Online Casinos in Kentucky & KY Gambling Laws 2024

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
Welcome Bonus Up to $5,000

  • Payout rate: 97.92%
  • Payout Speed: 1-2 days
Welcome Bonus Up to $5,000Play NowOur score:
Welcome Bonus Up to $5,000
Read more
250% first deposit bonus up to $1,500

  • Casino Payout: 98.01%
  • Payout Speed: 3-5 days
250% first deposit bonus up to $1,500Play NowOur score:
250% first deposit bonus up to $1,500
Read more
Up to $12,500 Welcome Bonus

  • Casino Payout: 98.01%
  • Payout Speed: 3-5 days
Up to $12,500 Welcome BonusPlay NowOur score:
Up to $12,500 Welcome Bonus
Read 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. kentucky

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
Slots.lv Online Casino

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. Slots.lv Casino - 400+ titles to choose from (Welcome bonus offer up to $5,000)

Slots.lv Casino has been in the online casino game since 2012, meaning that it has managed to build up a lot of experience during these years and learn what players want the most out of a given platform. The site has a license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and its game library expands over 400 titles. Some of the leading game developers are supported, including the likes of NetEnt. Table game fans are well looked after, with plenty of different variants of roulette, blackjack and casino poker. You also have a whole host of specialty titles and video poker games.

One of the best aspects of the Slots.lv Casino offering is its live casino. It is well-stocked up with the best table games, with the immersive stream being of HD quality. For any issues that may arise, there is 24/7 customer support and the withdrawals are pretty fast. If you are creating an account for the first time, there is a $5,000 welcome bonus offer that is one of the best offers you will find in Kentucky.

Our Rating

  • 400+ titles on offer
  • Beautifully designed site
  • Welcome bonus package of $5,000
  • Customer support always contactable
  • No mobile app

2. Cafe Casino - Ideal for beginners and high rollers alike (350% deposit bonus)

Cafe Casino has been around since 2016, launching at a time when live dealer casinos started to explode in popularity. RealTime Gaming is the software provider behind this platform, with the site design being immaculate.

You will be hard pressed to find a platform that is easier to navigate than this one. This also lends itself to a great gameplay experience across the board, no matter what type of game you may be playing. In total, there are more than 150 games for you to test out, with everything from slots to video poker and table games covered. For the live dealer casino, there are decent choices and a number of variants to check out.

The betting limits are very good, being ideal for beginners and high rollers alike. If you are signing up for a new account with Cafe Casino, make sure that you take advantage of the 350% deposit bonus.

Our Rating

  • Well-designed platform
  • Superb betting limits
  • Decent library of games
  • Deposit bonus of 350%
  • Withdrawals can be slow

3. El Royale Casino - Massive welcome bonus (Welcome bonus offer up to $12,500)

El Royale Casino is a relative newcomer to the online casino space, having only launched recently. It has quickly gained traction and become popular among casino players in Kentucky.

The platform is superbly designed, making it very easy to find what you are looking for. It also lends itself to a great gameplay experience across the board. This platform is licensed in Curacao and there are hundreds of casino games to play, from video poker to slots and table games. The live dealer offering has a number of top-quality titles, with the HD streams creating a truly immersive experience.

For new players, there is a deposit bonus of 250% that allows you to get up to $12,500 in bonus funds if you max out this offer.

Our Rating

  • Very modern platform
  • Great variety of casino games
  • Wide range of betting limits
  • Welcome bonus offer of $12,500
  • Outdated browsers might struggle

How we rate the best Kentucky online casinos

There are plenty of options when it comes to out of state online casinos in Kentucky. Some are better than others, with certain platforms to be avoided at all costs. This is why proper due diligence is needed in order to find an offering that is a great fit for your needs.

It can take a lot of time to go through all of the different options, which is why we have taken care of this hard work for you. In order to narrow down the options, we look at various key aspects of the offerings in an objective manner. 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:

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.