Andrew O'Malley 17. September 2020 | UPDATED ON: 19. December 2022 Kentucky has long been known as one of the main homes for horse racing in the United States. This has generated a lot of interest in racing betting, but what about casinos in Kentucky? This guide looks at everything you need to know about playing your favorite casino games online in Kentucky. Top 3 Online Casinos For Players From Kentucky, USA Here’s a snapshot of the three best casinos in Kentucky today: Slot Title Pay Back Key Features 1 Welcome Bonus Up to $5,000 Payout rate: 97.92%Payout Speed: 1-2 daysWelcome Bonus Up to $5,000Play NowOur score: Welcome Bonus Up to $5,000Read more2 250% first deposit bonus up to $1,500 Casino Payout: 98.01%Payout Speed: 3-5 days250% first deposit bonus up to $1,500Play NowOur score: 250% first deposit bonus up to $1,500Read more3 Up to $12,500 Welcome Bonus Casino Payout: 98.01%Payout Speed: 3-5 daysUp to $12,500 Welcome BonusPlay NowOur score: Up to $12,500 Welcome BonusRead more Are online casinos in Kentucky legal? No! Kentucky is certainly an interesting state when it comes to its approach to gambling. In most aspects, it is very conservative when it comes to the gambling laws in the state, but then it is also home to the most prestigious horse race – the Kentucky Derby. There are currently no casinos in Kentucky, with attempts in the legislature over the years to change this always being met with defeat. Naturally, there is parimutuel betting available at many of the racetracks that are found in the state, but this is really the extent of gambling legalization in Kentucky. There have been some people who have been pushing for change in Kentucky. Governor Andy Beshear has talked about the creation of some new revenue streams in the country, such as the legalization of sports betting and the likes of daily fantasy sports and online poker. However, these comments were met with a lot of backlash at the time. There is a state lottery in operation in Kentucky, as well as residents being able to access multi-state lotteries, such as Powerball. Certain forms of charitable gaming are also allowable, such as bingo and raffle. Kentucky online gambling There is no mention of online gambling in the Kentucky gambling legislation. However, it is certainly not licensed or legal at the moment, which is why people in Kentucky use out-of-state online casinos when they are looking to play their favorite casino games from their homes. There is the ability to place horse bets online through certain platforms, with residents also having the ability to take part in the lottery online. Our Recommended Kentucky Online Casino Our Rating 400+ titles on offer Beautifully designed site Welcome bonus package of $5,000 Customer support always contactable Claim Your Bonus Now Top 3 out-of-state casino sites that accept players from Kentucky As there are no regulated online casinos in Kentucky, this forces residents to look elsewhere to fulfill their needs. Using the selection criteria outlined further down in this guide, we have picked out three of the best out of state online casinos in Kentucky for you to try out for yourself, availing of great welcome offers and playing your favorite casino games: 1. 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This allows you to compare different options with one another in an objective manner. Here are some of the important variables that are looked at: Availability of casino game types Depth of casino games in each category Gameplay quality Platform ease of use Different payment methods Customer support quality and opening hours Compatibility with mobile devices Welcome bonus offers Existing player promotions Loyalty program Licensing and security What to consider when choosing a betting site Once you have a shortlist of potential options for online casinos in Kentucky, you will then be ready to finalize your decision and figure out which specific option you are going to try out. To filter out the last few choices, you need to prioritize what you want in an offering. Some people like to get their hands on the likes of no deposit bonuses or free spins for example, while others want to make sure certain game types of payment methods are offered. Whatever the case may be for you, here are some key areas that can help you narrow your focus: Legal standing Currently, there are no online casinos in Kentucky that are licensed. You want to make sure any option you try out is going to keep your data safe, is licensed in another jurisdiction and will be fair with payoffs and games. Payment methods With an online casino, you want to make sure that there are sufficient transaction methods that you can use easily, quickly and cheaply to get started playing casino games and withdrawing winnings. Payout rates When it comes to online casinos, it is important that you are getting as much of an edge as possible over the house. One of the best ways for you to do so is look at the RTPs of the games available on a given platform. Promotions Signing up for a new online casino account allows you to get your hands no a welcome offer. These will vary widely, as will the regular promotions for existing players and the loyalty program on offer. Customer support If you have a problem with an online casino, you will need to be able to get a quick and quality response from them, no matter when it may be. Software providers There are many top-quality developers providing games to online platforms. You may have a preference for certain developer’s games. The future of online gambling in Kentucky While there looks to be no immediate plans to introduce further forms of online gambling in Kentucky, this may change in the future. There is currently the ability for residents to take part in the lottery online, as well as place some online horse racing bets. With the governor talking about potentially legalizing online sports betting and online poker, online casinos could also have some potential in Kentucky if this is the case. With the environment able to quickly change, it is worth your while keeping an eye on the latest developments in the region. Where else is online gambling legal in the US? There has been a wave of gambling expansion across the United States in recent years. This has largely been led by the federal legalization of sports betting. Many states now have legal online sportsbooks, with more getting on board with the idea of having online casinos. With a lot of potential tax money on the table for state governments, it seems like more and more states will turn to online gambling going forward to drive up revenues. Here are the states that currently has some form of legal online gambling at the moment: AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC Play the best casino games online If you are getting started with an online casino, you may want to learn the ropes of the leading games. Even experienced players can burst up on their knowledge. Here are some quality guides that will help you along the way to maximizing your online casino gameplay: Free Slots Blackjack Roulette Craps Video Poker Bottom line Kentucky still has a way to go before online casinos become legal and licensed in the state. However, this does not mean that Kentucky residents do not still play their favorite casino games online. This guide showcases some of the best online casinos on the market today, allowing you to get great welcome bonus offers and kick off your new accounts in style. FAQs What is the legal gambling age in Kentucky? In order to place horse racing bets or take part in the state lottery in Kentucky, you need to be at least 18 years old. Are there casinos in Kentucky? At the moment, there are no casinos at all in Kentucky. This includes commercial and tribal casinos and this does not look like changing any time soon. How many racetracks are there in Kentucky? Horse racing is a very popular activity in Kentucky and is one of the only forms of betting that is available in a legal manner for residents. There are currently six main racetracks in operation in the state, with the most notable being Churchill Downs. Are there any casinos close to Kentucky? There are numerous casinos that are found in other states close to the border with Kentucky. This is particularly the case in the Northern border of the state around Louisiana. There are also ones close by in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Is there any legal online gambling Kentucky? You can place online horse racing bets through the Twin Spires horsebook and you can take part in the lottery through the Kentucky Lottery website. About Andrew O'Malley Alex has been writing about the gambling industry for more than five years, covering everything from sports betting to casinos and poker. With the sector constantly evolving, he loves nothing better than staying up to date with the latest movers and shakers in the space. View all posts by Andrew O'Malley →