Kentucky – Online Casinos & Gambling Regulations

Find the Best American Casino Online

Before signing up at an online casino, Kentucky residents must be aware of the increased risks that are inherent when playing from a restricted region. While overseas casinos are still able to operate on the internet in a relative gray-market, protective organizations and legal recourse are not possible options for individuals gambling outside the bounds of the law. It is therefore pivotal that you can identify the site as a legitimate entity that is both licensed and verified by third parties. Below are some good example questions to ask yourself before registering an account.

• Is the casino fully licensed?
• Do reviews support the trustworthiness of the site?
• Does the site accept players from Kentucky?
• Are US dollars available to deposit with?
• Are your preferred payment methods supported?

Third-party verification can either be from an independent auditing service like eCOGRA or it can be reviews or feedback from a trusted source. At GoodLuckMate we endeavor to write casino reviews and articles that are factual and honest. It is our goal to create a site that you can trust for all things gambling-related, including finding the best online casino available to Kentucky players.

Gambling Regulation

The Kentucky Derby is both a blessing and a curse for the state’s would-be casino players. The event draws big crowds both in-house and online, creating a huge surge of bets and revenue. The derby is able to draw in over $800 million in gambling revenues on a yearly basis, which is actually a major factor in the current casino limitations. There is a fear that opening up other events and gambling activities in the region will lead to the economic cannibalization of the derby. 

The strict nature of Kentucky’s stance on gambling was evidenced in 2008 when the state made claims to seize 141 gambling-related domain names. This was the first case of its kind in the country and was actioned with limited success, as some of the domains were taken down. There was some hope in 2020, as a bipartisan bill was put into motion with the purpose of opening up online poker and sports betting operations. Unfortunately, the bill wasn’t able to take off, although plans are set to reintroduce the bill in 2021.

Until any legal changes are made, residents will have to accept that all casinos and online-based gambling activities are not considered legal within the confines of state borders. The way that most online casinos circumnavigate this is by being headquartered overseas. This means that their operations are able to be fully legal and licensed while leaving the responsibility of blocking access being squarely placed on the government.

Localized Online Casinos

Most US players will come across a lot of localization options that naturally suits them when visiting an online casino. Sites will predominantly be featured in English, while also having US dollar currency support and payment options. Big sporting events like American Football Horse racing is also a familiar sight at online sportsbooks, as these grand US-based events tend to draw in an international crowd. 

You may however come across issues when looking for welcome offers and other promotional eligibilities. As the US remains largely a restricted market, many sites will not outright advertise or create promotional material that is aimed at residents. That isn’t to say that there aren’t offers out there for you to enjoy, it just means that you will need to double-check if you are eligible, by checking the terms of any offer that takes your interest

Gambling with US Dollars

US dollars are a common sight at online casinos, due to it serving as a default currency option. There are bound to be some currencies that can’t be covered by a casino, which means an alternative currency must be used for those players whose local currency is not supported. This is where US dollars comes in, which is often offered side by side with euros. What this all means is that players from America will have a very easy time finding a casino with the right currency options.

It might however not be so easy to find yourself a suitable payment method. American banks have a habit of restricting any payments that look to be made towards gambling activities and it is, therefore, best to find an alternative. E-wallets and cryptocurrencies have become popular methods for players, allowing them to make quick transactions without directly involving the bank.

Casinos in Kentucky 

Whatever your opinion on the Kentucky Derby is, the event is a big source of pride for residents. This is also the major event for locals to come down and get a front-row seat at the betting action. The state-run lottery, social and sweepstakes casinos also provide an alternative to standard land-based casinos. Naturally, you will not be finding any locally-based online operations, nor will you find much in the way of real money slots and table games. This is why online casinos from abroad are able to fill the void left by a restricted market, as local organizations are legally barred from competing. While players are subject to enhanced risk when not backed up by state legislation, there are still plenty of legitimate online casinos that will happily accept new players from Kentucky.