Indiana Online Casinos

Indiana has not legalized online casinos just yet, so players from the Hoosier State are limited to sweepstakes sites and social casino sites like Chumba and Luckyland that are similar to real money online casinos.

Although online casino legalization failed in 2022, all is not lost. In fact, one of the biggest supporters of online gambling in Indiana, Rep. Ethan Manning, has already announced that he intends to reintroduce online casino legislation in 2023.

Manning has also indicated that he plans to make an unusual addition to the upcoming bill. He plans to add iLottery as another activity to be legalized. In doing so, he hopes to gain the approval of Gov. Eric Holcomb.

As we speak, lawmakers in Indiana are considering adding online casinos to an already blossoming online gambling industry in the state.

Best Indiana online gambling bonuses 2023

What’s happening with Indiana online casinos right now?

• Mar. 10, 2023 – In a bit of cruel irony, land-based Indiana casinos continue to hum along at a robust pace, with the first two months of the year each yielding more than $200 million in revenues. However, online casino legalization continues to be off the table in the Hoosier State.
• Feb. 21, 2023 – Online casino legalization efforts have ground to a halt almost before they could get underway. A flawed fiscal note on HB1536 has doomed it from advancing through a key House committee by the designated deadline, thus ending any chances of its approval.
• Feb. 10, 2023 – If revenues from retail casinos in Indiana are any indication, there is plenty of room for a robust online casino industry. The Indiana Gaming Commission reports that the state’s land-based casinos took revenues worth more than $203 million in the month of January 2023.
• Feb. 7, 2023 – Indiana lawmakers are receiving conflicting reports about whether or not Indiana online casinos will cannibalize the retail casinos in the state. While the fiscal note attached to the online casino bill indicates that 30% of the retail business will vanish, a report from Spectrum indicates that retail gambling will be unaffected.
• Feb. 2, 2023 – The state government’s forecast for online casino revenues jumps dramatically from previous estimates to $812 million. The reassessment represents a 32% increase over the last predictions about the industry’s potential.
• Jan. 27, 2023 – The recently-proposed online casino bill would also be a boon to responsible gambling efforts in Indiana. The bill proposes to send 10% of the tax revenues to these services, which could be worth $20 million in annual budget.
• Jan. 12, 2023 – State Rep. Ethan Manning submits HB1536 to legalize internet casinos in Indiana. He hopes to have sites up and running by September 2023.

Sweepstakes casinos accepting Indiana players

For residents in many states, an alternative to playing on offshore online casinos is the use of sweepstakes casinos and social casinos. These online casino sites operate in a manner that allows them to remain in compliance with existing sweepstakes law.

Common sweepstakes casino and social casino sites include Chumba Casino, Global Poker, LuckyLand Slots and Funzpoints. Chumba Casino and Luckyland Slots are social casino sites, while Funzpoints offers a sweepstakes site

The only reason that these online casino sites can keep going is the fact that players can receive free entries — i.e., money —by simply mailing a request. Because it is possible to play for free, the payments that players make are more about convenience than the ability to take part.

Here are the games that you can play on Indiana sweepstakes casinos:

• Slot games, including jackpot
• Video poker
• Keno
• Online blackjack
• Online roulette
• Caribbean stud
• Texas Hold’em
• Pot Limit Omaha
• Crazy Pineapple

For more information, check out our page on sweepstakes casinos.

Live casinos in Indiana

Indiana residents looking for online casinos are not suffering from a shortage of retail venues for gambling. Although there are no major clusters of properties, there are plenty of opportunities for players to find a location nearby. Here are all the places that Indiana residents can find their favorite games of chance. Most of the casinos in Indiana provide a sportsbook and poker room.

Every casino in Indiana is open 24 hours a day, so there’s really no excuse for not going if you’re inclined to do so. Certainly, there’s always an empty seat.

What can I bet on in Indiana?

Indiana’s laws on gambling are a remarkable example of contrasts. On the one hand, the state has many land-based full-service casinos and horsetracks. The state also allows online sports betting, and was one of the first to legalize fully the practice of daily fantasy sports. In January 2020, Indiana became the second state to allow legalized sports betting on the Academy Awards.

On the other hand, any gambling activities not expressly permitted under law, including gambling over the internet, are strictly prohibited, and bear criminal penalties of up to $1,000 in fines and 180 days in jail. Few other states have such stringent laws against gambling.

So, here is a guide for common types of gambling, and how they work (or don’t) in Indiana.

Online sportsbooks in Indiana

Indiana sports betting has been available since 2019. There are more than a dozen online sportsbooks available in the state, including DraftKings, Caesars, and BetMGM. The Indiana Gaming Commission manages and oversees sports betting in the state. If a site is not listed on the IGC website as approved, it is not a legal site and should be considered a risk for security and safety. In-person sportsbooks and kiosks can be found at casinos, racinos, and OTBs throughout the state.

Lottery Games

Indiana is home to a state lottery. In a quirk unique among states with lotteries, the Hoosier Lottery is the only one that uses its state nickname as part of its title.

The first Indiana lottery tickets began to disseminate into Indiana in October 1989, roughly five months after the General Assembly ratified the Lottery Act. Since then, player prizes, transfers to the state funds, and commissions to retailers have all exceeded $1 billion.

Players can take part in both instate and multi-state lottery drawings. There are also scratch-offs available for play.

The Hoosier Lottery does have a mobile app for customers to use. Unfortunately, it only serves as an informational tool. Indiana does not permit online lottery play at this time.

Poker

Poker is not a forbidden fruit in Indiana. After all, there are 10 poker rooms open for business in Indiana’s land-based casinos.

Unfortunately, Indiana has proven to be a mixed bag when it comes to online gambling. So, it’s unclear if online poker sites will come to the Hoosier State anytime soon. For now, Indianans will have to settle for Global Poker.

Global Poker is a sweepstakes poker site that operates in almost every US state. Legally speaking, the site falls into a realm closer to Publishers Clearing House than PokerStars.

It is important to note that it is possible for Indianans to play on Global Poker absolutely free. A snail mail request to the Global Poker office will result in the addition of five Sweeps Coins to the player’s account.

Without this distinction, playing on Global Poker would be a dodgy endeavor for residents of the Hoosier State. As it is, please be cautious about any overtures towards paid online poker in Indiana for the time being.

Betting on horse races in Indiana

There are two horse tracks in Indiana that offer live racing. Both are in the Indianapolis area, and both are owned by gambling titan Caesars Entertainment. They are:

• Harrah’s Hoosier Park
• Indiana Grand Casino & Racing

Indiana Grand also operates four off-track betting locations. One of those locations is also in the Indiana Grand Casino itself. Each is branded under the Winner’s Circle brand. Off-track betting locations are in the following cities:

• Clarksville
• Indianapolis
• New Haven
• Shelbyville

Betting on horses online is also allowed through many horse betting sites. We would be remiss if we didn’t point you toward TVG. TVG is the top horse betting site in the country and doubles as one of the few dedicated horse racing broadcast networks on the planet.

Where do the tax dollars go?

Gambling is big business for states. After all, tax revenue is the first (and usually only) reason that legislatures pass gaming expansion bills and governors add their signatures.

In Indiana’s case, its gambling industry is worth nearly $1 billion annually in tax revenue. That money goes to a wide variety of recipients, including teachers, firefighters, police, and the cities that host the casinos themselves.

To the state: Unsurprisingly, the largest portion of those dollars goes straight into the state’s bank account. In the most recent financial disclosure from the state, the state’s general fund received over $394 million from taxes on gambling interests.  Those hundreds of millions join the rest of Indiana’s tax revenue in helping to pay for the state to run.

To build roads: The second biggest allocation goes to the Build Indiana Fund. This fund received over $256 million in the 2018 fiscal year. The Build Indiana Fund is the first stop for the state when it comes to infrastructure projects. Large capital expenditures in Indiana have the lottery and proceeds from charity gaming to thank for their existence.

To the host towns: Another big chunk of these tax dollars goes to the towns that host the casinos themselves. Almost $240 million went to various municipalities that, in turn, use those funds to pay for their own improvements and operations, such as pension funds for firefighters and police officers in the city. It makes sense, of course, that these towns should share in some of the newfound revenue. After all, casinos don’t exist in a vacuum, and the demands of a large cash-heavy business can be significant.

The rest: The remaining funds go to fund various commissions and initiatives in the state. The Indiana Economic Development Fund, the Teachers’ Retirement Fund, and the livestock industry all receive a piece of the pie. One notable program that receives significant contributions is the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. Indianans, as it turns out, have a wealth of options available if their gambling habits become problematic.

Responsible Gambling

The unfortunate reality of gambling is that a percentage of the population will develop an unhealthy relationship with the practice. Problem gambling’s hallmark behavior is a player’s inability to stop gambling – even when they want to stop.

Fortunately, Indiana has a tremendous amount of resources available to help its citizens who are suffering. These services are free to the public – the program is completely funded by tax dollars pulled from gambling taxes.

Indiana residents who have a problem or believe they may have a problem should not hesitate to visit the Indiana Problem Gambling Help website. On the site, the state has links for a self-assessment test, information about warning signs, and contact information for treatment facilities and support groups.

The state also operates a helpline to assist both problem gamblers and their families. There are experts available to help around the clock, and there’s no need to suffer a minute longer.

Finally, Indiana both requires its licensees to have self-exclusion programs and operates one itself. These programs allow problem gamblers to establish access restrictions out of a need to protect themselves from themselves.

A player who self-excludes will not be allowed onto any Indiana casino property for the selected time period. That time period can include a permanent self-exclusion.

Indiana also recently established a program to assist online sports bettors who are struggling. In other words, there’s no reason for Hoosiers to damage themselves and their loved ones a minute longer.

Related resources

Below you’ll find a list of resources that can help you learn more about the future of online casinos and online gambling in Indiana.

• Indiana legislative information
• Indiana Gaming Commission
• Guide to gambling law in Indiana
• List of Indiana casinos
• Indiana Council on Problem Gambling