Louisville Casinos – How to Gamble Online & In-Person in Louisville, KY
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Shawn West
- July 11, 2024
Despite retail and online sports betting going live in Kentucky on September 2023, those are not the only available gambling options for local residents. There are Kentucky sports betting sites with online casinos that take on clients from Louisville and offer the full in-person casino experience from your computer, phone or tablet. They also offer dozens of variations of slot machines, video poker, table games and even casino gameplay with live dealers.
While you won’t find any Kentucky companies offering online casinos, since state law prohibits them from doing so, it is still possible to play casino games for real money using offshore sportsbooks.
There are dozens of online betting sites that offer casino games for Louisville residents. It can take a bit of effort to find one that’s safe, dependable and offers a high-quality user experience with a deep menu of different games, as well as fast, secure payouts. That’s where we come in.
We tasked our team of gambling experts with rating the online casino options available to come up with recommendations. They’ve provided a list of the top 10 online casinos in Louisville.
| SPORTSBOOK | TRUST SCORE | ONLINE SINCE | Expert Review | BONUS | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2011
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$750 Cash Bonus
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2001
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100% Free Play
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1996
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$500 Cash Bonus
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2002
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55% Cash Bonus
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1996
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$1,000 Cash Bonus
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2001
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$250 Free Bet
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2014
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50% Free Play
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Land-Based Louisville Casinos
Casinos are prohibited in Kentucky, meaning that there are no good gambling options in the greater Louisville area. Less than a ten-minute drive from downtown Louisville, there is Derby City Gaming, which is the closest casino you’ll find; however, it doesn’t truly measure up to other land-based casinos. Despite being the largest casino by floor space, this venue only offers slot machines and no other actual casino games.
Churchill Downs Inc. has expanded from just the Churchill Downs Racetrack venue and now operates multiple “casinos” in Kentucky, but only charitable gaming is allowed so there are no fully operational casinos that offer real wagering in the state.
Instead, the venues operated by Churchill Downs Inc. have a variety of gambling machines like slots, but that requires an element of skill and this is how they get around the current gambling laws.
There are some across the border in Ohio or further north into Indiana, where state laws toward gambling are looser. Fortunately, this historic city isn’t too far from either of these state lines; here is a list of casinos in the surrounding states.
Belterra Casino & Resort
Belterra Casino Resort is a popular entertainment venue which is located in Florence, Indiana, about 45 miles southwest of Cincinnati, Ohio. The casino features numerous slot games (1,200 slot machines in total). Belterra Casino Resort also offers a variety of table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and poker. The casino has a dedicated poker room with several tables and hosts various tournaments throughout the year.
Belterra Casino Resort is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and offers various daily bonuses, promotions and events throughout the year. The casino resort is easily accessible from major highways and is a top destination for those looking for a luxurious and exciting gaming and entertainment experience in the Cincinnati area.
Caesars Southern Indiana
Caesars Southern Indiana is an entertainment venue which is located in Elizabeth, Indiana, about 14 miles from Louisville, Kentucky. The casino features over 1,300 slot machines and Caesars Southern Indiana also offers a wide range of table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and poker. The casino has a dedicated poker room with several tables and hosts various tournaments throughout the year.
The casino’s sportsbook allows players to place bets on a variety of sporting events, including professional and college sports. Caesars Southern Indiana also features several dining options, including a steakhouse, casual restaurants and a buffet.
Horseshoe Southern Indiana
Horseshoe Southern Indiana is a major casino resort which is located in Elizabeth, Indiana, about 14 miles from Louisville, Kentucky. The casino features over 1,300 slot machines, ranging from regular slot machines (classic reel slots) to modern video slots with various themes and bonus features. There are also a variety of electronic gaming machines available, including video poker machines, video blackjack machines and other popular electronic table games.
Horseshoe Southern Indiana also offers a variety of table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and poker. The casino has a dedicated poker room with several tables and hosts various tournaments throughout the year. The casino’s sportsbook allows players to place bets on a variety of sporting events, including professional and college sports.
Tropicana Evansville
Tropicana Evansville is a popular brick-and-mortar casino which is located in Evansville, Indiana, near the Ohio River. The casino features over 1,000 slot machines and video poker games for casino players to enjoy.
Tropicana Evansville also offers a wide range of casino table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and poker, which is available in their standalone poker room.
The Best Online Casinos in Louisville
After looking at more than 100 different online gambling websites available to Louisville, we have compiled the following ranking of the top 10 best online casinos in the city.
- BookMaker – Best all-around casino site for residents in Louisville
- BetOnline – The best spot in Louisville for online slots
- Bovada – Louisville’s top poker site
- Heritage Sports – Best customer service in the city
- BetAnySports – Louisville’s largest menu of casino games
- BetUS – Biggest bonuses for Louisville gamblers
- WagerWeb – Louisville’s choice for casino rebates
- JustBet – The best slot tournaments in the city
- Everygame – Great variety of slot and table games
- SportsBetting.ag – The highest limits for Louisville casinos
Best Online Casinos in Louisville – A Closer Look
Each of our top 10 casinos does different things well. While our experts weigh several different factors, the things you find important may differ. So we offer a detailed look at the pros and cons of the top 5 sites in our reviews below to help you figure out which one best matches your needs and preferences.
1. Best Overall Online Casino in Louisville: BookMaker
Key Features
- Highest RTP in the city on slot games
- Easily navigable site
- Highly rated loyalty program and flexible welcome bonuses
Bookmaker.eu took the top spot in our rankings as the best overall casino site for Louisville gamblers. Our experts were impressed by a large number of different RTP (return to player) slot and table games available at BookMaker. Some of the only slot machines offer RTP as high as 97%, which is higher than you’ll find at most other sites available in Louisville.
BookMaker offers a flexible set of welcome promotions to go along with an outstanding loyalty program for current customers. Its software runs smoothly and is easy to navigate, even for people who are brand new to online gambling.
Speaking of newcomers, BookMaker also has a free casino section so that rookies can learn the ropes, practice and get up to speed before they start playing for real money.
The full casino offers all the classic table games like roulette, blackjack, poker and craps, as well as games like bingo and keno.
2. Top Louisville Casino Site for Slots: BetOnline
Key Features
- Largest number of different online slot games
- High betting limits on table games and elsewhere
BetOnline is the spot for slot games. They have more different variations than anyone else, with over 350 different twists on online slots. Their online casino also uses games from a variety of different software vendors, giving bettors even more variety. You can play old favorites and classic slot games as well as the newest 3D slot games.
Outside of slots, BetOnline also offers a variety of table games, including 20 different versions of blackjack. There are high-limit table games as well as tables with lower stakes, allowing you to find a spot to play that matches what you want to risk.
BetOnline offers two different live dealer casinos, which they call the Red and Black casinos. It also has one of the busiest poker rooms around, with tournaments that offer as much as half a million dollars in prize money.
If you want to try other gambling markets, instead of just the casino, BetOnline also offers a racebook and their sportsbook is also one of the best in Kentucky. They offer their customers 24/7 customer service and have welcome and reload bonuses using BetOnline promo codes.
3. Best Poker Room in Louisville: Bovada
Key Features
- America’s busiest poker room and a top-level sportsbook
- Large bonuses for casino players
- One of the best loyalty programs in Louisville
Many online gambling sites have a live dealer poker room that is separate from their casino gaming area. Bovada is no exception.
While these rankings are based on the online casino, Bovada’s poker room is worth a mention. It’s the busiest one in the United States. They also have one of the best sportsbooks in the world, with more ways to bet than anyone else. The gambling site is full-service and prides itself on providing customers with an elite betting experience and plenty of variety. And that includes their online casino.
Bovada has a deep menu of table games with more than 200 table game titles available, as well as 120 different variations of slots. They have cutting-edge slot games, like 3D and five-reel slots, as well as obscure table games you won’t find in many other places.
Bovada also has an extensive live dealer casino with more than 34 different playing options and limits that range from as low as $5 to as much as $2,500.
Customers also have access to an outstanding loyalty program and Bitcoin users can get a 125% match on their first deposit as a welcome bonus. There are also numerous promo codes at Bovada that customers can take advantage of.
4. The Louisville Online Casino for Live Dealers: Heritage Sports
Key Features
- Best VIP treatment and customer service in Louisville
- Live dealers are available 24/7
- Monthly cash-back rebate on losses of up to 8%
Heritage Sports prides itself on offering VIP red carpet service to all of its customers. That makes sense since it began as an invite-only gambling site before opening its doors to all gamblers. Its VIP service was the choice of our expert panel as the best treatment in Louisville. That extends to its top-notch customer service, which is available 24/7 and can take care of any questions or issues that may come up with professional staff and short hold times.
You can cut your losses, literally, with Heritage’s monthly rebate program. They offer an 8% cashback rebate on your net casino losses.
Heritage Sports has a live casino that’s up and running 24/7. Their video casino features a wide variety of modern 3D slot machine games. The table game area also has a deep menu, with 27 versions of video poker and several options for roulette players. Heritage also offers a free casino to help you practice before risking any amount of your bankroll.
5. Best Variety of Casino Games in Louisville: BetAnySports
Key Features
- Largest variety of casino games in Louisville
- Extensive live dealer section
BetAnySports recently received a grade of A+ from our expert reviewers, becoming one of just a handful of online gambling sites to earn the highest possible rating. It’s easy to see why when visiting BetAnySports’ casino.
You won’t find a bigger variety of games anywhere in Louisville. BetAnySports has more than a half dozen different casino platforms available, offering a dazzling array of games and variations from a huge selection of different software providers, including BetSoft, Real Time Gaming and Visionary iGaming.
The live casino also has three different areas: The Vegas Live Casino, Lucky Dealer Live and Euro Live. They have live dealers based in North America, Europe and Asia, which means someone has a game up and running any time of day. On the video casino section, players can select Diamond, Star, 3D, Fortune, Horizon and Classic Casinos, among others.
BetAnySports also has the best value sportsbook in Louisville, offering reduced juice and favorable lines. They also have a cash-back racebook.
A large number of different casino gaming areas can make it confusing for newcomers or people looking for a specific game. The bonuses and promotions also aren’t as high as at other sites, but BetAnySports offers value and variety in its casino gaming experience.
Is online gambling in Louisville legal?
Louisville residents can bet on horseraces online at Kentucky-based racebooks like TwinSpires, but those sites are not allowed to offer any other types of gambling. Offshore sportsbooks are the only option that allows all forms of gambling in one spot.
These offshore casino sites offer a variety of casino games like online slots, live dealer games and more. You can find table games with a variety of table limits that will suit any gambler.
They also offer exciting casino bonuses that will allow you to cash in on things like free spins or free bonus cash. Be mindful of any wagering requirements when you’re claiming these promotional offers, though.
Gambling Laws in Louisville Explained
Louisville falls under the jurisdiction of Kentucky state laws on gambling, which are among the nation’s most strict regarding most forms of betting. Horse racing is the only form of gambling that the state is friendly toward. Kentucky residents can bet in person at the track and online at Kentucky-based companies.
Most other forms of gambling, however, are prohibited in the state. That includes sports betting, poker and casino games. Kentuckians are not allowed to engage in any of them in person and providers based in Kentucky cannot allow online wagering in any of those areas. The state has come close to legalizing sports betting in the last few years, but none of the proposed bills were passed.
The only way to legally gamble online in Louisville, in markets other than horse race betting is to go to a different state or to an offshore casino site, which is outside of state and local law, as well as U.S. legislation.
Louisville Online Casinos Comparison – Payment Methods
Louisville’s top online casinos don’t just offer variety in the games you can play for money. They also have several different ways you can deposit and withdraw money from your account. Customers can pay by classic banking methods, like credit cards, debit cards or a bank wire transfer.
Those are all easy, but since offshore casinos are based in another country, the transactions can have delays and extra fees associated with crossing national boundaries. Many online casinos offer attractive bonuses for using crypto or e-wallets, which are newer payment options designed to easily cross national borders. You can view a table with each of our top online sportsbooks’ accepted payment options below:
| Sportsbook | Payment Methods | Time to Process Payouts |
|---|---|---|
| Bovada | Accepts most credit cards, eWallets, P2P, crypto, vouchers, and select Visa or Mastercard gift cards | 1-to-5 days |
| BetOnline | Accepts most credit cards, eWallets, P2P, crypto, checks, and money orders | 1-to-14 days |
| BookMaker | Accepts most credit cards, P2P, crypto, checks, and money orders | From same day to 7 days once it passes approval process (1-3 business days) |
| Heritage Sports | Accepts credit and prepaid cards, Bitcoin, bank wire, checks, and P2P (not on Sundays though) | 1-15 days with most taking 1-5 days |
| Everygame | Accepts most credit cards, crypto, as well as bank transfer, P2P, and checks | 1-to-14 days subject to method |
As you can see, many of the top online sportsbooks accept multiple payment options, with many of them preferring crypto payment methods.
How to Play at Louisville Casinos
Registering an account at an online casino site is fast and easy. Just a few minutes will have you up and ready to start playing. Here’s a quick guideline for the process.
Step 1: Create Your Account
After you’ve picked the casino site you want to join, go to its website. On the home page, click the “Join Up” or “Register” button to start the sign-up process.
Step 2: Provide Your Details
Fill out the requested personal information—there shouldn’t be much that they require—and click on the “Create Account” button. Some sites require a two-step verification, meaning you’ll have to respond to a code sent to your phone.
Step 3: Fund Your Account
The next step is to deposit money into your new account. Go to the cashier page and select from the menu of possible payment methods. Enter the amount you want to deposit and your account information. If the welcome bonus you want to claim requires a promo code, this is where you would enter that. They should be listed on the site next to the description of the bonus.
Step 4: Begin Playing Your Favorite Games
That’s all there is. It’s time to start playing. Find the game you want to play and select a table that matches your experience and skill level and the amount you’re ready to wager.
Conclusion
Kentucky sports betting has been in the conversation for a while now, with the legislature proposing bills each of the last three years. In 2022, the bill passed the state house but died in the Senate. The state will continue pursuing legalization and the governor has come out in support of the bill. However, there doesn’t appear to be a similar push to legalize casino gaming.
Many of the states bordering Kentucky have loosened their gambling laws in recent years, which may put pressure on the state if residents begin crossing state lines to take care of their gambling needs. Otherwise, it appears that for the foreseeable future, online casino gambling in Louisville will be limited to offshore sportsbooks.
FAQs – Online Casinos in Louisville, Kentucky
Is it legal to play at an online casino in Louisville?
It is legal for Kentuckian bettors to play at an online casino if they live in Louisville. You won’t find any Louisville or Kentucky-based casino providers due to state laws, but that doesn’t limit any resident from using a site that is located offshore.
What is the best online casino in Louisville?
Our team of betting experts evaluated more than 100 different offshore casino sites and assembled a top 10 list. Bookmaker.eu was their top choice, followed by BetOnline and Bovada. However, all the sites in the top 10 are highly rated and would provide a favorable gaming experience.
Is playing at an online casino in Louisville safe?
Yes, it is entirely safe to play at an online casino in Louisville. The catch is being cautious about which casino provider you choose. Companies like the ones in our review have been long-established as safe and trustworthy.
Can you play DraftKings casino in Louisville?
DraftKings casino is not available for any Kentucky residents, but there are still plenty of other options for casino gaming in Louisville, like at one of our top recommended offshore casino sites.
Can you play casino games on a mobile app in Louisville?
If your favorite device for casino gaming is your phone or tablet, you can rest assured that many casino providers also offer fully optimized and immersive apps for your gaming pleasure.
