- Harrah's Casino Louisville Ky
- Louisville Ky Closest Casino Entertainment
- Closest Casino To Louisville Ky
- Caesars Casino Louisville Ky
Major cities near Louisville, KY. This is a list of large cities closest to Louisville, KY. A big city usually has a population of at least 200,000 and you can often fly into a major airport. If you need to book a flight, search for the nearest airport to Louisville, KY. You can also look for cities 4 hours from Louisville, KY (or 3 hours or 2. Hollywood casino, and younger customers and began its opening its shops, inc. Directions, pewee valley mo 63131 earth city. Horseshoe southern indiana county, along the preliminary license casino near louisville ky of money to activate your products/services.
Kentucky is not a gambling-friendly state by any means. Actually, it could have some of the strictest laws around gambling in the entire country.
That being said, Kentucky does have minimal options for those looking to press their luck, including the famously known Kentucky Derby.
Horse racing is legal in the Bluegrass State, as well as the state lottery.
Is online gambling in the future of Kentucky? And how did the state become so strict towards gambling in the first place? We break it down and more in our Kentucky gambling guide below.
Online Casinos in Kentucky
Although Kentucky has a long tradition with horse racing, it has not legalized casinos (online or otherwise).
There have been limited discussions of legalizing online casinos, but it seems unlikely that we'll see online casinos offered there in the foreseeable future.
Kentucky does have a state lottery, which can indicate an openness to other forms of betting.
The nearest online casinos will be in West Virginia, which has already approved legislation. Tennessee has recently approved online sports betting.
But, you can still register with a legal online casino while you're in Kentucky.
That means you can get the casino's bonus offers or deposit, and then play whenever you're in states where it's legal (even in a layover at the airport). (Do be aware of the casinobonus's expiry date, though.)
The only forms of legal online gambling in the state include the lottery and pari-mutuel betting.
Land-Based Casinos in Kentucky
The most common type of gambling offered is pari-mutuel betting on thoroughbred horse racing at the 10 racetracks located throughout the state.
The most famous horse race offered in the state is the Kentucky Derby, which has been run annually since 1875.
The Kentucky Derby is always run at Churchill Downs on the first Sunday in May.
A festival is also held each year for two weeks before the race in Louisville, where the track is located. Louisville is also the state's largest city.
There are three racetrack casinos in Kentucky that offer some form of casino gambling. There are no traditional slot machines in Kentucky casinos. Instead, they all offer instant racing bettingmachines.
While these machines may appear to be regular slot machines, they are actually gaming machines that are based on unidentified past horse races and the spinning reels shown on the machinesare for entertainment purposes only.
Those instant racing machines are the only types of casino gambling offered in Kentucky casinos. You will not find any table games offered at the casinos in Kentucky.
Types of Casinos in Kentucky
There are no traditional casinos in Kentucky.
Residents have numerous racetracks to choose from, as explained above.
List of Racetracks in Kentucky
Click on any of the race tracks below to learn more about them.
Derby City Gaming
- 4520 Poplar Level Rd, Louisville, KY 40213
- +1 502-961-7600
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
Ellis Park
- 3300 US-41, Henderson, KY 42420
- +1 812-425-1456
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
Harrah's Casino Louisville Ky
Kentucky Downs
- 5629 Nashville Rd, Franklin, KY 42134
- +1 270-586-7778
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
Red Mile
- 1200 Red Mile Rd, Lexington, KY 40504
- +1 859-255-0752
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
Churchill Downs
- 700 Central Ave, Louisville, KY 40208
- +1 502-636-4400
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
- Hosts the Kentucky Derby
Turfway Park
- 7500 Turfway Rd, Florence, KY 41042
- +1 859-371-0200
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
Keeneland
- 4201 Versailles Rd, Lexington, KY 40510
- +1 859-254-3412
- Games: Instant racing betting machines
Kentucky Land-Based Casinos Map
Map
-->Louisville Ky Closest Casino Entertainment
Caesars Southern Indiana | |
---|---|
Location | Elizabeth, Indiana |
Address | 11999 Casino Center Drive SE |
Opening date | December 12, 2019 |
Theme | Romanesque |
No. of rooms | 503 |
Total gaming space | 110,000-square-foot (10,000 m2) |
Casino type | Land-Based |
Owner | Vici Properties |
Operating license holder | Caesars Entertainment |
Previous names | Caesars Indiana (1998-2008), Horseshoe Southern Indiana (2008-2019) |
Renovated in | 2008, 2016, 2019 |
Website | caesars.com/caesars-southern-indiana |
Caesars Southern Indiana (formerly Caesars Indiana and Horseshoe Southern Indiana[1]), which locals often simply call 'The Boat' (a reference to the former riverboat that was the main focus of the complex) is a casino owned by Vici Properties and operated by Caesars Entertainment. Opened in 1998, it is located outside the community of Elizabeth, Indiana, across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. The complex is located at the Harrison County line. This is the closest legal gambling location to Louisville and the large Southern Indiana cities because casino gambling is not allowed in neighboring Floyd County.
The complex includes an over 100,000 ft/2 gaming area, a sports betting lounge and several restaurants. Other amenities include a hotel, a pavilion, a showroom, two parking decks, and a golf course. Steelman Partners designed the hotel.
Construction and Caesars era[edit]
On November 8, 1994, a ballot proposal to allow riverboat gambling was passed by the residents of Harrison County, Indiana, following legislation passed by the General Assembly to allow such gambling in the Hoosier state. In January 1995 five different proposals were given to the Indiana Gaming Commission in order to begin a riverboat gambling organization in Harrison County. Over a year passed before the proposition by the partnership of ITT Corporation's Caesars division and Riverboat Development Incorporated (RDI) was approved, granting the Caesars World/Riverboat Development Incorporated partnership the preliminary license in May 1996.[2]
The initial plan of the Caesars World/Riverboat Development Incorporated partnership was for the complex to cost $228 million, but by early 1998 the projected cost was raised to $275 million. They chose a site near Bridgeport, Indiana, an unincorporated town located immediately on the Harrison County side of the Harrison County/Floyd County border; the site is fifteen miles (24 km) southwest of Louisville, Kentucky (Kentucky's largest metropolis), and was selected after performing a study to determine the nearest accessible location (to the city) that would permit a riverboat casino to operate legally. Louisville officials attempted to delay the construction of Caesars Indiana, who wanted to protect the gambling revenue of Churchill Downs and other Kentucky horse racing interests. Environmental groups lodged similar complaints due to concerns regarding the potential negative impact of the proposed development on local air quality, waterways, and wildlife. The Caesars World/Riverboat Development Incorporated partnership had already spent $11 million on making necessary improvements to use the newly acquired property. A preliminary study by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in February 1998 determined that further environmental studies, which would have delayed the building of the necessary facilities for Caesars Indiana, were not necessary. However, the United States Army Corps of Engineers did caution the Caesars World/Riverboat Development Incorporated partnership to carefully consider the number of trees to be cleared and the impact on runoff water.[3]
Caesars Indiana was finally opened to the public on November 20, 1998. The riverboat was initially slated to begin operating in the summer of 1998, but interference by three different Indiana environmental groups issuing lawsuits, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (due to the Army Corps of Engineers concluding that a full environmental study was unnecessary), and heavy rains in the spring of 1998 delayed the opening. A very important person cruise on November 16, 1998, was the first sailing of the riverboat.[3]
Closest Casino To Louisville Ky
Since 1998, Horseshoe Southern Indiana has employed 2,400 people. It has been estimated that Horseshoe Southern Indiana has cost the state of Kentucky $12 million in lottery revenue on an annual basis.[3] Because the original charter of the Colony of Virginia gave Virginia ownership of the entire Ohio River, which now forms the border between Kentucky and Indiana, Kentucky (which was split from Virginia in 1792) claims ownership of the entire river, and has often threatened to stop operations of riverboat casinos on the Ohio in neighboring states. Notably, a resolution proposed in the Kentucky House in 2002 called for 'the purchase of a submarine to patrol the waters of the Commonwealth and search and destroy all casino riverboats.'[4] However, the non-binding resolution never came up for a vote, and its sponsor said the resolution was in jest, and to protest Kentucky's continued prohibition of gambling.[5]
Due to the ownership of Caesars World having changed hands, Caesars Indiana was run by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and then by Park Place Entertainment Corporation.[3]
From June 7 to June 19, 1999, the casino was shut down due to a river barge hitting the riverboat and due to excessive silt at its mooring site.[6] It shut down again from March 20 to the 23rd in 2008 due to unusually high river levels.[7] High river levels again caused them to close in March 2011, April 2011 and March 2015, each for a handful of days.
As part of its continual existence, the State of Indiana requires Horseshoe Southern Indiana to give money to two different foundations in Harrison and Floyd Counties.[8]
Horseshoe Southern Indiana was given as an example to discredit Kentucky governor Ernie Fletcher's claims that Kentucky casinos would cause prostitution during the 2007 Kentucky governors race.[9]
In recent years, Horseshoe Southern Indiana has co-sponsored Thunder Over Louisville.[10]
An April 18, 2008 Illinois earthquake caused the complex to lose electrical power, and having to rely on backup generators.[11]
Completed in April 2017, a $13 million renovation encompasses all 503 guest rooms, suites and the hotel lobby. Horseshoe's investment in the hotel offers a fresh look as the room will feature new furniture, carpet and room amenities. The hotel remained fully operational during the renovation process. The completely renovated rooms include elements that create a sense of comfort, with some of the modern conveniences travelers look for when they are away from home.
In October 2017, ownership of the property was transferred to Vici Properties as part of a corporate spin-off, and it was leased back to Caesars Entertainment.[12][13]
On December 12, 2019 a $90 million 110,000 square foot land-based casino replaced the riverboat after 18 months of construction. This new building was authorized by a 2015 amendment to Indiana law that allowed riverboat casinos to move onto land. The new venue includes dining, shopping, gaming, and entertainment. Sports wagering was also added to the venue following Indiana's legalization of sports betting earlier in 2019.[14]
Facilities[edit]
The former main focus of the Horseshoe Southern Indiana complex was the M/V Glory of Rome riverboat, a four-story boat that was the largest riverboat in North America. It was also the largest riverboat casino in the world. It cost $50 million to construct. It is 452 feet (138 m) long, 100 feet (30 m) wide, with a total area of 173,200 square feet (16,090 m2). It has four 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) Z-Drives. The smokestacks rise 100 feet (30 m) from the waterline, with eight feet below the waterline. The riverboat had 93,000-square-foot (8,600 m2) of casino space with a maximum capacity of 5,030 'persons' (passengers and crew combined), with 3,600 gaming positions, 2,800 slot machines, and over 140 gaming tables. Since the casino has now moved onto dry land, and the riverboat is no longer part of the casino complex, Caesars announced plans to sell the riverboat.[15]
In a year 2000 study by the state of Indiana, 51.4% of casino employees are female, 12.9% are minorities, and 42.3% of employees coming from places other than Harrison, Floyd, and Clark County, Indiana. Only 30% of the 4.5 million admissions to the casino were of Indiana residents. There were 68 arrests that year, mostly due to public drunkenness.[8]
Caesars Southern Indiana also includes a nature preserve, over 10 restaurants, a conference center, hotel, shopping center, and a nearby golf course with an equestrian theme called Chariot Run.[3][16]
In 2002, the Indiana legislature voted to allow casino riverboats to dock permanently.[17] From 2002–2019, the riverboat never left the dock, except for once per year to prove to the United States Coast Guard that the vessel was seaworthy and could move under its own power. In 2015, the Indiana legislature allowed riverboat casinos to bring their operations to land. Horseshoe began planning for this expansion in early 2017, with construction taking place from 2018–2019. On December 9, 2019, the riverboat was closed for good. The land-based casino, along with many other amenities, opened on land on December 12, 2019.
Transportation[edit]
Bus shuttles to Caesars Southern Indiana from Indianapolis and Louisville are made available, with reservations available.[18]
Caesars Casino Louisville Ky
The facility includes a four-level parking garage, and is primarily accessed by Indiana 111. Although it is located directly across the river from Southwest Louisville, due to the lack of a bridge, Louisvillians must drive north first through New Albany to reach Caesars. During various parts of the planning of the Ohio River Bridges Project, a bridge connecting Louisville directly to Indiana 111 has been proposed, with a primary advantage being easier access to Caesars.[19] However, as of 2019, no plans existed for such a bridge.
Caesars Name Returns[edit]
The riverboat for Horseshoe Southern Indiana closed for good on December 9, 2019 at 6am.[20] The new land-based casino opened on December 12, 2019, coinciding with the name change back to Caesars.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/indiana/2019/05/15/indiana-horseshoe-casino-changes-name-and-site-sports-betting/3668211002/
- ^Kleber, John E. Encyclopedia of Louisville. (University Press of Kentucky). pg.154.
- ^ abcdeKleber 154
- ^'HR256 - Web version'. Kentucky Legislature. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
- ^'Hello, Submarine'. Snopes.com. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
- ^Caesars Indiana's Glory of Rome to resume operations, Business First of Louisville, June 17, 1999
- ^Otts, Chris (2008-03-23). 'Louisville prepares to clean as flood ebbs'. Courier-Journal. pp. 1B.
- ^ ab'Archived copy'(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2008-03-23. Retrieved 2008-04-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^Hookers and hit men don't follow casinos to town, Business First of Louisville, July 20, 2007
- ^2006 Business Review: February, Business First of Louisville, January 5, 2007
- ^WAVE (TV), Louisville Kentucky, April 18, 2008
- ^'Vici Properties Inc., completes spin-off from Caesars Entertainment Operating Company' (Press release). Vici Properties. October 6, 2017 – via NewsBank.
- ^Form 424B4: Prospectus (Report). Vici Properties. February 2, 2018. p. F-54 – via EDGAR.
- ^'Caesars Southern Indiana's new $90 million casino opens for business'. WDRB.com. 12 December 2019.
- ^https://www.wdrb.com/news/horseshoe-southern-indiana-throwing-goodbye-party-for-the-boat/article_cffdd0a6-f5cf-11e9-955c-93b12cc886b3.html
- ^Indiana Attractions at Horseshoe Southern Indiana. Things to do in Indiana
- ^Weidenbener, Lesley Stedman (2007-04-01). 'Letting casinos lose motors may cause waves'. Courier-Journal.
- ^Shuttle Schedule - Horseshoe Southern Indiana
- ^Poynter, Chris (2004-01-17). 'Southwest Jefferson bridge proposed'. Courier-Journal. pp. 1B.
- ^https://www.wdrb.com/news/southern-indiana-riverboat-to-close-dec-to-make-way-for/article_3d3dba86-154d-11ea-b729-57ae08d0136b.html
External links[edit]
Coordinates: 38°10′48″N85°54′18″W / 38.18000°N 85.90500°W