Online Gambling In Indiana
A state with a tradition of riverboat and land-based casinos, Indiana online gambling is coming into its own. The state hosts one of the newest online sports betting markets in the US. Legal casino gambling started in Indiana in the mid-1990s. As of 2020, the Hoosier State is home to 14 land-based and riverboat casinos. Indiana's state gambling law makes it a felony to provide gambling online and a misdemeanor to join and play at an online casino gaming site. Indiana even has a 'professional gamblers' statute that can punish certain types of online casino gamers with felony convictions. How Indiana online gambling could look Ford said he sees online casino gambling in Indiana having a similar structure to sports betting. Each of the 13 casinos or racinos in Indiana would have the opportunity to get an iGaming license. The Illinois Gaming Commission would provide oversight. The Indiana legal online gambling environment is currently supported by licensed offshore online platforms rather than the state since they have yet to launch their legalized online gambling sites. While Indiana is in the middle of regulating online offers, the state does not forbid any players from accessing licensed offshore online sites to.
Strangely enough despite its name Indiana doesn’t have a single tribal casino. The state takes a remarkably inconsistent approach to gambling, imposing some of the stiffest penalties for the simple act of playing a social home game, yet running some of the most profitable gambling operations in the United States on a handful of choice licensed riverboats.
Indiana is also one of a select few states which have chosen to specifically outlaw internet gambling, and what’s more to make it a felony. Professional gambling is also punishable as a felony, as is promotion of gambling.
The state does possess a lottery, and some pari-mutuel wagering racetracks. Charity gaming is also allowed within certain parameters, and that’s pretty much all. The state has a long history of strictly controlling gambling, and a correspondingly rich history of illegal operations, often run by mobsters.
The most notable tale of old-time gambling in the state is the notorious Long Beach Turf Exchange, which for all that it was short-lived, lives on in the collective memory due to its sheer and insane extravagance and ambition.
Set up by one Johnny “Fix-em” Condon in 1901, the Exchange was apparently a “castle protected by stockades, barbed wire and picket fences, armed lookouts in sentry boxes, alarm boxes, ferocious bloodhounds…and with tunnels leading outside the grounds and arrangements for setting fire to the place if the police succeeded in gaining an entrance” according to a quote from journalist Herbert Asbury found on this historical site [1].
Condon was said to ferry gamblers from Chicago by train, offering luxury and sanctuary from the authorities. The operation gained so much notoriety so quickly that it was in fact shut down within months, but remains the most daring illegal gambling locale in Indiana’s history.
The Letter of the Law
The law is firm in Indiana – anything not specifically exempted in the statutes counts as illegal gambling, and while in some cases one might be just charged with a misdemeanor, many acts may qualify as felonies including professional gambling, internet gambling and promotion of gambling activities.
The helpful minds at Gaming Law Masters break down the statutes with some clarity in this document [2].
It appears that professional gambling is defined fairly broadly, with several types of cause qualifying, such as being a player who “conducts any banking or percentage games played with cards, dice, or counters, or accepts any fixed share…” Another potential qualifying cause is given as being someone who “accepts or offers to accept for profit, money or other property risking in gambling.” It seems that anyone playing regularly for a living in the state would be breaking the law under these provisions.
Promotion of gambling is also a felony, and consists of either hosting a game, using or transporting a gambling device, or transmitting / receiving gambling information prior to a gambling event taking place.
Unlawful gambling is listed as a lesser offence, being a class B misdemeanor.
Are Online Gambling Sites Legal in Indiana?
This one’s pretty clear cut in Indiana. The Gaming Law Masters website gives the definition as “knowingly or intentionally using the Internet to engage in unlawful gambling within the State or with a person located in Indiana”, and declares it as a class D felony. This would seem to include both players and providers of gambling, although one would imagine that there would be still stiffer and additional charges for anyone running internet gambling from within the state.
So just don’t even think about gambling online in Indiana. Some speculate on the state’s ability to regulate such a law with regard to individual players, given privacy laws in the USA. The bottom line is that it’s a serious crime in the state of Indiana to take part in any form of internet gambling.
What Forms of Gambling In Indiana Are Legal?
There are a few possibilities for a wager which exist within the law in Indiana. There are licensed horse racetracks in the state, where pari-mutuel wagering is allowed. Indiana Downs is the state’s frontline venue for thoroughbred and quarter horse racing, and also offers simulcast betting.
The state has offered a lottery since 1989 after approval from voters in a referendum, and you can read more about where the proceeds go on their official site.
Games of cards, dice, roulette and bingo are permissible in the case of licensed charitable organizations, with state-defined limits on prizes awarded and various other restrictions.
The fourth and most significant exemption under Indiana state law is that allowing riverboat casinos, within very strictly defined parameters. Primarily, riverboat casinos are only allowed in counties contiguous to Lake Michigan, to the Ohio River or those found in the Lake Patoka area. Furthermore, these riverboats must have a schedule of motion, and not allow gambling while docked (with certain exceptions).
In a culturally interesting clause, riverboats must “fairly replicate nineteenth century Indiana steamboat passenger vessels”. This is quoted from the statutes on the Gaming Law Masters’ website referenced above. Of course vessels must also be fully licensed as casinos, and there is naturally a limit to how many casinos the state will allow to operate at any one time.
Indiana state law has drawn up a list of games which are allowed in these licensed riverboat casinos, which extends to twenty-one games. The most well-known games allowed on this list are baccarat, twenty-one, poker, craps, slot machines, “video games of chance”, roulette, keno and pull tabs.
Indiana Riverboats
The Indiana state government very kindly provides this list of licensed riverboat casinos in the state.
With thousands of slots and hundreds of video poker machines, the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond is perhaps the most impressive casino in Indiana. The poker room features 34 tables, and tournaments run every day of the week. The buy-ins range around $150, and there’s a $500 entry running once a month. Find the full summary of their schedule here.
The Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg is another serious contender, offering over 2,500 slots, 74 table games and a poker room which runs 19 tables, at least two tournaments a night, and hosts a $300 monthly event.
The Majestic Star near Gary is a fine establishment which also runs daily poker events, has over 60 table games on offer and numerous machine games as well. They also run a range of promotions including a $5,000 prize pool divided between the 20 most successful slots players every Thursday.
Online Sports Gambling In Indiana
If you’re interested in comparing the twelve or so options Indiana offers in the way of riverboat casinos, jump on to this page from USA Today where a brief guide is offered.
For the poker tournament players amongst you, if that’s what you really want to know about you can find a full listing here thanks to Cardplayer.
Venture down to one of these licensed gambling venues, but be prepared for the potential amusement factor when you see how these modern day behemoths attempt to fairly imitate nineteenth century vessels. This workaround by the French Lick Springs Hotel is particularly uproarious, though I’m unsure how they get around the “no gambling while docked” ruling.
Recent Developments
2012 saw the worst financial returns in the Indianan casino industry for some time, with attendance and the wider economic downturn blamed for this in this article by NWI which covers the hard numbers. The Pharos Tribune lays more of the blame on neighboring Ohio, whose casino market is currently expanding, noting that Indiana has seen a downswing in casino profits over the three years from 2009 to 2012.
As the industry scrambles to compensate, plans are afoot to bring riverboat casinos to dry land, to lower taxes on casino revenue, amongst a number of other initiatives. The governor has however indicated that he is not in favor of expanding the casino industry at this time, as discussed in this Cardplayer article.
Touch screen gaming is making serious inroads in the state as well, with a new variant of touch screen roulettemaking headway which offers Indiana casinos a larger house edge, something they will surely be glad of in these straitened financial times.
Busts and Arrests
A major bout of illegal sports ring activity was quelled by police in early 2013, in the run-up to the Super Bowl. 400 people and over $200,000 were involved, and several venues are implicated. Those involved may end up being charged with unlawful gambling, and the organizers will surely face felony charges. A document from the State Police on this matter can be viewed here.
Internet cafes illegally offering online gambling, frequently in the form of sweepstakes, have been an issue across many a US state. Indiana is no exception, and a number of associated busts have occurred.
An undercover police officer exposed one such operation in New Haven in 2011, revealing that he was able to play “Vegas style” gambling games on the premises. Those responsible are being charged with multiple felonies as a result of their choice of business operation.
Finally, an illegal poker game allegedly running seven days a week and under police scrutiny was busted in 2007, shortly after having been robbed at gunpoint according to Pokernews. $6,000 in cash, computers and gambling equipment were seized in the raid which also caught one state trooper red-handed, sitting at the table engaged in play. The Pokernews article cites regular players as claiming that numerous police officers used to take part in the daily games, although police did not confirm these claims.
Summary
If you want to gamble in Indiana and remain on the right side of the law while doing so, you’ll have to keep to the following options.
You can take part in the state lottery by purchasing tickets from licensed retailers. If you like a horse race, you can attend one of several licensed horse racetracks in the state and take part in some pari-mutuel wagering or simulcast betting. You can participate in any licensed charity gaming event in the state, be it a card game, dice game, roulette or bingo.
Other than that, you have one very clear and overwhelmingly popular option, to attend one of the twelve or so licensed riverboat casinos within Indiana. Head down to one of these fine venues and sit down to play any one of twenty-one state approved games, including poker, craps, baccarat, slot machines and roulette.
Whatever you do, just don’t try to track down the modern equivalent of the Long Beach Turf Exchange. Not only do such places most likely no longer exist, but the penalties for illegal gambling are such in Indiana that anything along those lines would not only be breaking the law, but also a pretty clearly foolhardy pursuit.
Indiana has some strict gambling laws in place, and at this time, there are no legal Indiana online casinos offered. The state prohibits online casino gambling and it is considered a Class D felony to engage in online casino activities for real money. Read on to learn more about gambling in Indiana and get information on Indiana online casinos as well as Indiana sportsbooks.
Contents
Best Casinos in Indiana
Despite the strict gambling laws and the lack of Indiana online casinos, there are some great land-based casinos that are operating. These provide residents and visitors with a thrilling experience and you will find a number of popular games. Check out the best casinos in Indiana right here.
Ameristar
At Ameristar, you will be able to enjoy a fun-filled casino floor. This popular casino venue is home to over 1,700 slot machines and there are some great table games. You will find blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Pai Gow Poker, and other super games. The casino also offers a Baccarat room, where 19 tables offer the fast-paced action of this popular game. This venue is also home to a popular Indiana sportsbook, so you can wager on your favorite teams.
Belterra Casino
The Belterra Casino is located in Florence and offers a thrilling gambling experience. This casino resort, you will find a 24-hour casino that features two floors of games. With hundreds of slots, great table and card games and more, this venue is one of the top choices in Indiana. You will also be able to enjoy the thrills in the dedicated Poker Room, where many high paying tournaments are held. This casino also offers the ability to wager at the FanDuel Sportsbook.
Blue Chip Casino
Blue Chip Casino is located in northwest Indiana and offers endless casino fun. With 65,000 square feet of gaming space, the casino is loaded with exciting slots, great table game variations, and eight live poker tables. The casino is open daily and you can always enjoy the excitement of gambling. This casino is known to offer some of the highest paying jackpot games in the state and also offers a sportsbook for those looking to place wagers on their favorite teams.
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg is one of the larger casinos in the state. Here, you can enjoy more than 1,400 slot games that can deliver hours of entertainment. The casino also offers a wide assortment of table games, including blackjack, high card flush, craps, and roulette. If you are a fan of poker, you will appreciate the dedicated Poker Room. Here, there are 19 tables, all offering exciting versions of poker and regularly scheduled poker tournaments.
Harrah’s Hoosier Park
Hoosier Park is owned and operated by Harrah’s, so you can be sure you will have a memorable and rewarding experience. With a single level gaming floor, you can find over 2,000 of the newest slot games and some exciting e-table games. There is also a great high limit room that offers high limit slots, video poker, and some electronic blackjack games. Harrah’s has some of the best online casinos operating, so if the state ever approves this type of gambling, you can expect this to become one of the Indiana online casinos to enter the industry.
Tropicana Evansville
Online Gambling In Indiana
At Tropicana Evansville, you will find some great games that can award huge payouts. If you are a fan of table and card games, you will find more than 40 tables offering casino classics like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps, poker, and more. There are also over 1,000 slots on the gaming floor. Tropicana is home to a poker room where you will find 8 variations of the game along with daily promotional offers.
List of Indiana Casinos
Since you are not yet able to engage in Indiana online casino action, you will want to discover the great land casinos that are operating. Indiana is home to some great venues that feature the best slots and card games. Many of these casinos also offer dedicated poker rooms also provide the chance to enjoy Indiana sportsbooks.
Aside from the best casinos listed above, be sure to check out some of these other venues. They will all surely meet your gambling needs. Of the 13 casinos that are found in Indiana, 10 of these are riverboat variety casinos.
- Horseshoe Southern Indiana Hotel and Casino
- Rising Star Casino
- Horseshoe Casino Hammond
- Majestic Star Casino
- Indiana Grand Racing Casino
- French Lick Resort Casino
You will also find a tribal casino being operated in South Bend. This is the Four Winds Casino, offering 1,600 slot machines and a great poker room with 10 tables of action.
Indiana Casino Laws
Gambling at a land casino is completely legal in Indiana. When you visit any of the 13 casinos, you can engage in real money play as long as you are over the age of 21. Many of these locations also offer sportsbooks, so you can enjoy the thrills of sports wagering as well as casino gaming.
As for Indiana online casinos, these are still illegal. The state has passed no laws that permit any online casino to operate within the state. Based on current laws, the engagement in unlicensed gambling is a punishable offense, but this does not apply to internet gambling. In fact, there are no specific laws relating to USA online casinos or international sites.
Future Casino Legislation in Indiana
At this time, there are no plans to legalize the operation of any Indiana online casinos. Even though there has been a huge expansion of online gambling across the country and many USA online casinos operating, Indiana has resisted the idea.
The best online casinos for US players are being operated in other countries, aside from those that are legally operating in the few US states that have legalized online wagering. While Indiana online casinos may not be in the future, residents do have the ability to enjoy online sports betting as the state approved this and launched online sportsbooks in October of 2019.
Popular Indiana Casino Games
When you visit any of the Indiana casino locations, you will find hundreds of game options. Below, we take a look at the popular games that are found at these casino venues. If you choose to access the best online casinos in other countries, you will also find these games being supported.
Should the state alter current gambling laws and allow Indiana online casinos to operate, you will find all of these types of games being offered.
Slots
Slot machines are the most popular games in any casino. At Indiana casinos, you will find that most venues have over 1,000 slot machines. These are a combination of three and five-reel games and you will also be able to enjoy the thrills of spinning for millions on some of the hottest progressive slot selections.
Table and Card Games
There is no shortage of table and card games to enjoy. These games usually consist of classic selections. You will find blackjack tables, roulette, Craps, Baccarat, Casino War, poker variations, and more. Card and table games attract much attention and with the games at leading Indiana casinos, you will have some great chances at winning.
Poker Options
The majority of the best Indiana casinos also offer poker rooms. These are dedicated areas within the casino that have multiple tables. Here, you will enjoy different variations of the game, such as Texas Hold Em, Omaha Poker, and Casino Hold Em. There are also poker variations on the main floor and popular games include Caribbean Stud, Pai Gow Poker, and Three Card Poker.
Indiana Casino Apps
Since there are no Indiana online casinos yet operating, you will not have the ability to make use of any Indian Casino apps. The casinos that do provide live gambling do not have apps and there are no plans of legalizing Indiana online casinos in the near future. You can make use of apps that are offered at casinos in other states but will only be able to play free games.
Indiana Online Sportsbooks
While there are no Indiana online casinos available you do have the ability to enjoy online sportsbooks in the state. Overall, online gambling remains illegal in the state of Indiana, with online sports betting being the exception. There are a variety of online Indiana sportsbooks that will accept real money wagers, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetRivers.
Residents do have the ability to access offshore sportsbooks as well, but since online gambling is deemed illegal in the state, there is a chance of incurring penalties. As of now, no individual has ever been fined for placing wagers at an offshore sportsbook or other USA online casinos.
Final Thoughts on Casino Gambling in Indiana
Casino gambling has been popular in the state for many years and with 13 great casinos operating, there are a number of options. However, many players are looking forward to the possibility of Indiana online casinos emerging. At this time, the state has no plans to pass any laws that would allow for the legal operation of Indiana online casinos, so the future is rather grim.
If you do wish to engage in online betting, sports betting is the only legal option. With no Indiana online casinos, you will have to locate offshore sites to meet your gambling needs if you wish to play real money casino games online.