What are the services and amenities featured at Derby City Gaming Hotel?

The services and amenities featured at Derby City Gaming Hotel includes dozens upon dozens of historical racing machines or HRMs, and there is a sportsbook and Simulcast live race betting going on as well. There is also a hotel on the property which has 123 guest rooms including 14 corner suites and a Presidential Suite.

What are the games I can play at Derby City Gaming Hotel?

While Derby City Gaming Hotel does not have slots, table games, or poker games, it has HRMs, which are similar to slots and even have similar looks and themes. In addition, Derby City has a sportsbook and horse race betting, where you can wager anytime.

Is Derby City Gaming Hotel a family-friendly establishment?

Derby City Gaming Hotel is a 21-year old and older establishment, which means that only those who are 21 years of age and older are permitted. Even the hotel only accepts adults. Also, be ready with your government-issued photo ID for verification.

Does Derby City Gaming Hotel allow smoking?

While Derby City Gaming Hotel is a non-smoking property, there are designated smoking areas. The designated smoking areas include an outdoor smoking patio as well as an open air gaming patio.

Pros and Cons of Derby City Gaming & Hotel

As most of its patrons know, Derby City Gaming and Hotel has a full list of pros – which includes the fact that it is a newly refurbished and built property with new hotel rooms and all the modern conveniences one can expect. But it also has its downsides, as you will see below:

Pros

A newly-built hotel with modern guest rooms and modern comforts

The casino floor is a non-smoking floor with a separate smoking patio

Large, clean bedrooms with great beds and bedding

Fast reservation process

Cons

The food court closes early

Some restaurants are closed on certain days

There is no pool and no hot tub

No slot games, only historical racing machines or HRMs

On the other hand, Derby City Gaming Downtown has a different, more vibrant vibe, bringing together the old and the new and providing a myriad of gaming opportunities for patrons with its non-smoking gaming floor and smoking-friendly lower level gaming as well. It also boasts the newest bars, and it has an outdoor patio perfect for a warm night. Both owned by none other than Churchill Downs, Derby City Gaming & Hotel and Derby City Gaming Downtown are two premier destinations that everyone has to see to believe – and since the two properties are near, you can visit both in one night! For this review, we will focus more on Derby City Gaming & Hotel – although we will also offer snippets and recommendations for Derby City Gaming Downtown. Let’s see what else these casino properties have to offer to guests and patrons in 2024 and beyond.

What Derby City Gaming & Hotel Offers Its Guests

Derby City Gaming & Hotel may be relatively new, having opened just a few years ago and having opened its hotel just last year, but it has been expanding for a long time. It has an excellent reputation online, with numerous guests stating they had a delightful stay. The hotel at Derby City Gaming Hotel is new and tastefully-appointed, and it has all the amenities in the guest rooms one could expect, such as complimentary WiFi, coffee-making facilities, flat-screen televisions, comfy beds, linen, and pillows, spacious and modern bathrooms, mini-ref, hair dryer, safe, and so much more. It even offers military discounts to veterans and various promotions and packages, including a Horsemen’s Hotel Package and an Oliver’s Hotel Package. Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be a pool, hot tub, or spa service.

Alongside this, Derby City Gaming Hotel also offers game machines – over 1,300 in all, and the gaming floor has been newly-refurbished as well and includes more space and the latest games, including Long Bao Bao, Devils Lock, and Huff N’ More Puff. But it doesn’t end there – Derby City Gaming & Hotel also has a premier sportsbook as well as live race betting – after all, it’s only fitting that a property owned by the esteemed operators of the Kentucky Derby would have horse race betting on its own doorstep!

If guests are feeling hungry, they can head over to one of the many restaurants serving all kinds of cuisines at Derby City, from the flagship restaurant and bar, Oliver’s Chop House and Bourbon Bar, to a sports bar and different restos to satisfy their food cravings.

Note that Derby City Gaming & Hotel has no formal dress code, and there is complimentary WiFi in the guest hotel rooms. But be reminded that anyone below 21 years of age is not permitted within the grounds and cannot wager or play any games on the gaming floor, and you must have a government-issued ID at all times in case you are checked.

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What Derby City Gaming Downtown Offers Its Guests

If you are interested in visiting Derby City Gaming Downtown, the sister property of Derby City Gaming Hotel, note that it has a ton of bars along with lots of gaming opportunities that include 500 historical racing machines (some examples are Wheel of Fortune, Buffalo, and Ultimate Fire Link), and it also has a race and sportsbook, where you can watch the games and be part of the excitement at the First Turn Sports Bar. While the gaming floor is non-smoking, there is a smoking patio at Derby City Downtown that is filled with more than 100 games. It is even accessible with its own separate entrance. If you want to eat and drink, you can certainly do so at one of the many dining establishments, including the Fascinator Wine Bar, the Trophy Bar Bourbon & Cigars, the aforementioned First Turn Sports Bar, and the Outdoor Patio, where you can bring your drinks and hang out with your friends.

Derby City Gaming Downtown Louisville also offers entertainment in the form of DJs, bands, and musicians at the Fascinator Wine Bar. The Downtown property also has the Kentucky Derby Gift Shop, where you can find premium branded merchandise dedicated to the famous Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs, ranging from hats to t-shirts to glasses and all kinds of souvenirs.

Games and Gambling Options at Derby City Gaming & Hotel

The games and gambling options available at Derby City Gaming and Hotel are more than enough to satisfy any gamer’s needs, especially those who are looking for games that are off the beaten track (pun intended). Derby City Gaming Hotel offers something different from the usual slot games – it offers historical racing machines. These HRMs, as they are also referred to, have a similar look to slot machines – in fact, some people can’t even tell the difference. Derby City has more than 1,300 of these historical racing machines, and what’s more, it continuously adds to its arsenal and introduces new games on a regular basis. Also, Derby City Gaming Hotel has its very own sportsbook and live horse race wagering, so there’s plenty in store for everyone, whether you are a veteran at the races and gaming or are a beginner or casual gamer. Before we forget, there is also a High-Limit Room at the hotel, where high rollers can relax and place their bets. Have a close look at the gaming opportunities offered by Derby City Hotel and gaming property:

Historical Racing Machines

As stated, there are no ‘slots’ per se at Derby City Gaming & Hotel – rather than slots, what Derby City has are historical racing machines or HRMs. Derby City has more than 1,300 HRMs as of last count, and these gaming machines are deceptively similar to slots. In fact, a lot of guests can’t even tell slots apart from these historical racing machines. Also, the games have similar titles to well-loved slot games, such as Cash Machine Jackpots, Crystal Bells, Lucky Link Dragon, Crazy Money Machine, Wicked Wheel Phoenix, Shamrock Fortunes, and Mega Diamond, just to name a few. Along with this, Derby City introduces a much-loved favorite: Huff N’ More Puff.

The gaming floor at Derby City also offers varied wagering denominations, depending on your chosen betting style. For instance, there are machines that you can play with just a penny, but there are also machines that accept $1. Popular games include Wheel of Fortune, Fu Dao Le, Ultimate Fire Link, Elephant King, and Devils Lock, which all feature big bonuses and jackpots.

Racing and Sports Betting

There are a wide variety of sports betting options at Derby City Gaming & Hotel, and better yet, there are Simulcast races in store for guests and patrons, too. For sports betting enthusiasts, Derby City has its own sportsbook, where you can watch and wager on your favorite sports games and teams on one of the big-screen televisions, which include the gigantic 300-square foot video board. There are also plenty of kiosks where guests can place their wagers. Derby City Gaming & Hotel has a total of 15 betting kiosks that are right in the Sports & Stage Bar and spread throughout the property. Bettors can also choose from an array of bets, be it parlays, futures, teasers, and straight bets, and from different sports that include football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, and golf, among others.

But of course, bettors can also wager on live horse races in the Simulcast wagering area. For players who are on the go, Derby City also has an exclusive Race & Sports Book Bet & Jet 15-minute parking areas near the North and South entrances of the property. Derby City Gaming and Hotel even offers a Bet Builder App which lets you check the latest and newest lines and build your bet combinations (as well as find out the amount of your prospective winnings). There is a special QR code that you can generate, and it will be scanned at a kiosk. Once it is scanned, you will have a live bet slip. You can find out more by visiting the Race & Sportsbook here.

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Rewards

Derby City Gaming and Hotel also has its own Players Club, and the members can also use the same Players Club membership at Derby City Gaming Downtown. New members can even have a chance to win $2,500 in free play right off the bat. Anyone can easily sign up, and the more points you have, the better your chances of taking advantage of various perks and rewards. First-time members can be part of the Green tier with 0 to 4,999 points, and the succeeding tiers are Gold with 5,000 to 19,999 points, Red with 20,000 to 39,999 points, and Black with 40,000 points or more.

As members advance through the tiers at the Players Club, they can get perks ranging from access to promotional kiosk games, ‘Birthday Blast’ kiosk games, free play offers, bonus drawing entries, free play by point conversion, bonus multipliers, and even discounted hotel stays. Red and Black tier members can additionally take advantage of exclusive promos, a personalized host service, comps at dining outlets and hotel stays, exclusive birthday rewards, and same-day free play rewards. Black tier members have the added bonus of more perks such as VIP parking, ATM fee reimbursement in free play, upgrades to hotel suites, a birthday dinner at Oliver’s Chop House, and more.

Simply visit Player Services to sign up but don’t forget to bring a photo ID, such as a military ID, a passport, and another photo ID to verify your age, if asked.

Derby City Gaming & Hotel: Luxury Stays, Fine Dining, and More

Derby City Gaming and Hotel has other premium services, starting with a luxurious hotel and other deluxe dining and entertainment options. The Derby City hotel is in a class of its own, with over 120 hotel rooms which include 14 corner suites and a very comfortable Presidential VIP suite. The hotel is conveniently located just a few steps away from the gaming floor, and it is also near some Louisville hotspots (it is just 15 minutes away from downtown Louisville) and just three miles from the airport. It has also received the Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards for 2024. The hotel rooms include a wide variety, from the Luxury King room to the Luxury Double Queen and the King Suite to the Luxury King Accessible, the King Suite Accessible, and the King Suite Track View (which offers guests a great spot to view the horses in training!).

Meanwhile, for guests craving for something delectable to eat, Derby City Gaming Hotel does not disappoint, either. There are a plethora of dining options, starting with Oliver’s Chop House & Bourbon Bar and culminating with Railbird’s Hot Chicken. Whatever diners want, they are sure to find them at Derby City Gaming Hotel. For entertainment, the hotel has a lot to offer patrons as well, and its calendar of activities is jam-packed every month with DJs, performers, musical stars, bands, and more.

Hotel

As stated previously, Derby City Gaming & Hotel has a beautifully appointed hotel with all the amenities you could think of. The hotel has 123 guest rooms, including 14 suites and a Presidential Suite, and it is conveniently near all the action on the gaming floor. The rooms and suites are as follows:

The Luxury King room measures 430 square feet and features a comfy king bed plus goose down pillows, a roomy bathroom, a 55-inch LCD television, free WiFi, a coffee station, a mini-refrigerator, a hair dryer, a steamer, and a safe. The Luxury Double Queen has all the above amenities but with two queen beds. Meanwhile, the King Suite is spacious at 950 square feet, and it features a king bed as well. The Luxury King Accessible room is built with extra features for disabled guests or guests who may need additional support, and the King Suite Accessible is just the same as the King Suite but with extra accessibility needs for guests. It also has a separate seating area with a pull-out sofa, a TV with streaming capability, and a more spacious bathroom. Finally, the King Suite Track View lets guests watch the horses in full training as it features an excellent view of the horse training track. It also has a separate seating area with a pull-out sofa and the other amenities already mentioned.

The hotel also has some promotions, such as the Horsemen’s Hotel Package, which offers a 20% discount on select hotel rooms (exclusively for horsemen) on Sundays to Thursdays. Additionally, the package gives a 20% discount when dining at Oliver’s Chop House & Bourbon Bar on Wednesday to Sunday. There’s another hotel package available, the Oliver’s Hotel Package, where an overnight stay at the hotel will give guests a $50 credit at Oliver’s Chop House – and this package is all for $149. Use the code OLIVERPKG when reserving your stay. Note that promotions may be subject to change without prior notice, so it’s best to check promotions on the website or by contacting the hotel first. If you are looking for Derby City Gaming and hotel reviews, you should check online; there are plenty of reviews and comments through independent sites.

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Spa

Although there is no spa at Derby City, we found several spas in the nearby area, which are perfect after a day spent gaming. There is Elements Massage in Westport, Massage Envy in Clarksville, Sanctuary Massage and Spa in Clifton, and Derby City Massage.

Dining at Restaurants

Dining and having a great time are a given at Derby City Gaming and Hotel, especially since it has several dining establishments to speak of. The list of restaurants and bars are excellent and satisfy every palate under the sun, whether you want casual grub or something finer. The bars at Derby City are also a delight, and they have something for everyone as well. Here’s an overview of the many dining and drinking options at Derby City:

Oliver’s Chop House

Being the flagship restaurant of Derby City Gaming & Hotel comes with its own set of perks, so whether you are looking for the perfect place to celebrate a milestone at work or looking for a more intimate place with that special someone, Oliver’s Chop House has you covered. The steakhouse serves the best cuts of meat in Kentucky, as it offers 100% USDA prime steaks. It also serves seafood, various entrees, and desserts, and it has a vast selection of wines along with hand-crafted cocktails. Our menu recommendations include Seafood Fondue, Chargrilled Oysters, Steak Tartare, and chargrilled prime NY Strip and Dry-Aged Steak. Call 502-961-7686 or go to OpenTable to reserve a table today.

Oliver’s Chop House and Bourbon Bar is open Wednesday to Sunday from 5pm to 10pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 5pm to 11pm on Fridays to Sundays. The place is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

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Sports & Stage Bar

Sports & Stage Bar is Derby City Gaming Hotel’s answer to a fun night on the town, where you can watch games on the huge televisions or listen to the most popular DJs in town. The bar comes complete with 13 70-inch televisions plus a massive video board, and you can even bet on your favorite sports and games via the sports betting kiosks. On Friday evenings, the place comes even more alive with a slew of bands, and the party doesn’t stop until 1am. On Saturdays, the DJs mix non-stop, and there’s always something happening at Sports & Stage Bar. The bar is open daily from 2pm to 2am, and the bands start jamming on Friday from 9pm to 1am while the guest DJs start spinning from 10pm to 2am.

Lil’ Wagner’s

Lil’ Wagner’s is one of the restaurants at Derby City, and it is known for its delicious comfort food starting with burgers, quesadillas, and more. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, and breakfast is also served every Wednesday to Sunday from 8am to 10am. Some must-tries include the pulled pork sandwich and the fried shrimp, and don’t forget to try the loaded potato and homemade soup and finish off the satisfying meal with the Derby pie! For breakfast, try the Chicken & Waffles and the Breakfast Platter with scrambled eggs, bacon, links, home fries, and a buttermilk biscuit. It is open on Sunday to Thursday from 11am to 11pm and Friday to Saturday from 11am to 12am.

Railbirds Hot Chicken

Railbirds Hot Chicken is another famous restaurant at Derby City Gaming Hotel, and it’s got all the heavy crowd favorites, from chicken wings to jumbo chicken tenders. The hot chicken even comes with varying spice levels, from No Heat all the way up to Railbirds Hot. There are even more flavors in store because diners can pile on the dips including bleu cheese, ranch, BBQ, and honey mustard. You can also choose from side dishes that include onion rings, French fries, mac & cheese, and baked beans. The resto operates Wednesdays to Sundays for breakfast from 8am to 10am, lunch and dinner Sundays to Thursdays at 11am to 11pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 12am. Mobile ordering is also available.

Center Bar

The Center Bar at Derby City is also available, and this is where all the action happens – and you can watch all the action unfolding on one of 14 huge 85’ televisions. The bar features a range of Kentucky Bourbons and features a collection of craft beers and libations. It also serves comfort food through the two previously-mentioned restaurants, Railbirds and Lil’ Wagner’s. Its name is the real deal, because it is right in the middle of all the action just steps away from the gaming floor.

Shopping

Shopping at Derby City Gaming Hotel is all but nil, but we’re glad to say that there are several shopping centers in the vicinity to satisfy everyone’s needs. First off, there is Nordstrom Rack, only six miles away, where you can shop till you drop for different brands like Kate Spade, Calvin Klein, and Stuart Weitzman. Next on the list is Indian Trail Square, only 1.2 miles away, and it is filled with lots of shopping centers along with discount stores. There is also a Dollar Tree for bargain hunters around 1.3 miles away, and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet (1.2 miles), Dollar General (1.8 miles) and Save a Lot, which is only about 1 mile away.

Active Events

As mentioned, there are a lot of events and happenings at Derby City Gaming Hotel, and all of these are centered around fun and excitement. There are also a bevy of promotions and offers. The fun starts at the Sports and Entertainment Bar, where you can catch live bands and DJs and dance the night away every Friday and Saturday. The list of performers for the month of December, for instance, includes Eric & the Iconics, DJ Mr. Yeah, Rock Station, Soul Kitchen, DJ Sam I Am, and DJ Stacey Broadway.

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Parking

Parking at Derby City Gaming Hotel has never been easier – first of all, parking is free year-round, and there are around 1,180 parking slots in the parking lot. Furthermore, there are dedicated handicap spaces for those with special needs.

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Derby City Gaming, Louisville, Kentucky: 2025 Review

Name: Derby City Gaming: Louisville's Premier Gambling House
Item: Derby City Gaming
Rating: 3.9
Author: Wia Van Cauwenberghe

0.0

There are two properties developed by Derby City Gaming in Louisville, Kentucky: Derby City Gaming & Hotel and Derby City Gaming Downtown. These properties are unique in that they operate in conjunction with each other and yet offer different amenities and experiences, and neither property is in competition with the other. Instead, they work closely together to bring about a whole new set of experiences for their guests. Starting with Derby City Gaming Hotel, just a few minutes’ drive from the airport, where it boasts a relaxed ambiance and a premier hotel with over 120 guest rooms coupled with more than 1,300 games and some of the finest restaurants and bars in Derby City – best of all, it has been flourishing and expanding for over 140 years.

Google review:

4.1 ⭐

Phone:

(502) 961-7600

Casino Type:

Commercial casino

Owner:

Churchill Downs Incorporated

GambleScore:

3.9 ⭐

Open:

24/7

First Opened:

2023

Address:

1401 West Market Street, Louisville,
Kentucky, 40202, USA

Derby City Gaming, Louisville, Kentucky: 2025 Review

Photos

Location

Phone & Hours

Pros and Cons of Derby City Gaming & Hotel

What Derby City Gaming & Hotel Offers Its Guests

What Derby City Gaming Downtown Offers Its Guests