Kentucky presents an interesting case when it comes to online gambling offerings. No other state has such a prohibitive atmosphere and an unmistakable place in the national gambling landscape. Kentucky’s gambling laws are as restrictive as those found in other largely conservative states. No casinos exist inside state lines, and numerous bills to allow their introduction have failed.

1. Can You Play Online Poker In Kentucky
2. Kentucky Legalize Online Poker
3. Kentucky Online Poker

At the same time, the Bluegrass State is also home to the most prestigious horse race in the world, the Kentucky Derby. Pari-mutuel wagering is almost a birthright and can be found at several large tracks throughout the state.

There is no specific statute in Kentucky that governs online gambling’s legality. However, given the restrictive nature of the state’s laws with regard to gambling in general (basically everything is unlawful. You must play at Kentucky online poker rooms that offer exceptional new player bonuses. Most of the time, these online gambling bonuses come in the form of a match credit on your first deposit. Let’s say some real money Kentucky online poker.

That’s the extent of gambling in Kentucky right now, but lawmakers in the state have been persistent in efforting the legalization of sports betting.

The latest includes Gov. Andy Beshear, during his State of the Commonwealth in January, announcing his “commitment to the future” by creating new revenue streams in Kentucky. This involves a KY sports betting bill filed by Rep. Adam Koenig that would also legalize online poker and daily fantasy sports.

This is also the place where bourbon whiskey is produced, yet distilleries are often located in dry counties. Many residents cannot even buy the state’s most famous products. Perhaps Kentucky is content to be a place of contradictions.

Sweepstakes casinos in Kentucky

Social casino options

With no in-state casino options, there are also no options for tie-ins to local casinos through social gaming. The social casino routes are the usual group of offerings. These include: Slotomania, Double Down, Big Fish, and Zynga.

Residents of Northern Kentucky may also be interested in some of the properties that surround the state, in Illinois, Indiana, and West Virginia. Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, offers a Play4Fun network (as do all Hollywood properties) where players can sample games for free.

Sports betting in Kentucky

The Bluegrass State in 2019 made multiple efforts to legalize sports betting. Of four proposed bills, only Koenig’s advanced through a committee. But that was as far as it got.

This latest bill, House Bill 137, will remove the ban on in-state college wagering while adding an 18-month limit on the in-person requirement for online registration.

That prohibition on betting on Kentucky teams apparently drew the most complaints from legislators and the public alike.

In addition to legalizing online poker and DFS, Kentucky could potentially expand gaming even more by giving the green light for online casinos.

While that remains to be seen, Koenig’s proposal would authorize land-based and online sportsbooks to operate via horse racing tracks and motorsports speedways throughout the state.

The bill has sailed through a state House committee by a vote of 18-0 and is expected to clear the full chamber in due time.

Online gambling

There is no specific statute in Kentucky that governs online gambling’s legality. However, given the restrictive nature of the state’s laws with regard to gambling in general (basically everything is unlawful except horse racing), it’s a dodgy proposition to engage in online gambling in Kentucky.

There is one gigantic exception. Many states allow gambling under the auspices if said gambling is a function of the state lottery. Hence, many states that outlaw slot machines permit video lottery terminals, which are functionally the same to players. Kentucky has a similar situation, but unsurprisingly, it must funnel its gambling through the horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering carveout in its laws.

So Kentucky does have online gambling of a sort. Churchill Downs operates Twin Spires, a website that allows residents to wager on horse races at the track from the comfort of their home. Twin Spires is even accessible via mobile devices.

Kentucky residents can also play the state lottery online. The state’s lottery website simply advertises the ability to “Play Now” on multi-state drawings offered through the site. In a state without any casinos (even tribal ones), it is startling to find two unabashed gambling sites doing business — one run by the state, no less.

Online gambling operators

State casino operator history

As mentioned earlier, there are no casinos of any kind in Kentucky. State law is very explicit in its prohibition. It uses what is known as the “Dominant Factor” theory in its determination of the law. The theory ascribes the mantle of gambling to any game where random chance predominates the outcome over skill. This standard has a carveout for horse racing (which could withstand some argument for skill being the dominant factor – handicapping has plenty of validity) and, somewhat farcically, lottery, which is perhaps the least skillful game in existence.

Horse racing

Nevertheless, Kentucky’s history with gambling as it pertains to horse racing is rich and vibrant. The first horse races in the territory ran in the 1780s in Lexington and Louisville, despite the lack of formal tracks at that time. The horses ran through city parks and, in Louisville’s case, right down Main Street.

The first official track opened in 1805. It wasn’t until 1873, when Meriwether Lewis Clark (grandson of William Clark, the famous explorer) developed a series of races that culminated in the grand finale – a derby, which mimicked similar events in Europe.

Clark’s maternal side of the family, the Churchills, were a prominent Louisville family that owned several acres of land in the area. Clark designed a mile-and-a-quarter-long track on one piece of their land in the southern part of Louisville’s downtown. The track became known as Churchill Downs.

Each year, tens of thousands of people flock to Churchill Downs to view the Kentucky Derby. It is considered the most prestigious horserace in the US, and perhaps the world. The Derby has run each May since 1875 and is the first leg of the Triple Crown. The Derby itself is an event steeped in traditions of old. The men wear suits and ties, and women often wear ornate dresses and humongous hats.

Churchill Downs is one of six racetracks in the state. All the racetracks offer what is known as Instant Racing. These are machines that allow wagering on historical races and resemble a slot machine. Though none of the other tracks match the renown of Churchill Downs, many are quite well-respected venues in the horse racing community. This is especially true of Keeneland, which has been rated the best thoroughbred track in the US. It’s also on the National Register of Historic Places.

Out-of-state casinos

There are also many casinos situated along the borders of Kentucky, particularly on the northern border along the Ohio River. Of significance is Horseshoe Southern Indiana. This casino is, for all intents and purposes, a Louisville casino (separated only by the river itself). Elsewhere, residents of Kentucky also have easy access to Belterra Casino Resort (a mere 80 miles from Lexington), Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack in West Virginia, Rivers Casino in Pennsylvania, and even Rocky Gap Casino in Maryland.

All in all, Kentucky residents have some options available, even without the benefit of homegrown casinos. At this time, no legislation appears forthcoming. A bill introduced in 2016 found no support in the state legislature. But, given the decadence of Kentucky’s horse racing and the proximity to other states, Kentuckians should have no problems finding a good time.

Can You Play Online Poker In Kentucky

Kentucky racetracks

State legal environment

The Kentucky Poker Issue

Please read the bottom of this page for recent updates. The court made new rulings on internet poker back in March 18, 2010, but online card rooms also changed their mind in 2013 as to what poker sites are accepting whom. To find more info about the legal situation about poker in the US see here. These are the last remaining sites to accept Kentucky.

This page follows the Kentucky issue regarding possible website seizures of the 141 domains by Kentucky. We list what poker sites MAY block Kentucky and which online poker sites are accepting Kentuckians. Daily updates listed at bottom of page.

Poker Sites Accepting Kentucky

Kentucky Legalize Online Poker

Betonline accepts Kentucky and all other 49 States. Licensed out of Panama for about 15 years. Decent amount of poker player traffic and pretty easy to deposit.

Slightly harder to deposit at Ignition Poker from Kentucky. They are the US facing brand of Bodog. The poker room is great if you can deposit successfully.

The Following Is a List of Banned Kentucky Websites

Daily Kentucky Poker Site Updates:

January 1, 2017 – Estimated Date of Legalized Online Poker in Kentucky is 2019-2020.

June 8, 2013 – Kentucky gives up on its fraud claims against FullTilt, Absolute Poker, and PokerStars.

April 23, 2010 – The list for Kentucky has been updated. Please note you can still play online, but options are limited.

March 18, 2010 – Kentucky has was what may “seem” like a major victory in seizing the domains but in reality they have not. Joe Brennan of IMEGA representing the case said there is nothing to worry about and this is a trivial matter and will be corrected.

October 5, 2009 – Kentucky is at it again as they file an appeal and are still trying to win a losing battle for these domain names

Kentucky Online Poker

December 3, 2008 – Add Absolutepoker to the list of banned sites from Kentucky. This was inevitable.

November 30, 2008 – Ultimatebet which operates under the Cereus Network is now IP blocking poker players from Kentucky starting today. Not all players are being affected and their sister site Absolutepoker hasn’t yet implemented the block. I expect they will shortly, testing the block on UB first.

November 21, 2008 – The entire Cakenetwork is blocking players from Kentucky. Also, Pokerstars stated they can’t release any information on their plans as there is current ongoing legal action.

November 13, 2008 – Cake poker is now blocking players from Kentucky. It is somewhat spotty as it doesn’t seem the ISP blocking mechanism is working all that great. Some people can still logon in the state of Kentucky, meaning their IP is probably in a surrounding state.

November 10, 2008 – Bodoglife has no plans of leaving Kentucky. They’ve lost their domains twice before so they have an edge in this area. They don’t believe their host will give up their domain and chances are won’t comply.

November 9, 2008 – Full tilt is expected to challenge this ruling and not turn over their domain to Kentucky. They are the first I’ve heard to actually issue press to players that they will not back down.

October 24, 2008 – The judge has changed the date from Nov. 17 to Dec. 3 for the gambling domains to comply with Geo blocking Kentucky. Also Bugsyclub took action yesterday and is now blocking players from Kentucky.

October 20, 2008 – The Merge Network announced they will obide by the ruling and GEO block players from Kentucky. They will not being going to appeal the decision by the judge.

Related States:
Washington – Hawaii – Maryland – New York – Utah – Missouri – Louisiana – Illinois