Online Poker Kentucky – Is It Legal? Get $5,000+ at KY Poker Sites and KY Poker Rooms
Kentucky is one of the strictest states when it comes to gambling. There are no traditional casinos or poker rooms in Kentucky and only allows charitable gaming.
If you found this page by asking “Is online poker legal in Kentucky?”, this page will answer all your legal questions. While several states allow restricted casinos and other gaming facilities like poker rooms, Kentucky’s gambling laws currently only allows for horse racing betting but there’s always the option of using a reputable offshore casino site.
In this comprehensive Kentucky poker online guide, we’ll look at the gambling laws around casual and online poker and review the best online poker sites Kentucky residents can safely play.
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The Best Online Poker Kentucky Sites
Take your pick from the best online poker sites Kentucky has to offer. All of these sites will accept real money Kentucky online poker bets and provide cash games, tournaments, sit and go tournaments and more. For the best Kentucky online poker experience, we strongly recommend the following offshore gaming sites.
- BetOnline – Our overall best online poker site in Kentucky
- Bovada – Top offshore Kentucky poker site especially for beginners
- Ignition – Great choice for Kentucky poker tournaments and freerolls
- Sportsbetting.ag – Popular poker site with lower rakes and fast payouts
Kentucky Online Poker Sites Reviewed
There are no state-licensed regulated online poker sites available in Kentucky so the only option is to use the offshore casino sites. Our top 5 offshore poker sites all offer substantial welcome bonuses and are the best poker sites Kentucky residents can use safely and securely.
The best 5 real money Kentucky poker betting sites will be reviewed in more detail in the next section.. You can up and running and playing poker in your browser or mobile device within minutes.
1. BetOnline – Top-Rated Site for Online Poker Kentucky
Despite a close call, BetOnline is the best Kentucky online poker site. It doesn’t only focus on one part of the game, but covers all bases. It features Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Hold’em 6+, and Windfall Sit & Go’s. No limit hold’em stakes start at $0.05/0.10 and go up to $5/$10 with good traffic for no limit hold’em.
The good news continues with Kentucky poker tournaments. Players can access all of the network’s premier event series. This is a hectic week culminating in the Sunday Majors. This series contains a $150,000 GTD Main Event. That’s not all, you can also quickly start a Windfall Sit & Go. This 3 person super turbo event comes with a random prize pool of up to $1,000,000.
With so many payment options, BetOnline makes playing online poker for real money in Kentucky accessible to anyone. Debit cards, credit cards, bank transfers, cheques, and eleven cryptocurrencies are all options. Your initial deposit qualifies for a 100% poker bonus up to $1,000. To redeem, use the BetOnline coupon code NEWBOL.
What we like:
- 25+ years experience in online gambling
- Software optimized for online and mobile poker in Kentucky
- 30+ varieties of poker & video poker
- Bad Beat Jackpots up to $200,000
What we don’t:
- Some payment methods have withdrawal fees
2. Bovada – Top poker site with fast deposit & withdrawal times
Bovada is clearly the second best place to play online poker in Kentucky. Their poker room is simple, elegant, and loaded with top online poker titles powered by proprietary poker software. Includes 3-Card, 5-Card, Omaha, Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud and more.
New and current Bovada players can take advantage of attractive Bovada promo codes including a 100% first-time deposit bonus up to $500. The minimum deposit is $20 and there is a 30-day release window to complete the bonus wagering requirements. Bovada offers some of the best online poker Kentucky promotions and bonuses. On a weekly basis, $10,000+ Texas Hold’em playoffs and big Progressive Bounties are held.
Bovada won’t let you down when it comes to payout speed either. Online poker payments via Bank Transfer take roughly 24 hours, whereas Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are almost instant.
Finally, Bovada rewards frequent players with Bovada Poker Points which be exchanged tickets to regular online events, and cash-back promos, as well as a 200% match bonus up to $100 for every new player introduced to the site.
What we like:
- Over $2,000,000 in weekly tournament prizes
- Available on mobile with all the same features
- On the largest online poker network in the USA
- Great loyalty program
What we don’t:
- Higher rakes than some other poker sites
3. Ignition – Best Online Poker Site Kentucky for Tournaments
For tournaments and freerolls, Ignition Poker is clearly the best. It has something for everyone, including a $2,500 weekly freeroll every Thursday! Kentucky Ignition Poker players must be at least Chrome tier in the loyalty programme to qualify. It takes 2,500 lifetime miles to complete the second level.
Also, Bitcoin depositors can get another free entry into the weekly $2,5000 Bitcoin Depositors Freeroll. It happens every Sunday and has fewer players than regular freerolls. The Ignition Poker online poker tournament calendar includes many series events. The Super Millions Poker Open is the network’s largest event series. It features $8,000,000 in guaranteed prizes across 150 events.
Buy-ins range from $5.50 to $1,055. The Main Event has a $350,000 prize pool and a $425+25 buy-in. Others worth watching include the Festival on Felt, the Golden Spade Poker Open, and the Black Diamond Poker Open.
This is on top of Ignition’s regular Kentucky’s online poker tournaments. There are also Sit & Go tournaments with jackpots of up to 1,000 times your buy-in. Ignition presently provides a 150% match up to $1,500 with extra bonus codes.
What we like:
- Great range of freerolls & tournaments for all budgets
- 100% first deposit bonus up to $1,000
- $10,000 Weekly Turbo Tournaments
- Ignition Miles Rewards system for entry into leading onsite tournaments
What we don’t:
- Credit card deposits have a 15.9% fee
- Poker software a little outdated
4. Sportsbetting.ag – The Best Kentucky Online Poker Promotions
Another site on the Chico Poker Network is Sportbetting.ag. Their online poker games include Omaha, 3-Card, Pai Gow, and Texas Hold’em with bet limits ranging from $5 to $200 to suit varying skill levels.
The Sportsbetting.ag promo code “NEWSB” entitles new players to a 100% matched poker bonus up to $1,000. For every $50 in rake earned, your player account will receive a $5 bonus.
They also provide daily tournaments, bonus, and rewards to new and returning online poker Kentucky players. You may also play on rotating Bad Beat Jackpot Tables, where you can divide large prize pools with other players.
With a $100 buy-in, you’ll get 100,000 chips and a shot at $150,000 in the Sunday Main Event. You can earn a seat at the main table by qualifying for $5. With Sportsbetting.ag’s exclusive Windfall Jackpot Sit & Go, you can try to transform $10 buy-in into $1,000,000.
What we like:
- $1,000 new customer welcome bonus
- Poker apps available for iPhone and Android
- Secure deposits & fast withdrawals
- Cryptocurrency welcome
What we don’t:
- Website could do with an update
- Limited options for anonymous play
More on gambling in Kentucky…
Learn about all types of online gambling in Kentucky in our expert guides below:
- Kentucky Sports Betting
- Kentucky Real Money Online Casinos
- Kentucky Online Gambling
- Kentucky Sports Betting Apps
- Kentucky Horse Racing
Online Poker Kentucky – The Top Sites Compared
The best Kentucky online poker sites share many elements, yet each has its unique personality. The table below analyses poker tournaments and game diversity in Kentucky.
Poker Room Poker Variety Poker Bonus Poker Tournaments Poker Freerolls BetOnline Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Six Plus Hold’em, Windfall Poker 100% up to $1,000 (bonus code: NEWBOL) Sunday Majors, Nightly Monsters, $1 Million Windfall, Progressive Bounties, Rebuy Frenzy, Windfall Sit & Go ✅ Bovada Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Zone Poker 100% up to $500 (bonus code: PWB500) The Monthly Milly, Million Dollar Weekend, Knockout Tournaments, Jackpot Sit & Go ✅ Ignition Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Zone Poker 150% up to $1,500 Super Millions, Progressive Knockout Series, Golden Spade Poker Open, Black Diamond Poker Open, Festival of Felt, Jackpot Sit & Go ✅ Sportsbetting.ag Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Six Plus Hold’em, Windfall Poker 100% up to $1,000 (bonus code: NEWSB) Sunday Majors, Nightly Monsters, $1 Million Windfall, Progressive Bounties, Rebuy Frenzy, Windfall Sit & Go ✅ Is Online Poker Legal in Kentucky?
No, Kentucky is one of the least gambling friendly states in the USA, and online poker is not legal.
If you want to play online poker in Kentucky, by far your best option is to register at a fully licensed and reputable offshore online casino, such as those on our list.
These sites are safe and secure, and enable you to enjoy playing online poker from the comfort of your own home.
All of the online casinos listed on this page are located offshore and are happy to accept Kentucky citizens.
Video Poker
Some players prefer video poker to live poker or traditional online poker, as it can feel less intense.
There are a number of important differences between video poker and traditional online poker. Video poker is played from a gaming kiosk and is essentially a mix of slots and 5-card poker, with the cards are drawn randomly from a virtual deck by the video poker machine.
Another benefit is that video poker is much easier to play than traditional poker, although there are still strict regulations to be adhered to and it has to be audited for randomness. There’s a fantastic array of video poker games to enjoy too, with favorites including Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better and Joker’s Wild.
Given the lack of land-based casinos in Kentucky, local residents who want to enjoy playing video poker can do so from their own homes by visiting one of the popular and reputable offshore online casinos, such as BetOnline.
Casual Poker
Under Kentucky law, any player in a home poker game who wins or loses more than $500 in a 24-hour period could be convicted of promotion of gambling in the first degree, which is a Class D felony (with a potential jail sentence and big fine).
Under state law 528.010, “A person who gambles at a social game of chance on equal terms with other participants does not otherwise advance gambling activity by performing acts, without remuneration or fee, directed toward the arrangement or facilitation of the game as inviting persons to play, permitting the use of premises therefore and supplying equipment used therein.”
That does seem to indicate that a home poker game among friends for small stakes, without any entrance fees should be tolerated.
Kentucky Poker Laws
Kentucky is known as a very conservative state and has among the most restrictive gambling laws in the land. There are no land-based casinos as such in Kentucky and online casinos haven’t been legalized either.
The one remaining option for residents in Kentucky who want some poker action is to use an offshore online casino. The reality is that it’s not very likely that the state would prosecute any individual who decides to play online poker at such a site.
Offshore online casino sites are also perfectly happy to accept you as a player if you reside in Kentucky.
Online Poker Guides State by State
WestMidWestNorthEastSouthEastKentucky Poker Rooms – Live and in Person
If you are a poker player who is resident in or a visitor to Kentucky, then you will not find any legal live or video poker games at any land-based location in the state.
What little gambling that is permitted in person in Kentucky, is largely limited to the handful or so horse racing tracks in the Bluegrass State. None of these are able to offer poker to their customers.
Poker Rooms in Kentucky: Kentucky Poker Rooms List
Searching for “Kentucky Poker Near Me” will yield no results for residents of Kentucky as there are no casinos or poker rooms in the state at present. Poker fans will have to travel to one of the seven neighboring states to find a real life poker game.
You can still enjoy playing online poker in Kentucky by registering with one of the recommended offshore casino sites listed on this page.
Kentucky Online Poker Laws
Other than off-track betting on horse races, there is no online gambling permitted in Kentucky. That obviously applies to playing online poker too.
Thankfully, for those that want to play online poker in Kentucky, there is still the opportunity to do so at offshore online casinos based outside the USA.
Online Poker Kentucky
With the lack of any land-based casinos or Kentucky poker rooms and US-based online casino sites also not being permitted, there is only one alternative for those wishing to play poker in the Bluegrass State.
In addition to online poker, offshore online casinos offer a tremendous selection of table games, while many of these sites are also able to provide players with sports betting options from the same site, which makes it very convenient for Kentucky residents who want to wager on different games or sports.
New customers at online poker sites will also invariably be given the opportunity to claim a substantial welcome bonus, with further promotions and reload bonuses thereafter too.
Another significant benefit of playing at a reputable offshore online casino in Kentucky is that players are paid out at higher percentages than they are at land-based casinos. This is essentially down to the fact that Kentucky online casinos have fewer of the costly overheads associated with a brick-and-mortar casino.
Here’s a rundown of the best online poker Kentucky sites and their top poker tournaments:
Top Online Poker Sites Poker Tournament #1 Poker Tournament #2 Poker Tournament #3 Poker Tournament #4 Poker Tournament #5 BetOnline $1 Million Windfall Jackpot Sit & Go Tournaments Windfall Sit & Gos – Winner Takes All Sunday Majors – Win Prizes from $1,000 up to $150,000 Nightly Monsters – $1,000 up to $20,000 Guaranteed Progressive Bounties – Guaranteed Prizes Bovada Monthly Milly – $1 Million Prize Pool Jackpot Sit & Go’s Daily Turbo Tournaments $150K Guaranteed Poker Tournament $100K Guaranteed High Roller Tournament Ignition Casino Weekly $2,500 Bitcoin Depositor’s Freeroll Jackpot Sit & Go Tournaments – Win up to 1000x your buy-in Sit & Go Tournaments (different types with special features) $150K Guaranteed Poker Tournament every Sunday $2 Million Guaranteed in Weekly Prize Pools SportsBetting.ag $150,000 Guaranteed Weekly $1 Million Windfall Jackpot – win up to 100,000x your buy-in Bad Beat Jackpot – Progressive Fast-Fold Poker Boost Bad Bead Jackpot – Progressive Prize Pool N/A Making Kentucky Poker Online Deposits
Before you can play real money online poker in Kentucky, you must first fund your newly created casino account. The best online Kentucky poker rooms let you deposit funds in a variety of ways including e-wallets and crypto. For further details, see the table below:
Poker Site Payment Options Crypto Deposit Limits Deposit / Withdrawal Speeds BetOnline Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ripple, Stellar, USDCoin, Tether, Dogecoin, Cardano, Chainlink, Money Orders, Cashier’s Check, Bank Wire, Person to Person ✅ $20 – $500,000 Instant / 24 – 48 hours Bovada Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, MatchPay, Zelle ✅ $10 – $15,000 Instant / 24 hours Ignition Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, MatchPay, Zelle ✅ $10 – $5,000 Instant / 24 hours Sports Betting Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ripple, Stellar, USDCoin, Tether, Dogecoin, Cardano, Chainlink, Money Orders, Cashier’s Check, Bank Wire, Person to Person ✅ $20 – $500,000 Instant / 24 – 48 hours Playing Legal Online Poker Kentucky
There are no opportunities to play online poker with any US-based online poker sites in Kentucky, but there is a great selection of offshore online casinos available to residents of the state.
When it comes to deciding which offshore online casinos to play with, each individual has to base their decision on their own individual needs and requirements, both as an online poker player and what they are looking for in an online casino.
Some players preference might be for an offshore online casino site that offers new customers a hefty welcome bonus, or they might want a site that offers them an big selection of games, or that allows them to fund make payments and withdrawals from their account using cryptocurrencies, etc.
Some specific sites that are worth considering include BetOnline, which offers weekly poker bonuses, while Ignition Casino has an impressive range of banking and crypto options with which to make deposits to and withdrawals from your account.
The biggest name in US gambling is Bovada, which features some very attractive Bitcoin bonuses, while BetUS is widely recognized for giving poker players an extensive array of live dealer games.
Tips for Online Poker Real Money Kentucky
This next section is here for us to provide readers with a few useful tips on playing to win online poker in Kentucky:
- Start small - Always play within your bankroll, otherwise what should be an enjoyable game can quickly turn into a habit you can’t control
- Practice with low stakes – As with most things in life, the more you play and practice, the better you’ll become. You should always take notes that you can later refer to
- Learn how to bluff – Knowing how to bluff in order to get better hands to fold is a vital poker skill, but it’s also important to know that you can bluff too much
- Don’t be afraid to fold – Don’t be tempted to play poor hands. Another game will soon come along
How to Play Online Poker Kentucky
In this next section, we'll walk you through the online setup procedure at BetOnline offshore casino to better address the question "Can I play online poker in Kentucky?" and get you started. This takes only a few minutes and is quite simple. Other Kentucky online casinos may have a slightly different sign-up procedure, but in general, this is how you will create a new account.
Step 1: Start the Registration Process
On one of our recommended Kentucky online poker sites, look for the 'Join Now' or 'Register' button. You will notice a green Join Now button is located in the top right corner of BetOnline's website.
Step 2: Complete the Registration Form
The BetOnline sign-up form is simple and only asks for some basic personal data. Fill out the form and click the bottom button to register. You may be asked to upload additional documents to validate your account before withdrawing.
Step 3: Fund Your Account
Now you will be able log in with your BetOnline password and email address. A pop-up window will tell you of your BetOnline sign-up bonuses. Go to the cashier and choose your favourite payment option to get your BetOnline poker bonus immediately.
Step 4: Join a Poker Table
You are now ready to play as many online poker Kentucky games and tournaments as you want? You can either play in your browser or download the BetOnline app for mobile or tablet. The poker lobby will show all the cash games and upcoming tournaments. Pick a game, have fun and good luck!
Other Online Poker Guides you Might Like
Learn more about the different types of online poker games and options available online and where to best enjoy them:
- Best Bitcoin Poker Sites - A complete guide to the best Bitcoin Poker Sites to play online.
- Best Offshore Poker Sites - A rundown of the best offshore Poker sites with massive bonuses.
- Best Online Poker Sites - Full presentation of the best Poker Sites to play with real money.
- Play Online Poker Real Money - Full presentation of the best Poker Sites to play with real money.
- Download the Best Poker Apps - Complete guide and review of the best poker apps.
- Poker Games (List) - Complete overview of the most popular poker games available online.
Conclusion - Playing Poker in Kentucky
Although you might just be permitted to play a low-stakes game of social poker at home in Kentucky (provided there is no entry fee and it’s not a regular occurrence), there is no option for live or video poker at a brick-and-mortar location in the state.
Other than off-track betting on horses, there is no online gambling allowed in Kentucky. That goes for poker, casino and Kentucky sports betting sites. The one solution is to play online poker with one of the many offshore online casinos available reviewed on this page.
Offshore online casinos are played by many residents of Kentucky and throughout the USA, as they not only provide players with an extensive selection of poker games to enjoy from the comfort of their own homes, but also almost always offer a variety of very generous welcome bonuses and promotions and brilliant poker tournaments where you can win life-changing amounts of money.
If you ensure that you only play at the most reputable offshore online casino sites, as recommended by this site, they provide an excellent option for all your online poker requirements. Poker sites such as BetOnline, Bovada, and SportsBetting.ag employ the latest security technology to ensure that cash games and tournaments are totally safe and your funds secure.
Register at one of our recommended offshore sites today, and you'll be playing online poker in minutes.
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Get Offer FAQs
Is online poker legal in Kentucky?
Online poker isn’t legal in the state of Kentucky, and there is little to suggest that will change anytime soon. Kentucky residents do have the option of being able to play online poker at one of the numerous offshore online casinos such as BetOnline.
Can you play online poker in Kentucky?
Unfortunately, not. However, should you choose to use a fully licensed and reputable offshore online casino to play poker online, there is only a very minor risk of prosecution on an individual basis. A reputable offshore online casino will also ensure that all your personal data is perfectly safe.
Is there online gambling in Kentucky?
There is indeed. Although online casinos and poker have yet to be legalized in Kentucky, there is legal online sports betting in the state. Although there is nothing seemingly imminent concerning a change in the law with online casinos and poker, the fact that online sports betting is permitted does provide hope for the future.
Where can you gamble in Kentucky?
Gambling options in Kentucky are seriously limited. There is a state lottery that sells scratch-off and lotto tickets, with popular games such as Lucky for Life, Pick 3, Pick 4, 5 Card Cash, Powerball, and Mega Millions. There are also several Kentucky racetracks, which offer live horse racing betting and off-track betting on horses. A controversial and unique form of gambling is also offered at Kentucky Downs, Ellis Park, and Red Mile racetracks, with instant historical racing machines. With these, the machine pulls one of these historical races and displays the reels to match a payout similar to what the event would have paid. In addition, charities in Kentucky may operate bingo games and raffles.
Based in Scotland, Darren is a freelance writer who specialises in sports and iGaming. Darren has worked for a variety of online sports publications in the UK, US & Canada. He uses his knowledge of the US gambling market to write state betting and poker guides for Basketball Insiders.
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