Despite the ever-increasing demand for new gambling venues, online casinos are still illegal in Kentucky. Nevertheless, residents of the Bluegrass State have several other options to satisfy their cravings, with sweepstakes casinos being one of the most viable and trusted alternatives.
Kentucky Sweepstakes Casinos
In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about KY sweepstakes casinos, including their legality, how they operate, and how you can win real cash playing casino-style games. We’ll also explore some of the best Kentucky sweepstakes casinos and how our experts rounded them up.
SweepsKings treats readers like royalty. Our team works around-the-clock to source you with honest and in-depth information on sweepstakes casinos. Our reviews, guides, bonuses, and coverage are based on hands-on testing and 100+ years of combined industry experience.
We may receive financial compensation if you play at the legal sweepstakes gaming sites we advertise. Still, our content remains impartial to financial or outside influence and is guided solely by our ethos, research, and industry knowledge.
List of Legal Online Casinos in Kentucky
1
1.75 million WOW Coins + 35 Free SC
- Paris Hilton ambassador
- 10 free spins awarded regularly
- VIP Transfer
Promo Code:
SWEEPSKING
4
FREE 400,000 Coins and 1000 Entries
- $10 Free Bonus
- Fish Games
- Outstanding UI
5
100,000 Gold Coins + 5 Sweeps Coins
- Supports crypto
- Hefty intro bonus
- Gamification elements
6
5,000 Free Sweeps Chips and 10,000,000 Free Coins
- Massive jackpots
- Millions of free coins
- US-based trading company
10
30,000 Gold Coins + 3 Sweeps Coins No Deposit
- Original games
- Outstanding user experience
- Crypto support
11
100,000 Free Gold Coins + 100% Super Coins Match
- Fish games
- User-friendly site
- Regular bonuses
12
Up To 575k GC + 105 SC + 1,000 VIP Points
- Free SC on socials
- User-friendly website on all devices
- Low gift card redemption threshold
13
Rakeback for Active Players
- Three virtual currencies
- 15+ banking methods
- Unique gaming elements
14
220,000 Gold Coins + 10 FREE SC
- Social betting with prizes
- 10 free sweeps no deposit
- Powered by Blazesoft
15
1,000,000 Gold Coins and 2.5 Spree Coins No Deposit
- Live casino
- Huge daily bonus
- Best sweeps casino entry in 2024
17
15,000 Gold Coins + 3 Sweeps Coins
- Over 1000 games
- 15+ live casino titles
- Skrill and Apple Pay support
18
250,000 Tao Coins No Deposit + 25% Match
- Referral bonus
- Daily rewards
- Slots and skill games
Promo Code:
SWEEPSKINGS
19
Up to 1000 Gems No Deposit + 50% Bonus
- Crypto and fiat
- Massive bonuses
- Highest user ratings
Kentucky Gambling Laws: Online Casino Legal Updates
The gambling landscape in Kentucky hasn’t changed much over the years. Land-based and online casinos are still not legal in the state, and Kentucky hasn’t made any noticeable moves to legalize different forms of gambling in nearly three decades.
Apart from the introduction of the lottery in 1989, the only other significant change happened in March 2023, when the state passed House Bill 551, which made betting online using computers and mobile devices legal — the first retail sportsbook launched in September, followed by mobile apps just a few weeks later.
Between 1994 and 2009, numerous bills were proposed to the General Assembly to legalize casino gambling. Most of these bills requested that casinos be added to horse race tracks, which would create so-called racinos. Unfortunately for players from KY, no such bill has been passed successfully.
As it currently stands, Kentuckians can enjoy the lottery and daily fantasy sports, as well as horse race wagering and sports betting, both of which are regulated by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC). However, despite all the speculation, and perhaps a smidge of wishful thinking, online and brick-and-mortar casinos remain illegal in KY.
For now, the closest alternatives to casino-style gambling and casino games are social and sweepstakes casinos, both of which are legal in the state.
How You Can Play Slots and Casino Games in Kentucky
Even though online casinos are illegal in the state, players from KY are not without options and some of them turn to offshore and social casinos. Sadly, both of these alternatives have major downsides, which is why we do not recommend them.
Offshore casinos operate outside of the US and none of them is licensed by any gambling authority recognized by the state. This means players have no protection when playing offshore. While social casinos are perfectly legal in Kentucky, they are for entertainment only and do not offer real money prizes.
The good news is that Kentucky sweepstakes casinos offer the best of both worlds — they are legal in the Bluegrass State and allow you to win real cash prizes without having to spend a single penny.
Sweepstake casinos operate using virtual currency: Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, which you can redeem for real cash prizes. In most sweepstakes casinos, 1 Sweep Coin is worth $1, and once you have enough SC, you can redeem them for real cash prizes.
Apart from that, sweepstakes casinos aren’t all too different from standard casinos, and joining a Kentucky sweepstakes casino is virtually the same as joining a regular one.
1. Visit the respective casino’s site
2. Tap the Sign Up or Join Now button to register
3. Enter all the required information and follow the instructions on screen
4. Verify your email address and/or your account
Most Kentucky sweepstakes casinos have KYC checks and some will even request that you verify your identity before you can start playing using Sweeps Coins. However, as soon as you do, you will be able to enjoy everything sweepstakes casinos have to offer including slots, table and live dealer games, fish games, crypto games, and much more.
How Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Kentucky?
Sweepstakes casinos operate under the sweepstakes model and use virtual currency. They do not require a traditional gambling license and can even operate legally in jurisdictions like Kentucky where online casinos aren’t legal.
On a federal level, sweepstakes casinos are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as well as a few other regulatory bodies, such as:
Even though they do not require a gambling license, sweepstakes casinos still have to adhere to various laws and regulations, one of the most critical ones being that no purchase is necessary to enter the sweepstakes. Having said that, some popular sweeps casinos have decided to restrict access to Kentucky, including the following brands:
Overview of the Best Sweepstakes Casinos in Kentucky
We’ve handpicked some of the best and most popular sweepstakes casinos available in Kentucky right now. Each of the casinos on our list offers a unique experience and has our stamp of approval — they are reputable, trustworthy, and most importantly, a bundle of fun.
WOW Vegas — Best for Slot Games
- Legal in Kentucky? Yes
- Welcome Bonus: 250,000 WC + 5 SC
- Number of Games: 1,200+
- Virtual Currencies: WOW Coins and Sweeps Coins
- Payment Methods: Skrill, Trustly, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Diners Club, JCB, Discover, Union Pay, Gift Cards
WOW Vegas is a powerhouse in the world of sweepstakes casinos. The platform has more than 1,200 unique games — you’ll be able to play classic slots, Feature Spins, Megaways, and Jackpot slots, from providers like Pragmatic Play, Booming Games, Habanero, and 3 Oaks Gaming, to name a few.
The casino also offers 250,000 WC + 5 SC to new players across 3 days. And you can even take advantage of the welcome bonus and get 1,750,000 WC + 35 SC for just $9.99.
Fortune Coins — Best for Bonuses and Promotions
- Legal in Kentucky? Yes
- Welcome Bonus: 650,000 GC + 1,400 FC
- Number of Games: 800+
- Virtual Currencies: Gold Coins and Fortune Coins
- Payment Methods: Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Online Banking
Fortune Coins has a hefty sign up deal, offering new players 650,000 Gold Coins and 1,400 Fortune Coins on sign up. The casino also has a first purchase bonus, allowing you to get a whopping 20,000,000 GC and 5,000 FC for just $10, saving you $40 in the process.
Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg — Fortune Coins also has a daily login bonus, netting you 30,000 GC and 100 FC every day, a mail-in bonus, social media promotions, a VIP Club, and a refer-a-friend bonus that will net you up to 120,000,000 GC and 4,500 FC.
Zula Casino — Best for Game Provider Variety
- Legal in Kentucky? Yes
- Welcome Bonus: 120,000 GC + 10 SC
- Number of Games: 1,000
- Virtual Currencies: Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins
- Payment Methods: Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Online Banking
If you enjoy trying new titles and exploring games from all sorts of software providers, then Zula Casino just might be the place for you. The casino has a massive library featuring more than 1,000 games, including slots, poker, fish games, and much more.
One of the best features is Zula Casino’s software provider list, which includes more than 25 brands — the casino offers games from top-tier providers like Booming Games, Habanero, and Pragmatic Play, as well as lesser-known providers, such as Peter & Sons, Gamzix, Four Leaf Gaming, and Slotopia, to name a few.
Funrize — Best for Playing on the Go
- Legal in Kentucky? Yes
- Welcome Bonus: 400,000 TRN + 1,000 PE
- Number of Games: 200+
- Virtual Currencies: Tournament Coins and Promotional Entries
- Payment Methods: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Trustly, PayPal, Gift Cards
Funrize is an ideal choice for players who prefer playing casino-style games on their mobile devices — the casino has dedicated mobile apps for both Android and iOS devices, which you can get from their respective stores.
As an added treat, new players can take advantage of the sign-up offer and get 400,000 TRN and 1,000 PE by registering and making a first purchase. And let’s not forget more than 200 games Funrize has in its game library, which includes slots, fish games, instant and arcade games, and more.
DingDingDing — Best for Crypto and Fiat Payment Options
- Legal in Kentucky? Yes
- Welcome Bonus: 100,000 GC + 5 SC
- Number of Games: 1,200+
- Virtual Currencies: Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins
- Payment Methods: Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover, Gift Cards, Google Pay, Cryptocurrency
DingDingDing allows you to claim 100,000 GC and 5 SC by signing up. The casino also has a fantastic variety of casino games, including slots, live dealer games, table games, fish games, and even crypto-based provably fair titles.
In addition to a virtually perfect game library, DingDingDing also has an excellent banking section — the casino offers both fiat and cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals, and accepts everything from popular credit and debit cards to crypto tokens like BTC, ETH, LTC, and more.
Why Our Experts Selected These Brands
Our main goal at SweepsKings is to introduce new and veteran players to the best sweepstakes casinos in the country. And to do that, we make sure that each of the casinos on our recommended list is trustworthy and reputable.
Of course, that’s just the starting process — we also ensure that the Kentucky casinos we promote excel in one or more categories we use to rate and review casinos.
Legal Status
Legality is always our top priority and we make sure that only legal casinos land on our recommended list. We also make sure that the casinos are transparent and offer clear and concise terms and conditions.
Bonuses
Bonuses play a huge part at sweepstakes casinos so our experts tend to favor casinos that have a good number of promotions. We also make sure that the bonuses are rewarding and have favorable terms, such as low wagering requirements, for example.
Gaming Options
Casino games play a crucial role when reviewing Kentucky sweepstakes casinos and we highly rate casinos that have a ton of high-quality games and also those that offer multiple game types. Additionally, we give bonus rating points to casinos that offer games from numerous software providers.
Payment Methods
We give extra rating points to casinos that have multiple banking options. On top of that, we also pay close attention to the withdrawal speed and redemption limits.
Customer Services
Good customer support is an integral part of every top-notch casino and can drastically improve player experience. Because of that, we tend to favor casinos that offer multiple support channels, such as live chat, telephone, and even a comprehensive FAQ section.
User Experience
User experience affects player satisfaction and engagement, and can often be a crucial factor in a platform’s overall success. We value casinos that are easy to navigate, well-optimized, accessible across multiple devices, and have dedicated mobile apps.
How Payments Work
As I’ve mentioned earlier, no purchase is necessary to enter sweepstakes and play at sweepstakes casinos. In fact, most sweepstakes casinos offer an abundance of Gold Coins through bonuses and promotions, so chances are you won’t ever need to get additional coins.
Still, if you would like to, or if you simply do not want to wait for the next influx of free daily coins, you can always opt to buy an extra Gold Coin package or two — most Kentucky sweepstakes casinos even have a first purchase bonus, which is entirely optional and will net you extra coins.
Purchasing additional Gold Coins is extremely straightforward.
1. Login to your account
2. Visit the casino’s shop
3. Select the package you want to purchase
4. Select the payment method you want to use and enter all the required information
5. Finalize the transaction
Keep in mind that some sweepstakes casinos have limits to how many coins you can purchase in a specific time period — these may vary from one casino to another, and can also depend on your location. Thankfully Kentucky doesn’t place such restrictions, but we urge you to spend within your means.
Additionally, quite a few sweepstakes casinos have responsible gaming policies in place, which allow you to control your spending and manually set account limits.
Can You Win Real Money Playing Sweepstakes Casino Games?
Unlike social casinos, sweepstakes casinos allow you to win real money by redeeming the casino’s premium currency (Sweeps Coins) for real cash prizes. Before you can redeem Sweeps Coins, most sweepstakes casinos will require that you verify your identity.
You will also need to have sufficient coins in your account before you can redeem them. This minimum amount varies from one casino to another — the minimum you can withdraw at WOW Vegas is 25 SC, while the min redemption limit at DingDingDing is 100 SC.
Keep in mind that all the bonus coins you get through bonuses or purchases also come with wagering requirements. Sweepstakes casinos generally have extremely low wagering requirements, between 1x and 3x, which means you will have to play through Sweeps Coins at least once before you can redeem them.
Your Gaming Options at Kentucky Sweepstakes Casinos
A common misconception among newer players is that sweepstakes casinos are subpar to traditional online casinos, which couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, most sweepstakes casinos offer everything traditional casinos do and then some.
Slot games comprise the biggest chunk of virtually every sweepstake casino’s game library. In addition to thousands of uniquely themed slots, Kentucky gamers will also be able to enjoy traditional tables virtually, such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and more.
Some of the finest Kentucky sweepstakes casinos also include fish games, scratchcards, and arcade games, and a select few like DingDingDing and The Money Factory even offer live dealer games. And let’s not forget about crypto-based casinos that offer provably fair games, such as Crash, Mines, and Plinko.
The best bit is that the majority of sweepstakes casinos do not trail behind even in the software provider department — many of them offer games from top-tier game developers, such as Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, BGaming, and Habanero, to name a few. And a handful of them even offer unique proprietary titles developed in-house.
Bonuses and Promotions at Kentucky Online Casinos
Kentucky sweepstakes casinos offer a myriad of bonuses and promotions, which may feel overwhelming for newer players. Not to worry, though — most of these bonuses are extremely straightforward, and claiming them is as easy as a walk in the park.
You will also often encounter social media promotions, tournaments and contests, and various quests and challenges, all of which are a great way to get some extra free SC coins at Kentucky social casinos. The most important bit to remember is that sweepstakes casino bonuses do not require you to spend any real money, bar the first purchase bonus, which is entirely optional.
Comparison of the Best Kentucky Casinos with Real Cash Prizes
| Kentucky Sweepstakes Casinos | Welcome Bonus | Games | Best Feature | Apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOW Vegas | 250,000 WC + 5 SC | 1,200+ (Slots, Megaways, Jackpots, Feature Spins) | A massive slot game library | No |
| Fortune Coins | 650,000 GC + 1,400 FC | 800+ (Slots, Jackpots, Table Games, Fish Games, Scratchcards, Table Games) | A hefty sign-up deal and progressive jackpots | No |
| Zula Casino | 120,000 GC + 10 SC | 1,000+ (Slots, Fish Games, Poker, Jackpots) | Offers games from more than 25 providers | No |
| Funrize | 400,000 TRN + 1,000 PE | 200+ (Slots, Jackpots, Fish Games) | Great interface and dedicated mobile apps | Android, iOS |
| DingDingDing | 100,000 GC + 5 SC | 1,200+ (Slots, Table Games, Live Dealer Games, Fish Games, Crypto Games) | Accepts both fiat and cryptocurrency payments and withdrawals | iOS |
Aspects in Favor and Against Sweepstakes Casinos in Kentucky
Pros
- Legitimate and regulated
- No deposits are required
- You can win real cash
- A ton of bonuses and promotions
- Game libraries rival even the best online casinos
Cons
- Not suited for high-rollers
- Waiting on free coins can become tedious
- Might not be as exciting as real money casinos
There’s no point in sugarcoating it — sweepstakes casinos do not offer the same level of excitement as real money gambling and traditional online casinos do. But you know what? The overall experience is pretty darn close.
What’s more, sweepstakes casinos do not require that you spend any money, they offer tons of bonuses and promotions, and feature practically everything that traditional online casinos have to offer. As an icing on the cake, sweepstakes casinos are perfectly legal in Kentucky, making them a far better alternative than risking it with offshore casinos.
If sweepstakes casinos sound like they might be worth checking out, then make sure to explore what my five favorite Kentucky sweepstakes casinos have to offer. Of course, you can always shop around, check out our other sweepstakes casino reviews on SweepsKings, and find yourself a new favorite.
Other Gambling Options for Kentucky Players
The Bluegrass State has fairly strict laws and regulations when it comes to casino-style gambling. Brick-and-mortar and online casinos are illegal in KY, which severely limits gambling options for Kentucky players.
Unless you are willing to travel out of state, Kentuckians can partake in horse race wagering, daily fantasy sports, the lottery, and as of recently, online sports betting. Apart from social and sweepstakes casinos, that is.
Unfortunately, the state doesn’t show any indication or desire to legalize online casinos any time soon. Even though players and casino operators alike are hopeful the state of KY might require additional tax revenue in the near future, the truth is that most politicians who supported the sports betting bill aren’t too keen on gambling expansion beyond that.
With that in mind, my advice is to take advantage of sweepstakes casinos and all the bonuses and free coins they have to offer — it won’t hurt your wallet and you may walk away a tad richer.
Author: Mike F.
Updated:
Mike is SweepsKings’ SEO wizard and uses his skills to produce content that answers questions you haven’t even thought of yet! He personally fact-checks all articles posted on SweepsKings and leverages his vast iGaming marketing experience to keep the site feeling fresh.
Mike is SweepsKings’ SEO wizard and uses his skills to produce content that answers questions you haven’t even thought of yet! He personally fact-checks all articles posted on SweepsKings and leverages his vast iGaming marketing experience to keep the site feeling fresh.
