Gambling In Louisville Kentucky

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.

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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.

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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

State legal environment

Kentucky is not a gambling-friendly state by any means. Actually, it could have some of the strictest laws around gambling in the entire country.

That being said, Kentucky does have minimal options for those looking to press their luck, including the famously known Kentucky Derby.

Horse racing is legal in the Bluegrass State, as well as the state lottery.

Is online gambling in the future of Kentucky? And how did the state become so strict towards gambling in the first place? We break it down and more in our Kentucky gambling guide below.

Online Casinos in Kentucky

Although Kentucky has a long tradition with horse racing, it has not legalized casinos (online or otherwise).

There have been limited discussions of legalizing online casinos, but it seems unlikely that we'll see online casinos offered there in the foreseeable future.

Kentucky does have a state lottery, which can indicate an openness to other forms of betting.

The nearest online casinos will be in West Virginia, which has already approved legislation. Tennessee has recently approved online sports betting.

But, you can still register with a legal online casino while you're in Kentucky.

That means you can get the casino's bonus offers or deposit, and then play whenever you're in states where it's legal (even in a layover at the airport). (Do be aware of the casinobonus's expiry date, though.)

The only forms of legal online gambling in the state include the lottery and pari-mutuel betting.

Land-Based Casinos in Kentucky

The most common type of gambling offered is pari-mutuel betting on thoroughbred horse racing at the 10 racetracks located throughout the state.

The most famous horse race offered in the state is the Kentucky Derby, which has been run annually since 1875.

The Kentucky Derby is always run at Churchill Downs on the first Sunday in May.

A festival is also held each year for two weeks before the race in Louisville, where the track is located. Louisville is also the state's largest city.

There are three racetrack casinos in Kentucky that offer some form of casino gambling. There are no traditional slot machines in Kentucky casinos. Instead, they all offer instant racing bettingmachines.

While these machines may appear to be regular slot machines, they are actually gaming machines that are based on unidentified past horse races and the spinning reels shown on the machinesare for entertainment purposes only.

Those instant racing machines are the only types of casino gambling offered in Kentucky casinos. You will not find any table games offered at the casinos in Kentucky.

Types of Casinos in Kentucky

There are no traditional casinos in Kentucky.

Residents have numerous racetracks to choose from, as explained above.

List of Racetracks in Kentucky

Click on any of the race tracks below to learn more about them.

Horseshoe Casino In Louisville Kentucky

Derby City Gaming

• 4520 Poplar Level Rd, Louisville, KY 40213
• +1 502-961-7600
• Games: Instant racing betting machines

Ellis Park

• 3300 US-41, Henderson, KY 42420
• +1 812-425-1456
• Games: Instant racing betting machines

Kentucky Downs

• 5629 Nashville Rd, Franklin, KY 42134
• +1 270-586-7778
• Games: Instant racing betting machines

Red Mile

• 1200 Red Mile Rd, Lexington, KY 40504
• +1 859-255-0752
• Games: Instant racing betting machines

Churchill Downs

• 700 Central Ave, Louisville, KY 40208
• +1 502-636-4400
• Games: Instant racing betting machines
• Hosts the Kentucky Derby

Turfway Park

• 7500 Turfway Rd, Florence, KY 41042
• +1 859-371-0200
• Games: Instant racing betting machines

Keeneland

• 4201 Versailles Rd, Lexington, KY 40510
• +1 859-254-3412
• Games: Instant racing betting machines

Kentucky Land-Based Casinos Map

You can easily see all casino locations by using our Kentucky casinos map. To zoom in, just click the + (plus) sign in the lower right corner of the map, or to zoom out, just clickthe – (minus) sign in the same area.

To move the map of casinos in Kentucky, click and hold down either of your mouse buttons. Then use the hand icon to drag the map in whichever direction you desire.

Each of the red icons on the map is a casino location. Just click on any red icon to see the name of the casino at that location. If you want more information on that casino, simply click againon the casino’s name and it will direct you to another page with detailed information on that particular casino, including address, phone number, toll-free phone number, room rates, casinosize, dining information, games offered, availability of discounts for seniors, any special features, and a direct link to that casino’s website.

History of Gambling in Kentucky

While many of the horse racing tracks have been in business since 1875, gambling only really began in Kentucky in the 1920s. This is mainly due to the fact that the race tracks did not wantanything to do with gambling for a long time.

Is There Gambling In Louisville Kentucky

When pari-mutuel betting debuted in the 1920s, horse racing became extremely popular in the state. Multiple racinos began operating and residents could now start placing wagers on the KentuckyDerby.

It was only in the 1980s when more forms of gambling were legalized, and the lottery was introduced.

In 1992, charitable bingo games were also deemed legal in KY.

In recent years, most forms of gambling remain illegal in the state with few discussions on trying to change the current laws.

The Kentucky Derby remains the most popular race in perhaps the country.

Gambling In Louisville Kentucky

The Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby has a rich history behind it, dating back all the way to 1872. A gentleman by the name of Meriwether Lewis Clark (grandson of William Clark from Lewis & Clark pair) tooka trip to the United Kingdom and watched the Epson Derby.

He enjoyed the race so much, he decided to start one himself when he returned to the United States.

Clark was able to build a large track on land his uncles John and Henry Churchill gave him and formed the Louisville Jockey Club.

The first race was held on May 17th, 1875, and featured 15 thoroughbred horses. Over 10,000 people came to watch the event.

Caesars Casino In Louisville Kentucky

Of course, the Kentucky Derby today is not the same race it was back in the 1800s. However, centuries later, and the event is still the most popular race in America.

You can read more about the timeline of the Kentucky Derby, here.

Kentucky Gambling Laws and Regulatory Organizations

The gambling laws in KY are very strict and will go so far as to press charges against those who are caught participating in any forms of illegal gambling.

This includes online and social gaming.

Bills have been brought to the state in an effort to relax some of the laws around gambling, like allowing slot games, but have all been shot down.

The Department of Charitable Gaming sees over all charity games in the state, including raffles and bingo, and distributes the licenses.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission works with the state to regulate all pari-mutuelbetting and racing in KY.

Gambling in Kentucky Today

Residents of Kentucky today have pari-mutuel betting, the lottery, and bingo as options for legal gambling.

It's unlikely online casinos will be legalized in Kentucky any time soon, but gamblers can look forward to the Kentucky Derby every year.

If you find yourself in court due to illegal gambling, you can try and argue that you're just a player as the laws seem to be much harder and stricter on operators.

Fun Facts

Gambling Casinos In Louisville Kentucky

Did you know?

In 2017, the Kentucky Derby raked in almost $1 Billion in wagers!

Useful Resources

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