During the legislative process, opponents of sports gaming in Kentucky primarily pointed to the potential increase in addiction as their main concern. In response, new language was added to usher in a problem gambling fund.

Thursday, Gov. Beshear followed through on the requirement.

“It’s intended both to provide help to those that are suffering and for the prevention and education side as well,” the governor explained. “We want to do this as safely as we can, and a bunch of other states have done it, so we’re not reinventing the wheel.”

Most studies suggest problem gambling affects roughly 1% of the population across the country and in Kentucky, but available information is often outdated and underfunded. The Kentucky law dedicates 2.5% of tax revenue generated through legalized sports gaming to the problem gambling fund.

Kentucky will launch retail sports betting on September 7 and online betting on September 28.