Kentucky Online Casino

Posted on

Page Contents

  • Online slot games For example, it’s. In addition to producing some great brews, the benefits to both the state and its residents may overcome tribal opposition. It makes all of us feel less free to pursue our inalienable right to happiness, mars casino Ksenia Hoffman. Free online casino.
  • Kentucky has not determined that online casino gambling is completely illegal. We have not come across a single case of any individuals here facing legal trouble for making wagers on casino games online.
  • Kentucky Casino Resorts and Trips. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at your accommodation options when visiting either of Kentucky’s two casino resorts. We’ll also take a brief look at some of the best casino.

Made famous by the ever-popular Kentucky Derby, the state of Kentucky is home to a few gambling styles with room to expand into the online casino gambling market. Neighboring states that offer a wide variety of gambling entertainment, Kentucky is staying competitive with its racing establishments that offer some casino-style gaming, pari-mutuel betting, the lottery, and charitable gambling through bingo and raffles.

Kentucky Online Casinos The view that authorities hold on online gambling Kentucky is far from being on the favourable side of the matter. To put it simply, there is not even a slight chance that we would witness the start of any online casinos Kentucky.

Although considered to be one of the states with strict gambling laws, there are plenty of options for the average gambler, especially when considering the growth of online casino gambling.

What Online Casinos are Available in Kentucky?

CASINORATINGBONUSPLAY
1Casiplay
€800 + 100 Free Spins
Welcome Bonus
Play Now
2Casoola
$1500 + 200 Free Spins
Welcome Bonus
Play Now
3Lucky Days
€1,000 + 100 Free Spins
Welcome Bonus
Play Now
4Casumo
€300 + 20 Free Spins
Welcome Bonus
Play Now
5Sloty
$1,500 + 300 Free Spins
Welcome Bonus
Play Now

Is Online Gambling Legal in Kentucky?

As it stands, Kentucky does not have a particular law that clearly allows online casinos from within the state. As with most states in the US, it has become a gray area in terms of legally allowing US players from participating in online gambling via offshore casino sites. At the moment, the only online betting that is legally allowed for gamblers is daily fantasy sports and a handful of skill gaming sites that are regulated by the state. Other gambling sites are not allowed, though there is yet to be a law proposed to regulate accessing and using such sites.

Kentucky Offshore Casino Statistics

Kentucky is the 28th most active state that participates in offshore online gambling at casinos as of 2020 with a gross win amount of $11.07m. Kentucky contributes to 0.98% of all offshore casino activity in the United States for 2020. Click here to see a breakdown of all offshore gambling activity broken down by state. The following is a breakdown of all offshore casino gambling from Kentucky since 2003.

Year200320042005200620072008200920102011
Gross Win$9.68m$11.60m$14.58m$17.66m$10.99m$10.66m$10.24m$10.34m$9.59m
Year201220132014201520162017201820192020*
Gross Win$9.66m$9.57m$9.29m$8.84m$8.47m$8.28m$8.08m$7.90m$11.07m

*Note: Data from 2020 are currently based on estimates.

Source – H2 Gambling Capital

Offshore gambling statistics for sports betting from Kentucky can be found here.

Which Is Better – A Land-based or Online Casino?

Everyone who loves to gamble will have their own preference in game and betting style. Some people love the convenience of online casinos while others prefer the atmosphere from the real establishments. No matter what the reason, there are many benefits for players to try both out and see which one works best for them.

Land-based Casinos

New Casino Kentucky

Most states in the US will have a few tribal-owned and commercial casinos for a one-stop entertainment area that has plenty of games and betting options to keep players occupied for hours. Most casinos will have a good collection of classic casino games like slots, progressives, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and poker. The fun and interaction with the dealer and other players also add to the entertainment factor that brings players back again and again. Other great benefits to land-based casinos are the fact that they also offer a range of fine dining, stylish bars, and live shows. This creates a wonderfully vibrant atmosphere for socializing with friends.

Online Casinos

The most obvious benefit to online casinos is the absolute convenience of them. Players can access a full collection of casino-style games within seconds. No matter which game style players prefer, there are often several versions available for fun and challenges. Common Online Casino Games:

  • Slots
  • Progressives
  • Blackjack
  • Roulette
  • Craps
  • Poker
  • *Sports Betting (live and virtual)

*Although many progressive sites are beginning to introduce sports betting, there are many that do not. Also, many international online casinos have certain country restrictions that will either prevent them from registering to the site or prevent them from playing particular games like sports betting.

How to Find the Best Kentucky Online Casinos

With so many different online casinos available today, players will have to take the time to find the best sites to ensure they get the best gambling experience possible. With literally thousands of sites that cater to players from the US, it pays to think about certain factors before registering to the casino group.

Stick to Popular Casinos

As a new player, checking out some of the more popular online casino sites will set them on the right path to an enjoyable gambling experience. The top sites have to stay on top of the desirable game titles and keep the sites updated regularly. As a way to stay on top of the competition, casinos constantly look for ways to streamline the site, update the game options, and provide loyal members with amazing promotions and bonus offers.

User-friendly Design

Online

A modern site designed to be user-friendly is important for players to have a good experience on the site. When new members join a casino, they will often want to join in a game as quickly and nothing could be more frustrating than a site design that makes it difficult to access particular game pages and information when they are needed.

Kentucky Online Casinos

Good Game Selection

Most online casinos try to have the biggest game collection possible, with several varieties to every game style. One thing that new players should consider before joining a group is that some casinos also prefer to focus more on one style and will have that game as the majority in the collection. This is especially true for sites that have a strong focus on slots over table games or sports betting. Players are encouraged to check out casino game pages to see exactly what is on offer for members. The games will either be grouped on one page or every game style will be separated into different dedicated pages. A quick look through the games collection will instantly let every player know if a site is even worth joining.

Good Customer Support

At one point or another, a player will need to contact customer support for help with gameplay, banking, or promotional offers. Although not every issue will be time-sensitive or incredibly important, to ensure they get good support when they need it most, a quick test is a great way to see what each site offers. Players should check out how many different ways there are to contact customer support and even test out the response time to see if the team is ready to help at any time. Many sites offer 24-hour support, but everyone should be aware that there will be times when heavy site traffic will affect response time.

How Can I Stay Safe Gambling for Real Money Online?

Joining an online casino is necessary to ensure every player has a secure account that only they can access. To do this, every new player has to go through a registration process that will require several pieces of identification and banking information. To ensure sensitive information is kept safe, it pays to be a part of a casino site that takes every precaution to keep member information secure at all times.

Casinos near paducah ky

Keep Your Information Safe

There are a couple of ways to find out what type of security features a casino site has. The first place to check is the footer of the main page of the site. This location will often have SSL encryption and other third-party security names listed. If not in the footer, the site agreement/terms and conditions would have some security information listed (these pages are often located in the Help section of the site). If there is little information found on the site about what the group does to keep information safe, players can always contact customer support for more information. Should both avenues come up empty, then it would be time for players to consider joining a different group as this can be an indicator that the site does not have strong security protocols in place. While it is true that many sites will not divulge all of their security features to prevent hacking, they should have some information available to site members as a way to ease their minds about keeping their sensitive information safe.

Kentucky presents an interesting case when it comes to online gambling offerings. No other state has such a prohibitive atmosphere and an unmistakable place in the national gambling landscape. Kentucky’s gambling laws are as restrictive as those found in other largely conservative states. No casinos exist inside state lines, and numerous bills to allow their introduction have failed.

At the same time, the Bluegrass State is also home to the most prestigious horse race in the world, the Kentucky Derby. Pari-mutuel wagering is almost a birthright and can be found at several large tracks throughout the state.

That’s the extent of gambling in Kentucky right now, but lawmakers in the state have been persistent in efforting the legalization of sports betting.

The latest includes Gov. Andy Beshear, during his State of the Commonwealth in January, announcing his “commitment to the future” by creating new revenue streams in Kentucky. This involves a KY sports betting bill filed by Rep. Adam Koenig that would also legalize online poker and daily fantasy sports.

This is also the place where bourbon whiskey is produced, yet distilleries are often located in dry counties. Many residents cannot even buy the state’s most famous products. Perhaps Kentucky is content to be a place of contradictions.

Sweepstakes casinos in Kentucky

Kentucky Casinos Locations

Social casino options

With no in-state casino options, there are also no options for tie-ins to local casinos through social gaming. The social casino routes are the usual group of offerings. These include: Slotomania, Double Down, Big Fish, and Zynga.

Residents of Northern Kentucky may also be interested in some of the properties that surround the state, in Illinois, Indiana, and West Virginia. Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, offers a Play4Fun network (as do all Hollywood properties) where players can sample games for free.

Sports betting in Kentucky

The Bluegrass State in 2019 made multiple efforts to legalize sports betting. Of four proposed bills, only Koenig’s advanced through a committee. But that was as far as it got.

This latest bill, House Bill 137, will remove the ban on in-state college wagering while adding an 18-month limit on the in-person requirement for online registration.

That prohibition on betting on Kentucky teams apparently drew the most complaints from legislators and the public alike.

In addition to legalizing online poker and DFS, Kentucky could potentially expand gaming even more by giving the green light for online casinos.

While that remains to be seen, Koenig’s proposal would authorize land-based and online sportsbooks to operate via horse racing tracks and motorsports speedways throughout the state.

The bill has sailed through a state House committee by a vote of 18-0 and is expected to clear the full chamber in due time.

Online gambling

There is no specific statute in Kentucky that governs online gambling’s legality. However, given the restrictive nature of the state’s laws with regard to gambling in general (basically everything is unlawful except horse racing), it’s a dodgy proposition to engage in online gambling in Kentucky.

There is one gigantic exception. Many states allow gambling under the auspices if said gambling is a function of the state lottery. Hence, many states that outlaw slot machines permit video lottery terminals, which are functionally the same to players. Kentucky has a similar situation, but unsurprisingly, it must funnel its gambling through the horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering carveout in its laws.

So Kentucky does have online gambling of a sort. Churchill Downs operates Twin Spires, a website that allows residents to wager on horse races at the track from the comfort of their home. Twin Spires is even accessible via mobile devices.

Kentucky residents can also play the state lottery online. The state’s lottery website simply advertises the ability to “Play Now” on multi-state drawings offered through the site. In a state without any casinos (even tribal ones), it is startling to find two unabashed gambling sites doing business — one run by the state, no less.

Online gambling operators

Kentucky Online Casino

WebsiteSite AddressOwnerType of Games Offered
Twin Spireswww.twinspires.comChurchill DownsPari-Mutuel Wagering, including simulcast
Kentucky Lotteryplay.kylottery.comState of KentuckyMulti-state prize lotteries, including Mega Millions and Powerball

State casino operator history

As mentioned earlier, there are no casinos of any kind in Kentucky. State law is very explicit in its prohibition. It uses what is known as the “Dominant Factor” theory in its determination of the law. The theory ascribes the mantle of gambling to any game where random chance predominates the outcome over skill. This standard has a carveout for horse racing (which could withstand some argument for skill being the dominant factor – handicapping has plenty of validity) and, somewhat farcically, lottery, which is perhaps the least skillful game in existence.

Horse racing

Nevertheless, Kentucky’s history with gambling as it pertains to horse racing is rich and vibrant. The first horse races in the territory ran in the 1780s in Lexington and Louisville, despite the lack of formal tracks at that time. The horses ran through city parks and, in Louisville’s case, right down Main Street.

The first official track opened in 1805. It wasn’t until 1873, when Meriwether Lewis Clark (grandson of William Clark, the famous explorer) developed a series of races that culminated in the grand finale – a derby, which mimicked similar events in Europe.

Clark’s maternal side of the family, the Churchills, were a prominent Louisville family that owned several acres of land in the area. Clark designed a mile-and-a-quarter-long track on one piece of their land in the southern part of Louisville’s downtown. The track became known as Churchill Downs.

Each year, tens of thousands of people flock to Churchill Downs to view the Kentucky Derby. It is considered the most prestigious horserace in the US, and perhaps the world. The Derby has run each May since 1875 and is the first leg of the Triple Crown. The Derby itself is an event steeped in traditions of old. The men wear suits and ties, and women often wear ornate dresses and humongous hats.

Churchill Downs is one of six racetracks in the state. All the racetracks offer what is known as Instant Racing. These are machines that allow wagering on historical races and resemble a slot machine. Though none of the other tracks match the renown of Churchill Downs, many are quite well-respected venues in the horse racing community. This is especially true of Keeneland, which has been rated the best thoroughbred track in the US. It’s also on the National Register of Historic Places.

Out-of-state casinos

There are also many casinos situated along the borders of Kentucky, particularly on the northern border along the Ohio River. Of significance is Horseshoe Southern Indiana. This casino is, for all intents and purposes, a Louisville casino (separated only by the river itself). Elsewhere, residents of Kentucky also have easy access to Belterra Casino Resort (a mere 80 miles from Lexington), Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack in West Virginia, Rivers Casino in Pennsylvania, and even Rocky Gap Casino in Maryland.

All in all, Kentucky residents have some options available, even without the benefit of homegrown casinos. At this time, no legislation appears forthcoming. A bill introduced in 2016 found no support in the state legislature. But, given the decadence of Kentucky’s horse racing and the proximity to other states, Kentuckians should have no problems finding a good time.

Kentucky racetracks

TrackLocationSignature Event
Churchill DownsLouisvilleThe Kentucky Derby
KeenelandLexingtonBlue Grass Stakes
Turfway ParkFlorenceJACK Cincinnati Casino Spiral Stakes
Ellis ParkHendersonGardenia Stakes
The Red MileLexingtonThe Grand Circuit
Kentucky DownsFranklinKentucky Turf Cup

State legal environment

Permitted/Offered?Notes & Restrictions
Land-based GamblingYesPari-mutuel betting on horse racing only
Online GamblingYesPari-mutuel and lottery only
LotteryYesMulti-state drawings
Charitable or House-based GamblingYesRaffles and bingo allowed
Minimum Gambling Age18 for racetracks and lottery21 for casino gambling, both online and live; 18 for horseracing