The Kentucky State Police, in collaboration with all law enforcement agencies in the state, has released its latest offense and arrest data report. This document provides a summary of all criminal activities recorded in 2023, compared to the previous year.
Significant decrease in gambling-related crimes
In September last year, Kentucky launched its retail betting market, followed by the online betting market later that month. These launches likely contributed to the significant decrease in gambling-related crimes in 2023.
According to the Kentucky State Police report, there were only six gambling-related offenses last year, marking an 87.50% decrease compared to 48 offenses in 2022. The breakdown of these six crimes includes:
- One unlawful gambling-related activity each in Elliot County, Franklin County, Jefferson County, and Perry County.
- Two gambling-related crimes in Rockcastle County.
Overall crime statistics
The report detailed a total of 239,930 criminal offenses recorded last year, a slight increase of 0.89% from 237,818 offenses in the previous year. Despite this overall increase, the number of gambling-related crimes was so low that it represented a figure close to zero.
Growth in other criminal activities
While gambling-related crimes decreased, other criminal activities saw significant growth. The report highlighted notable increases in cases of animal cruelty, human trafficking, and motor vehicle theft.
- Animal Cruelty: 991 cases were recorded in 2023, a 35% increase year-over-year, though still less than 0.5% of total offenses.
- Drug-Related Offenses: Over 53,000 drug-related offenses were reported, a 2.83% increase from the previous year, accounting for 22.14% of all reported crimes.
Judicial actions on gambling machines
Recently, a Kentucky judge upheld a decision banning controversial grey machines in the state. This decision aligns with lawmakers’ efforts to remove these gambling machines, which pay out real money, from businesses such as convenience stores, bars, and gas stations.
