Casinos in Kentucky

The Best Casino in Kentucky

The Biggest Casinos in Kentucky

Are There Indian Casinos in Kentucky?

Indian casinos refer to gambling establishments that are built on native land, and such entities are regulated by the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. While there are 501 Indian gaming operations currently active in the US (which contribute around 43% of the nation’s total casino revenue), none of these are currently based in Kentucky, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t wager freely in the state!

Racino

As something of a spiritual home for horse racing, it should come as no surprise that Kentucky is home to a superb racino in the city of Franklin. Unlike the other Kentucky casino, this site offers access to live race events and sports bets, and a genuinely immersive gambling experience!

Are There Cruise Ship or Riverboat Casinos in Kentucky?

In essence, riverboat or cruise ship casinos are gambling establishments that operate on the open waves, and there are 63 such entities currently active in the US. However, these are confined to just six states, with Kentucky not listed amongst this number. So, you’ll have to make do with visiting either KY’s sole commercial casino or Franklin-based racino.

Full Kentucky Casino List

While there are a limited number of land-based casino gaming options in Kentucky, it’s important to understand where each one is located in relation to the other. So, here’s further details on the state’s gambling locations and the distance that exists between them.

Expected New Casinos

Beyond the slots gaming additions at the two iconic horse racing venues, we’re unlikely to see any new casino additions in Kentucky. Should that situation ever change, we’ll have all the latest information right here.

Gambling in Kentucky

Casino Games in Kentucky

Only the racing venues have casino style gaming availabe, with numerous slots are accessible to gamblers. However, if you want a larger selection of games, travelling to visit great land-based casinos in neighboring states is the only real alternative. Here’s a breakdown of precisely what to expect in Kentucky:

Gambling Legal Situation in Kentucky

Taxation of Winnings

Like all states, any winnings earned while gambling in Kentucky will be subject to a flat Federal rate tax of 24%. For winnings that exceed the value of $5,000, a state tax rate of 6% will be added, creating a total liability of 30% overall.

Kentucky Gambling Laws

History

Interestingly, the entire constitution of Kentucky was deliberately worded to prevent the crude and corrupt lotteries of the 1800s. It has proved difficult for the state to overcome this prohibitive legislation over the years, creating a scenario where only a select few forms of gambling are now accessible to modern-day players.

• 1875-1988: Of course, the state remains synonymous with horse racing, and has done ever since the old Churchill Downs site opened its doors in 1875 (this site continues to host the famous Kentucky Derby each and every year). Over the course of the next 50 years, pari-mutuel betting became incredibly popular statewide, but it was not until the 1980s when gambling regulations were extended beyond this type of wagering.
• 1988 – 2008: 1988 finally saw the state’s Lottery Act passed, while the iconic Kentucky Downs racino (which contains a racecourse and various types of event with slot gaming) first opened its doors on April 22nd, 1990. Less than two years later, legislation was passed to allow for charitable gaming, including the use of selected bingo games, raffles and scratch cards for good causes.
• 2008 – present: Further proposed legislative changes have been slow to take hold since the turn of the century, with 2008 seeing more than 140 domain names seized by the government having been decried as gambling devices. While 2019 and 2020 also saw failed attempts to legalise online gambling in Kentucky, the state’s first non-racino facility was opened for business in September 2018 and has become incredibly popular in the region.

Upcoming Changes in the Gambling Regulation

Aside from any further projects to expand slots gaming at existing venues within the state, there are currently no plans to revise current gambling laws for land-based casinos in Kentucky.