First, 'historical horse racing' (HHR) was introduced at race tracks around the state. In the last 15 years, the tide has started to turn. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, many bills were put forth to allow for casino-style gambling in the state, but all failed to pass. While horse betting has remained legal throughout the state's history, the 1980s saw more and more restrictions put in place, even as the state lottery was formed in 1988.

With its popularity came the continued growth of betting on the sport through the 20th century. In the mid- to late-nineteenth century, horse racing began a meteoric rise in popularity, including the first running of the Kentucky Derby in 1875. So how did Kentucky gambling become so restricted? A lot of it has to do with the current political climate of the state, but we can see that there have been consistent obstacles to legalized gambling. A Brief History Of Gambling in the Bluegrass State Kentucky Lottery Site and App – Legal: The Kentucky Lottery site and app have a pretty extensive variety of legal gambling options, including instant games, digital scratch tickets, keno, and more.ĭaily Fantasy Sports – Legal: While there isn't definitive legislation for or against DFS offerings, major players like FanDuel and DraftKings are still able to accept players from Kentucky. Online Horse Betting – Legal: As we referenced above, betting on horse races is indeed legal in Kentucky, both at the many in-state tracks and online at sites like TwinSpires, TVG, and others. Although there are no licensed online sportsbooks operating in the state yet, the new law indicates that sports betting apps and sites will be up and running before the end of the year. Online Sportsbooks – Legal: A bill to legalize retail and online sports betting was voted on and passed on the last day of the state legislative session in March. Sweepstakes and Social Casinos – Legal: There are several sweeps and social casinos available in Kentucky, where you can play for fun or use casino-specific currency to compete for cash and other prizes. There are some unregulated, unlicensed platforms open to KY residents, but we would highly recommend you avoid them – there's nothing in place to keep your money or your information safe. Online Casinos – Not Legal: There is no legal avenue for online casino gambling in Kentucky.

For specific information, refer to this quick guide, which mainly highlights what options are currently available to you: Most forms of online (and retail, for that matter) gambling are not legal under Kentucky law. Is Online Gambling Legal in Kentucky? Are There Any Kentucky Online Casinos?

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