Online Poker in Lexington, KY

Lexington in Kentucky may be the Horse Capital of the World, but it is rarely associated with gambling, especially poker.

The Bluegrass State gambling stance is quite unique — on the one hand, it is home to the Kentucky Derby (one of the most famous betting events in the country).

On the other hand, it doesn’t have land-based casinos or online poker rooms, which means live and online poker are off the table.

However, you still have the option to play Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and other poker games as a Lexington resident. A closer look at Kentucky law books will help us understand how to play online poker in this city.

Best Online Poker Sites in Lexington, Kentucky

On the surface, the Lexington online poker scene seems barren — there are no real money state-licensed sites or laws allowing this activity.

Nevertheless, offshore online casinos offer a solution to this problem. They host niche poker titles you won’t find in land-based social poker rooms or neighboring tribal gambling establishments. These sites offer generous bonuses and provide excellent customer service and user experience.

However, we can only speak for ourselves, so we invite you to take a look at the features these platforms offer. Below is a list of the best offshore poker rooms in Lexington.

My list of the best poker sites which I consider to be the best rooms to play in 2024:

Is Online Poker Legal in Lexington, Kentucky?

No, Kentucky hasn’t regulated online poker yet. Unlike some US states, the Bluegrass State doesn’t have a long history with poker. It first legally appeared on the KY gambling scene in 1992 when the state loosened charitable gaming restrictions and allowed poker nights. Land-based casinos were never legalized, so you will hardly find any legal live poker in the state.

In the early days of online poker, Kentucky allowed its players to enjoy their favorite game on global sites. However, things have changed since the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) IN 2006. The Act restricted financial transactions to and from such sites, forcing many operators to cease operations.

The Bluegrass State took this matter seriously and decided to go after offshore gambling sites. In 2008, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear’s office filed a lawsuit to reclaim 141 gambling domain names and stop illegal gambling in the Commonwealth. The state received a small settlement before the court quashed the case.

In 2011, Kentucky filed an $870 million lawsuit against PokerStars for serving KY players from 2006 to 2011. The case was closed in 2022, with Kentucky winning a $300 million settlement from the PokerStars parent company.

There have been several attempts to regulate online poker since 2011. A Republican from Northern Kentucky, Rep. Adam Koenig, sponsored House Bill 175, aimed at regulating sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and online poker. The Kentucky Lottery Commission would have been appointed to regulate online poker, but the bill was pushed to 2020 despite having 21 co-sponsors.

Koenig sponsored another bill in 2022, HB 606, which passed the chamber with a 58:30 vote but didn’t go further. Finally, 2023 brought another legislation, HB 106, aiming to legalize online poker, sports betting, and DFS. Despite being proposed by three House Representatives, it failed.

However, another piece of legislation, HB 551, intended to regulate sports betting exclusively, passed the Senate at the end of March 2023, making Kentucky the 38th state to legalize this sector. Although the online casino vertical ended up empty-handed, passing this legislation brings Lexington and other Kentucky players one step closer to online poker.

Until this dream becomes a reality, Lexington poker players can play on sweepstakes sites or join offshore poker rooms. Although some international poker sites have refused to accept Kentucky residents after the 2011 incident, the majority still do.

The state is quite strict when it comes to promoting casino games and dealing with those who manage or run gambling activities. On the other hand, regular players from Lexington should be safe to register because there is no provision in the Kentucky Statutes that bans poker players from enjoying this casino classic on international platforms. That said, make sure to consult a legal expert if you have any doubts.

Lexington, GA Poker Laws

Although Lexington has no legal real money gambling facilities or online poker sites, and it is pretty clear that poker is illegal, you can still read the following laws and familiarize yourself with the state’s legal framework.

• Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 528.010
• Chapter 230 (Horse Racing and Showing)
• Chapter 528 (Gambling)

How to Pick the Best Lexington Poker Site

Choosing the right poker room can be challenging if you’re new to online gaming. We have created a list of the most vital criteria each top poker site must meet. Learn how to pick an offshore poker room in Lexington from the following sections.

Benefits of Playing Online Poker in Lexington, KY

The offshore poker scene is popular among both experienced and novice players. There are a variety of reasons for this, including:

• Lexington is home to zero brick-and-mortar casinos (social ones are excluded). Therefore, most go online to play poker due to the wide range of options and accessibility.
• Online poker offers convenience. Instead of driving to another state to play real money poker, KY residents can enjoy everything from their homes.
• Offshore poker rooms allow multi-tabling. Playing at several tables simultaneously increases your winning chances, which is not possible in a live setting.
• Compared to land-based venues that can receive a limited number of players, their online counterparts can accommodate thousands of individuals around the globe. This also means higher traffic volume and more extensive game portfolios.
• Competition in the online poker sector is fierce, so operators need to invest in promotions to attract new and retain old customers. Bonuses vary from site to site and can go up to $3,000 on specific platforms.
• International poker platforms host tournaments all the time. What’s even better is that you get to choose a competition that suits your time and budget and pick the format that appeals to you most. Operators usually host SNGs, freerolls, bounties, and more.

Famous Poker Players From Lexington, KY

Although the poker market is nonexistent in Kentucky, Lexington has several poker pros. Here are some of them:

Franklin Caldwell “Dee” — Caldwell started his poker career in 2005 and has participated in over 45 live tournaments. He is Lexington’s best poker pro, amassing $764k in live competitions. Caldwell’s most significant success was winning $235.3k at the $10,000 NLTH — World Champion Event at WSOP in Las Vegas (2005). He currently holds the 6th spot on the Kentucky all-time money list.

Pat Madden — Madden debuted on the poker scene in 2003, but he hasn’t been active for the past five years. Participating in 21 live events, he has earned over $677k and ranks 8th on Kentucky’s all-time money list. His most successful achievement was winning second place at the $3,000 + $120 NLH event in Las Vegas (2006) when he took $185.3k home.

Ron Kirk — Kirk’s poker career lasted only from 2005 to 2009. His nine live events brought him over $523k and the 18th spot on the Kentucky all-time money list. He only played at NLTH events, most notably triumphing at the $1,500 NLH at the WSOP in Las Vegas (2005), winning $321.5k.

William Watson — Watson has been actively playing poker since 2008 and has participated in over 75 live poker competitions. His best live cash prize was $55.7k when he finished 3rd in the $1,675 NLH — Main Event Ring Event 10 in the WSOPC in Southern Indiana. Watson currently ranks 19th among players in Kentucky.

Top Land-Based Poker Rooms in Lexington, KY

Some Kentucky lawmakers have tried legalizing brick-and-mortar casinos but to no avail. However, that didn’t stop Chris Moneymaker, the WSOP champion, from opening the Moneymaker Social Club in Paducah. The club didn’t last long, and Moneymaker was forced to close it in early 2023 to avoid facing legal action.

Moneymaker wasn’t the only one to open such a club. Many small “social” poker clubs have also popped up in recent years. Although their status is uncertain, they have nonetheless remained open. One of them is the Royal Social Club, offering regular daily No Limit Hold’em and Pot Omaha events.

Bar leagues have also been very popular in Lexington and the rest of Kentucky. They are legal because they follow specific rules, one of which is that they must not require buy-ins. Thus, the only prize one can take is from the hands they play, and it must not exceed $500.

Lexington has no social poker rooms nearby, the nearest being 75 miles away. Here’s where you can find them:

Poker room	Address	Number of tables	Tournaments
Royal Social Club	124 Black Rd, London, Kentucky 40741	8	Yes
Triple Barrel Social Club	3730 Nashville Rd, Franklin, Kentucky 42134	5	Yes
Tri-State Social Club	2030 US Hwy 41, Henderson, Kentucky 42420	6	Yes

It’s worth noting that many Lexington poker players cross the border to play real money poker in the neighboring states with legal land-based casinos. Cincinnati (Ohio) is 85 miles away by car and has five poker rooms with cash games and tournaments. The largest ones are Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, with 30 tables, and Mad River Poker Club, with 19.

FAQ