Indiana Gambling Laws
Gambling enthusiasts who wish to visit Indiana will be pleased to know the various opportunities available to them. The Indiana gambling laws are very lenient, allowing players to enjoy gambling without worrying about safety and legality. This blog will go over all the legal ways to gamble, the legal gambling age, and what new laws have been implemented. Use the quicknavi below to navigate through this blog quickly.
Although the laws are quite soft, that does not mean everything is legal. There are still many grey areas to watch out for, specifically with online gambling as it is an entirely new form of gambling. We will cover the existing laws on online gambling and highlight alternatives for any illegal games.
Indiana State Gambling Laws – Favorable for Gamblers
| Indiana Gambling Method | Legality |
|---|---|
| Land-based casino | Legal – Riverboats, racinos, etc. |
| Sports betting | Recently Legalized |
| Horse Racing | Legal |
| Lottery | Legal |
| Bingo | Legal |
| Poker | Only legal in land-based casinos |
| Online Gambling | Grey Area – online casinos are illegal; online sports betting is legal, fantasy sports are legal |
Indiana state gambling laws have been gradually improving since the lottery was legalized in 1988. From horse racing to casinos and now even sports betting, there are plenty of fun opportunities for gamblers in Indiana. Rest assured that there are many legal gambling options, so you won’t have to visit shady places or fear persecution by the law.
However, as is the case with all legislation, not everything is simple. Online gambling is a brand-new way for punters to engage in gambling, so regulations are still being discussed and implemented. As such, the gambling laws concerning online casinos are a bit of a grey area and online gambling is considered illegal for the time being.
Gambling can only be done at approved casinos, racetracks, and now sportsbooks, while every other form such as home games or possession of a modern slot machine is considered illegal. Illegal gambling is a Class B misdemeanor and is punishable with a $1,000 fine or up to 180 days in prison.
Although it is currently illegal to use the Internet to profit from gambling, recent changes in the law may alter that situation, so it’s good to keep an eye out. There are many legal land-based options available, as well as a few online ones already set in place, so you just need to find them. Compared to stricter states such as North Carolina, Indiana online gambling laws have a bright future.
Land-Based Casino Laws – A Gradual Success
Legalizing land-based casinos was a long and arduous process, with controversy and tough legal battles frequently shutting down attempts to pass a bill for their legalization. However, in June 1993, the Indiana Riverboat Act was passed, allowing approved operators to host casinos on boats in Lake Michigan and the Ohio River. Although they initially had to be actual ships capable of sailing, that part was soon repealed by legislators, and now all riverboat casinos are anchored.
Later on, the bill expanded to allow for land-based casinos, including racinos, which are casinos operating at the Indiana horse-racing tracks. Currently, there are 12 casinos approved by the gambling laws in Indiana, which include riverboats and land-based casinos, along with two racinos. However, more may appear at a later point in time.
You can enjoy nearly every type of casino game, from fun slots to incredible table games and even bingo. The Indiana Gaming Commission has approved the operators, so you can rest assured that they are entirely legal and safe to play at. However, you will need to be at least 21 years old to enter one, as that is the legal gambling age in Indiana.
Among these casinos are two tribal ones. They belong to the Pokagon band of Potawatomi Indians, who sought to build casinos for economic development. After many legal trials, the Four Winds New Buffalo casino was built near Indiana’s border in Michigan. In 2018, Four Winds South Bend was also opened, further expanding their business.
All legal land-based casinos offer gamblers visiting Indiana a fantastic gaming experience. They are the only legal option for experiencing casino games, as you cannot organize games at home or possess functional slot machines. However, the casinos are all high-quality and offer the best opportunity to enjoy legal casino gambling, with some also functioning as resorts.
Indiana Online Casino Gambling Laws – Legislation in Progress
Currently, there are no Indiana online gambling laws for online casinos. The law prohibits using the Internet to participate in gambling, so it is illegal to use any online casinos and participate in gambling. The only alternative you can currently use are sites such as Chumba Casino.
Chumba Casino works as a sweepstake, so it does not violate Indiana gambling laws. You can mail a request to them, and the site will provide you with free funds, so you don’t have to pay to play and can enjoy gambling. However, note that this is still a very grey area, so you must be careful if you decide to use the site.
A great percentage of revenue from sports wagering has come from online, so I think it pretty clearly shows the younger generation in Indiana really wants mobile gambling. Jon Ford, Indiana State Senator
Due to the success of online sportsbooks laws, senator Jon Ford has prepared a new bill that will change gambling laws in Indiana. This bill will allow the existing land-based casinos to provide online casino and poker games, finally giving online punters a legal option. As the bill is still being discussed, we await to see the outcome.
Horse Racing in Indiana – Multiple Options Available
Like casinos, betting on horse races was officially legalized in 1993. Since then, two racetracks have been built, Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Grand in Shelbyville. Both tracks also function as casinos, so you can enjoy all sorts of fun gambling. Hoosier offers standardbred and quarter horse races, while Indiana Grand is where the major thoroughbred events with popular racers occur.
Aside from the events happening in Indiana, you can also bet on events throughout the entirety of the US, as the racetracks offer simulcast racing. This allows you to enjoy horse racing whenever there’s an event, and you won’t have to wait for them to be scheduled explicitly in Indiana. The racetracks themselves feature entertainment complexes and restaurants as well. Fans of pari-mutuel betting have plenty of entertainment to look forward to in Indiana.
Finally, there are several ways to place your bets. You can do it on-site at the track for both simulcast and live horse racing. There is also the option of going to one of the off-track venues available in Clarkesville, Indianapolis, and New Haven, which also feature restaurants. Indiana online gambling laws also allow online betting with BetAmerica and TVG betting so that you can place bets on local and even international events.
Sports Betting Laws in Indiana – Brand New Opportunities
Initially, sports betting was completely prohibited, not just in Indiana but across all the US. As such, the only legal option available according to gambling laws in Indiana was daily fantasy sports. DraftKings and FanDuel were the largest sites, and they can still be used today. However, since 2019, new opportunities have opened for sports betting in Indiana.
In 2018, the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. This decision was significant for US gambling laws as it now allowed states to host land-based and online sports betting. Recent Indiana gambling laws legalized sports betting in 2019, so now you can freely enjoy both online and land-based sports betting excitement on college and professional sports.
Naturally, unlicensed sports betting is still illegal, so you will have to use the approved venues. Most casinos in Indiana have set up sportsbook platforms such as the two racinos and most land-based casinos. There are also a few places, such as the off-track betting shops in New Haven, Indianapolis, and Clarkesville.
Meanwhile, BetMGM and BetRivers are some of the online sportsbooks available for those who wish to bet from home. The introduction of sports betting has been the biggest success of Indiana state gambling laws and gives hope for future legislation regarding other games such as poker and online casinos.
Poker Games in Indiana – Strict Laws on Home Games
Poker’s legality is somewhat tricky due to the changes in Indiana online gambling laws. To start, home poker games are completely prohibited. Most states allow home poker games to exist if they are not done for profit. However, the Indiana Code makes it clear that anyone engaging in gambling intentionally or knowingly is committing a crime. As such, you are only allowed to play poker at the approved casinos or licensed charity game nights.
A person who knowingly or intentionally engages in gambling commits unlawful gambling. Indiana Code, Title 35, Article 45, Chapter 5, Section 2
Currently, the state also completely prohibits online poker games. It is illegal to use sites to engage in poker games, so even offshore casinos are prohibited. There is hope, as the bill relating to online casinos will also legalize online poker games if approved. As such, the future of poker in Indiana is uncertain, but hopefully, players will be free to engage in online games soon.
Lottery and Bingo in Indiana
The lottery was first legalized in 1988, when voters approved the lifting of a constitutional ban and allowed for the establishment of the Hoosier Lottery. In 1990, it joined the Multi-State Lottery Association and now offers multi-jurisdictional games such as Cash4Life.
You can also enjoy some smaller games such as Cash 5 or Daily 3. As it is operated by the state, the lottery is the safest way to enjoy gambling due to regulations and is ideal for gamblers who are not interested in casino or sports betting.
Gamblers can enjoy live bingo at any time, as the large licensed casinos offer games such as electronic keno. If you wish to play for fun or simply enjoy bingo’s social element, you can play at any of the bingo halls throughout Indiana.
They operate with charity licenses, so all profits from the games will go to various charity causes, which means the games are entirely safe to play. However, you cannot play any online bingo as there is no legislation for it yet.
Future of Gambling Laws in Indiana
Despite its harsh stance on home poker games, the future of Indiana online gambling laws seems bright. Sports betting has proved to be very successful among people and has brought in considerable revenue for the state. Ever since the lottery ban was lifted, Indiana has also been making steady progress in creating legal opportunities for gambling fans.
As mentioned before, Indiana is undergoing discussions on implementing legislation for online casino and poker games. If it passes, players will be able to finally have access to the best US casino sites and play without any restrictions. Judging by how legislation was handled in the past, it will most likely take some time, but online casinos are likely to appear at some point in Indiana.
Indiana Gambling Laws FAQ
Indiana gambling laws can be difficult to understand due to their frequent changes and the fact that online gambling is an entirely new venue. In this short section, we will answer all your pressing questions so that you can enjoy the fun games without worrying about legality and grey areas.
