Find Your Favourite Kentucky Casino Resorts 2025

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If you asked me what Kentucky was most famous for I’d say the Kentucky Derby horse race, southern fried chicken and bourbon. I definitely wouldn’t put casinos on that list and that’s for good reason.

Technically Kentucky doesn’t allow traditional casino gambling such as Vegas-style casino slots and live table games. Tribal casinos aren’t a factor in Kentucky as the two tribes present in the state don’t have federal recognition so can’t go through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, even if they wanted to. 

However, you can still play ‘slots’ at some Kentucky race tracks and gaming centers via instant racing betting machines. These games look and sound like a regular slot machine but work off a different mechanic. So, let’s take a look at how these work and where you can find them.

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Kentucky Land-Based Casino Operators

The slot games that we know and love, the Vegas-style slot machines,  work off a Random Number Generator (RGN) mechanic. These are considered Class III gaming alongside live table games. 

However, many US states don’t allow these, so game suppliers have come up with different ways to give players a slots gaming experience using different methods. In Alabama for example, many of the ‘electronic gaming machines’ use a bingo mechanic. In Kentucky, instant racing betting machines use past horse races to determine winners and the actual reels are purely for theming and entertainment. 

These HRM’s (Historical Racing Machines) look and feel like regular slots so most players don’t know the difference and it doesn’t affect the gaming experience. However, in terms of casino operators, you won’t see the big mega-casino corporates due to the restrictive legislation.

Some of the casino operators in Kentucky are:

• Churchill Downs – The company behind the Kentucky Derby own and operate Derby City Casino and Hotel, Derby City Gaming Downtown, Ellis Park Racing and Gaming, Newport Racing and Gaming, Oak Grove Gaming Racing Hotel, Owensboro Racing and Gaming, and Turfway Park Racing and Gaming. 
• Kentucky Downs – A management partnership of Ron Winchell and Marc Falcone own a series of Mint Gaming Halls in four locations – Bowling Green, Cumberland, Cumberland Run and Kentucky Downs
• Red Mile Gaming and Racing – Operate Red Mile Gaming and Racing venue

Kentucky Casino Resorts 

If you’re in Kentucky, why not check out some of the top gaming facilities in the state such as:

• Derby City Casino and Hotel – Just five minutes from Louisville Airport, this racing resort has a 123 room hotel, several bars and restaurants plus live music and DJ sets. The gaming floor has 1,300 HRM games and a sportsbook. 
• Oak Grove Racing Gaming Hotel – Featuring a 5 Star hotel, fitness center, outdoor amphitheater and several bars and restaurants including a signature steakhouse, Oak Grove is one of the best, if not the best, gaming venues in Kentucky. You can choose from 1,200 HRM games including some classic favorites like Buffalo, Huff N’ Puff and Ultimate Fire Link 
• Mint Gaming Hall, Kentucky Downs – Located just 35 minutes from Nashville, the Mint Gaming Hall at Kentucky Downs has a lot to enjoy. With over 1,000 HRM games, you can also enjoy charity bingo, and place sports bets at Circa Sports Kentucky. The resort has a live event venue, two restaurants including Irons Steakhouse, a couple of bars and Springhill Suites By Marriott® is right next door. 

More Than Gambling

Kentucky has so much to offer in terms of tourist attractions and adventures, so while you’re visiting you could also check out:

• Horse Racing  – It goes without saying that Kentucky has a proud horse racing heritage and you can see that, not only in the racing tracks such as Churchill Downs but there’s also a Kentucky Derby Museum. There’s also a Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington where you can take a horseback ride, watch a show featuring retired race horses and learn about Kentucky’s horse racing history
• Bourbon Trail – You can take a tour of world-famous bourbon distilleries such as Maker’s Mark (Loretto), Woodford Reserve (Versailles), Buffalo Trace (Frankfort) and Jim Beam (Clermont) which also includes tastings and a stunning scenic drive
• Outdoor Adventures – Visit the world’s longest known cave system at Mammoth Cave National Park where you can take underground tours and hiking trails (not all 400 miles though!) plus you can go canoeing too. Or why not check out Red River Gorge in Daniel Boone National Forest. This is ideal for nature lovers with hiking, climbing and camping, not to mention ziplining too. The famous Sky Bridge is a must see. 
• Attractions – Kentucky has some interesting attractions to visit including Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, The Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory  and the Sanders Café & Museum, which is the original KFC where Colonel Sanders started it all.

Important Considerations

The minimum gambling on HRM machines in Kentucky is 21 years old. It is always advisable to bring photographic ID with you on entry.