The Franklin Kentucky Downs Casino is the only casino that we can find within the State’s territory even though they are other forms of gambling such as horse tracks. This casino features not less than 500 slot machines, simulcasting and “Horses Racing Jackpot”.

Despite being home to the Kentucky Derby, one of the biggest gambling events in the world, Kentucky’s gambling industry is very limited. There are no full casinos in Kentucky, and gambling is mostly restricted to horse racing and charitable games. Legal gambling in Kentucky begins at 18 years old, but there aren’t very many forms of legal gambling to choose from. However, Kentucky residents still have access to every imaginable form of gambling via international online gambling sites.

This page will cover the legal age requirements for all forms of gambling in Kentucky, as well as some of the available options for both state-licensed and internationally licensed gaming. Despite Kentucky’s harsh laws, gambling is still a booming industry in the state and thousands of Bluegrass State players use online casinos, sportsbooks and more every single day. By accessing the information below, you will learn everything you need to know about how to gamble legally in Kentucky.

There is no legal casino gambling in Kentucky and that means, no legal gambling age has been defined. However, as residents can travel across state to gamble it is worthwhile to know the legal ages there. Indiana, Ohio and Illinois all have a minimum age of 21 for gambling in the casino. What Is The Legal Gambling Age At Casinos In Kentucky? Kentucky does not have any licensed casinos, as casinos are illegal per state law. Instead, players must use global online casinos, which accept players who are at least 18 years old.These casinos are a great option because they are not subject to either Kentucky or American federal law because they operate out of another country. Historically, Kentucky has had a fascinating relationship with gambling. While casino gambling was never legal, gambling dens were prevalent before the Great Depression of 1929. To this day, the open display of illegal gambling from that time in American history continues to negatively affect the perception of gaming in Kentucky.

What Is The Legal Gambling Age At Casinos In Kentucky?

Kentucky does not have any licensed casinos, as casinos are illegal per state law. Instead, players must use global online casinos, which accept players who are at least 18 years old. These casinos are a great option because they are not subject to either Kentucky or American federal law because they operate out of another country. They offer a full range of casino gaming types, from slots and poker rooms to table games like craps and blackjack.

Legal Online Casinos For Kentucky Residents

Legal international online casinos like Slots.lv, Ignition, and Bovada are fully legal and open to Kentucky players. In addition to their extensive selection of online gambling options, they also have great deposit and welcome bonuses to reward their players. Deposits are fast, easy and secure with a variety of different payment options, and most sites offer sizable deposit match bonuses to boost your bankroll early. It only takes a few minutes to register an account and begin betting.

Slots.lv – Kentucky’s Best Source For Jackpots

Slots.lv is one of the world’s premier online slots websites, with well over 200 of the latest and most popular slot machines in the world, all run through an easy web-based emulator. Slots.lv, despite its name, also offers a great selection of other casino games, including blackjack, baccarat, keno, and roulette. Players at Slots.lv can bet real money or play for free to test out the mechanics of the various slots and get a sense of how each one pays out. The site also offers extensive tournament play options and registering takes only seconds, making it a great option for new players.

Lucky Red - 400% Sign Up Bonus

If you want a solid online casino, we suggest Lucky Red. Lucky Red is one of the most profitable of all casinos, providing players with over 100 games. Their bonuses are highly beneficial, as they provide players with over $4,000 dollars in casino bonuses. Lucky Red uses the RTG software, which provides players with some of the most solid games in the industry. Depositing and receiving your winnings a very easy affair.

Legal Kentucky Online Casinos

Kentucky Sports Betting Sites

Unfortunately for Kentucky residents, their state legislature has shown little interest in expanding the statewide gambling industry. There are no state-licensed retail or online/mobile sportsbooks, and the only forms of sports wagering available are some limited horse betting and daily fantasy sports. Thankfully, Kentucky players can still gamble online legally through international online casinos and sportsbooks like Bovada and BetOnline. Sites like these offer an unparalleled selection of betting types and options. These sites are easily accessible to anyone in Kentucky with a wi-fi or data connection and offer an unmatched sports betting experience. International gambling sites also offer Kentucky residents access to other forms of gambling as well.

What Is The Legal Sports Betting Age In Kentucky?

Kentucky does not offer any state-licensed sports betting outside of pari-mutuel wagering and daily fantasy sports. Instead, players must bet through global online sportsbooks like Bovada and MyBookie. The legal sports betting age for these sites is 18 years old. They are regulated by their country of origin, meaning that they don’t fall under Kentucky jurisdiction.

Legal Sports Betting Sites For Kentucky Residents

Legal international sports betting sites are very accessible to Kentucky residents and offer a host of great benefits to their players. These sites have great bonuses that can be worth upwards of $1,000 and offer better payout rates than the leading domestic sports betting sites (which aren’t accessible to Kentucky players anyway). Deposits and withdrawals can be handled in a variety of ways, but the easiest and most convenient is cryptocurrency, which offers fast, secure processing.

Bovada – A Heaven For Kentucky Sports Bettors

Bovada is one of the best sportsbooks in the world, full stop. From its attractive, streamlined user interface to its remarkably extensive selection of betting types to its industry-leading live betting options to its unparalleled customer support, Bovada has everything a sports bettor could ask for. Kentucky bettors can wager on all their favorite teams, including the University of Kentucky and Louisville University’s basketball and football teams. Even during times with few live sports to bet on, Bovada users can bet on entertainment like who will advance on Survivor and politics like who will win the Democratic primary election.

Legal Kentucky Online Sportsbooks

What Is The Legal Poker Age In Kentucky?

There are no state-licensed poker rooms in Kentucky because of its strict anti-gambling laws. The legal online poker age in Kentucky is 18. All players who meet that requirement can register online with poker sites like BetOnline and others. State-level online poker could become legal with the passage of KY HB 137, but that is far from a certainty as the bill has been in committee for some time following a number of amendments.

Legal Poker Sites For Kentucky Residents

There are no local options for Kentucky residents to play poker online, except for free play options that defeat poker’s purpose. The best international poker sites offer players the chance to connect and play with other players from all over the world in various versions of poker like Omaha, Hi/Lo and Texas Hold ‘Em. Poker sites require players to download specific software to their personal computers in order to play. This software helps ensure fair play and reliable connectivity.

BetOnline Poker - Top Poker Site in Kentucky

BetOnline poker is the home to some of the hottest poker online. Their poker room provides players with an immaculate set of games, with stakes ranging from low to high. BetOnline allows players to get into hold 'em, Omaha, and stud games. They have massive tournaments, including the $100,000 guarantee that they run every Sunday. BetOnline's deposit methods include Digital-Pin, VISA, and MasterCard, making this one of the easiest sites to fund. Withdrawals are equally as promising, as well as they are fast and effecient.

Legal Kentucky Poker Sites

What Is The Legal Gambling Age To Bet On Horses In Kentucky?

Unsurprisingly, pari-mutuel wagering (horse betting) is very accessible in Kentucky. Bluegrass players can place bets on horse racing starting at 18 years old. Players can bet on horse races at international sportsbooks, as they offer horse betting options, from regional races to major global events like the Kentucky Derby. There are also off-track betting parlors throughout the state, or online at TVG, a multi-state horse betting platform.

Horse Betting Sites For Kentucky Residents

The best horse betting site depends on what races you are looking to bet on. Local races should usually be bet on at local tracks or betting parlors. Larger events generally get better odds at international sportsbooks because they have more players betting on each race. These international sites offer powerful deposit bonuses, simple deposits and withdrawals through cryptocurrency, and the best selection of prop, future and race bets in the world.

How Old Do I Have To Be To Play The Lottery In Kentucky?

The Kentucky Lottery is available to all players who are 18 years old. Players can purchase tickets either at a licensed lottery retailer like a small store or gas station or online via the Kentucky lottery website. There are five draw games with tickets that can be purchased online. Lottery players also have access to dozens of different scratch-offs and instant play games.

What Is The Legal Gambling Age For DFS In Kentucky?

Kentucky does offer legal daily fantasy sports (DFS) but is slightly unusual in the fact that it requires players to be 21 years old, rather than 18. DFS are not considered to be sports betting per Kentucky law, because they require a higher degree of skill and player involvement. All major DFS operators, including FanDuel and DraftKings, are legal in Kentucky.

Online Bingo For Kentucky Residents

Bingo players can also access a slew of online gambling sites. If you do not want to go to a bingo hall in the state, you can simply log on to your computer and get into all of the action. Bingo is open to players above the age of 18, so you can easily get involved in the games on demand without having to worry about travel.

Vic's Bingo - Open To Kentucky Gamblers

If you like playing bingo, then Vic's Bingo is one of the best sites for you to join. Vic's Bingo allows you to play with a pair of deposit bonuses, including a 150% mach on both of the first two deposits you make. These are unlimited match bonuses, so you can boost your bankroll as much as you want to deposit. They accept multiple deposit options, so there is always a way for you to fund your account. Furthermore, Vic's Bingo has some of the highest jackpots. If you are 18, as written in the Kentucky legal gambling ages, then you are eligible to enjoy Vic's Bingo.

Introduction to Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2021

Kentucky slot machine casino gambling consists of six parlors offering pari-mutuel-based electronic gaming machines, four of which are at horse racetracks.

I’ve dedicated this weekly series to slot enthusiasts such as yourself as you master casino slots and win your way to success by using this State-By-State Online Resource to improve your slots gambling performance by reviewing your state’s slots gaming industry.

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Find my podcast wherever you listen to audio!

Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Kentucky

The minimum legal gambling age in Kentucky depends upon the gambling activity:

• Land-Based Casinos: 21
• Poker Rooms: Not available
• Bingo: 18
• Lottery: 18
• Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

Historically, Kentucky has had a fascinating relationship with gambling. While casino gambling was never legal, gambling dens were prevalent before the Great Depression of 1929. To this day, the open display of illegal gambling from that time in American history continues to negatively affect the perception of gaming in Kentucky.

Kentucky’s constitution prohibits Class III Vegas-style slot machines. In 2011, Historic Horse Racing (HHR) electronic gaming machines arrived in Kentucky. These gaming machines look like slot machines, but the results of each bet made are based on many past, anonymous, horse racing results from across the U.S.

Based on pari-mutuel wagering regulations for horse races, the HHR machines circumvented the constitutional prohibition against slot machines. In recent years, HHRs have become increasingly, some say wildly, popular.

Kentucky’s flourishing slots industry has recently come under scrutiny by state lawmakers. Why? Because most of the taxes generated by HHR machines go to horse industry funds and program.

Since 2011, HHR bets total $5.3 billion. About $80 million went to taxes, of which $51 million went to the horse industry. Only $29 million went to general tax revenue for the state.

While this $29 million may seem like a lot, Kentucky lawmakers noticed it’s substantially less than the tax revenue received from slot machine bets in other states.

These HHR machines revived the horse racing industry in Kentucky and manufacturers of these games are looking to expand across the U.S. And the Commonwealth of Kentucky has decided it wants a bigger piece of the pie.

Casino In Kentucky Downs

For more details, see WDRB’s Top Story in its Sunday Edition from mid-2019, “Is Kentucky being ‘shortchanged’ on its ‘slots’?”

In February 2021, state lawmakers came to an agreement to push off a controversial tax revenue increase until 2022.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Kentucky

In Kentucky, it is legal to own a slot machine privately.

Gaming Control Board in Kentucky

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) regulates skill-based games at pari-mutual racetracks in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

These devices are Historic Horse Racing (HHR) electronic gaming machines. In January 2021, the KHRC reported Kentucky offers 3,672 HHR machines, a nearly 20% increase from a year before.

Casinos in Kentucky

Kentucky has six commercial casinos with HHR electronic gaming machines.

The largest casino in Kentucky is Oak Grove Racing Casino Hotel with 1,300 gaming machines.

The second-largest casino is Red Mile Gaming & Racing with 902 gaming machines, an HHR parlor in partnership with Keeneland Race Course.

Commercial Casinos in Kentucky

There are six gambling establishments offering HHR gaming machines in Kentucky including:

1. Derby City Gaming in Louisville, 74 miles west of Lexington on the Indiana border.
2. Ellis Park Racing Gaming in Henderson, 105 miles northwest of Bowling Green.
3. Kentucky Downs Gaming in Franklin, 29 miles south of Bowling Green.
4. Oak Grove Racing Gaming Hotel, 59 miles northwest of Nashville on the Tennessee border.
5. Newport Racing & Gaming, 86 miles north of Lexington on the Ohio River just across the state border from Cincinnati.
6. Red Mile Gaming & Racing in Lexington.

Tribal Casinos in Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky has no federally recognized American Indian tribes and, therefore, is unable to have tribal casinos.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Kentucky slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Kentucky is:

• North: Illinois Slots, Indiana Slots, and Ohio Slots
• East: West Virginia Slots
• Southeast: Virginia Slots
• South: Tennessee Slots
• West: Missouri Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Kentucky.

Our Kentucky Slots Facebook Community

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Kentucky? If so, join our Kentucky slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to freely join this closed Facebook Group community.

There, you can meet online and privately share your slots experiences with local slots enthusiasts about playing slot machines in Kentucky. Join us!

Payouts and Returns in Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky does not offer any theoretical payout limits on HHR gaming machines.

However, return statistics are available after a bit of number crunching. The KHRC offers monthly return statistics for HHR gaming under Reports.

Calculate player win percentage by dividing Less: Return to Public by Total Handle starting on page 15. For January 2021, the monthly Player’s Win% for HHR machines were:

• State-wide: 91.1%
• Derby City: 90.9%
• Ellis Park: 90.6%
• Keeneland/Red Mile: 92.5%
• Kentucky Downs: 91.2%
• Newport: 90.2%
• Oak Grove: 90.9%

From this January 2021 report, Red Mile at Keeneland had the highest player win percent at 92.5% while Newport had the lowest at 90.2%.

Summary of Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2021

Kentucky slot machine casino gambling exists as competition based Historic Horse Racing (HHR) gaming machines where the results of bets are based on many past horse race results.

Annual Progress in Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling

In September 2020, Oak Grove Racing Gaming Hotel opened. Otherwise, in the last year, Newport Racing & Gaming opened.

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Casinos In Kentucky Map

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Are Casinos Legal In Kentucky State

Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC