Best Kentucky Online Casinos 2024 – Top 10 Gambling Sites for Real Money in KY

If you’re looking for the best Kentucky online casinos, you’re in the right place. We’ve picked out the top 10 places to play casino games in the state.

We’ve ranked hundreds of online casinos to bring you the very best Kentucky has to offer. Based on the game selection, the payout speed, and the bonus offers, Wild Casino sits at the top of the pile overall. But not by far.

Stay with us as we’re about to reveal everything you need to know about the top 10 KY casino sites, as well as everything you need to know about online gambling in Kentucky, including the laws, sign-up processes, and available payment methods.

10 Best Kentucky Online Casinos for 2024

So, here’s the first look at the top 10 KY online gambling sites. These are the cream of the crop!

1. Wild Casino – Best Kentucky Online Casino Overall, with the Fastest Payouts
2. BetWhale – Best Online Casino in Kentucky for Online Slots
3. Black Lotus – Best Kentucky Online Casino for Classic Table Games
4. CoinPoker – Best Online Casino in Kentucky for Live Poker
5. Lucky Creek – Best Welcome Bonus of all Online Casinos in Kentucky
6. Lucky Red – Best Online Casino in Kentucky for Downloadable Game Options
7. Ignition – Best Kentucky Online Casino for Video Poker
8. TG.Casino – Best Online Casino in Kentucky for Crypto Gamers
9. High Roller Casino – Best Kentucky Online Casino for Crash Games
10. BetUS – Best Online Casino in Kentucky for Sports Betting Markets

The Top Online Casinos in Kentucky Reviewed

Ready to find out a little more about the top 10 Kentucky casino sites? Here’s a closer look at them.

1. Wild Casino – Best Kentucky Online Casino Overall

The ultimate place to play casino games in Kentucky right now is Wild Casino. This site is packed with some of the best games and bonuses in the state.

In fact, there are over 1000 games to play in total here. Wild Casino boasts a great array of slots, video poker, live blackjack, crash games, and more. Most of them come from key developers like Betsoft and Rival Gaming, so expect great graphics and strong payout potential.

Exciting new games are being added to the collection all the time as well. Every time we check out this site, we see brand new hot slots, crash games etc. It’s a great place to keep up with the latest online casino trends.

Most of these games can be played on the go through a well-designed mobile site. When it comes to getting paid out, you’ll find a wide range of crypto, eWallet, and voucher banking options. The processing period for these payouts should only be a few hours at most, so you’ll never have to wait too long to get your winnings.

Wild Casino Casino Bonus:

2. BetWhale – Best Online Casino in Kentucky for Online Slots

The second position in our list of the top Kentucky gambling sites goes to BetWhale. And this site is actually the best for online slot games.

Around 90% of its 1300+ casino games are slots, so you do the math. It’s clear to see that there’s a lot of quantity of slots here, but this is backed by quality as well. We can tell this by looking at the list of game providers, which includes BGaming and Saucify. They’re responsible for some of the best online slots going.

This shows us that we’re going to get high max wins, strong RTPs, and great graphics. There are also plenty of exciting and unique in-game slot game BetWhale bonuses.

The actual range of different slot game styles is great at BetWhale as well. There’s something for everyone here. For example, you can play tons of different themes, Megaways slots, progressive jackpots, and more.

And even if you do run out of games to play, it won’t be long until something new is added. BetWhale is constantly adding to its collection.

BetWhale Casino Bonus:

3. Black Lotus – Best Kentucky Online Casino for Classic Table Games

Our bronze medal position goes to Black Lotus, thanks to its great table games. There are loads of great examples of roulette, blackjack, and more here. Most table games come in a handful of variations so that you can fine tune the experience.

Plus, you can play live dealer games and classic online casino games depending on your preference. Not all games can be played live, but the ones that can are of strong quality.

If you don’t know how to play a particular game, you’ll be able to find handy guides at Black Lotus. They provide a detailed analysis of the rules of blackjack, roulette, and more. The guides walk you through everything from how to place a bet to how to win in the games. They even provide a few tips on how to get the best out of the experience.

It’s even possible to boost your bankroll further with a number of tournaments that come with cash prizes. And, crypto players can go further with the lucrative VIP Crypto Elite Club.

Black Lotus Casino Bonus:

4. CoinPoker – Best Online Casino in Kentucky for Live Poker

Liver poker is becoming a very prominent part of the Kentucky online gambling scene at the moment. If you’re riding that wave, CoinPoker could be the best option for you to try. Its live poker setup is industry-leading.

All of the live dealers are very professional. The graphics are great too, and there are plenty of chances to win further if you play regularly via the tournaments. All in all, this is a smooth and refined live poker experience. You can even enjoy $2000 weekly freerolls.

There’s more to this site than just poker, though. You can download the desktop app straight to your computer to access over 1500 more regular casino games. These include high RTP slots, video poker, etc. A few of these come from unknown providers, but overall, the quality of most of the games is good.

It might have been nice to play these games without having to download external software. That being said, the software is smooth and satisfying to use.

CoinPoker Casino Bonus:

5. Lucky Creek – Best Welcome Bonus of all Online Casinos in Kentucky

We’ve seen some massively generous welcome bonuses throughout our top 10 Kentucky online casinos. But of all of those, the best one is that of Lucky Creek. Everybody who signs up there will get $7500 and 30 free spins to play with. This is just about the largest welcome bonus in the whole of Kentucky right now.

There’s a fair range of payment methods that you can use to trigger the offer as well, including VISA, Mastercard and Bitcoin.

You can play a little over 300 casino games with your bonus funds. It’s not a massively extensive game portfolio, but there’s still a lot of quality to be discovered. For example, Lucky Creek is a particularly good online casino for video poker, with 11 interesting titles available.

There are some good slots to play here too. However, the only live casino options are blackjack and roulette. It would have been good to have seen some baccarat, poker and game shows.

Lucky Creek Casino Bonus:

Quick Facts About Our Top KY Online Casinos

Still not sure which of our top 10 Kentucky gambling sites to try out first? Here’s a look at them again, side by side.

How We Choose the Best Kentucky Casino Sites

The process of selecting the finest Kentucky casino sites is a very thorough one. First things first, we set about creating a long list of online casinos across the state. Then, we inspect every single one of them, and rank them on a number of key criteria.

The criteria in question include the bonuses, the games, the mobile compatibility, the support, payout speed, and more. The sites you’re seeing are, of course, the ones that scored the highest.

Want to know more about the process of ranking online casino sites? Take a look at our ‘how we rank gambling sites’ guide.

Popular Bonuses at KY Casino Sites

One of the best things about online casinos in Kentucky is that many of them offer great bonuses. Here are some different types of casino offers to look out for.

• Welcome Bonuses
  You’ll likely get the biggest and best offers at the point at which you first sign up for new Kentucky online casinos. The sites will focus on these offers in a bid to bring in new players, and that bodes well for us, as it means we can really top up our funds and spins.
• On-going Promotions
  There are plenty of other ways to get free spins, bonus cash, and more to play with at the top online casinos in Kentucky. Ongoing promotions can also include tournaments and raffles to win prizes.
• Deposit Match Bonuses
  A deposit match will give you a percentage of your deposit back as bonus funds on top of the original deposit. A 150% deposit match on a $100 deposit will give you $150 in bonus funds. So, you’d have a total of $250 to play, $150 of which is subject to wagering.
• No Deposit Bonuses
  Sometimes, it’s possible to get bonus funds or free spins without having to make a deposit. This is usually a form of welcome bonus. However, a no-deposit bonus is likely to be reduced in value or come with stricter terms.
• Free Spin Bonuses
  One of the most classic forms of casino bonuses is free spins for online slot games. Usually, these are for one specific game, but we have seen deals that offer free spins for many games.
• Loyalty Bonuses/VIP Programs
  Another promotion that existing players can make use of is a loyalty club, otherwise known as a VIP program. These tend to involve collecting points as you play on any site and rising up through the ranks while you do so. These ranks will give extra perks and offers.
• Cashback Bonuses
  You might be able to get a percentage of some of your qualifying stakes back at an online casino in the form of cashback. It’s kind of like a matched deposit in that sense, except you won’t have to wager it. You’ll be able to cash out immediately most of the time.

Popular Casino Games for Kentucky Online Gambling

The top KY gambling sites will also host a wide range of different game styles. If you’re new to the scene, it’s worth thinking about these so that you can find one that suits you best. You should be able to choose from the following at most sites in the state.

• Online Slots
  There isn’t a more famous type of online casino in the world than the mighty slot. You’ll find 10,000s of these across the Kentucky online gambling scene. This means you can really pick out something that suits your taste aesthetically and in terms of gameplay.
• Poker
  There are loads of awesome online poker sites in Kentucky offering the chance to play poker with a real live dealer. Just make sure that you understand the rules before you play, as this is one of the more complicated game options.
• Video Poker
  It’s also possible to play poker out of live mode. The setup here is a little different, as the rules are different when you play against the computer. But this form of game can be just as fun and can pay out just as well.
• Blackjack
  Here’s another type of card game that’s massively popular in land-based casinos and online ones in Kentucky. The game of 21 is simple: reach 21 with your card hand and don’t go bust. The quickfire nature makes it exciting, and the payout rates can be high.
• Roulette
  The game of roulette often has high payout rates as well. A lot of players actually prefer to play this game, as it allows you to bet on a wider range of things. You can go easy on the odds by picking red or black or go all in on a specific number.
• Baccarat
  Once upon a time, baccarat was considered to be the nobleman’s version of blackjack. Nowadays, it’s just as accessible to everyone and just as fun to play. The only real difference is the setup of the card value and the target number.
• Keno
  If you like to take part in the lottery, there’s a good chance you’ll like to play keno as well. This game lets you pick specific numbers with the hope of them being called. So, in a sense, it’s like a quickfire lottery.
• Craps
  This classic table casino game involves throwing two dice onto the table and calling the result of them. You can play it online in non-live form at some casinos, but it doesn’t tend to be as popular as some of the other table games.
• Live Casino Games
  Poker, blackjack, baccarat, and roulette can all be played with a live dealer through a stream at many real money online casinos. The live dealer casino world also brings another form of game we haven’t mentioned yet: game shows.
• Bingo
  Bingo and keno are pretty similar in that you’ll be picking numbers to win. In fact, only a couple of small details differ in the rules.

Find Out More About Your Favorite Real Money Casino Games

Real Money Online Gambling in Kentucky vs. Gambling for Free

Is it better to gamble online for real money or just pay in free-play mode? Here’s a look at some of the pros and cons of both gambling forms.

Pros & Cons of Real Money Gambling and Free Gambling Online:

Popular Payment Methods for KY Online Gambling

Kentucky online casinos often offer a wide range of payment methods. You might be able to use some or all of the following options at many of them.

Cryptocurrencies

Around 10-15 years ago, the idea of crypto payment methods for casinos was almost nonexistent. Nowadays, it accounts for over a third of online casino transactions. Why? Well, fast payouts, better bonuses and the potential for anonymity certainly contribute to the popularity.

Credit/Debit Cards

To date, Visa and Mastercard are still the most popular online casino payment methods. They’re available at almost every online casino, and they’re secure and easy to use. Payouts can take a while, though. If you use Amex or Discover, the availability isn’t going to be as good.

Bank Transfers

It’s possible to deposit money from and get paid out to your bank account directly with a few Kentucky online casinos. You may just have to pay fees on some transactions with bank transfers. Be prepared to wait for a few days to get paid out.

eWallets

PayPal, Neteller, Skrill etc. can be found as payment methods at a lot of Kentucky online casinos. They’re fast and secure, but if you only have one eWallet account, you’ll find that the casino availability probably varies.

Are KY Online Gambling Sites Legal?

The legalization of Kentucky online casinos hasn’t taken place just yet. The lift of the federal gambling ban back in 2018 has seen an influx of legalizations state by state, but Kentucky is yet to catch up.

It is possible to play at social casinos (also known as sweepstakes casinos) within Kentucky laws. However, you won’t be able to win real money directly from these. Instead, they pay out sweeps coins, which you may be able to convert for cash prizes at some sites.

If you want to win real money, it’s still possible to take part in the Kentucky State Lottery. And in December 2023, Kentucky fully legalized online sports betting for the first time following the passing of the House Bill 551.

The only way to get around this is to play at offshore online casinos, such as the top 10 we’ve picked out today. So, you definitely don’t have to compromise on quality by playing at online casinos licensed offshore.

Offshore online casinos have licenses based in different countries. One of the most popular offshore casino licenses is the Curaçao eGaming License.

Kentucky Gambling Laws & Regulatory Body

There are no Kentucky online casino laws allowing real money online or land-based casinos right now. A few attempts have been made to legalize them, but we haven’t seen much progress on this just yet.

The Future of Online Casino Gambling in Kentucky

In years to come, the KY online gambling scene could well be legalized altogether. We might see a bill passed to license online casinos and allow people to access them.

This would mean that online casinos could register in the state for the first time. We’ve seen this in various other states across the country, such as New Jersey and Philadelphia.

Who Can Gamble in Kentucky?

You can use offshore online casinos based on their minimum age, which could be 18 through 21. Online sports betting sites can be accessed in Kentucky by anyone aged 21 or over.

Are KY Gambling Winnings Taxed?

There’s a flat tax rate of 6% for all winnings from online gambling in Kentucky. The ‘winnings here’ refers to the amount you won minus your stake. Gambling winnings may also be subject to federal taxes as well, so make sure to research this.

Are Kentucky Gambling Sites Safe?

The majority of Kentucky gambling sites are safe to use. However, they must be licensed to operate, and those licensing bodies ensure that the casinos look after their players.

However, some are safer than others. We made sure that all of our top 10 picks were super secure. But if you want to try out some new Kentucky online casinos, make sure to read reviews and check encryption.

Other Forms of Gambling in KY

Online casinos are far from the only way to gamble in Kentucky. Here are some more types of gambling in the state that you might want to try out.

Kentucky Online Sports Betting

Online sports betting in Kentucky was fully legalized in December 2023. Now, there are loads of great sports betting sites in the state, both onshore and offshore. You’ll be able to find 1000s of betting markets, great free bet bonuses, and competitive odds.

Online Poker in Kentucky

You’ll be able to play video poker and live poker at quite a few of our top online casino picks. But some sites specifically specialize. If you like the sound of that, be sure to check out CoinPoker for live poker and Ignition for video poker.

DFS

A more contemporary way to bet on sports is to put together a Daily Fantasy Sports team. Here, you’ll be picking out who you think are the most in form players for your team and getting points based on their performances. With luck, this could land you some cash.

Horse Racing

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission allows for legal horse racing betting in the state of Kentucky. This means you can bet on horse racing all around the world. But actually, one of the most famous horse races takes place right here – the Kentucky Derby.

Social and Sweepstakes Casinos in KY

If you’d rather play casino games for free, you could always play at a social or sweepstakes casino. These two terms used to mean slightly different things but are now generally used interchangeably. They refer to casinos where you play with sweeps coins, and you often get these for free.

Land-Based Gambling in Kentucky

There aren’t any land-based casinos in Kentucky for obvious legal reasons. You can bet on racing games at racetracks in the state, though. That’s about as close as it gets to playing casino games at a licensed venue in this state.

Kentucky Senate Online Casino Bills and Motions

As we know by now, it’s not legal to play at online casinos licensed in Kentucky. In fact, some legislation has been passed to double down on this. But on the other hand, sports betting has become legalized, so that side of gambling is clearly moving in another direction.

Here are some pieces of historical legislation in the state that you might want to know about.

• 3/9/23 – House Bill 594: A piece of legislation that took a step in the backward direction was House Bill 594. Its passing meant that slot machines were banned in the state.
• 3/21/23 – House Bill 551: This was the date that the famous House Bill 551 was first passed, setting the stage for the legalization of sports betting in Kentucky.

How KY Online Gambling Compares to Neighboring US States

The only real difference between casino players in Kentucky compared to any other US state is that state-licensed online casinos cannot exist there. Some states do allow for this. For example, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement licensed a handful of online casinos in the state of New Jersey.

However, for the most part, there aren’t very many online casinos licensed by the states themselves at all. This is because very specific criteria need to exist for them to be legally licensed. So, for example, when it comes to the best online casinos in Connecticut, most of the options will still be offshore casinos. This is because there are only two online casinos licensed in the state.

Sign Up with Real Money KY Gambling Sites

Now that you know all there is to know about online gambling in Kentucky, it might be about time to get started. Check out these four simple steps to get your account with one of the best Kentucky online casinos.

Step 1: Choose One of the Top Kentucky Online Casinos

• Consider our top 10 casino list and pick one of the sites (we’re using Wild Casino)
• Make your way to the homepage and hit the register button
• Read all the site terms and conditions before you get started

Step 2: Sign Up for Your Account and Get Yourself Verified

• Fill out the details required in the form and create a password to log in with
• Proceed to the next screen, then follow the link in your email inbox to verify
• Upload a few copies of your ID and wait for the support team to confirm

Step 3: Deposit Money & Enter a Bonus Code (if applicable)

• Go to the cashier section and pick a payment method that works for you
• Enter an amount between the minimum and maximum amounts for the welcome bonus
• You may also have to enter a promo code to trigger the offer at some sites

Step 4: Start Playing Your Favorite Online Casino Games

• Follow the instructions to complete your payment
• Go to the game section and pick out your favorite casino games
• Play through your deposit money and bonus funds

Advantages of Online KY Casinos Over Land-Based Casinos

There are a few things about Kentucky online casinos that beat going to any land-based casinos in the U.S. Here are the key benefits of keeping your online casino gaming online.

Kentucky Gambling in Mobile Devices and Online Casino Apps

These days, you’ll be able to play most online casino games on the go. This is true of slots, video poker, live casino games, and the rest.

Many online casino games are developed using HTML-5 technology. This allows them to be scaled down in size for smartphone screens with ease. So, you can play wherever you go, just as long as you can get data or a Wi-Fi connection.

Some online casinos offer downloadable mobile apps. There aren’t any of these apps to actually download throughout our top 10, but you can still access all of the sites through your smartphone browser.

Pros & Cons of Gambling on Mobile Casinos over Desktop:

Responsible Gambling at Kentucky Casinos Online

We highly recommend taking advantage of responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits, time checks, and cool-off periods. You might not think you need to use them, but they can serve as a very useful safety blanket, just in case.

You might be able to set these up through the casino sites themselves. If not, external support is available elsewhere. For example, Kentucky players can always reach out to 1-800-GAMBLER if they ever feel that they need someone to talk to.

You can find out more about responsible gambling in our guide.

The Best Online Casino in Kentucky in 2024

So, with our research concluded, we can safely say that the best online casino in Kentucky is Wild Casino. There isn’t a site that combines bonuses, games, and fast payouts better than this one. You can also play most of the games on the neat mobile site.

Is it going to be the right one for you? Only you can decide that. So, give it a go and grab the top welcome bonus while you do so. Good luck!

Kentucky Online Gambling FAQs

Is online gambling legal in Kentucky?

Some forms of gambling are legal in Kentucky. For instance, online sports betting is a form of betting, and you can bet on races.

Are online casinos legal in Kentucky?

Online casino gaming at registered Kentucky casinos isn’t legal. To access online casino games in Kentucky, you’ll need to use an offshore sportsbook.

What are the best online casinos in KY?

The best online casinos in KY are Wild Casino, BetWhale, Black Lotus, CoinPoker and Lucky Creek. These are the top five out there right now.

Is it safe to gamble online in KY?

Yes, most offshore sportsbooks and casinos are safe to use in KY. They have to be licensed, and those licensors ensure that they act safely.

What is the legal gambling age in Kentucky?

You’ll need to be at least 21 years old to legally gamble in Kentucky. The only exception to this is if you use offshore casinos, some of which allow you to play from age 18.

Can I play online poker in Kentucky?

Yes, there are plenty of great online casinos offering poker games. They come in live and non-live forms.