It’s home to perhaps the world’s greatest gambling spectacle, yet it doesn’t have a casino. We’re talking about Louisville, Kentucky, the pretty, historic city on the banks of the Ohio River famous for the Louisville Slugger, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and a little horse race known as the Kentucky Derby, in which gamblers from across the globe spend part of the first Saturday in May to.

1. Casinos In Kentucky With Slot Machines
2. Gambling In Kentucky
3. Kentucky Casinos Locations

Casinos In Kentucky With Slot Machines

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.

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.

Types of Gambling Offered at Kentucky Casinos. Kentucky’s instant racing machines are the only type of gambling allowed in the state. There are no table games offered at any of the casinos in Kentucky. The minimum gambling age at Kentucky casinos is 21 years old. Though a popular city, Louisville, Kentucky does not have any casinos. Top Kentucky Casinos. Save Red Roof Inn Carrollton to your lists. Red Roof Inn Carrollton. 10 Slumber Ln, Carrollton, KY. The price is $80 per night from Mar 8 to Mar 9 $80. Situated in the suburbs, this hotel is 0.8 mi (1.3 km) from VF Outlet and 1.6 mi (2.5 km) from General Butler State Resort Park. Kentucky, known as the “Bluegrass state,” does not have any traditional casinos. The most common form of gambling found in Kentucky is pari-mutuel betting on thoroughbred horse racing, which can be found at the 10 racetracks located through out the state. Best Guide to Casinos in Kentucky. Casinos in Kentucky aren’t many. Also known as the “Bluegrass State”, Kentucky is popularly known for the type of grass that is commonly located in some areas of the state due to its soil. In this guide, we will focus on gambling in the state of Kentucky.

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.

Kentucky racetracks

Gambling In Kentucky

State legal environment

Casinos in Kentucky

There is no form of traditional casino gambling in the state of Kentucky. Instead, some Kentucky gaming locations offer instant racing betting machines. These machines resemble regular slot machines, but are actually gaming machines that give results based on past horse races.

Shown below is a list of the Kentucky casinos that offer instant racing betting machines. Click on a name to see a page of detailed information about that particular casino.

PLEASE NOTE THAT EFFECTIVE JANUARY 25, 2021, ALL HISTORICAL HORSE RACING MACHINES WERE TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN AFTER THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT RULED THAT THEY WERE ILLEGAL. THAT DECISION IS BEING CHALLENGED AND THE MACHINES MAY BE BACK IN OPERATION AT A LATER DATE.

Want to See a Map of all casinos in Kentucky?

Visit our Kentucky casinos map page to see a detailed map showing all casinos in that state.

Gambling in Kentucky

The most common form of gambling found in Kentucky is pari-mutuel betting on thoroughbred horse racing, this can be found at the 10 racetracks located throughout the state.

Kentucky is home to the world famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby. This race is held annually and has been run since 1875. The Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs on the first Sunday in May. The Derby is held in Kentucky’s largest city, Louisville. Each year a festival is held in town for two weeks before the race.

Types of Casinos in Kentucky

There are not any traditional casinos in Kentucky, which is also known as the “Bluegrass State.” That nickname is a reference to an “ideal” type of grass that can be found in some of the major pastures around the state due to the area’s fertile soil.

Some of Kentucky’s racetrack casinos offer instant racing betting machines, which resemble regular slot machines, but are actually gaming machines that give results based on past horse races. The machines spinning reels are for entertainment purposes only.

Slot Machine Payback Percentages at Kentucky Casinos

No public information is available regarding what instant racing machines pay back to the public in Kentucky. In many states, however, the slot machine payback statistics for that particular state’s casinos are released as a matter of public record. Just click here to see a list of slot machine payback statistics for casinos in all U.S. states.

Types of Gambling Offered at Kentucky Casinos

Kentucky’s instant racing machines are the only type of gambling allowed in the state. There are no table games offered at any of the casinos in Kentucky. The minimum gambling age at Kentucky casinos is 21 years old.

Though a popular city, Louisville, Kentucky does not have any casinos. The closest casino to Louisville is, Red Mile, which is located about 75 miles east in Lexington.

Planning a visit to Kentucky casinos?

For more information on visiting casinos in Kentucky, call the Kentucky Department of Tourism at (800) 225-8747, or visit their website at https://www.kentuckytourism.com/

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TOP THINGS TO DO IN KENTUCKY

Kentucky is also called the Bluegrass state and it features a wide range of geography and cultural history. The state offers a diverse range of attractions for all type of travelers from couples to families. The state is also popularly known as the home of the Kentucky Derby which is held in May close to Louisville. Kentucky is filled with bustling cities, waterfalls, the longest cave system in the world, amusement parks, and so on that you can explore. Some of the top things to do in Kentucky are listed below.

Kentucky Derby

This is the most popular event in Kentucky and it is among the most prestigious horse race which is held at Churchill Downs just outside of Louisville. The event takes place on the first Sunday in May and it attracts huge crowds. This event is a top thing to experience if you are a horse racing lover. You can also visit the Kentucky Derby Museum which homes varieties of exhibits where you will get an insight into the history of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs. The museum also features exhibits about thoroughbred horses and each stage of their lives and training. Some of the top artifacts to see here are belongings of popular trainers like Bill Shoemaker and Wayne Lukas. If you are lucky, you can also join the off-season tours of the Churchill Downs to catch a glimpse of the behind the scenes looks at the venue.

The closest casino and casino with a hotel to this attraction is Derby City Gaming.

Kentucky Casinos Locations

Dog Slaughter Falls

This fall is among the top natural sights in Kentucky and it is perfect for a family hike. The Falls is 15-foot high and it is among the most impressive in the state and you can explore the Dog Slaughter Falls Trail where you can enjoy stunning views of the falls. The hiking trail is rated as moderate and it is a perfect place to go dog walking. Some of the plants that you will find on the trail are Hemlock and rhododendrons.

The closest casino and casino with a hotel to this attraction is Red Mile.

Daniel Boone National Forest

This national forest covers over 708,000 acres of land and it runs through 21 counties in eastern Kentucky. The highlight of the park is its varied terrain which consists of over 3,400 miles of sandstone cliffs, gorges, and ravines divided by rivers and streams. It also features a Natural Bridge which is 65 feet high and 75 feet wide. The bridge was created by the erosive forces of wind and water and it is regarded to be among the numerous bizarre rock formations in the park. The park also features numerous walking trails that you can explore. The largest trail is the Sheltowee Trace trail which covers 273 miles through the Daniel Boone National Forest. You can also explore the Barren Folk Accessible Heritage Trail which is the closest to Whitley City and it features a 0.75-mile paved trail where you will learn about the history of Barren Folk Mining and Coal.

The closest casino and casino with a hotel to this attraction is Red Mile.

The Appalachians

The Appalachians extends for about 2000 miles and it acts as a natural barrier between the interior lowlands of North America and the eastern coastal plain. It was once an enormous mountain range before it was slowly eroded away to its present state. Although the peak of Appalachians is not that high, it features very rugged terrain and it is only the experienced hikers that can climb it. Once you get to the top of the rock, you will get to enjoy mind-blowing views of the surroundings.

The closest casino and casino with a hotel to this attraction is Red Mile.

Gallatin County Courthouse

This is a stunning place to go if you want to learn about the Civil War and it houses some of the most enchanting places in Kentucky. Although this county is quite small by areas it has a rich history and has a unique charm. One of the communities not to miss while in the County is Sparta which is where the Kentucky Speedway is held.

The closest casino and casino with a hotel to this attraction is Derby City Gaming.

Kentucky Lake

This lake is among the largest man-made artificial lakes in the US and it holds about 4,008,000 acre-feet of water. The lake offers otherworldly sunset views which you must not miss while in Kentucky. The popular activity around the lake is Bass and crappie fishing while you will find an elk and bison prairie between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. You are going to find the Kenlake State Resort Park located on the west of Kentucky Lake while the Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park can be found in the northern part of the lake.

The closest casino and casino with a hotel to this attraction is Kentucky Downs.

How many casinos are in Kentucky?

There are currently 4 casinos located in Kentucky. • Derby City Gaming • Kentucky Downs • Ellis Park • Red Mile

What is the gambling age in Kentucky?