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.

Gaming Law in Kentucky. Although many states have begun to relax state gaming statutes, to permit limited casinos and other gaming venues like card rooms, Kentucky’s gambling laws only allow some betting on horse racing. There are currently no full-fledged casinos in Kentucky, and only charitable games are permitted. Kentucky Gambling Statutes. Try your hand at the casinos in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Whether you are looking for a relaxing resort with gaming, the energy of a downtown casino or a leisurely casino riverboat cruise - you'll enjoy the casinos in the Cincinnati area.

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.

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.

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:

Domain Seizure Case News

The view that authorities hold on online gambling Kentucky is far from being on the favourable side of the matter. To put it simply, there is not even a slight chance that we would witness the start of any online casinos Kentucky based invasion, in the foreseeable future. We need to remember that there is no casino gambling in Kentucky, this being one of the few US states that hasn’t got any land-based establishments of this kind.

Best Kentucky Online Casino Sites

Contents

Kentucky Gambling Laws

Wagering history started long ago in a Newport Kentucky casino of sorts, this town is famous for the illegal betting activities. Up until the start of the 20th century, this was the hub of organized crime. Things have definitely changed ever since, and by the 1980s these activities remained nothing but a distant memory.

Given the state’s history, however, there’s no surprise in the fact that lawmakers seem reluctant in licensing casinos in Kentucky. The Kentucky gambling laws had to be severe in order to reestablish authority, and they remained in the same note even in more modern times. As an example, state lottery became active in 1989, while the adherence of Kentucky lottery slot games to USA interstate games such as Powerball and Multi Millions occurred in the late 2000s.
However, if there is something to substitute the missing KY casinos locations, those are the world-famous race tracks, this state is so proud of.

Kentucky Online Gambling

Casinos In Kentucky

The whole betting market of the state revolves around the renowned horse racing. Therefore, no type of being allowed to place bets other than those pertaining to horse races are being allowed, for fear it might hurt this business. And by that logic, Kentucky online casinos aren’t going to be legalized soon. Actually, the authorities have been publicly and openly against this kind of business.
However, the online gambling Kentucky market is not completely closed, seeing how some sort of Kentucky sports betting is available as we speak. Of course that it’s directly related to the horse racing industry, players being allowed to place bets on specific authorized sites.
Surely, though these aren’t the only possibilities to join Kentucky gambling casinos for real money. This being an unregulated field, it’s legal for residents to play all the sorts of games available on off-shore based websites, which are open to US citizens. We only advise for caution, because there are many scammers out there. Perhaps, in order to make sure the website is 100% legit and secure, check out the selection of verified and reviewed virtual casinos that is available. Also, we reviewed many websites and can recommend you Bovada casino. Bovada is legal in Kentucky and is a well-known online casino among US gamblers.

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Offline Gambling Options

Horse Racing

The Kentucky casinos list being next to none, the whole betting industry of the state is centred on horse racing. In other words, most decisions are taken with the purpose of aiding these businesses to grow and prosper. For example, the gambling age in Kentucky is 18 for horse racing. Also, the only legal Kentucky sports betting out there are those regarding horse racing.
Some considerations regarding the most populous race tracks:

• The largest and most renowned track is the Churchill Downs, where the famous Derby is being annually held.
• Considering the impact of the important race known as Keeneland, which takes place in Lexington Kentucky, casinos wanting to start a business in this area would surely make a nice profit. Also, it’s understandable why locals, authorities and anybody with a keen sense for history wouldn’t openhearted agree to such a venture.
• With another track in the same city, at Red Mile, a casino KY-based, which would want to open up shop here, might find little to no understanding.
• The same goes for the eventual opening of a Franklin Kentucky casino, which might rival with the Kentucky Downs races.

Lottery

Coming after a long battle against illegal betting operators, the KY residents have been left with very few options for earning extra based on their luck. That is until 1989 when the population voted in an alarmingly high percentage in favour of opening a state lottery. To initial offer meant Kentucky lottery scratch-off games. Later on, Kentucky’s lottery joined the interstate Powerball and Multi Million.

Future Endeavours

Lawmakers have set as top priority protecting the horse racing business. They also need to look at the competitors. A KY resident and taking can easily access a riverboat casino in Kentucky’s neighbouring states, from the numerous ones that are cruising up and down the Ohio River.
With these in mind, without going to the extreme of licensing casinos in KY, at first, they might allow slot machines at Kentucky Derby’s venue, perhaps turning it into the first KY Downs casino. The Churchill Downs from Louisville, home of the state’s famous derby, already owns a couple of casinos near Kentucky, that also offer horse racing, the so-called “racinos”.
The Churchill Downs has also invested a fair amount of money in expanding their website, simply stating that they are awaiting the legalization of Internet wagering and they just want to be ready to start once that happens. But perhaps this is also a sort of push from one of the strongest business in the state towards the law-makers, hoping it will bring them out of their apathy.

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❓ Is gambling legal in Kentucky?

In its wider meaning, it is legal. However, casino gambling in Kentucky doesn’t exist seeing how neither online nor land-based venues are licensed. The main option is represented by race track betting and the lottery.

Legalizing Casino Gambling In Kentucky

❓ Are there any casinos in Kentucky?

This state hasn’t allowed any Kentucky casinos within its borders. Gambling in Kentucky is focused on horse racing, this being at the core of the offer for this kind of service. Also, there probably won’t be any new casino in Kentucky any time soon, for the same reason of protecting the racing business.

❓ Any chance for a Franklin KY casino to open soon?

Casino Gambling Age In Kentucky

Franklin KY casinos are a dream at this point, seeing how the local authorities reckon that such a venue might affect the classical race track’s incomes. This is a generally accepted point of view on regards the opening of Kentucky casinos, statewide.

❓ Are there any Kentucky online casinos to legally play in?

There are no online casinos Kentucky based, nor is there any hope of such virtual establishments to be given rights in the near future. There is the option of betting online, using accredited websites on horse races in this state. The only other alternative is playing in safe and licensed websites, based outside the state’s limits, as are the ones in the list of recommended casinos at the beginning of the article.

❓ What is Kentucky gambling age?

The gambling age in Kentucky is of 18 years old if it’s on horse racing. Although KY casinos don’t exist, the minimum age required for a state resident to gamble in such venues is 21.

Casino Gambling In Ky

❓ Is there any predicted change for legalizing online betting?

Casino Gambling In Lexington Ky

The rules that govern gambling in Kentucky are some of the strictest in the US. As long as the race tracks won’t press the matter in a sustained way, there is a low probability of seeing at least one Kentucky casino, not to mention the prospect of entering into the Internet era. The sole alternative remains, for now, the use of websites that are not based within state limits.