All forms of gambling are illegal in Kentucky, aside from a few small
exceptions, and this definitely includes live Texas holdem poker. Naturally
this extends to online poker also, with no regulation or legislation allowing
for online play. Not all hope it lost if you’re Kentucky native though, as you
still have plenty of options to get your poker fill as we elaborate on below.

• No casinos are permitted to operate within state lines. Online poker is also not legal or regulated. As a result, poker enthusiasts cluster in informal games away from well-known establishments. Louisville is the hub of such action, with regular small-stakes tournaments running at several social clubs, gyms, and other entertainment venues.
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• The Men’s City Golf Championship is definitely one of Lexington’s favorite golf tournaments and includes golfers of all ages and handicaps. Played on three different golf courses over the course of three days, this is a 54-hole tournament. Divisions offered include handicap and scratch. More information and registration.
• Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio all have casinos and poker rooms relatively close to the border with Kentucky, so basically you can drive a few hours from anywhere in the state to get to a decent poker room. If you live further south in the state or to the west, you’ll need to travel a bit more to play Texas holdem poker.

The only form of gambling allowed under state laws in Kentucky is placing
wagers on horse racing. This is tightly regulated, more so than in many other
states and even the type of horses and frequency of entries in to races are
controlled by state regulations.

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This is quite extensive and really does put Kentucky as close as you could
come to strict non-gambling states like Utah and Hawaii. Off track betting is
also permitted at the regulated establishments that exist within Kentucky.
Permitted racing includes thoroughbred racing and also harness racing, so you
can get some action if you just feel the need to place some bets in this state.

Only pari-mutuel wagering is legal in Kentucky. So those that run the
gambling are in no way collecting from wagers directly and only receive a
commission based on all wagers received. The remaining money is placed in a pool
and pay outs are determined based on wager rates from all of those who
contributed to this pool with their bets.

Unfortunately this does not extend to poker in any way. Casinos and gambling
establishments are illegal to run and operate in the state and no wagering on
games of chance is permitted at all. You can run charity games though so if
you’d like to raise some money for a charity through a poker game this is
certainly legal.

Keep in mind though if you profit from this in any way at all the lawmakers
and authorities will come down on you very hard. The most common form of gaming
for charities is in the form of bingo, raffles, and scratch tickets. So you
usually wouldn’t find a charity poker game.

Unlicensed Texas Holdem

Even with the laws and regulations around gambling, this has not stopped a
number of informal poker games popping up at restaurants, bars, and clubs. You
won’t have to look too hard to find some of these games and they’re usually
played at lower stakes.

If you do choose to take a seat then proceed with caution. Firstly, because
state laws prohibit some games, you could land yourself in trouble with the
authorities. Although they usually only go after the person or people who are
running the game.

Secondly, these types of games aren’t regulated or controlled like games are
in casinos. So security should always be a concern, and the chances that someone
is cheating or colluding in the game is much higher than you find in a casino.
Of course we aren’t saying that all of these games are dangerous and filled with
mechanics, simply that you need to take some extra precautionary steps when
entering these games when compared to a live poker game in a respected casino.

Online Texas Holdem

In respect to online poker there’s no clear legislation, except for a brief
connection between statements in law that says devices that allow gambling
aren’t permitted. Although this is obviously a bit of a grey area as you can do
much more on a computer than just gambling and online poker.

For bets on horse racing you can do this electronically, which further
muddies the waters. One thing is clear though, they apply the law in the
live environment to online play. Therefore you can’t play online poker or gamble
online in casinos in games such as blackjack, roulette, and craps. Once again
the onus is on the operator and they’ll be shut down by the state authorities if
they attempt to offer online wagering, aside from horse racing, to citizens of
Kentucky.

Legal Live Poker Options

Your best bet to play live poker if you live in Kentucky is to travel out of
state. Depending on where you live in the state this shouldn’t be too much of an
inconvenience. Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio all have casinos and poker
rooms relatively close to the border with Kentucky, so basically you can drive a
few hours from anywhere in the state to get to a decent poker room.

If you live further south in the state or to the west, you’ll need to travel
a bit more to play Texas holdem poker. If you’re in the western part of Kentucky
you can travel to West Virginia to play, with a handful of vibrant rooms running
there. To the south your options are short and you’ll have to travel even
further. This is because Tennessee also prohibits most forms of gambling, so
you’ll need to head north, east, or west to find a live poker table if you live
in the southern part of Kentucky.

Many of you may be thinking why Kentucky allows betting on horse racing, but
no other forms of gambling. While this is a contradiction to say no gambling is
permitted except on one type of event, the reasoning behind this is quite common
to many other states in the US.

Fundamentally it’s written in law that horse racing is actually skill based,
because of the skill of the horse and jockey in respect to how well they do in a
race. Therefore, gambling on this isn’t based on chance or luck.

Because of this one reason you can place bets on horses, but can’t play poker
or sit down at a blackjack table. While many would argue that poker is a game of
skill, lawmakers and authorities don’t see it this way. Many casino operators
have attempted to challenge this in the courts without much luck. So it’s really
down to petitioning the law to change if you want to see these types of games
legalized any time soon.

If you’re a native of Kentucky your poker options are quite limited. You’ll
have access to some good options though provided you live near a state border,
particularly in the north. If not, you’ll have to do some travelling and as such
you probably won’t take to the felt nearly as much as you want to.

If you have ambitions to play a lot more poker and become a regular then
you’ll need to make the move to a city that’s right on the border, or move to
another state. Poker options are just too limited and there’s probably too much
risk involved for most people to get involved in some of the underground games
that happen in the state.

Because of the hard line stance the state takes in relation to gambling there
is slim to no chance that poker will ever be legalised. Even though horse racing
betting is allowed, everything else is banned and the door seems truly shut in
respect to more gaming opening up. This is happening even with pressure building
from neighbouring states, so based on this we’ve made the aforementioned
conclusion.

Conclusion

Texas holdem is just as popular in Kentucky as in most other states, but you
still can’t find any legal poker rooms. The good news is you can travel to the
surrounding states to quickly find a wide variety of poker options. And if you
know where to look the state is filled with private and home holdem games.

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

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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?

Poker Tournaments Lexington Ky 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.