Kentucky Casinos Online

The vast majority of American gambling enthusiasts are well familiar with the bluegrass state as this is home to the illustrious Kentucky Derby; an annual horse racing event that comes with a prize pool of several million dollars and attract about as many bettors.

Being the host of this world renowned event and allowing real money wagering on it one would think that Kentucky is a liberal state towards gambling. This is far from the truth though. Betting on horses is one of a few things that are legal. Wagering money on sports and even dog racing is strictly forbidden along with slots, table games, video pokers and many other games of chance.

There are in other words no casinos in Kentucky. If you’re eager to gamble you can, however, find a bunch of Kentucky friendly casinos online. These are legitimate sites licensed outside of America that are perfectly safe to play at. Should you wish to do so we have listed some of the best for you below.

Best online casinos in Kentucky listed and reviewed

Here at casinowebsites.com we are very careful about the sites which we choose to recommend to our fellow gambling fans. No operator is listed before being thoroughly reviewed and scored on several important factors such as safety, customer support, game selection, bonus offers, payment options and withdrawal times. With this meticulous mindset we can assure that the below listed gambling sites are some of the very best online casinos in Kentucky.

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How to gamble at Kentucky casinos online and what to expect

Getting started and indulging in gambling over the internet is pretty much child’s play. After visiting any of the best casinos in Kentucky that we have suggested above you’ll be up and running in minutes. All you have to do is to create an account and make a deposit which is quickly done.

The account creation process involves providing some personal information about yourself such as first and last name, date of birth and home address. Since it’s against the casinos’ rules to provide any fake details it’s very important that you enter correct ones.

Once your account is created you head over to the casino’s cashier which should be easily accessible on the site. Payment options offered can vary between operators, but you can usually deposit with debit cards and bitcoins. The minimum amount is normally set to $10 or $20.

While making your deposit you will have the choice of activating a welcome bonus which will give you additional money to gamble with. This is highly recommended to use. Just make sure to read the terms and conditions that it comes with. After confirming the transaction your account is instantly funded, with the exception of bitcoin deposits that may come with a waiting period of a few hours.

Now it’s time for the thrilling fun to begin. Playing at any of the best Kentucky casinos listed by us you will find hundreds of slot machines, a bunch of video pokers, all popular table games and the option of playing blackjack and roulette against real dealers in a live environment. If you’re interested in sports wagering or playing Texas Hold’em against other players this is also offered by many of our suggested sites. 

Should it be that you’re facing any difficulties – may it be that you don’t understand how a particular game is played or how to activate the welcome bonus – a high class customer service is available 24/7. Being reachable on live chat as well as phone friendly support agents will quickly help you out.

Once the gambling gods have smiled upon you and you would like to cash out you will be asked to verify your identity. This is a standard procedure in the gambling industry and involves sending the casino a photo copy of a valid identification. As soon as this ID has been approved there’s nothing stopping your withdrawals.

While cash out options may vary between sites it’s rare to find debit cards available as an alternative. Common are, however, wire transfers, bitcoins and checks. Minimum withdrawal amounts can range from $10 – $100. Once your cash out is requested your money is usually sent to you within 48 hours.

Quick facts about gambling in Kentucky

• The state lottery and horse betting has a minimum age requirement of 18
• Annual revenue from gambling in the bluegrass state is about $840 million
• While there are no casinos in Kentucky a couple are nearby in other states
• Several Kentucky friendly casinos online can be played at with no legal risk
• The vast majority of online casinos have a minimum age requirement of 18

Is it legal to play casino online in Kentucky?

As a state being very much against many forms of gambling, especially lucky based forms, it’s definitely not legal to play casino online in Kentucky. A clear proof of the conservative mindset towards online gambling can be found in 2008 when the state attempted to block 141 different internet sites offering poker, sports betting and casino games.

With this being said the laws of Kentucky are not directly touching the subject of online gambling. It’s therefore a bit of a gray area where some claim that it’s not illegal in any way and others say that the current laws could possibly apply to internet gambling as well.

The bottom line of it all is, however, that the state has never gone after its residents thus no one has ever been penalized for playing casino online in Kentucky. And it will probably never happen. If it, against all odds should, the only penalty you will face for a first time offence is a fine of up to $100.

A brief look at the history of gambling in Kentucky

1770s: The first race track in Kentucky is built by a wealthy immigrant from Virginia.

1787: Attraction-based horse racing is starting to kick off in the state.

1800s: After being recognized as a state in 1792 the constitution of Kentucky is by this time much against gambling. The conservative laws were mainly introduced to tackle corrupt lotteries that were running at the time.

1809: This year saw the introduction of a Jockey Club which is good proof of the popularity that horse racing already had in the early 1800s.  

1875: The world renowned Kentucky Derby is running for the first time.

1880: In this point of time about 90% of taxpayers in the state own a horse, which is yet another sign of how incredibly popular horse racing is.

1891: With the exception of betting money on horses, all types of gambling are made illegal. It was especially games of chance that the law was intended to tackle.

1931: Anti-gambling groups are lobbying for horse betting to become illegal as well. The high court of Kentucky does, however, rule it to be a legal activity as it is based on skill and not on chance.

1988: The state lottery is introduced and the first lottery draw is held the year after.

1992: Charitable gambling such as bingo is legalized.

2008: The state of Kentucky initiates a lawsuit in an attempt to block their resident’s access to 141 different online gambling sites.

2011: While instant racing machines are being legalized a proposal to allow casino games is being rejected.

2012: The legality of casino gambling is once again up for discussion and once again turned down.

2014: Anti-gambling groups have risen from the ashes making their voices heard. This time they are trying to ban instant racing machines arguing that these are nothing but slots. Once again the court ruled against them thus the machines remained legal.

A list of gambling venues and the best casinos for Kentuckys

If you aren’t interested in gambling online you still have a couple of great options as a resident of the bluegrass state. Even though there aren’t any land based casinos in Kentucky you don’t have to travel very far to reach some fantastic gambling establishments offering slots, table games and video pokers in bordering states. Below we have mentioned some of these in addition to listing race tracks and bingo halls that can be found in Kentucky.

Casinos close to Kentucky

Race tracks in Kentucky

Bingo in Kentucky

FAQ about gambling and casinos in Kentucky

Casino Sites by States

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