Online gambling in Kentucky
Kentucky has the Kentucky Derby, but other than that race and horse racing in general there are few gambling options in the state.
They have also taken a very tough stance on online gambling as well. In 2008 the state ordered over 140 betting websites to transfer domain names since Kentucky considered them to a gambling device.
However, there are still quite a few gambling sites for residents of Kentucky to wager at. There are no casinos or poker rooms in the state and sports betting is illegal.
The latter may change soon with a recent overturning of a federal law, but nothing is on the books as of mid-July. Horse racing is king in the state and there is no lack of betting action on the horses in Kentucky.
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Sports Betting in Kentucky
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Sports betting is illegal in Kentucky and while there are options for residents wagering online they are not as plentiful as in other states.
Residents can sign up at sportsbooks and make wagers, but have to make sure that the book accepts wagers from residents of Kentucky.
Not all do unlike pretty much all of the top sportsbooks, which accepts wagers from residents of the United States. Still, the law on sports betting may change soon since in mid-May the United States Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.
What this does is lay the groundwork for legal sports betting on a state-by-state basis. In 2017 there was a bill that would allow for sports betting as well, but that was before the federal law was overturned.
If sports betting were legal in Kentucky the state would regulate and tax it.
Online sportsbooks for Kentucky
There are still sportsbooks where Kentucky residents can bet on sports online and you need to know what to look for.
They have to be legitimate and have a good reputation. To check this, you can read reviews and even contact their customer service to get information.
Also, other important things a good sportsbook should have are great player security, many sports to bet on, many bet types to make, 24/7 customer service, bonuses and promotions and banking options. Below are three sportsbooks that have all these things and more.
- Bovada.lv – This reputable sportsbook checks all the boxes in terms of what a good sportsbook should have. They are always changing their attractive bonuses and promotions and there is no lack of sports with lines as well as bet types. Besides the well-set up sportsbook Bovada.lv also has a poker room and casino with the latter with Live Dealer action.
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Betting on horse racing in Kentucky
Horse racing is legal in Kentucky and it is the biggest name of the game in the state. The jewel of the Triple Crown in the Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville. It is the biggest betting event as well when it comes to betting on the horses.
There are many other horse racing tracks in the state and there is no lack of betting options. There are also more betting options online when wagering on horses, but, again, the options for Kentucky residents are there, but not as many as other states.
Still, online there are reputable racebooks that offer races from all over the world and at the biggest tracks with a ton of bet types available.
Online Poker in Kentucky
Online poker is illegal in Kentucky and there is also no poker rooms in the state. Like the other types of betting there are solid poker rooms online, but residents of Kentucky have to make sure they will accept their wagers. Still, many will and there are many great poker rooms that offer tournaments, every type of poker games, and have many games in a wide variety of stakes.
Online Gambling Laws in Kentucky
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) oversees the sport in the state and all of its aspects. The state does not prosecute their residents from gambling online, but as you can see with a judge ordering the 141 domain names be handed over to Kentucky they will go after the owners of the websites.