kentucky sports betting failed because of The Family Foundation
Sports betting failing in Kentucky comes to the delight of The Family Foundation, which intends to “protect Kentucky families from the proven harms that gambling causes.”
The group prides itself on helping to prevent gambling expansion for 16 years in Kentucky, before historical horse racing came into play in 2010.
Even then, the organization fought against HHR. It won three separate hearings at the Kentucky Supreme Court, forcing legislatures to pass a new bill to redefine pari-mutuel betting.
The fight for Kentucky sports betting
Those pulling for legal sports betting in KY can expect a similar fight to continue. So, while lawmakers like KY State Rep. Adam Koenig view sports betting in the Blue Grass state as “inevitable,” it appears there might be a lot of work still left to do.
The Family Foundation has repeatedly made it known that it’s against sports betting since PASPA got overturned in 2018, allowing states to form their own sports betting regulations.
In a post from Dec. 2018, Martin Cothran, the Senior Policy Analyst for The Family Foundation, discussed many reasons why gambling on sports isn’t beneficial and shouldn’t launch in KY. He said:
“[The] kind of gambling that sports betting involves is not allowable under our state Constitution. Our Constitution allows only three kinds of gambling: pari-mutuel wagering on horse races, a state-sponsored lottery, and charitable gaming.”
Cothran went into detail about how legal betting would increase problem gambling, specifically affecting those less financially stable than others.
The nonprofit’s current Executive Director, David Walls, took over once Ostrander retired in 2021. He’s referenced sports betting as strictly a negative, saying: “This type of predatory gambling is designed to prey on human weakness with the government colluding.”
It’s clear The Family Foundation wants the best for residents, but it’s possible they’re missing the mark this time around. A poll from February showed that 65% of residents find themselves in favor of KY sports betting, compared to just 26% of those against.
Those figures include results from The Family Foundation’s ties to the Republican Party, too. It lists 58% of Republicans in favor of legalizing sports betting, with 34% of them opposing.
About Kentucky’s Family Foundation
The Foundation mentions five core issues that it focuses on. These include the following:
- Family
- Life
- Religious freedom
- Human sexuality
- Human dignity
It’s within the human dignity category in which gambling is mentioned. The group states:
“Being a voice for the voiceless as we seek to protect the dignity of all from dehumanization, violation of rights, and social harms such as gambling, drug use, and pornography – which take advantage of people created in the image of God.”
It strives to uphold its beliefs for many others in Kentucky in a variety of ways. These include:
- Public policy research
- Education, including the Kentucky Citizen publication
- Church outreach and Christian engagement
- Standing for truth in the media
- Grassroots mobilization
- Voter education
- Advocating for core issues at the Kentucky Capitol and local level
Since being established in 1990 by Kent Ostrander, The Family Foundation has seen its duty expand in assisting an abundance of pro-family organizations.
Its presence continues to grow and expand, as members have spoken at hundreds of churches in the state. And they created the Kentucky Citizen newsletter.
This publication now reaches tens of thousands of residents in the Bluegrass State.
Its connection to those in the state also falls into the area of legal gambling. This is a very popular topic in KY, as there’s certainly a split of opinions on the matter.
News Update: March 2023 marked a historic turning point for Kentucky after it officially legalized sports betting in the state. Check out our dedicated Kentucky sports betting promos page to discover all the enticing offers that are set to become available after the much-anticipated launch.
