Poker players in Kentucky looking for more than just local house games are left only with the option to play online through an offshore sportsbook. While some sportsbooks were targeted in Kentucky's domain name seizing, many of the 141 sites named were casino and poker related. Looking for games events in Lancaster? Whether you're a local, new in town, or just passing through, you'll be sure to find something on Eventbrite that piques your interest.

Kentucky is highly restrictive when it comes to gambling, which is defined as staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest or game based on an element of chance. Aside from the Kentucky Lottery, regulated gambling is limited to horse race betting at local racetracks.

No land-based casinos exist within the borders of the state, and all attempts at introducing a bill that would allow this form of gambling have failed. The most recent such effort came in 2016 and was championed by Sen. Julie Raque Adams and Sen. Morgan McGarvey, but the local racing industry had no interest in such an endeavor.

Kentucky Gambling Law Summary

Charitable gambling is permitted in the form of raffles and bingo, although these games can’t be accessed online. There are no laws against social gambling, so there’s nothing to stop a Kentucky resident from testing any games in play money mode or joining a site like Zynga. Local regulations also allow gambling enthusiasts to engage in skill-based games as long as chance doesn’t have a more significant impact on the outcome than skill. While this doesn’t apply to poker, Daily Fantasy Sports platforms have been allowed to offer their services to Kentucky residents without any legal repercussions so far.

Gambling is regulated by Section 528 of the Kentucky statutes. The minimum gambling age in Kentucky is 18 for both horse race betting and lottery games.

Online Gambling in Kentucky

There are no specific regulations on online gambling in Kentucky, and the general definition is broad enough to cover most forms of iGaming. Consequently, engaging in internet gambling on offshore sites in Kentucky is risky, even though sites like Bovada or BetOnline accept Bluegrass State residents.

The current regulations are stringent when dealing with illegal gambling operators, but the state does not penalize the act of placing a bet in an unlicensed game. Consequently, even though the law has been updated without legalizing intrastate gambling operations aside from pari-mutuel betting, Kentucky residents are still free to play on offshore sites without having to worry about any criminal liability.

Fortunately, two of the entities that are allowed to offer land-based gambling in Kentucky operate their own websites. Kentucky Lottery gives you the option to purchase lottery tickets online, and Churchill Downs runs a site called Twin Spires, which allows its customers to wager on horse racing.

Kentucky Casinos

Casino games are illegal in Kentucky, so the only way to play them is by traveling to different stated. Some of the most popular destinations include Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Rivers Casino in Pennsylvania, as well as Belterra Casino and Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino in West Virginia.

Legal online casino gaming is limited to social games – if you enjoy play money games, you can choose one of the popular sites such as Zynga, Slotomania, or Big Fish. Unfortunately, those platforms don’t give you the option to play for real money.

If you’re desperate for some legal real money action, you can try a virtual currency site that allows you to win real money prizes, such as Chumba Casino. Keep in mind that the prizes offered by such platforms aren’t too generous, so you’re unlikely to come out ahead on a deposit to a site that follows this business model.

As mentioned, playing on offshore sites in Kentucky is a risky endeavor. Although local authorities don’t seem interested in going after individual gamblers, state regulations give them the power to do so.

Kentucky Poker

Similarly to casino games, playing poker for real money is illegal in Kentucky as local legislators refuse to treat it like a game of skill. If you want to play live poker, your best bet is the Horseshoe Casino in Indiana, which hosts big events, including the World Series of Poker tournaments.

If you want to play online, you can join social sites such as Zynga. The only way to win some real money on internet poker in Kentucky is by joining a virtual currency site with real money prizes, such as Global Poker. However, just as in the case of virtual money casino sites, don’t expect to win any money – the real money options only serve to make things more exciting, not to allow such sites to compete with real online poker rooms.

Playing on offshore poker sites is just as risky as joining one of the Kentucky-friendly offshore casinos. Local authorities don’t seem to care about people who play there, but if push comes to shove, there’s nothing to protect you from legal liability.

Kentucky Sports Betting

Even though the Supreme Court has lifted the federal ban on sports betting, this form of gambling remains illegal in Kentucky. Because the local racing industry appears to be interested in maintaining the status quo, this situation is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.

Nevertheless, Kentucky residents can engage in pari-mutuel betting at local racetracks in Louisville, Lexington, Florence, Henderson, and Franklin. Online horse race betting is available via a site called Twin Spires, which is operated by Churchill Downs. Twin Spires is a 100% modern platform with simulcast options, promotions, and a loyalty program.

The legality of betting via offshore sportsbooks is similar to what is seen with offshore poker or casino games. Many sites accept Kentucky residents, but using such platforms may put you in legal jeopardy.

Kentucky Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily Fantasy Sports are available in Kentucky as they’re considered a game of skill, but their legal status hasn’t been challenged yet. With that out of the way, Kentucky residents are currently free to use all the popular DFS platforms, including DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Draft, and Yahoo DFS.

Kentucky Lotteries

Kentucky residents are free to purchase lottery tickets via the official Kentucky Lottery website. Participants can play Keno, Mega Millions, Powerball, Cash Ball, and Lucky Life. The lottery also hosts 39 Instant Play games, which are functionally similar to internet casino games. The online lottery site even offers a $50 bonus for new customers who deposit $100, but you shouldn’t expect the functionality of a fully-fledged casino site.

Kentucky Bingo

Land-based bingo is available in Kentucky as a charity game. Commercial online bingo isn’t regulated but would likely be classified as an illegal form of gambling. Consequently, if you decide to play at a Kentucky-friendly offshore bingo site, you do so at your own risk.

Kentucky Online Gambling FAQ

What types of gambling are available in Kentucky?

Land-based gambling in Kentucky is pretty much all about the Kentucky Derby, as the state allows and even encourages pari-mutuel betting. There are no casinos within the borders of the state, and locals tend to travel to Indiana or Ohio when they want to get some live action. Charitable gambling is also allowed, and the state operates its own lottery. Online gambling is regulated to some extent.

What laws cover online gambling in Kentucky?

The laws and regulations that concern gambling enthusiasts are all listed in Section 528 of the Kentucky statutes. Contrary to what some people might believe, none of those statutes prohibit Kentucky residents playing games of chance over the internet. Consequently, players from Kentucky are free to pursue their hobby online without having to worry about being prosecuted.

Is real money online gambling legal in Kentucky?

As mentioned above, real money internet gaming is 100% legal, as it isn’t prohibited in any of the local statutes.

Which offshore gambling sites accept Kentucky residents?

Offshore sites tend to focus on the states that don’t have any iGaming regulations. Consequently, some sites might refuse new Kentucky-based customers. Fortunately, Bovada is one of the sites that tend to have no qualms about accepting Kentucky residents.

What are the most popular banking options supported by Kentucky -facing sites?

We recommend Visa debit and credit cards, but MasterCard is also a viable option. Once you decide it’s time to withdraw, you should be able to request a wire transfer or a standard check delivered by courier.

Does Kentucky offer any intrastate online gambling?

Yes, Kentucky residents can wager on horse racing on state-approved sites. Sadly, Kentucky doesn’t seem to be interested in opening its local internet gambling market any further. As a result, Kentucky-based gambling enthusiasts have only offshore sites to choose from when it comes to online casino games or poker.

Is it likely for Kentucky to regulate online gambling?

Kentucky already has some online gambling regulations, and most experts agree that a more iGaming-friendly bill isn’t likely to be passed in the foreseeable future.

Gambling is practically a state tradition in Kentucky, and poker has also played a big role in the history of the Bourbon State. Poker used to be the stuff of riverboats and underground clubs, but today’s Kentucky poker scene is more about live casinos and online poker. Now that the Internet is practically everywhere in the state, poker can be – and is – everywhere too.

Thanks to the aggressive position taken by some in the government on the issue of gambling online in Kentucky, not all online poker rooms take players from the state of Kentucky. That isn’t the same as saying no poker rooms will accept Kentucky sign ups. There are still a multitude of online poker sites where Kentuckians can play for real money.

This leads to plenty of questions about how online poker works, whether you can play poker online from Kentucky and the general climate for gambling in the state – questions answered in our Online Poker Player’s Guide to Kentucky.

Latest Online Poker Updates for Kentucky

Most analysts have considered Kentucky as one of the states least likely to consider online poker regulation in the past, but that all changed with developments in late 2018.

As Kentucky began to explore the possibility of legalizing sports betting in the state, the Poker Alliance took the opportunity to attend a hearingabout it and relay the message that online gambling would be a solid pairing with sports betting to add revenue to the state’s coffers.

In late November, Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear took that message to heart and proposed that lawmakers consider a new solutionto a longstanding problem with the funding of the state’s pension systems. He asked lawmakers to consider a new revenue stream that doesn’t raise taxes for Kentuckians. “The answer is simple,” he stated in his letter to lawmakers, “expanded gaming including casino, fantasy sports, and sports gaming, as well as preparing for the eventual legalization of online poker.” All eyes will be on the legislature in early 2019 to see if any online gambling proposals are put forward for consideration.

Weeks later, the Kentucky Court of Appeals handed down a ruling in a case between the Commonwealth of Kentucky and PokerStars that had been ongoing since 2008. Kentucky’s then-Governor Steve Beshear (Andy Beshear’s father) obtained legal permission to seize 141 online gambling domains at that time, including PokerStars, and the case continued as Kentucky demanded money from PokerStars for taking rake from losing players located in Kentucky from 2008 to 2011 when PokerStars left the US market. PokerStars appealed the case up to the Court of Appeals, and in December 2018, that court ruled in favor of PokerStars and reversed the original $870 million judgement of the Franklin Circuit Court. The state may appeal the case to the Kentucky Supreme Court in 2019, but as it stands, PokerStars can claim victory in the case.

In late November, Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear took that message to heart and proposed that lawmakers consider a new solution to a longstanding problem with the funding of the state’s pension systems. He asked lawmakers to consider a new revenue stream that doesn’t raise taxes for Kentuckians. “The answer is simple,” he stated in his letter to lawmakers, “expanded gaming including casino, fantasy sports, and sports gaming, as well as preparing for the eventual legalization of online poker.” All eyes will be on the legislature in early 2019 to see if any online gambling proposals are put forward for consideration.

As requested by AG Beshear in late 2018, lawmakers introduced a couple of bills to expand gambling in Kentucky. In early February, HB.190 was put forth to establish casinos in the state and expand gambling at horse tracks, and HB.175 proposed sports wagering, fantasy sports contests (DFS), and online poker. The latter was supported by 15 sponsors from both political parties.

Lead sponsor Kentucky Rep. Adam Koenig passed HB.175 through the House Licensing, Occupations, and Admin Regs Committee just weeks after its introduction, but it stalled there. The short legislative session ended after the last week of March, and with no further movement, the bill died. Similar legislation was pushed again in 2019, but the bill failed.

2020 Kentucky Sports Betting Bill?

Sports betting failed to make it through the Kentucky legislature, as well. However, it appears that support for legal sports betting is growing. Followers of Kentucky state politics expect to see a new KY sports betting bill at the start of 2020. If lawmakers respect the wishes of AG Beshear, sponsors of the legislation could add online poker to the bill.

Quite a bit changed in late 2019 and early 2020, however. Beshear won his campaign against the incumbent governor, and he won it on a platform that included expanded gambling for Kentucky. Newly-elected Governor Andy Beshear took office in December. At the same time, Rep. Koenig pre-filed a new bill for 2020 to legalize online poker, daily fantasy sports (DFS), and sports wagering at racetracks, sports venues, and via online and mobile devices.

That filing from Koenig turned into HB.137, a bill that passed the House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Committee on January 15. It then went to the Rules Committee for consideration with four amendments thus far. As it stands, the bipartisan legislation has 38 sponsors, including Koenig.

In addition, Beshear submitted his state budget proposal in late January with the contents of HB.137 included in it, stating that the new gambling options would raise more than $37 million in taxes and fees in the next two years.

Online Poker in Kentucky

Our top online poker rooms for KY are a result of a good deal of research that focuses on a few core things: Whether the room is licensed, how generous the room is with promotions and bonuses, how easy the games are and how good the software is. After surveying dozens of rooms, we used those criteria to narrow the list down to these top online poker sites for players from Kentucky:

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Is Online Poker Legal in Kentucky?

What does the law say about playing online poker in Kentucky? The first step to answering that question: review the Kentucky statutes here. The next step is to consult a lawyer if you still have questions. For those who just want to gain a basic understanding of Kentucky gambling law, here are some parts of the code that all poker players should be familiar with.

What does Kentucky law consider to be gambling? Gambling is defined in Section 528.010 as

“staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest, game, gaming scheme, or gaming device which is based upon an element of chance, in accord with an agreement or understanding that someone will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.”

There’s a phrase in Kentucky gambling law that could easily confuse at first glance – “profiting from gambling activity” (Section 528.010) You might think this could also apply to simply winning at a poker game, but it’s actually referring specifically to profiting from the operation of an illegal gambling activity (not just participation).

Kentucky is one of the few states that does not have an obvious criminal penalty for those who engage in illegal gambling exclusively as players.

With that said, Kentucky does have a number of steep penalties for those who “advance gambling activity,” a broad category of actions that encompasses all “conduct that materially aids any form of gambling activity” (Section 528.010).

While our cursory reading regarding poker law in Kentucky suggests that players do not face any criminal liability for playing real-money poker online, this guide should not be taken as a substitute for legal advice.

Kentucky Gambling Facts

By some accounts, Kentucky was home to Las Vegas before Vegas even existed. While a town of a different name – Newport – was the central attraction for gamblers, historians seem to agree that Kentucky was essentially the turn of the century equivalent to Las Vegas, complete with underworld crime figures, illicit profits and plenty of suspect activity. Colorful gangsters and their gambling hangouts are now the stuff of legend and nostalgia in Kentucky, but betting and wagering continues to play a vital role in the culture and economy of the state.

Regulated Gambling Options in Kentucky

Within the state borders of Kentucky, you’re limited to the lottery, charitable gambling and – of course – pari-mutuel betting on horse races. After all, what fun would the Kentucky Derby be if everyone just watched the horses run? There are no commercial casinos in the state, but several site right on various borders in neighboring states such as Indiana and Ohio. While there has been some talk of bringing full-fledged commercial casinos (along with poker rooms) to Kentucky, repeated attempts to do so by the state legislature have failed, suggesting that the current lineup of regulated gambling options may well persist for years to come.

Does Kentucky Offer any Regulated Online Gambling?

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Residents of Kentucky are able to legally place online bets on horse races through approved operators. Otherwise, Kentucky has yet to take any legislative action that would allow it to issue online poker licenses or regulate online poker (or any other type of online gambling) within the state.

All Poker and Gambling Laws by State

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• The coronavirus pandemic stopped progress on a great many things. Every state in America now faces massive hurdles – many financial in nature – to overcome in the remaining months of 2020…and probably beyond. To say that online poker fell completely off the radar of lawmakers in Kentucky in the

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• It was an unexpected surprise to see Kentucky on the list of states considering online poker in 2019. Few could imagine that a state in the middle of America would be the fifth or sixth state to legalize online poker, but imagine no more. The bill is no longer alive

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• The Commonwealth of Kentucky took action this week on its sports betting legislation, which also bodes well for online poker and fantasy sports, both of which are included in the bill. As the bill has been alive for little more than two weeks, it has already garnered substantial bipartisan support

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Kentucky Gambling Resources

Northern Kentucky Gambling Museum. Take a virtual trip on YouTube through this interesting and eclectic institution that houses artifacts from the state’s past as a gambling hub.
Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling. Scholarly material concerning the gambling industry in Kentucky, along with a full suite of literature and tools aimed at reducing problem gambling in the state.
Kentucky.com. Best source for local news and developments related to gambling and similar topics. Follow legislation and other issues shaping the future of the gambling industry in Kentucky.

Sources & Citations For This Article on Kentucky Online Poker