Kentucky gamblers have various outstanding online casinos available to them, on top of the Bluegrass State’s limited in-person betting opportunities. This Best US Casinos guide to Kentucky casino availability takes a look at the best offshore casinos online, offering KY players high-quality recommendations for online casinos in a handful of categories. We also cover Kentucky’s state gambling laws, reveal the state’s gambling history, and offer responsible gambling tips and resources.
What types of gambling are legal in Kentucky?
Online Casinos
Online Sportsbooks
Card Rooms
Racebooks
Commercial Casinos
Commercial Sportsbooks
Tribal Casinos
Best Online Casinos Available in Kentucky
Our gambling experts spend a lot of time reviewing online casinos in comprehensive detail, positioning us to provide high-quality recommendations for Kentucky gamblers.
Bovada — Best Online Casino for KY Gamblers. Sign up for Bovada today to take advantage of $3,000 in welcome bonus money. It has a wide range of slots and table games, a robust sportsbook, and a full racebook that includes Kentucky Derby futures wagering.
BetUS — Top Online Sportsbook. Claim up to 30 free bets at BetUS, our most recommended offshore sportsbook for Kentucky players. The casino also matches 125% of your first deposit, allowing you to bet on popular contests with lucrative prop and parlay wagers.
Sloto’Cash — Best Online Slots for Kentucky Players. Visit Sloto’Cash for up to 300 spins and $7,777 in welcome bonus credits. The online casino offers daily bonuses for deposits as well, including a 177% matching bonus plus 117 free spins for deposits over $30.
Lupin Casino — Biggest Welcome Bonus for New Accounts. Try Lupin Casino to claim up to $10,000 in welcome bonus money for new players. You can receive up to $8,888 on your first five deposits, and your first five crypto deposits can earn as much as $10,000 in matched funds.
Ignition Casino — Best Online Poker Experience. Play at Ignition and receive up to $1,500 in welcome bonus money that can be used on slots, and up to $1,500 for the main casino. Ignition offers weekly freeroll (no entry fee) poker tournaments, royal flush bonuses, and sit-and-go mini-tournaments that typically only last a few minutes.
Bovada is our more recommended online casino for Kentucky players. The operator matches your first three deposits for up to $3,000 in welcome bonus credits. The first deposit is subject to a 25x playthrough requirement (you’ll need to wager the equivalent of 25x time the deposit + bonus), and 50x for the following two deposits. Bovada’s website offers helpful articles such as game guides, strategies, cryptocurrency information, and more. The casino also has an active user community as well. The Bovada website features forums where users can discuss games, ask for tips and advice, and even transfer funds to one another.
Casino Games:
Slots, Roulette, Video Poker+4 more
Payment Options:
American Express, Mastercard, Visa+7 more
Pros
- Up to $3,000 in welcome bonus matching on your first three deposits
- 150+ slots, including hot drop jackpots for extra rewards
- Live-dealer table games
- Full sports and race books
Cons
- Craps and live-dealer games don’t count towards bonus rollover requirements
- $100 bank wire withdrawal fee, though Bovada covers the first withdrawal fee every 90 days
The BetUS sportsbook is our top choice for the best place to bet on sports contests around the world. The sportsbook welcomes new players by matching 125% of their first deposit of over $100 and offers up to 30 free bets (capped at 10% of your last deposit) as well. The sportsbook also has a robust racebook that allows players to win big with lucrative horse racing prop and parlay wagers. Kentucky players can wager on a wide range of domestic sports, and BetUS also accepts bets on international sports such as rugby, cricket, and darts, among others.
Casino Games:
Slots, Roulette, Video Poker+4 more
Payment Options:
American Express, Mastercard, Visa+5 more
Pros
- 30 free bets + 125% deposit matching for new players
- Internet TV channel with helpful gambling-related programming
- Racebook featuring horse racing prop bets and parlays
- 24/7 email, telephone, and live chat customer service
Cons
- 60x playthrough requirement before bonus funds can be released
- Some bonuses have individual requirements that must be met for the bonus to be paid out
Sloto’Cash is our most recommended offshore slot casino for KY gamblers. Featuring more than 150 slot games —including progressive jackpot slots— the casino helps new slot players hit the ground running with up to $7,777 in welcome bonus money and 300 free spins. Please note that players must claim their welcome bonus money before playing with the initial deposit, or else they lose the bonus altogether. While some other online casinos have more individual slot games than Sloto’Cash does, Sloto’Cash’s daily promotions afford gamblers a wide range of slot-related bonuses on their deposits. Refer to the Sloto’Cash promotions page to learn the rollover requirements and other terms and conditions related to the online casino’s bonuses.
Casino Games:
Slots, Roulette, Video Poker+2 more
Payment Options:
Pros
- Free practice mode where players can try games without wagering real money
- Over 150 slots, including progressive slots
- Daily promotions that afford players deposit matching and free spin offers, with conditions
- Instant credit card withdrawals
Cons
- Website feels outdated and is relatively awkward to navigate
- Limited FAQ section
Kentucky gamblers can visit Lupin Casino to claim an enticing welcome bonus. The offshore casino greets new players by matching their first five deposits (of $20 or more) with nearly $9,000 in matched funds. The deposit matches are as follows: First deposit: 177% for up to $2,888. Second deposit: 150% for up to $1,500. Third deposit: 200% up to $2,000. Fourth deposit: 150% up to $1,500. Fifth deposit: 100% up to $1,000. Please note that all bonuses have a 35x playthrough requirements.
Casino Games:
Slots, Roulette, Video Poker+3 more
Payment Options:
Bitcoin, Check By Mail, Wire Transfer
Pros
- $8,888 in potential welcome bonus money, $10,000 for crypto deposits
- Weekly prizes for deposits, including free spins, chips, and credits
- Slots, table games, video poker, and more
- Daily deposit matching bonuses ranging from 40%–100%
Cons
- Terms and conditions are difficult to find on the website
- Only 10% of money played on non-slot games counts towards the playthrough requirement
Kentucky poker players can head to Ignition to take part in our recommended online poker casino. Ignition Casino has a beneficial rewards program in which every dollar wagers contributes towards player rewards points that can be used to purchase bonuses. Please note the bonuses have a 10x rollover requirement, which is low compared to the requirements of many other online casinos. We recommend Ignition Casino in part for their plentiful poker tournaments, including weekly freeroll tournaments that don’t require any entry fees. There are also mini sit-and-go tournaments that only take a few minutes and don’t require large time commitments. Ignition rewards Texas Hold ‘Em players with a royal flush bonus that pays 50x the game’s big bind for up to $200 in rollover-free bonus money.
Casino Games:
Slots, Roulette, Video Poker+4 more
Payment Options:
American Express, Mastercard, Visa+5 more
Pros
- Up to $1,500 in poker welcome bonus money
- Weekly freeroll tournaments
- Texas Hold’Em royal flush bonus for up to $200, with no rollover requirements
- Sunday Triple-Header tournaments for $235,000 in guaranteed weekly prize money
Cons
- Players must select the welcome bonus before making the first deposit, and if they don’t, they lose access to the bonus
- Customer support link is buried and more difficult to find than it needs to be
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 (Review) | 4.6 (Review) | 4.1 (Review) | 5 (Review) |
| Established | 2020 | 2018 | 2020 | 2017 |
| Restricted States | KY, NJ, WA | NY, NJ, HI, NV, DE, WA, PA, FL | None | NJ, NV |
| Specialty | Site Graphics | Special Contests | Slots, Live Dealer | Casino Bonuses |
| Bonus | $7,500 | $1,000 | $6,000 | $5,000 |
| Payout Speed | 1-2 Days Max | 1-2 Days Max | 1-2 Days Max | 1-2 Days Max |
| Website | Visit DuckyLuck Casino | Visit Betnow | Visit Super Slots | Visit Wild Casino |
How We Rank Online Casinos in Kentucky
Our experts consider many factors before we recommend online casinos. This structured approach to rating online casinos means that we can pass along high-quality recommendations to KY players. It’s worth mentioning that the factors that we rate casinos with may not be the same factors that individual users might consider when browsing for the best online casino for their needs.
Safety & Security
When reviewing online casinos, we look for robust security protections to keep players safe. Safety features that include data encryption, secure connections, and identity verification requirements to help keep cheaters and other malicious parties out of the casino.
Game Variety & Quality
Best US Casinos experts comprehensively check the games that are available for players to choose from, such as slots, table games, and live dealer casinos. That said, we don’t punish specialty casinos that offer one or two games—poker sites and dedicated slots sites for example.
Bonuses and Promotions
We look for each casino’s welcome bonuses like deposit matching and free spins, as well as player rewards programs to help KY players stretch their gambling budgets even further.
Payment Options
Our reviewers note which payment options are available for players to add funds to their accounts, as well as withdrawal options. Common payment methods include credit cards, bank transfers, and cryptocurrency coins such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Customer Support
We take a look at every casino’s customer support options that allow players to easily request help for problems they run into with responsive phone, email, and live chat support—including 24/7 customer support when available.
UI & Mobile Experience
Best US Casinos tests how online casino games perform on a wide variety of platforms and devices, including games that are fully optimized for mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers.
Is Gambling Legal in Kentucky?
Kentucky offers gamblers several forms of legalized gambling despite its strict gambling laws. The most prominent form of legalized gambling in KY is horserace betting. Since The Bluegrass State hosts the Kentucky Derby—the world’s most famous horse race—it’s no surprise that KY legalized sports betting in September 2023.
KY gamblers can also gamble online at a wide selection of available offshore casinos even though the only officially recognized form of online gambling in KY is the state lottery. The lottery is available at more than 3,100 in-state locations as well.
As of January 2024, Kentuckians can wager on sports at all the state’s nine brick-and-mortar racetracks. They can also place bets through online sportsbooks as well. Kentucky has dedicated gaming centers, which operate similarly to traditional casinos—with one key difference. Whereas many casinos feature electronic games that randomly generate numbers, Kentucky gaming centers offer historical horse racing (HHR) games. These HHR games pull numbers from thousands of historical horse races, rather than generating numbers completely at random the way that traditional slot machines do.
Kentucky Gambling Laws and Regulations
Kentucky’s gambling laws include the following regulations:
Are Online Casinos Available in Kentucky?
Yes, Kentucky gamblers have a wide selection of online casinos, sportsbooks, racebooks, and online poker games available to them. There are also many offshore casinos online that offer a broader choice of games that extend past the games available on the Kentucky Lottery’s official website.
These online casinos have a vast array of games, including slots, table games, sports betting, horse betting, and poker.
Is Online Poker Available in Kentucky?
Kentucky poker players can choose from a vast array of offshore poker sites online. These international poker websites afford KY players many online poker options such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Caribbean Stud, and many more. Many of these sites also have daily and weekly poker tournaments available as well.
Best Online poker Site: Ignition Casino
Are Online Racebooks Available in Kentucky?
Online racebooks were legalized in Kentucky in November 2023. Kentuckians can bet on various horse races through TwinSpires, the official online racebook of the Kentucky Derby. There are also offshore racebooks online to choose from as well, offering KY gamblers the chance to bet on a wider selection of international horse races such as thoroughbred races, steeplechases, harness racing, and more.
Top Online Racebook for KY Residents: Bovada
Are Online Sportsbooks Available in Kentucky?
Kentuckians have multiple online sportsbooks available to them. The state implemented sports betting in November 2023, and as of January 2024, it hadn’t entered into an official partnership with online sportsbooks like several other states have. Kentucky players can still wager on many popular sports through various international sportsbooks, however.
Our recommended online sportsbook: BetNow
Land-Based Gambling in Kentucky
Kentucky has a selection of brick-and-mortar gaming centers, horse racing tracks, and poker rooms available to visit and gamble in. The gaming centers are similar to traditional casinos but feature various HHR games rather than normal slots.
Players can also bet on a wide variety of sports within the state, including racebooks at several KY brick-and-mortar racetracks.
Gaming Centers
Kentucky features gaming centers that offer a wide range of HHR machines, rather than traditional slot machines.
| Name | County | Address | What You'll Find There |
|---|---|---|---|
Derby City Gaming Hotel | Jefferson | 4520 Poplar Level Road |
|
Derby City Gaming Downtown | Jefferson | 140 S 4th Street Louisville, KY 40202 |
|
The Mint Gaming Hall | Simpson | 5629 Nashville Road Franklin, KY 42134 |
|
Oak Grove | Christian | 777 Winners Way Oak Grove, KY 42262 |
|
Newport Racing & Gaming | Campbell | 1723 Monmouth Street Newport, KY 41071 |
|
Horse Racetracks & Racinos
| Name | County | Address | What You'll Find There |
|---|---|---|---|
Churchill Downs | Jefferson | 700 Central Ave, Louisville, KY, 40208 |
|
Keeneland Race Course | Fayette | 4201 Versailles Road Lexington, Kentucky 40510 |
|
Red Mile Racetrack | Fayette | 1200 Red Mile Rd Lexington, KY 40504 |
|
The Mint at Kentucky Downs | Simpson | 5629 Nashville Road Franklin, KY 42134 |
|
Ellis Park | Henderson | 3300 Highway 41 N, Henderson, Kentucky 42420 |
|
Turfway Park | Boone | Turfway Park 7500 Turfway Rd. Florence, KY 41042 |
|
Oak Grove | Christian | 777 Winners Way Oak Grove, KY 42262 |
|
Poker Rooms
| Name | County | Address | What You'll Find There |
|---|---|---|---|
Royal Social Club | Laurel | 124 Black Road, London Kentucky 40741 |
|
7 Deuce Social Club | Christian | 206 Claire Ave Suite A Oak Grove, KY 42262 |
|
The Barrel Social Club | Simpson | 3730 B Nashville Road Franklin, KY 42134 |
|
Club JAQK | Jefferson | 161 Outer Loop Louisville, Kentucky 40214 |
|
Other Ways to Gamble in Kentucky
Kentuckians can also gamble with the Kentucky State Lottery, charitable games like bingo and raffles, social casinos, and daily fantasy sports contests.
State Lottery
The Kentucky Lottery was launched in April 1989. It sells lottery tickets and scratch-off cards at over 3,100 retail locations across the Bluegrass state. The lottery has a selection of instant play games on its website as well. Proceeds from the Kentucky Lottery help fund various education-related initiatives throughout the state; including college scholarships and grants, literacy initiatives, and providing direct funding to KY public schools.
Charitable Gambling
Kentucky permits charitable games including bingo (also referred to as beano) and raffles to operate under specific conditions. Individual bingo game prizes are capped at $599 per game, and $5K per 24-hour period. Participants must also be at least 18 years old.
Social & Sweepstakes Casinos
Kentuckians can visit a wide range of available online social casinos (also known as sweepstakes casinos). These social casinos offer many of the same gambling experiences as traditional online casinos, but players stake various in-game currencies (like tokens) without the need to deposit—and risk losing—actual money.
Daily Fantasy Sports
There are many available daily fantasy sports (DFS) platforms for Kentucky players to choose from. DFS sites allow players to curate custom sports teams comprised of players whose stats are informed by their real-world performances. These teams are then used to populate leagues whose winners are awarded various cash prizes and other rewards.
Most Popular Games at Kentucky Online Casinos
The Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming reported that Kentucky generated more than $9.5B in gross gaming receipts in 2022, showing that the state’s gamblers enjoy playing games of chance on a mass scale. Some of Kentucky’s most popular games include poker, slots, horse betting, and bingo.
Poker
Kentuckians searched online for poker more than they did any other form of gambling over the last five years. Considering that Kentucky has various in-person poker rooms available, it’s not surprising that KY players also enjoy playing poker online.
Slots
Gaming centers within Kentucky contain thousands of historical horse racing (HHR) slot machines that draw numbers from historical horse racing results, rather than randomly generating numbers. As such, it’s only natural that various slots are some of the most popular casino games for KY gamblers.
Video Poker
KY gamblers also enjoy playing games of HHR video poker. Video poker games differ from table-based games, as the players only play against the actual gaming machine itself rather than other players at the table.
Horse Betting
It’s only natural that Kentucky gamblers enjoy wagering on horse races online since the state hosts many races throughout the year; including the world’s most famous horse race—The Kentucky Derby. Kentucky has a wide range of brick-and-mortar tracks to visit, and the state also permits offtrack horse betting on top of its in-person betting options. The state’s sports betting laws enable KY players to wager on horse races online as well.
Lottery and Scratch-Offs
The Kentucky State Lottery is the most accessible form of gambling in the Bluegrass state. Players can purchase lottery tickets and scratch-off cards at more than 3,000 retail locations. The lottery’s website has a selection of instant play games online, including keno, pick’em lottery games, and scratch-off cards.
Bingo
The Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming reported that charitable games like bingo and raffles brought in more than $581M in 2021, which proves that these games are very popular throughout the state.
Kentucky Gambling History
Here is a brief history of gambling in Kentucky, beginning with the most recent developments:
January 2024
Despite recent legislative developments in gambling—particularly the legalization of sports betting—there is currently limited activity in Kentucky’s gambling legislation horizon. Governor Andrew Beshear played a key role in legalizing sports betting, and although his push for casino legalization in 2018 was unsuccessful, it suggests the possibility of future gambling-related bills.
March 2023
Kentucky legalizes both in-person and online sports betting.
March 2023
Senate Bill 120 enables HHR machines to operate within the Bluegrass State.
September 2018
Derby City gaming opens in Louisville.
March 1992
Kentucky authorizes charitable games including bingo and raffles.
April 1989
The Kentucky Lottery begins.
The Future of Kentucky Online Gambling
Kentucky’s gambling legislation landscape is relatively quiet as of January 2024. The state legalized sports betting in 2023 after several years of back-and-forth debates over gambling. That said, Gov. Andrew Beshear attempted to legalize casinos in KY in 2018.While the legislation did not pass, reports state that gambling lobbyists spent a record-breaking $24M in Kentucky in 2023, which suggests that there could potentially still be changes to Kentucky gambling laws in the not-too-distant future.
How to Gamble at an Online Casino in Kansas
1
Explore online casinos
There are a lot of online casinos out there, and some are better than others. The Best US Casinos online casinos review page is a good place to begin looking for online casinos that accept Kansas players.
2
Create Your Account
Once you’ve picked the right casino, find the “sign up” or “register here” buttons to create your account. Enter your personal information, double-check the information for accuracy, and follow the casino’s identity verification requirements.
3
Get Bonuses
Most online casinos have welcome bonuses for new members including deposit matching, free spins, and bonus credits for depositing cryptocurrency. Make sure that you understand all available bonuses before depositing real money, and always familiarize yourself with all applicable terms and conditions.
4
Add Money
Give the casino your payment details, like your debit card, credit card, cryptocurrency, or e-wallet info. Also, consider how long it takes to withdraw winnings in your preferred currency, as well as any associated withdrawal fees.
5
Start Playing
Once you’ve successfully added funds to your account the only thing left to do is to start exploring the slots, table games, and other games your new online casino has to offer.
Gambling Safely & Responsibly in Kentucky
Gambling is a leisure activity that can become a problem for some people if not properly monitored. These guidelines can help promote a safe and healthy gambling experience:
Don’t chase losses. If you lose the money that you started gambling with, simply accept the fact that you lost and walk away.
Seek professional help if you find it challenging to stop gambling, if you’re constantly preoccupied with your next gambling session, or if you experience anxiety or restlessness when you’re not gambling.
Never gamble if doing so causes harm to your personal and professional lives.
Kentucky problem gamblers have support through various state and national resources.
State Resources
National Resources
Get Ready to Play at an Online Casino in Kentucky
This Best US Casinos guide to gambling in Kentucky took a look at the many gambling opportunities Kentuckians have available to them despite the state’s restrictive gambling laws. Our experts provided high-quality recommendations to various offshore casinos online in multiple categories—including our top pick for best overall online casino.
The guide pointed to in-state gaming options in Kentucky, including horse racing tracks, gaming centers, and poker rooms. It also provided alternative ways to gamble in KY, including both online and in-person options.
We also looked at Kentucky’s gambling laws and history, and provided a list of national and state-level resources to help treat problem gambling issues should they arise.
Latest News
Read All
Sources
Source(s):
Sloto’Cash promotions
Kentucky legalizes sports betting
Kentucky legalizes sports betting
Kentucky Lottery online games
Kentucky Lottery celebrates 30 years
TwinSpires—Official racebook of the Kentucky Derby
Off Track Betting—Information on Kentucky racetracks
Kentucky horse racing
Rise of historical horse racing machines
Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming 2022 Annual Report
Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming 2021 Annual Report
Kentucky legalizes sports betting
Kentucky legalizes HHR machines
Kentucky Lottery
Kentucky gambling history
Kentucky gambling lobby spending