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Online Gambling in Indiana – Best Casinos To Gamble With In Indiana Welcome to my page dedicated to Indiana online gambling. People often wonder about whether gambling in the state of Indiana is legal or not and whether they can freely play online casino games without the fear of breaking the law. Indiana sports betting is legal through regulated online sites and 11 brick-and-mortar casinos. Sports betting was legalized in Indiana in May 2019. A bipartisan group of lawmakers passed the Indiana sports betting legislation in May 2019, and the bill was signed into law shortly thereafter by Gov. Best Online Casinos in Indiana. Indiana allows for gambling in licensed land-based commercial casinos. The current trend in the US is that existing land-based casinos are moving into the online sector and new casinos going straight to online from the get-go. Best Online Casinos in Indiana. Online gambling is not yet legal in Indiana. However, that may not be the case forever, sign up for our email list to be the first to know when online gambling becomes legal in your area.
As it stands now online casinos are not a part of the gaming world for Hoosiers. As things stand in 2015, Indiana still considers online gambling illegal. Actually, under state law, not only is it illegal to gamble online in Indiana, but it’s a class D felony. However, there are some 2020 gambling sites that accept Indiana residents.
The US states are slowly but surely changing their stance on online gambling activities. Recently, Indiana has become one of the states that have regulated and legalized some forms of online gambling. By reading this article, you will get an insight into the current state of online gambling in Indiana.
All forms of gambling activities are legalized on a state-by-state basis in the US. In Indiana, the first attempts at legalizing gambling activities were made in 1988 when the Hoosier Lottery was established. Then came the pari-mutuel betting on horse races in 1989. There were a few fruitless attempts to introduce and legalize casinos. Finally, in 1993, the construction of first riverboat (land-based) casinos was authorized.
Continue reading the article to find out the current legal status of all forms of gambling, which ones are legal, and which ones might become legal in the future. Additionally, we will select a few gambling options we believe will give you the ultimate gambling experience.
Top 5 Indiana Online Casinos
Is Online Gambling Legal in Indiana?
Generally speaking, online gambling isn’t legal in the state of Indiana, with the exception of online sports betting. The first sportsbooks were introduced in September 2019 and online sportsbooks followed just a month later. This gave sports betting fans from Indiana a wide range of sports to bet on.
Even though the online sports betting market is new in Indiana, it’s growing fast. In fact, many sportsbooks are currently operating through mobile apps — there are seven mobile sports betting apps you can use to place bets. We predict more will be coming soon.
Each of these online betting sites and apps has partnered up with a land-based operator. Below, you can take a look at the existing partnership deals in Indiana:
- Ameristar Casino Resort: DraftKings Sportsbook,
- French Lick Resort Casino: Rush Street Interactive,
- Belterra Casino Resort: FanDuel Sportsbook,
- Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg: Kambi,
- Blue Chip Casino: FanDuel Sportsbook,
- Horseshoe Southern Indiana Hotel & Casino: Scientific Games,
- Harrah’s Hoosier Park: Scientific Games,
- Rising Star Casino Resort: BetAmerica, Wynn Resorts,
- Horseshoe Hammond Casino: Scientific Games,
- Winner’s Circle Indianapolis: Scientific Games,
- Indiana Grand Racing & Casino: Scientific Games,
- Winner’s Circle Clarksville: Scientific Games,
- Tropicana Evansville Casino: William Hill,
- Winner’s Circle New Haven: Scientific Games.
While the online sportsbook market is flourishing, online casinos are strictly prohibited. Furthermore, anyone who plays in an online casino is committing a criminal act. That applies to online poker as well. At the moment, the only legal way to enjoy a real casino experience is to go to a land-based establishment.
In some states, an alternative to online casinos is sweepstakes casinos. However, the Indiana law against online gambling even bans sweepstake casinos from operating within the state.
What Types of Gambling Activities Are Allowed in Indiana?
At the moment, there are 13 land-based casinos, with two more coming in the future, that hold valid licenses to operate and offer gambling activities to their visitors. These facilities have a rich selection of top casino games, such as slot machines, blackjack and roulette tables, a few versions of poker baccarat, video poker, craps, etc.
In 2015, a new legislature modified the existing casino law and allowed the state’s riverboat casinos to transfer to land-based facilities on their sites. This was an attempt to help casinos have an edge against other land-based casinos in neighboring states.
The state of Indiana also has a national lottery — the Hoosier Lottery. The lottery includes scratch-offs, draw games, and fast-play games. Any authorized retailer in the state can sell Hoosier Lottery tickets.
Of course, you can’t buy tickets online. What you can do is install the lottery app and create your payslip. However, you will still need to go to a retailer to pay and print the payslip. The state of Indiana also allows charitable gaming and pari-mutuel wagering.
When PASPA was overturned in 2018, states began to legalize sports betting. Land-based casinos in Indiana have opened their doors to sports betting in September 2019, with their online counterparts being launched a month later. A large portion of Indiana’s land-based casinos holds the license to offer sports betting. Players can simply visit a retail sportsbook and place a bet.
Here’s the selection of sports you can bet on in Indiana:
- Football
- College football
- Baseball
- Hockey
- Boxing
- Tennis
- College basketball
- Basketball
- Rugby
- Soccer
- MMA
- Golf
- Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
- Car racing
- Other disciplines
The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) oversees all these gambling activities, apart from horse racing. Wagering on horse racing is legal in Indiana, and it’s regulated by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC). By legalizing sports wagering, Indiana has attracted numerous bettors from neighboring states.
Future of Online Gambling in Indiana
With two more land-based casinos coming in the future, we are hoping to see more sports betting opportunities. Even though, at the moment, there are only sports betting apps players can use, Indiana might follow in the footsteps of other US states that have launched their first online sports betting sites. As far as we are concerned, online sportsbooks have a bright future in Indiana.
Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for online casino & poker platforms. Due to the state’s legal structure, online casinos and poker sites aren’t permitted to operate. If anyone gets caught playing in online casinos, they might suffer some pretty serious consequences.
Therefore, we can’t guarantee that Indiana will change its stance on online casinos and poker rooms. In the meantime, you can always visit one of the land-based options and enjoy an amazing gambling experience.
Where to Gamble in Indiana — Land-Based & Online Options
Anyone who wants to try out some form of gambling in Indiana won’t be faced with a shortage of gambling opportunities. There are plenty of options you can choose from.
Let’s start with land-based casinos that offer a wide range of casino games, poker rooms, and sports betting opportunities:
- Ameristar Casino East Chicago – East Chicago
- Belterra Casino – Florence
- Blue Chip Casino – Michigan City
- Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg – Lawrenceburg
- Horseshoe Casino Southern Indiana – Elizabeth
- Horseshoe Casino Hammond – Hammond
- Indiana Grand Racing & Casino – Shelbyville
- Tropicana Evansville – Evansville
There are still some casinos that don’t have a license for offering sports betting and some that refrain from offering poker rooms. However, there is still a wide range of possibilities for anyone who wants to try out diverse forms of gambling.
Additionally, sports aficionados have the option of betting online on their favorite sports events.
There are seven mobile apps dedicated to sports wagering:
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- BetMGM
- Caesars Sportsbook
- BetAmerica Sportsbook
- PointsBets
Due to Indiana’s laws being so strict, online sports betting sites still haven’t been launched. One thing is certain — sports betting enthusiasts are very interested to see when online sportsbooks will join the gambling market.
FAQ
At the moment, the state of Indiana hasn’t regulated the online casino market. However, given that the number of online casinos in other states is on the rise, Indiana might change its stance on online casinos. If sports betting proves to be a profitable endeavor, it might motivate the government to rethink their decisions.
Best Online Casino Indiana
Online sportsbooks and sports betting apps use special geolocation technology to determine every player’s location. However, you don’t necessarily have to be a resident of Indiana. What matters is that you are located within the state of Indiana when placing bets. That means you can also be a visitor.
Yes, mobile sports wagering is up and running in Indiana at the moment. Usually, all the apps are compatible with iOS and Android mobile devices. Follow the instructions and you will easily install the app and begin placing bets using your mobile device.
If you want to place a bet or partake in any form of gambling, you need to be older than 21. A valid ID is a must.
Unfortunately, the state of Indiana is strictly against online slots. Maybe that will change in the future, but for now, online slots are prohibited.
Indiana has a long history of control that keeps in place a more conservative approach towards maintaining order, including gambling. From no carry out liquor sales on Sunday to a strict ban on lotteries that lasted from 1851 until 1988 when the statewide Hoosier lottery took hold, that has been the law of the land for Indiana.
It was in 1993 that five riverboat casinos were approved following an emergency session in congress. The hope was to stimulate $100 million a year in tax revenue. One year later Hoosier Park horse racing track opens offering on-track pari-mutuel betting. One year later five additional licensed remote horse race tracks galloped on to the gambling scene.
Although there has been little said to advance the prospect of online gaming since 2004, there has been a Bill passed to expand casinos with the licensing of dry-land casinos. As it stands now online casinos are not a part of the gaming world for Hoosiers. As things stand in 2015, Indiana still considers online gambling illegal. Actually, under state law, not only is it illegal to gamble online in Indiana, but it’s a class D felony. However, there are some 2020 gambling sites that accept Indiana residents. It is good to understand that these sites are owned, operated, regulated and licensed by offshore companies. [1]
Nestled in The Crossroads of America, Indiana gamblers are not so out of luck when it comes to online wagering. Discover real money US poker sites that offer accounts to those of you in The Hoosier state.
Indiana iGaming: Recent Headlines
Quick Jump
- 4 The Facts
Anti-online gambling laws were put into place in 2005. Since then, not much is in the works to move towards embracing online gaming,even now in 2015. While Indiana has a large population that would support an online gaming industry, the conservative tilt shows little signs of moving in that direction. With current Governor Mike Pence at the helm, he shows little signs of increasing or decreasing the current gambling scene in Indiana. [2]
Indiana is beginning to feel pressure to expand. While neighboring states are experiencing expansion so has their revenues, while Indiana’s gaming revenues saw a steep decline in recent years.
Can Players From Indiana Play Poker Online?
Although Indiana is moving into the modern age of gaming, in 2020 online gaming is still a very sensitive subject. Live games established outside of the casino walls draws the line as it is considered illegal. Law IC 35-45-5-1 states: “Gambling means risking money or other property for gain, contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, or the operation of a gambling device.” Factor in that according to the state of Indiana lawmakers, poker is not a game of skill, but a game of chance and by such definition is illegal. [3]
Is Online Poker Legal In Indiana?
While it is possible for online players to play by way of approved online offshore sites, it is important to remember that online poker playing in general in Indiana is illegal. However, it is widely known that no legal action is taken against those who choose to play online through legit providers and there are many reliable ones available to the avid player.
Again, the only 2020 online poker sites available to players from Indiana are ones that operate offshore. Fortunately, there are several offshore sites happy to accept Hoosier online gambling enthusiasts.
- U. S. Poker Site
- Compatibillity
- Editor Rating
- Deposit Bonus
- Very player friendly
- Generous cashback
- Great mobile play
The Facts
The History Of Gambling In Indiana
Gambling for a conservative state like Indiana is a slow moving train. In 1851 the first constitution of Indiana bans lotteries. It wasn’t until 1988 did the Hoosier State lottery kick off. The profits from this lottery go directly to education, and the overall social welfare of the state.
Despite the slow build of legal gaming in Indiana, it has been the tendency of players to travel from neighboring states in order to get their game on in Northeast Indiana as well as Southern Indiana. East Chicago hosted the Big House and by the time prohibition became the rule, gaming establishments that would also provide illicit drink, so did they provide a man’s game.
Al Capone was known to flee Chicago for safety in French Lick and West Baden, Indiana. Both locations provided gaming options as well as luxurious stays. The resort area was a premier getaway destination — famed author William Faulkner even sent a character there on her honeymoon in his influential novel, “The Sound and The Fury.”
After much public outcry against such unsavory behavior in the state, much effort by lawmakers sought to bring illegal gaming to a halt in the early 50’s. By 1989 a statewide referendum is voted in with 60% of the vote. However, Republican leadership blocked it and two years later a proposal for riverboat casinos passes the House only to be rejected by a State Senate committee.
Following more failed attempts at licensing for up to five riverboat casinos was given with the belief that significant tax revenues would roll in. It didn’t stop there. A year later, Hoosier Park opens for on-track betting. Following this boost to the gambling industry came the release of five more licensed remote horse race betting sites.
Despite the constant lobbying efforts of the gambling industry as well as lawmakers, little movement has been made in establishing land casinos even after the passing of a Bill in 2011 to expand land casinos. However, Indiana has been one of only a few states that put in place specific wording that specifically targets online gambling. [4]
Regulated Gambling Options In Indiana
The Indiana Gaming Commission oversees the legal implementation and maintenance of gaming for the State. They are responsible for overseeing the 11 authorized casinos/gambling sites as well as ensuring that all gambling in Indiana be of the approve legal variety.
Indiana is quite regulated. For well over 100 years there was no increase in legal gambling in the state. Until 1988 when the Hoosier lottery came to be. All types of social gaming are deemed illegal by Indiana state law. Gambling in and of itself must be done only in those facilities that have been deemed legal by the State legislature. Although it is unlikely that online gaming would be the focus of a raid in 2020, in-home gambling has been known to be the focus of such raids.
Poker players in Indiana will find action at online poker rooms although Internet poker is not legal in the state.
The Future Of Regulated Online Gambling In Indiana
Best Online Casino Indianapolis
The future for Indiana iGaming and the fact that legal statements specifically pointed at a moratorium against online gambling is pretty specific. “(b) An operator who knowingly or intentionally uses the Internet to conduct any banking or percentage games played with the computer equivalent of cards, dice, or counters, or accept any fixed share of the stakes in those games”. (From: IC 35-45-5-3)
There are currently multiple influences that could alter this in in 2020. One factor that could stand in the way is Governor Mike Pence’s stance that he has little intention of either increasing or decreasing the current gaming climate. One key factor is the recent loss of revenue to bordering states. As bordering states continue to increase their gaming options and have made movements towards improved environments by enacting no-smoking bans, Indiana must respond or continue to lose their much relied upon gaming based tax-revenues.
Fun Fact
In the state of Indiana playing cards could cost you money. “A three dollar fine per pack will be imposed on anyone playing cards in Indiana under the Act for the Prevention of Gaming.”
The Bottom Line
Indiana may one day regulate online gambling, however there isn’t much rapid movement towards that at present. The reality is that as more and more gamblers turn to iGaming, and offshore online organizations for their online convenience that the state would be hard press to ignore the potential tax-revenues.
As neighboring states continue to expand gaming and make available up-to-date improvements, it is our belief that Indiana would be wise to follow suit and legalize online poker.
References
[1] Indiana Laws and Regulations (//www.gambling-law-us.com/State-Laws/Indiana/)
[2] Indiana Lawmakers Consider Gaming Expansion (//www.ibj.com/articles/49834-gambling-fight-set-to-test-governor-s-power)
[3] Indiana Gaming FAQ’s (//www.in.gov/igc/files/Gaming_Control_FAQs.pdf)
[4] Indiana Gambling History (//www.in.gov/legislative/ic/2010/title35/ar45/ch5.html#IC35-45-5-3)
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