Does California Allow Slot Machines

California's slot machine market is about to get bigger. A federal judge in Sacramento has ruled the state's Indian casinos can add 10,549 slot machines to a jurisdiction that is now approved for more than 83,000 games, the largest Indian gaming market in the United States. California is the nation's largest Indian gaming state with total revenues of $7 billion annually. Today 62 of the 109 California tribes own tribal casinos. California has 69 total Native American casinos including 50 Indian casinos, 16 Indian casino resorts and 3 mini-casinos. These casinos host 70,000+ total slot machines and 2,000+ table games.

Introduction to Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Kentucky slot machine casino gambling does not include games of chance, which are strictly illegal. Instead, Kentucky has competition-based electronic gaming machines at four out of its five pari-mutuel wagering racetracks.

Theoretical payout limits are not available but monthly return statistics are available for electronic gaming machines.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Kentucky*

The minimum legal gambling age in Kentucky depends upon the gambling activity:

  • Land-Based Casinos: Not available
  • Poker Rooms: Not available
  • Bingo: 18
  • Lottery: 18
  • Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

Kentucky’s interpretation of legal gambling requires the competitor’s level of skill “must sufficiently govern the results.”

Therefore, competition-based games are legal as well as pari-mutuel wagering. Traditional slots are illegal, including those referred to as Class III, Vegas-style, and games-of-chance slot machines.

Slot

Kentucky has competition-based electronic games available in a few of their pari-mutuel facilities. These skill-based games are anonymously-based historical race results.

Historically, Kentucky has had a fascinating relationship with gambling. While casino gambling was never legal, gambling dens were prevalent before the Great Depression of 1929. To this day, the open display of illegal gambling from that time in American history continues to negatively affect the perception of gaming in Kentucky.

If you’re ever in Newport, directly across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, consider walking the Newport Gangster Tour.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Kentucky

In Kentucky, it is legal to own a slot machine privately.

Gaming Control Board in Kentucky

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) regulates skill-based games at pari-mutual racetracks in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

These devices are Historic Horse Racing (HHR) electronic gaming machines. The KHRC reports Kentucky offers 2,981 HHR machines.

Legal slot machines in california

Casinos in Kentucky

There are five pari-mutuel racetracks in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Of these, only four sites offer skill-based HHR electronic gaming machines.

The largest casino in Kentucky is Derby City Gaming with 1,000 HHR gaming machines.

The second-largest casino is Red Mile Gaming & Racing, an HHR parlor in partnership with Keeneland Race Course, with 938 gaming machines.

Commercial Casinos in Kentucky

The four out of five of Kentucky’s pari-mutuel racetracks with skill-based HHR electronic gaming machines are:

  1. Derby City Gaming in Louisville located 74 miles west of Lexington on the Indiana border.
  2. Ellis Park Racing and Gaming in Henderson located 105 miles northwest of Bowling Green.
  3. Kentucky Downs Gaming in Franklin located 29 miles south of Bowling Green.
  4. Red Mile Gaming & Racing in Lexington.

Tribal Casinos in Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky has no federally-recognized American Indian tribes and, therefore, no tribal casinos.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Kentucky slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Kentucky is:

  1. North: Indiana and Ohio Slots
  2. East: West Virginia Slots
  3. Southeast: Virginia Slots
  4. South: Tennessee Slots
  5. West: Missouri Slots

Each link above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Kentucky.

Our Kentucky Slots Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Kentucky? If so, join our new Kentucky slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Kentucky. Join us!

Payout Returns in Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky does not offer any theoretical payout limits for their competition-based HHR gaming machines.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission offers statistics for HHR gaming under Quick Links entitled Wagering on Historical Horse Races. Its December 2019 report indirectly offers actual return statistics including comparisons to past actuals.

To calculate a player’s win percentage from the report, divide Less: Return to Public by Total Handle. For December 2019, the monthly Player’s Win% for HHR machines were:

  • State-wide: 91.5%
  • Derby City: 90.9%
  • Ellis Park: 93.9%
  • Keeneland/Red Mile: 91.3%
  • Kentucky Downs: 92.0%

From this December 2019 report, Ellis Park had the highest player win% at nearly 94% while Derby City had the lowest at nearly 91%.

Summary of Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Kentucky slot machine casino gambling exists as competition-based, games-of-skill Historical Horse Racing (HHR) electronic gaming machines instead of games-of-chance slot machines.

No minimum or maximum theoretical payout limits have been set. Monthly return statistics are publicly available for each pari-mutuel racetrack with HHR games.

Annual Progress in Kentucky Slot Machine Casino Gambling

In the last year, Kentucky increased its HHR machines by 9% to 2,981 devices. However, the average daily handle for HHRs increased by 46%. For 2020 so far, it’s an amazing 59% increase compared to 2019.

Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots

  • Previous: Kansas Slot Machine Casino Gambling
  • Next: Louisiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC

Introduction to California Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Machines

California slot machine casino gambling consists of 65 tribal casinos, the third-largest number of casinos in any U.S. state after Nevada and Oklahoma.

I’ve dedicated this weekly series to slot enthusiasts such as yourself as you master casino slots and win your way to success by using this State-By-State Online Resource to improve your slots gambling performance by reviewing your state’s slots gaming industry.

Keep Reading … Or Listen Instead!

Subscribe to my Professor Slots podcast at Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Amazon Audible | Gaana | Stitcher | Pandora | iHeart Radio | Tune-In | SoundCloud | RadioPublic | Deezer | RSS and everywhere else you find your podcasts!

Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in California*

The minimum legal gambling age in California depends upon the gambling activity:

  • Land-Based Casinos: 18 or, if serving alcohol, 21
  • Poker Rooms: 18 or, if serving alcohol, 21
  • Bingo: 18
  • Lottery: 18
  • Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

Slot Machine Private Ownership in California

It is legal to own a slot machine privately in California if it is 25 years old or older.

Gaming Control Board in California

The California Gambling Control Commission supports the regulation of tribal gaming through oversight activities as defined in California’s 61 tribal-state compacts.

Further, the Bureau of Gambling Control within California’s Department of Justice provides state law enforcement authority with jurisdiction over gambling activities.

Non-slots-related gaming control boards include the California Horse Racing Board and the California Lottery Commission.

Casinos in California

California has 65 American Indian tribal casinos, ten racetracks without gaming machines, numerous card rooms also without gaming machines, and cruise ships with onboard casinos to Hawaii, Alaska, and international destinations.

The largest casino in California is San Manuel Casino having 4,800 gaming machines.

The second-largest casino is Pechanga Resort Casino with 4,000 gaming machines.

Commercial Casinos in California

There are no commercial casinos with slot machines in California.

Tribal Casinos in California

California’s 65 tribal casinos are:

  1. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Palm Springs, 115 miles east of Los Angeles.
  2. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage, 115 miles east of Los Angeles.
  3. Augustine Casino in Coachella, 125 miles east of Los Angeles.
  4. Barona Resort & Casino in Lakeside, 15 miles northeast of San Diego.
  5. Bear River Casino Resort in Loleta, 10 miles south of Eureka;
  6. Black Oak Casino Resort in Tuolumne, 100 miles southeast of Sacramento.
  7. Blue Lake Casino Hotel in Blue Lake, 10 miles north of Eureka.
  8. Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, 35 miles northwest of Sacramento.
  9. Cahuilla Casino Hotel in Anza, 30 miles south of Palm Springs.
  10. Casino Pauma in Pauma Valley, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
  11. Cher-Ae Heights Casino in Trinidad, 25 miles north of Eureka.
  12. Chicken Ranch Casino in Jamestown, 100 miles southeast of Sacramento.
  13. Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold, 35 miles north of Fresno.
  14. Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, 40 miles northwest of Santa Barbara.
  15. Colusa Casino Resort in Colusa, 75 miles north of Sacramento.
  16. Coyote Valley Casino in Redwood Valley, 115 miles north of San Francisco.
  17. Desert Rose Casino in Alturas, 100 miles north of Susanville.
  18. Diamond Mountain Casino Hotel & Brewery in Susanville, 160 miles northeast of Sacramento.
  19. Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, 60 miles southeast of Fresno.
  20. Elk Valley Casino in Crescent City, 84 miles north of Eureka.
  21. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, 125 miles east of Los Angeles.
  22. Feather Falls Casino & Lodge in Oroville, 100 miles north of Sacramento.
  23. Fort Independence Travel Center & Winnedumah Winns Casino in Independence, 90 miles east of Fresno.
  24. Garcia River Casino in Point Arena, 130 miles north of San Francisco.
  25. Gold Country Casino Resort in Oroville, 100 miles north of Sacramento.
  26. Golden Acorn Casino Travel Center in Campo, 40 miles southeast of San Diego.
  27. Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park, 50 miles north of San Francisco.
  28. Hard Rock Casino & Hotel Sacramento at Fire Mountain in Wheatland, 36 miles north of Sacramento.
  29. Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
  30. Havasu Landing Resort & Casino in Havasu Lake, 200 miles east of Los Angeles.
  31. Hidden Oaks Casino in Covelo, 150 miles northwest of Sacramento.
  32. Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort in Jackson, 50 miles north of Los Angeles.
  33. Jamul Casino in Jamul, 10 miles east of San Diego.
  34. Konocti Vista Casino Resort in Lakeport, 120 miles north of San Francisco.
  35. Lucky 7 Casino Hotel in Smith River, 100 miles north of Eureka.
  36. Mono Wind Casino in Auberry, 30 miles northeast of Fresno.
  37. Morongo Casino Resort Spa in Cabazon, 90 miles east of Los Angeles.
  38. Pala Casino Spa and Resort in Pala, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
  39. Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, located 50 miles north of San Diego.
  40. Pit River Casino in Burney, 190 miles north of Sacramento.
  41. Quechan Casino Resort in Winterhaven, 170 miles east of San Diego.
  42. Rain Rock Casino in Yreka, 250 miles north of Sacramento.
  43. Red Earth Casino in Salton Sea Beach, 114 miles southeast of Riverside.
  44. Red Fox Casino in Laytonville, 150 miles northwest of Sacramento.
  45. Red Hawk Casino in Placerville, 40 miles east of Sacramento.
  46. Redwood Hotel Casino in Klamath, 65 miles north of Eureka.
  47. River Rock Casino in Geyserville, 75 miles north of San Francisco.
  48. Robinson Rancheria Resort, Casino & Bingo in Nice, 115 miles northwest of Sacramento.
  49. Rolling Hills Casino Resort in Corning, 115 miles north of Sacramento.
  50. Running Creek Casino in Upper Lake, 120 miles northwest of Sacramento.
  51. San Manuel Casino in Highland, located 65 miles east of Los Angeles.
  52. San Pablo Lytton Casino in San Pablo, 15 miles north of Oakland.
  53. Sherwood Valley Casino in Willits, 130 miles north of San Francisco.
  54. Soboba Casino Resort in San Jacinto, 90 miles east of Los Angeles.
  55. Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella, 130 miles east of Los Angeles.
  56. Sycuan Casino & Resort in El Cajon, 10 miles east of San Diego.
  57. Table Mountain Casino in Friant, 15 miles north of Fresno.
  58. Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, 50 miles south of Fresno.
  59. Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, 35 miles northeast of Sacramento.
  60. Tortoise Rock Casino in Twentynine Palms, 125 miles east of Los Angeles.
  61. Twin Pine Casino & Hotel in Middletown, 100 miles north of San Francisco.
  62. Valley View Casino & Hotel in Valley Center, 35 miles northeast of San Diego.
  63. Viejas Casino & Resort in Alpine, 25 miles east of San Diego.
  64. Wanaaha Casino in Bishop, 130 miles northeast of Fresno.
  65. Win-River Casino & Resort in Redding, 163 miles north of Sacramento.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying California slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering California is:

  • North: Oregon Slots
  • East: Nevada Slots and Arizona Slots
  • South: The country of Mexico
  • West: Pacific Ocean

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to California.

Our California Slots Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in California? If so, join our California slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to freely join this closed Facebook Group community.

There, you can meet online and privately share your slots experiences with local slots enthusiasts about playing slot machines in California. Join us!

Payouts and Returns in California

Tribal-state gaming compacts negotiated between the state of California and its 61 tribes do not include theoretical payout limits nor require public reporting of return statistics.

Summary of California Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Slot Machine Casinos In California

California slot machine casino gambling consists of 65 tribal casinos generally located on remote tribal reservations throughout the state.

Annual Progress in California Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Over the last year, Thunder Valley Casino Resort has fallen from second-largest casino to fourth largest after San Manuel Casino, Pechanga Resort Casino, and Graton Resort & Casino.

Also, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain has, at long last, opened.

Finally, one casino has permanently closed and another underwent a name change:

Does California Allow Slot Machines Work

  • Lucky Bear Casino in Hoopa has permanently closed.
  • Paiute Palace Casino in Bishop is now the Wanaaha Casino.

Does California Allow Slot Machines Jackpots

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Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC