Legalizing Casino Gambling In Kentucky
- Legalizing Casino Gambling In Kentucky Lottery
- Casinos In Kentucky
- Legalizing Casino Gambling In Kentucky Counties
The legislation intends to put the Lottery Corporation in charge of licensing and regulation for full-fledged casinos in Kentucky, as well as for limited casino gaming at the state’s horse tracks. The bill calls for the legalization of full casino gambling, which would presumably include table games, slots, live poker, and possibly sports. Casino Gambling Age in Kentucky There is no legal casino gambling in Kentucky and that means, no legal gambling age has been defined. However, as residents can travel across state to gamble it is worthwhile to know the legal ages there. Indiana, Ohio and Illinois all have a minimum age of 21 for gambling in the casino.
topKentucky online casinos. With brick and mortar, the state only allows horse racing wagering and less than 1,000 slot machines state-wide. Thankfully, there are plenty of high-quality, safe, trusted Kentucky online casino sites. The recently updated chart below showcases the top options in your state offering real money betting action.
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What Factors Make These the Best Kentucky Online Casinos?
Climbing onto our recommended list of the top Kentucky online casino sites is not an easy task. Many have tried, and most have fallen short. Why? It’s because we’re extremely strict when it comes to rating and evaluating Kentucky online casinos.
We’ve made it our mission to only recommend the best of the best. We must stick to our guns to accomplish that mission.
For more insight into the process, let’s look at three of the most critical elements possessed by the top Kentucky online casino sites.
Secure, Safe Gaming Platform
If you have to worry about your personal safety or the security of your money when gambling online, something is wrong. The most important assessment we make when determining the top Kentucky online casinos is whether or not they are safe.
Here are the critical questions we ask when choosing the top Kentucky casino sites:
- Do they place importance on safety and security?
- Are their servers and software regularly updated to patch holes and curb threats?
- Have they hired experts in the fields of safety, security, and fraud prevention?
- Are they using high-level encryption and SSL certificates properly?
- Have they selected trusted banking partners? Are they integrated properly?
- Do their internal company processes protect your money and information?
Casino Games Kentucky Gamblers Want
Determining the casino games Kentucky residents like is challenging. Why? Most Kentucky residents haven’t experienced much more than horse racing and a few slots due to strict brick and mortar legislation. For those that have ventured outside of the state lines, we’ve found a propensity to play blackjack, roulette, and craps.
You’ll find that all of the top Kentucky online casinos recommended here knock it out of the park with these three games. These preferences are important to us because we want to ensure you’re getting proper access to the games you want to play.
For those of you that like to play other games, we didn’t leave you out. All of the Kentucky online casinos we’ve recommended have a wide range of high-quality game options. So, if you like slot machines, keno, Let It Ride, bingo, or any other real money casino game, you’ll be squared away.
Top of the Line Quality
Our tolerance level for subpar quality Kentucky casinos is 0.0. There are zero acceptable excuses for not delivering the highest game quality, the best graphics and animations, and an overall experience that gets people excited.
We can confidently say that all the Kentucky online casino sites listed here are the best of the best.
Making our determinations is a long process consisting of testing, evaluating, and research. The structured process utilizes our quality control checklist, which we’ve attached below for your reference.
Quality Control Checklist for Online Casino Sites
| Routine game updates | ✔️ or ❌ |
| Classic games preserved | ✔️ or ❌ |
| Quality game graphics | ✔️ or ❌ |
| Seamless game animations | ✔️ or ❌ |
| Servers equipped to handle gaming volume | ✔️ or ❌ |
| Fair games | ✔️ or ❌ |
| 24/7/365 Customer service | ✔️ or ❌ |
Are Kentucky Online Casino Sites Legal?
The number of laws on the books in Kentucky stating online gambling is illegal is zero. Now, there also are no laws regulating online casinos or addressing the legality of it. But, in our opinion, that doesn’t matter to answer the question of whether Kentucky online casino sites are legal or not.
It’s our interpretation that online gambling in Kentucky is legal.
Does everyone interpret things as clearly as we do? No. Many legal fanatics feel without proper regulation or legal framework, playing at Kentucky online casinos is illegal. But that argument does not hold water. Statutory regulation is not a requirement for something to be legal. The legal requirement is that it breaks no laws.
Are there any KY laws regulating the use of bongo drums? No. Are there any KY laws that state the use of bongo drums is legal? No. So, are bongo drums illegal? No. This simple analogy demonstrates the counterargument commonly used is invalid.
Future Predictions for Kentucky Online Casinos
We predict the legal landscape for Kentucky gambling sites to remain at the status quo for the foreseeable future. We have seen some proposed bills for online gambling moving through the state, but no concrete decisions just yet. These attempts are a good indicator which normally would lead us to predict positive movement for Kentucky online casinos. But the reason we are hesitant to do so is because of the state’s stance on brick and mortar gambling.
Usually, there is a natural progression states follow, with brick and mortar gambling leading the charge followed by online gambling.
Thankfully, there are no laws in KY labeling online casino play as illegal. So, even though it would be nice to see further regulation, we can deal with the current climate. You won’t be gambling in person in KY anytime soon, but you can still get action at plenty of Kentucky online casino sites.
Laws Surrounding Land-Based Casino Operations in Kentucky
Kentucky takes home the blue ribbon for possessing one of the strictest stances in the country towards brick and mortar gambling. Unless it’s horse racing or a few select slot providers, it’s banned in the state. Even though federal law allows for Indian casinos on tribal land, there are none in Kentucky.
Their definition of gambling is “Staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest or game based upon an element of chance.”
Sadly, we don’t have better news about the brick and mortar laws in the state. The future for in-person gambling in KY does not show any signs of improvement anytime soon. While we hope we are wrong, all indicators point to a continuation of the status quo for the foreseeable future. Your two options are to stick to horseracing betting and limited slots or check out a few of the best Kentucky online casinos.
Kentucky Online Casinos FAQ
Yes! As long as you follow a few simple safety guidelines, the top Kentucky online casinos are 100% safe:– Only gamble with trusted Kentucky gambling sites
– Never wager when you’re intoxicated, confused, or emotional
– Don’t bet more money than you’re okay with losing
– Keep your computer updated (antivirus and system updates)
– Never log into your account from a shared computer or device
An Overview of Gambling Laws in the State Of Kentucky
For many, gambling and Kentucky immediately inspire thoughts of the world-famous horse race – the Kentucky Derby. Racing is big business in this State, though it is far from the only story when it comes to gambling. The apparent exemption of ‘players’ from the strict anti-gambling laws and the unprecedented seizure of gambling domain names by this State are both unique. This article covers the Kentucky gambling laws in depth.
First up below, you will find a fast-paced history of gambling in the Bluegrass State, from early lotteries through to today’s conditions. After that there is a game-by-game list, along with a legal status for each. Next comes some key quotes from the Kentucky Statutes covering gambling law – before at the end of the page you will find a summary and look into the future.
Kentucky Gambling Laws – A Brief History
The constitution of Kentucky was deliberately given anti-gambling wording to stop the prevalent lotteries of the 1800’s – which were often corrupt. The only form of gambling which has been allowed throughout is pari-mutuel betting on horse and dog races. Kentucky is a world center for the horse racing business, and has been hosting one of the world’s best known and most prestigious races – the Kentucky Derby – since 1875. In addition to the famous Churchill Downs track this State hosts many other first-class racing tracks and venues.
It was not until the 1980’s that gambling was allowed to extend beyond betting on horse races, when the 1988 lottery act was passed. The State lottery is hugely popular today and the profits go to good causes including education. 1992 saw the good causes benefit even more, when charity gambling games were given a carve-out including bingo, raffles and pull-tabs.
The more recent history of gambling laws in Kentucky is the most interesting. In 2008 more than 140 domain names were named as ‘gambling devices’ and seized by the State. While their right to do this was immediately questioned (and many domains returned), the litigation is still ongoing in 2014. This related to the .com extensions, and has forced many gambling site operators to choose alternate domains to avoid any future issues.
This demonstrates that Kentucky are dead serious in their quest to go after the operators of gambling games – whether they be brick and mortar or online. At the same time the rules were softened for participants in these games. You can now use the fact that you were only a player in game as defense in court of law against gambling charges.
What Forms Of Gambling Are Currently Legal?
Casino Games: No, there are no regulated casinos or tribal ones in Kentucky. The best you can hope for here is a charitable ‘casino night’ with minimal prizes for a good cause. Many Kentucky residents cross the border into neighboring Ohio or Indiana to enjoy their tribal and riverboat casinos.
Online Casinos: No, nothing in the current laws mentions the internet, though the seizure of domain names shows clearly that the government believed this to be illegal.
Live Poker: Home games appear to be tolerated, as are free tournaments (no entry-fees) and charity poker games. Players in social games are specifically excluded from prosecution, while the organizers or anyone profiting from these games can find themselves in major trouble.
Online Poker: No, as the seizure of more than 140 gambling domains and suits against some of the major gambling sites show, this State should not be considered as a contender for regulated State poker games any time soon.
Sports Betting: Yes, this is the one exception area in an otherwise generally anti-gambling State. Pari-mutuel betting is allowed – even online via licensed off-track operators. The famous Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs racetrack has become world-famous, and residents can enjoy betting on events here all year-round. There are also racing video games which allow betting on previously recorded races, though only on-track.
Legalizing Casino Gambling In Kentucky Lottery
Lottery Betting: Yes, there is a lottery which includes shared games with other States. Profits from this are diverted to education and development causes. There is talk of allowing the purchase of lottery tickets online as soon as 2015.
Bingo Games: Yes, bingo, pull-tabs and raffles are regulated and licensed in this State under a specific charity / good causes carve out.
Kentucky Gambling Laws – Timeline and Key Statutes
The gambling Statutes in Kentucky are very much focused on the organizers of and those profiting from ‘illegal’ gambling activity. So much so that being a mere player in a game is permitted as a defense in a courtroom. One thing that really sticks out from the wording of the legislation is that gambling on games of skill is excluded. For many people, poker would fit in nicely as a ‘game of skill’ under the definition below – this has never been tested in court.
[su_quote]”Gambling” means 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. A contest or game in which eligibility to participate is determined by chance and the ultimate winner is determined by skill shall not be considered to be gambling. (From 528.010)[/su_quote]
Here is the section concerning being only a player from the same chapter on definitions:
[su_quote](7) “Player” means a person who engages in any form of gambling solely as a contestant or bettor, without receiving or becoming entitled to receive any profit therefrom other than personal gambling winnings, and without otherwise rendering any material assistance to the establishment, conduct, or operation of the particular gambling activity. A person who engages in “bookmaking” as defined in subsection (2) of this section is not a “player. “The status of a “player” shall be a defense to any prosecution under this chapter[/su_quote]
That seems pretty clear, if you are only a player, you do not face the (strict) penalties given to bookmakers, owners of gambling devices or organizers of games who are making a profit. The pattern here is that Kentucky is super-strict in chasing down those offering gambling (especially online), yet fairly relaxed when it comes to playing of these games.
Here are some of the significant dates in the history of gambling in Kentucky.
1875: First running of the infamous Kentucky Derby
1931: Legal challenge to stop horse racing betting fails when the high court rules against claims that this should be banned under the State legislation covering lotteries.
1988: State lottery amendment passed in a Senate vote, the first draw took place one year later in 1989.
1992: Charitable gaming regulations relaxed this includes special events, bingo games and pull-tabs.
2008: Kentucky moves to seize more than 140 domain names from international poker operators. This litigation is still going on today, though the domains are being used by the operators at this point. It is not clear whether an individual State has the jurisdiction to seize domain names.
Casinos In Kentucky
2010: Separate legal action taken against PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and the now closed Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet sites for offering illegal gambling.
2011: A bill to license slot games is voted down in the Kentucky Senate.
Kentucky Gambling Laws – Summary and a Look to the Future
If you are a player in Kentucky then you are free to enjoy horse race betting, charity games, social games and lottery betting too. If you are an organizer of illegal games or the owner of ‘gambling devices’ then you had better be on your guard – the State is relentless in their pursuit of the game operators.
Recent legislative efforts have not managed get far enough to have casinos inside the State borders, which means people continue to cross into neighboring States to enjoy these games. The crack-down on online gambling also shows that Kentucky is unlikely to be an early adopter of regulated online poker games within their State. Like many other States, we will need to revisit this subject once those early adopters are showing steady tax revenues via their online operations.
Useful Resources:
Statutes:
Legalizing Casino Gambling In Kentucky Counties
Domain Seizure Case News