Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018

Introduction to Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018

Kentucky slot machine casino gambling is essentially nonexistent as games of chance are strictly illegal in Kentucky. However, competition-based games are legal. Currently, four out of Kentucky’s seven pari-mutuel wagering racetracks offer these skill-based electronic gaming machines.

Payout return statistics are publicly available for the five pari-mutual wagering facilities in Kentucky which offer skill-based historic horse races electronic gaming machines.

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This post continues the weekly blog series Online Resource: State-By-State Slots Gambling Summaries, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambling enthusiasts to success. Each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

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State Emblem and Outline [Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018]

Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Kentucky*

The minimum gambling age in Kentucky depends upon the gambling activity:

Land-Based Casinos: N/A
Poker Rooms: N/A
Bingo: 18
Lottery: 18
Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

Kentucky’s interpretation of gambling depends on whether or not skill is a prevailing factor in the activity, and that the competitor’s level of skill “must sufficiently govern the results.”

Therefore, competition-based games are legal including pari-mutuel wagering but, relevant to our interest as slots enthusiasts, slot machine casino gambling is illegal.

However, of interest are 1,720 competition-based electronic games available in a few of their pari-mutuel facilities. These skill-based games are based on historical race results.

Historically speaking, Kentucky has had a fascinating relationship with gambling. While casino gambling was never legal, gambling dens were prevalent before the Great Depression of 1929.

Much of this open display of gambling was located in Newport, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, and included an element of organized crime. If ever in Newport, consider walking the historic Newport Gangster Tour.

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*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws apply to various forms of gambling. This information is not intended to provide legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Kentucky

It is legal to privately own a slot machine in Kentucky.

Belle of Louisville Paddleboat [Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018]

Gaming Control Board in Kentucky

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission regulates non-charitable gaming such as electronic gaming machines at pari-mutual racetracks in Kentucky.

The most recent revenue report is available under Quick Links, titled Wagering Historical Horse Races. In the October 2018 report, the following four pari-mutual wagering racetracks are shown to have a total of 2,734 Historic Horse Racing (HHR) electronic gaming machines:

Derby City having 900 HHR electronic gaming machines.
Ellis Park having 179 HHR electronic gaming machines.
Kentucky Downs having 753 HHR electronic gaming machines
Keeneland/Red Mile having 902 HHR electronic gaming machines.

Panzer Tank Rolling Out of Fort Knox [Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018]

Casinos in Kentucky

There are eight pari-mutual wagering horse racetracks in Kentucky. Only half of these sites offer electronic gaming machines.

The largest casino in Kentucky is Red Mile Kentucky Harness and Historic Racing in Lexington, having 902 gaming machines.

The second largest casino is Kentucky Downs Casino in Franklin, having 753 gaming machines.

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List of Casinos in Kentucky

Those Kentucky pari-mutuel facilities offering skill-based historic horse race electronic gaming machines are:

Derby City Gaming in Louisville located 74 miles west of Lexington on the Indiana border.
Ellis Park Race Course in Henderson located 105 miles northwest of Bowling Green.
Keeneland Race Course in Lexington.
Kentucky Downs Casino in Franklin located 29 miles south of Bowling Green.
Red Mile Kentucky Harness and Historic Racing in Lexington.

List of Tribal Casinos in Kentucky

There are no federally-recognized American Indian tribes in Kentucky and, therefore, no tribal casinos in this state.

Bridge Over Ohio River at Night [Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018]

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Kentucky slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state.

Kentucky is bordered by:

Each of the links above will take you to my state-specific blog for that bordering state to Kentucky.

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Payout Returns in Kentucky

The most recent month’s revenue report from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission provides sufficient information to determine actual payout return statistics. These return percentages are for the most recent month and fiscal year-to-date along with a comparison to the same statistics one year ago.

For the most recent month of October 2018, the overall monthly payout return percentage is 91.47%. The year-to-date fiscal year payout return percentage is 91.72%.

For the four pari-mutuel facilities offering these skill-based competition games, the most recent monthly and fiscal year-to-date payout return statistics are:

Derby City with 89.86% monthly and 89.71% yearly.
Ellis Park with 91.09% monthly and 92.35% yearly.
Kentucky Downs with 92.52% monthly and 93.07% yearly.
Keeneland/Red Mile with 91.71% monthly and 92.39% yearly.

No minimum or maximum theoretical payout return limits for HHR gaming machines are publicly available.

Water and Forest View from a Canoe [Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018]

Summary of Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018

Kentucky slot machine casino gambling exists as competition-based games of skill. Traditional slot machines are illegal. However, four out of Kentucky’s seven pari-mutuel wagering racetracks offer a total of 2,734 skill-based electronic gaming machines.

Payout return statistics are publicly available for historic horse races electronic gaming machines at each of these sites. For all sites for October of 2018, the monthly payout return percentage was 91.47%. The year-to-date fiscal year payout return percentage was 91.72%.

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Annual Progress in Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling

In the last year, Thunder Ridge Raceway surrendered its gambling license and closed. So far, this available gambling license has not been reassigned to another property. However, the owners of Churchill Downs and Keeneland Race Course have reportedly expressed interest in additional historical racing facilities.

Also in the last year, the owners of Churchill Downs have opened Derby City Gaming to offer a venue with skill-based electronic gaming machines.

2017 Archive: Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2017 – Kentucky slot machine casino gambling does not exist, but holds the great prestige with regards to pari-mutuel wagering, with tracks opening in 1875. While casinos have never been legal in Kentucky, this state has provided a significant contribution to the history of gambling via illegal casinos and organized crime.