Is Gambling Legal In Kentucky
- »Can You Play Legal Online Poker in the USA?
- Is Online Gambling Legal In Kentucky
- Is Sports Gambling Legal In Kentucky
- Kentucky Gambling Laws
- Define Illegal Gambling
2021 Update: Is Online Poker Legal in Kentucky?
Legal online gambling for Kentucky residents is not as complicated as it once was. While online gambling sites were once hard to find and even harder to trust, there are now various sites that residents can choose to join. Online bingo rooms, sports betting sites, real money poker rooms, and more are now just a few clicks away. .020 Promoting gambling in the first degree.030 Promoting gambling in the second degree.040 Conspiracy to promote gambling.050 Possession of gambling records in the first degree.060 Possession of gambling records in the second degree.070 Permitting gambling.080 Possession of gambling device.090 Prima facie proof.100 Forfeiture. Legal Gambling In Kentucky The industry of legal Kentucky gambling is limited, but also incredibly confusing. Limited because there are only race tracks, and confusing because of the state of Legal Kentucky Gambling on the Internet. If you want to gamble on all of the options one might find in Las Vegas, the Internet is the route to take. Legal Gambling State Gambling Laws Kentucky Gambling Laws Gambling takes place regularly in Churchill Downs, due in part to the Kentucky Gambling Laws. We have the important laws related to gambling listed on this page. If you were looking to explore the different channels of legal gambling within the state, than read up on the laws.
There’s been an online poker bill floating around the Kentucky legislature the last few years, but there hasn’t been any significant action on it. Kentucky might be home to the Kentucky Derby, but it hasn’t been that open to other forms of legal gaming throughout the years.
Despite that, in 2019, Rep. Adam Koenig led an effort to legalize online poker. But the bill ended up failing in the house. Legislators tried again in 2020, but the session ended on April 1 without any significant forward action. The bill has dozens of co-sponsors and the session was heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. There’s a chance it could be taken up again in 2021.
The bill also would have legalized sports betting and daily fantasy sports in Kentucky. It also had support from Gov. Andy Beshear. Despite that and some positive outlooks early on, the bill was blocked after it faced intense lobbying from the Family Foundation of Kentucky. The bill was expected to have enough votes to pass the full house, but it didn’t have enough Republican support to make it out of committee.
Louisville, Kentucky (Photo by andrew welch on Unsplash)
What are Kentucky’s Gambling Laws and how do They Affect Poker?
Kentucky isn’t the most gambling friendly state out there. It has limited forms of gambling and it also has strict laws regulating gambling. Like most states, Kentucky regulates and defines gambling in the Kentucky Revised Statutes . This covers everything regarding gambling in the state. One of the most basic elements of any set of gambling laws is to specify what qualifies as gaming and what doesn’t. A lot of states use the word “chance” to define gambling and Kentucky is one of them. Sec. 528.010 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes defines gambling as:
“Staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest or game based upon an element of chance.”
The inclusion of chance usually excludes poker since it was ruled to be a game of skill by a federal judge in 2012. This is what allowed several states to start legislating and legalizing online poker. But in Kentucky’s case, this is a bit more ambiguous since it has the qualifier of “based upon an element of” before. This means that any game that has any element of chance –which sounds like every game actually– could be qualified as gambling in Kentucky. While poker is a game of skill, no one can argue that there’s no element of chance in it. So poker definitely falls under Kentucky’s definition of gambling.
Can I Play Poker on PokerStars in Kentucky?<?h2>
No. There’s no PokerStars in Kentucky. Back in the day PokerStars was one of the most popular online poker sites across the United States, including Kentucky. But after some indictments and domain seizures in 2011, the site was barred from the US for a while. It’s slowly been making its way back in though. Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey have given PokerStars a license to operate in their states, but it’s not as big as it used to be. Each state has a segregated player pool so tournaments aren’t as large and cash games aren’t as plentiful.
Luckily, there are some states that take players from all 50 states, including Kentucky. Sites like Bovada , BetOnline and Ignition Poker have become pretty decent PokerStars alternatives for poker players in Kentucky. Aside from large player pools, they have good sign-up bonuses and top-notch rakeback programs that keep rewarding players.
If you want more information on these sites, then check out our full reviews below:
What Other Legal Forms of Gambling are there in Kentucky?
As we said before, there aren’t as many options for Kentucky residents to gamble. The most famous and popular is horse racing and pari-mutuel betting. Kentucky is, of course, home to the Kentucky Derby . It’s held annually in Louisville in early May and is one of the most popular horse races in the world. The race is held at Churchill Downs, but there are five other race tracks throughout the state. The horse industry in Kentucky employs nearly 80,000 people and is a $1.6 billion business.
Aside from horse racing, Kentucky also has a lottery. The Kentucky Lottery began in 1989 after more than 60 percent of Kentucky voters approved the lottery the year before. The lottery has become incredibly popular and consistently shatters records. In 2019, the Kentucky Lottery set another record of $1.12 billion in sales. Out of that money 64 percent goes straight back to players and 26 percent goes to Kentucky’s coffers. The remaining 11 percent goes to retailers and administrative costs.
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Kentucky is not a gambling-friendly state by any means. Actually, it could have some of the strictest laws around gambling in the entire country.
That being said, Kentucky does have minimal options for those looking to press their luck, including the famously known Kentucky Derby.
Horse racing is legal in the Bluegrass State, as well as the state lottery.
Is online gambling in the future of Kentucky? And how did the state become so strict towards gambling in the first place? We break it down and more in our Kentucky gambling guide below.
Online Casinos in Kentucky
Although Kentucky has a long tradition with horse racing, it has not legalized casinos (online or otherwise).
There have been limited discussions of legalizing online casinos, but it seems unlikely that we'll see online casinos offered there in the foreseeable future.
Kentucky does have a state lottery, which can indicate an openness to other forms of betting.
The nearest online casinos will be in West Virginia, which has already approved legislation. Tennessee has recently approved online sports betting.
But, you can still register with a legal online casino while you're in Kentucky.
That means you can get the casino's bonus offers or deposit, and then play whenever you're in states where it's legal (even in a layover at the airport). (Do be aware of the casinobonus's expiry date, though.)
The only forms of legal online gambling in the state include the lottery and pari-mutuel betting.
Land-Based Casinos in Kentucky
The most common type of gambling offered is pari-mutuel betting on thoroughbred horse racing at the 10 racetracks located throughout the state.
The most famous horse race offered in the state is the Kentucky Derby, which has been run annually since 1875.
The Kentucky Derby is always run at Churchill Downs on the first Sunday in May.
A festival is also held each year for two weeks before the race in Louisville, where the track is located. Louisville is also the state's largest city.
There are three racetrack casinos in Kentucky that offer some form of casino gambling. There are no traditional slot machines in Kentucky casinos. Instead, they all offer instant racing bettingmachines.
While these machines may appear to be regular slot machines, they are actually gaming machines that are based on unidentified past horse races and the spinning reels shown on the machinesare for entertainment purposes only.
Those instant racing machines are the only types of casino gambling offered in Kentucky casinos. You will not find any table games offered at the casinos in Kentucky.
Types of Casinos in Kentucky
There are no traditional casinos in Kentucky.
Residents have numerous racetracks to choose from, as explained above.
List of Racetracks in Kentucky
Click on any of the race tracks below to learn more about them.
Derby City Gaming
- 4520 Poplar Level Rd, Louisville, KY 40213
- +1 502-961-7600
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
Ellis Park
- 3300 US-41, Henderson, KY 42420
- +1 812-425-1456
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
Kentucky Downs
- 5629 Nashville Rd, Franklin, KY 42134
- +1 270-586-7778
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
Red Mile
- 1200 Red Mile Rd, Lexington, KY 40504
- +1 859-255-0752
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
Churchill Downs
- 700 Central Ave, Louisville, KY 40208
- +1 502-636-4400
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
- Hosts the Kentucky Derby
Turfway Park
- 7500 Turfway Rd, Florence, KY 41042
- +1 859-371-0200
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
Keeneland
Is Online Gambling Legal In Kentucky
- 4201 Versailles Rd, Lexington, KY 40510
- +1 859-254-3412
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
Kentucky Land-Based Casinos Map
Map
You can easily see all casino locations by using our Kentucky casinos map. To zoom in, just click the + (plus) sign in the lower right corner of the map, or to zoom out, just clickthe – (minus) sign in the same area.
To move the map of casinos in Kentucky, click and hold down either of your mouse buttons. Then use the hand icon to drag the map in whichever direction you desire.
Each of the red icons on the map is a casino location. Just click on any red icon to see the name of the casino at that location. If you want more information on that casino, simply click againon the casino’s name and it will direct you to another page with detailed information on that particular casino, including address, phone number, toll-free phone number, room rates, casinosize, dining information, games offered, availability of discounts for seniors, any special features, and a direct link to that casino’s website.
History of Gambling in Kentucky
While many of the horse racing tracks have been in business since 1875, gambling only really began in Kentucky in the 1920s. This is mainly due to the fact that the race tracks did not wantanything to do with gambling for a long time.
When pari-mutuel betting debuted in the 1920s, horse racing became extremely popular in the state. Multiple racinos began operating and residents could now start placing wagers on the KentuckyDerby.
It was only in the 1980s when more forms of gambling were legalized, and the lottery was introduced.
In 1992, charitable bingo games were also deemed legal in KY.
In recent years, most forms of gambling remain illegal in the state with few discussions on trying to change the current laws.
The Kentucky Derby remains the most popular race in perhaps the country.
Is Sports Gambling Legal In Kentucky
The Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby has a rich history behind it, dating back all the way to 1872. A gentleman by the name of Meriwether Lewis Clark (grandson of William Clark from Lewis & Clark pair) tooka trip to the United Kingdom and watched the Epson Derby.
He enjoyed the race so much, he decided to start one himself when he returned to the United States.
Kentucky Gambling Laws
Clark was able to build a large track on land his uncles John and Henry Churchill gave him and formed the Louisville Jockey Club.
The first race was held on May 17th, 1875, and featured 15 thoroughbred horses. Over 10,000 people came to watch the event.
Of course, the Kentucky Derby today is not the same race it was back in the 1800s. However, centuries later, and the event is still the most popular race in America.
You can read more about the timeline of the Kentucky Derby, here.
Kentucky Gambling Laws and Regulatory Organizations
The gambling laws in KY are very strict and will go so far as to press charges against those who are caught participating in any forms of illegal gambling.
Define Illegal Gambling
This includes online and social gaming.
Bills have been brought to the state in an effort to relax some of the laws around gambling, like allowing slot games, but have all been shot down.
The Department of Charitable Gaming sees over all charity games in the state, including raffles and bingo, and distributes the licenses.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission works with the state to regulate all pari-mutuelbetting and racing in KY.
Gambling in Kentucky Today
Residents of Kentucky today have pari-mutuel betting, the lottery, and bingo as options for legal gambling.
It's unlikely online casinos will be legalized in Kentucky any time soon, but gamblers can look forward to the Kentucky Derby every year.
If you find yourself in court due to illegal gambling, you can try and argue that you're just a player as the laws seem to be much harder and stricter on operators.
Fun Facts
Did you know?
In 2017, the Kentucky Derby raked in almost $1 Billion in wagers!
Useful Resources
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For more information on visiting the casinos in Kentucky, call the Kentucky Department of Tourism at (800) 225-8747, or visit their website at https://www.kentuckytourism.com/.