Kentucky Gambling Overview
Although the Bluegrass State is known throughout the world as the host of the Kentucky Derby, possibly one of the most famous race horses in the calendar, it takes a rather different attitude than most other forms of gambling. You won’t find any conventional Kentucky casinos because the state legislature has never legalized it.
Some types of commercial, legalized gambling are allowed in the form of horse racing, lottery sales and charitable gaming, but the Kentucky gambling model does not accommodate the kind of casino gambling permitted in neighboring states like Ohio and Indiana. For anyone interested in legal sports betting Kentucky only permits this on horse racing.
Top Gambling Cities in Kentucky
You won’t be surprised to learn that there isn’t a casino city in Kentucky. In an effectively gambling-free state, the industry simply hasn’t been able to get a foothold. It’s not the only state that continues to outlaw casinos and commercial betting, but if the restrictions are loosened, we would expect several well-financed operators to move in swiftly.
It might be an amusing parlor game to try and guess which city could become the first big gambling city in Kentucky. The obvious candidates would be Louisville or Lexington, but the lessons from other states suggest it might be somewhere smaller with more opportunities for property development.
State of Kentucky Online Gambling
When it comes to online gambling Kentucky seems equally resistant. State lawmakers have tried to pass several bills that would legalize retail and online sports betting, and in 2020, a bipartisan bill to permit sports betting and online poker was approved at committee level but proceeded no further.
The sponsors of the bill have not abandoned hope and with the likelihood of big shortfalls in the state budget looming, economic pressures may ultimately defeat any lingering moral objections. It’s too early to say for sure, but we might finally see the first real money online casino Kentucky has ever had.
Online Poker
Of all the casino games that Kentucky is most likely to legalize, poker comes out on top. The failed 2020 bill made provision for online poker. Lawmakers have seen how significantly revenue increased in other states when physical games were made impossible by the pandemic.
Online Betting
This is in a similar situation to poker. Positive moves have been made to legalize online betting, and although they have not been successful, there’s a sense that the supporters of online gambling are pushing at an open door.
Casino Games in Kentucky
The only casino-style games in the state are online ones, such as virtual slots and table games. These can be played at social and sweepstakes casinos, like LuckyLand and WinStar. However, no real money is involved, and the casinos issue free virtual coins so you can go through the process without actually gambling.
Tribal Gaming in Kentucky
A major feature of the gambling industry in other states, tribal casinos do not exist in Kentucky. The fact that casino gambling is not legal is one of the reasons for this. The other is the requirement that a Kentucky tribe needs to be federally recognized before it can go into the gambling business. At the moment, the chance of both of these developments occurring is uncertain.
Is online gambling legal in Kentucky?
Online gambling is legal in Kentucky to a very limited degree, although it is restricted to social and sweepstakes casinos where gamblers bet with virtual coins and no money changes hands. In 2008, some 140 website domain names belonging to gambling operators or with links to online gambling sites were seized by the authorities and classified as gambling devices.
Are there any casinos in Kentucky with slot machines?
No, there are no casinos with slot machines. In fact, slot machines are essentially illegal in the state. However, there are seven sites that currently offer pari-mutuel-based electronic gaming machines that are permitted. Four of these are at horse racetracks, and all the sites have specific exemptions. These machines enable players to gamble on replays of races that have already been run and do not fall under the state’s definition of gambling. However, the definition has been challenged in court.
Are there land-based casinos in Kentucky?
No. The closest establishments to casinos are pari-mutuel facilities that have Historic Horse Racing machines (see below), which are similar to slot machines.
Is sports betting legal in Kentucky?
For those interested in legal sports betting Kansas is undergoing a transformation. It has been completely legal in the state since July 1, 2022. The first license holders were expected to be operational before the end of 2022.
What does the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) do?
The KHRC regulates all skill-based games at pari-mutuel racetracks in Kentucky. These are not games of chance, which is why they do not fall under the state’s gambling controls. The devices in question are Historic Horse Racing (HHR) electronic gaming machines. There are believed to be over 3,500 HHR machines in Kentucky.
Are online casino apps available in Kentucky?
At the moment, any gambling apps would fall foul of the state’s strict gambling legislation. However, with increasing pressure to legalize online gambling, the chances are high that apps will eventually enjoy the same status. At the moment, they remain outside the law, and you would have to cross state lines to use them legally.
Are there legal age limits on gambling in Kentucky?
The state's limited gambling opportunities have a legal minimum age of 18 attached.