In Kentucky, the approach to gambling is more conservative than liberal. The local legislators did not tie the screws on the industry as tightly as their colleagues in states like South Carolina, though. The local gamblers are still able to enjoy some forms of betting activities.
Among others, Kentucky is home to the biggest horse racing event — the Kentucky derby — and allows live, pari-mutuel, and simulcast wagering. The residents of the state are also welcome to enjoy lotteries, as well as charitable gambling.
The state has no commercially operated or tribal casinos. To enjoy such venues, the locals usually travel to neighboring states. The most popular options are Indiana with its riverboat casinos, West Virginia, and Ohio with commercially operated casinos close to the Kentucky border.
Poker is prohibited in the state. Kentucky residents are also not allowed to own vintage slot machines at home. Online gambling is currently out of the question. The closest the state got to conversations about any form of gambling happening online is switching to online lotteries, but that innovation is still in its early development stage.
