Gambling Laws In Kentucky
There are quite a few gambling laws in Kentucky and around the United States which regulate or prohibit gambling. Laws such as the Federal Wire Act and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) as they essentially outlaw any facilitation of bets across the nation with few exceptions. These U.S. laws make it illegal and highly criminal to engage in the business of facilitating bets for profit however, they do not go as far to punish the simple act of placing a bet, nor does the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
With these laws in place, many states have taken it upon themselves to formulate their own gambling laws to either complement or expand upon what has been written at the federal level. In accordance, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has developed much legislation for its residents and visitors alike to follow to remain in safe legal standing in regards to gambling. KentuckyGamblingSites is here for those in the Bluegrass State to inform themselves of what Kentucky gambling code is and how and where they may go to safely and legally gamble if they so choose to.
'Gambling' in the state of Kentucky is defined in the Revised Statutes under 528.010(3)(a). Upon reading that passage, readers should be sure to note that this language implies that anything that requires skill is not considered "gambling" and leaves much room for interpretation. There is further legislation however which outlines "advanced gambling activity" which is where one acts as more than just a mere participant in a betting scenario. For the full definition of 'Bookmaking,' be sure to check into 528.010(2).
What can be taken away from all of this is that there is no direct punishment nor penalty for partaking in "Gambling" whereas "Advanced Gambling Activity" and "Bookmaking" is clearly against the law in the Bluegrass State which can result in a felony charge. As is the case with federal laws already in place, engaging in the business of gambling and facilitating bets for profit is a major offense while the small act of placing a bet is not criminalized. The promotion and conducting of gambling is strictly forbidden in the state of Kentucky.
With Kentucky's dim view of gambling, there are however, a few exceptions. Charitable gambling is allowed and monitored under the Department of Charitable Gaming and the state hosts casino nights, raffles and bingo games. Aside from a state lottery which rakes in quite a bit of revenue, Kentucky also hosts its most notable past time with horse racing. The state has done much in ways of trailblazing the pari-mutuel betting industry as Kentucky hosts some of the most successful and lucrative horse racing in the world and is rumored to generate billions of dollars in revenue for the state as the most popular gambling option in the region.
Land-Based Gambling In Kentucky
The only gambling facilities in the state of Kentucky are going to be race tracks as the bluegrass state is host to some of the most prominent horse races in the world. With 8 racetracks in pari-mutuel wagering fashion, the state has become the most popular in the nation when it comes to racing thoroughbreds. Namely, the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs when the Kentucky Derby takes place which accounts for a huge chunk of Kentucky's economy. It is estimated that the horse industry has an economic impact of $4 billion and employs 80,000 or more people in some capacity. The Kentucky Derby alone accounts for $217,000,000 according to the American Horse Council.
Online Gambling In Kentucky
Unless you are very interested in betting on horses, the options to place bets in Kentucky are limited to pari-mutuel land based options. Thankfully, we have the internet to expand our betting options across the globe into any sport, league, casino or card game that we wish. There are no specific laws making it illegal to gamble online in the state of Kentucky so one only needs to refer to our federal laws to see that anyone is perfectly capable of placing a bet online at any time that they wish. The only conditions that must be met for a Kentucky resident, or anyone else for that matter, is to be sure to only visit an online gambling site that is legally operating outside of both Kentucky and U.S. jurisdictions. Since our laws outlaw the facilitation of bets for profit on our soil, we must visit sites which are based elsewhere. This may sound nerve-racking at first, but the online gambling community has been going strong for decades and servicing American users to rave reviews and steady payouts.
In fact, many online gambling sites based overseas are even specifically designed for American residents wishing to take advantage of the law knowing that they are fully able to place bets legally. Many of these sites are located throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, South America, and even as nearby as neighboring Canada. These are fully functioning businesses that have sterling reputations along with tight security and reliable banking transactions which have been in successful existence due to it.
Popular Gambling Options In Kentucky:
Online Sportsbooks - Online Casinos - Online Poker
Our preferred online gambling site is Bovada. Located in the great white north of Canada, this site began as the American company Bodog yet was forced to move to the outskirts of Montreal after changing federal legislation made it necessary to comply with the law and continue serving American users. Bovada happens to offer every type of gambling that exists in a legal fashion whether you're looking for horse racing, classic casino games, online poker rooms or even the hard to come by sports betting which is vacant from so many states. Bovada's site is designed by and for American bettors to take advantage of 24/7 without worry or concern for their personal information or money. Customer support remains the top in the industry with a network so sturdy, one will rarely ever have to reply upon it.
Perhaps one of the most notable aspects of Bovada is their famous online sportsbooks whose odds and lines are cited by such sources as ESPN, CBS Sports and USA Today. Members will find betting options from team or player props to exciting futures like which horse will win the Kentucky Derby, all from the comfort of one's own home with a mint julep in hand. Signing up is easy and only takes mere moments and racebook bettors will be astounded to see that this online gambling site gives back 3% of all straight bets made in Win, Place or Show. Kentucky residents are chomping at the bit to get out of the gate and onto Bovada and we don't blame them as we ourselves place our bets here.
| Best Overall Betting Sites | Sports? | Casino? | Poker? | Horses? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| BetOnline | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| SportsBetting | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
The legal gambling age, either in person at a race track or online, is 18 years of age or older. All adults hailing from the Bluegrass State, that meet the minimum ages set by the gambling laws in Kentucky, are welcome to sign up with our recommended online Kentucky gambling sites.
Best For All Gaming Types
