Kentucky Online Casino 2024 | Best Legal KY Casinos Online 🇺🇸

Are you looking to explore Kentucky online casinos? We’ll tell you whether online casino gaming is legal in the state and where to play in Kentucky.

Considering how the gambling industry evolves quickly, we will also share its KY history, and give you an idea of what to expect in the near future. Once you have an insight into how gambling works in the Bluegrass State, you can play confidently and maximize every session.

Let’s review the legal landscape of online gambling in Kentucky, and then we’ll share our top picks for online gaming.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Discover if Kentucky has regulated online gambling.
Find out the best KY sweepstakes casinos in the state.

Are Real Money Online Casinos Legal in Kentucky

Is online casino legal in Kentucky? There are no legal real money online casino Kentucky. Kentucky is one of the most conservative states in the US when it comes to gambling.

However, in November 2023, they approved online sports betting, making it legal for residents to access online sportsbooks within the state. Moreover, in 2021, multiple bills called for gambling expansion, which would have welcomed online casino gaming.

Unfortunately, none of those became law even in 2024. Still, no laws against sweepstakes casino gaming exist, so residents can engage and redeem prizes where possible. For now, visiting legal online casinos in US states near Kentucky is the best bet if you want to play online for real money.

Our Top 5 Sweepstakes Online Casinos in Kentucky

There’s no shortage of sweepstakes online casinos welcoming players from Kentucky. In fact, there are only a few operators on our list of US online sweepstakes casinos that restrict players from the Bluegrass State. Still, we’ll save the battle of choosing from a sea of options.

Here are the 5 best sweepstakes online casino Kentucky that we recommend.

Funzpoints in Kentucky

If you want a social casino with no download necessary, frequent promotions, and bespoke games, try Funzpoints Casino. When Canada-based provider Woopla released this social gaming site in 2019, they split it into standard and premium modes.

There is a welcome offer regardless of which mode you want to opt for. Kentucky players can claim a 1000 Funpoints standard welcome bonus and a 250 Funpoints premium bonus.

Its game collection is less diverse, with just over 60 options available. These are mostly slot games, except Paintball Keno, which is a keno-style game.

→ All games are made in-house and are well done in terms of sound, visuals, and gameplay. Try Kongo’s Adventure if you like slots with an explorer feel.

Hello Millions in Kentucky

Hello Millions offers new players a two-part welcome bonus, a simple registration process, and the fastest customer support. Upon signing up, your account automatically gets GC 15,000 and SC 2.5 credit. With this, you can play any of the casino classics or slots on the platform.

In terms of games, there are 550+ slots, ranging from fruit machines to five-reel releases. All of these come from big names such as Habanero, NetEnt, and Pragmatic Play. Consider the live dealer games section to try your hand at any of the blackjack, roulette, or baccarat games available.

→ Auto Roulette is a good recommendation for a fast-paced live dealer gaming round.

High 5 Casino in Kentucky

Kentucky players are allowed to join High 5 Casino and claim free GC 250, SC 5, and 600 diamonds. The casino also offers leaderboards, jackpots, rapid rewards, and more. Its generosity with bonuses pairs well with its impressive mobile usability and game range.

With 1200+ games, from slots to baccarat, roulette, and blackjack, there’s something for every Kentucky player. High5 works with Slingo Originals, Playson, Hacksaw Gaming, and Kalamba Games, among many other providers, to assemble its impressive portfolio.

→ A player’s favorite to try on the site is High 5’s original, titled Platinum Goddess.

McLuck Casino in Kentucky

McLuck has a one-step sign-up process that lets you enter your email and start playing. Once you join, you instantly get GC 7500 and SC 2.5 to try out the platform. The sweepstakes casino only launched in 2023, but quickly rose to fame for many reasons, including its promotional deals and a no-download platform.

Whether you want social live casino gaming, slots, Slingo, classics, or jackpots, you’ll find them neatly categorized on the site. The library has more than 800 games, and the number increases with every new addition.

→ Most games are from Playson, 3 Oaks, and other top brands. Try Ruby Play’s Prince Riches at McLuck to taste potential Irish luck.

Pulsz in Kentucky

Plusz Casino says over 500,000 Americans trust its games. Judging by its 112,000 social media followers, the figures are accurate. No purchase is needed to play games on the site.

Once you register, they give you GC 5000 and SC 2.3 Kentucky online casino bonus for free. It also welcomes players from most states except Idaho, Washington, Nevada, and Michigan.

You’ll find 900+ casino-style games in the slot and table game niches. These releases are from 13 software providers, such as Relax Gaming and NetEnt. Consequently, you’ll find famous slots like Black Wolf and Diamond Strike.

→ Explore the world of miners by playing Booongo’s Hit the Gold on Pulsz.

Want to Bet Real Money? Our List of Land-Based Casinos in Kentucky

Kentucky still stands firmly against most casino gambling activities. Parimutuel betting on horse races was the only regulated physical gambling option for the longest time. Yet, residents have a few options for walk-ins. These are not the biggest land-based casinos you’ll ever visit, but they do the job.

Here is a selection of venues available to residents and visitors to Kentucky.

Derby City Gaming & Hotel in Louisville

Churchill Downs, a business with more than 140 years of history, owns the Derby City Gaming and Hotel. Gaming action occurs in an 8,000-square-foot gaming patio decorated with over 1,300 games.

It also features a bar, restaurants, and other forms of entertainment. You need to register as a new member to access its games. That also means claiming up to $2500 in free play.

I’m not interested at all in the hundreds of slot machines. But, this would be a convenient alternative to visiting Churchill Downs if you don’t want to make a whole day of it; you could easily grab a drink and bet a few races in an hour.
Kenny Ray, from Google Review

Address: 4520 Poplar Level Rd, Louisville, KY 40213, United States
Phone Number: +1 502-961-7600
Website: hotel.derbycitygaming.com
Opening Hours: 24/7
Review on Google: 4.1/5

Derby City Gaming Downtown in Louisville

Derby City Gaming Downtown in Louisville is a smaller branch of Derby City Gaming in Louisville. It offers the same range of services but with a gaming floor measuring 43,000 square feet. This venue only has 500 slot machines, a smaller number than the other branch.

However, you still get a welcome bonus for joining, access to the gift shop, a buzzing nightlife, and a wine bar with some of the finest wines and charcuterie. There’s also a sports betting kiosk where you can stake on your favorite games.

Casino is slot machines only, so don’t expect table games. But, want a bit of the vibe without the 30-minute drive to Caesar’s, this is worth it. If you are staying or visiting close to the Yum! Center, worth checking out.
Spencer Hamons, from Google Review

Address: 401 W Market St, Louisville, KY 40202, United States
Phone Number: +1 502-678-5600
Website: downtown.derbycitygaming.com
Opening Hours: 9 a.m.–3 a.m.
Review on Google: 3.4 /5

How to Declare Taxable Winnings in Kentucky?

All gambling winnings in Kentucky, including lottery winnings, must be reported by filling out Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR. The gambling tax rate in the state is a flat 6% of your payout, excluding the bet amount. Suppose you made over $5000 in gambling wins; the casino will automatically deduct the 6% on your behalf and report it as tax withheld.

The Kentucky Department of Revenue has not mentioned anything about non-residents who win from gambling in the state. However, most US states require non-residents to pay tax on any proceeds of gambling within their borders.

As such, you should keep an open mind if you choose to play within the state as a visitor.

Other Legal Gambling Activities in Kentucky

What options are considered legal in Kentucky, with no full-fledged casinos or Kentucky online casino sites? Well, it’s safe to say sweepstakes casinos are the closest thing you’ll get to legally gambling online.

If you want to explore other alternatives, check out the following approved activities:

Parimutuel wagering: This is primarily for horse racing, which has a long tradition in Kentucky, home of the famous Kentucky Derby.
Sports betting: Both land-based and mobile sports betting have been legalized as of March 2023.
State lottery: Kentucky offers a state lottery, which includes online ticket sales.
Charitable gaming: This includes bingo and raffles, which are legal forms of gambling in the state.
Historical racing: Available at state racetracks.
Daily fantasy sports (DFS): Operate in Kentucky under the assumption that they offer “skill games” and therefore fall outside the state’s definition of gambling.

History of Gambling in Kentucky

Kentucky is known for its long history of horse racing, but not everyone knows about the history of other forms of gambling in the state. A historical timeline will reveal how gambling was in the state before any form of regulation until sports betting became legal.

Everything that has happened from that time until now will shape the future of gambling in the state, even as the industry takes on new forms from time to time.

1792: Kentucky becomes a state that has active but unregulated gambling activities.
1875: The Kentucky Derby kicked off and grew into a nationwide sensation in a short time.
The 1930s: Kentucky introduced parimutuel horse-race betting, which became the state’s first legal form of betting.
1998: The state introduced its lottery, making it the second legal gambling form within its borders.
1992: Charitable gambling is launched in the state.
2010: Instant racing was introduced to boost the horse racing market.
2018: The first bill to legalize sports betting was introduced, but didn’t pass.
2020: A fresh push for the approval of sports betting kicked off, but it was stalled yet again.
2021: Multiple bills for gambling expansion were introduced, but none became law.
2023: Kentucky legalizes online and in-person sports betting.

What’s Next for Kentucky Online Casinos?

As the legal gambling industry in the Bluegrass State gradually expands, there is a chance that online casino gaming could be legalized soon. Kentuckians already bet on sports, use racebooks, and play DSF online.

The state’s lottery is also available online, allowing anyone to play from their mobile phones or computers. With all these in mind, the next big step will be to approve online casino gaming within the state.

Representatives Rachel Roberts, Derrick Graham, and Cherlynn Stevenson introduced HB 106, which was the closest thing to a push for regulated online casino gaming recently. It was an online poker bill introduced in 2023 but lacked sufficient support.

So, Will You Bet From Kentucky Tonight?

Online casino gaming is not regulated in Kentucky yet, but you can still legally play at sweepstakes casinos. Register with any of those we have listed and play Vegas-style games with a chance at redeeming cash prizes.

Can you play online casinos in Kentucky’s neighboring states? Refer to our list of US states with legal online casino activities near Kentucky.