John Ford | September 17, 2022 | Updated on: January 4th, 2023
Indiana casinos comprise of all the gambling establishments that populate the Midwestern state. Gambling in Indiana has not always been legit, with most of the casinos in Indianapolis operating legally as of 1993. Whether you are in Michigan City or you looking for casinos near Fort Wayne Indiana, this guide is intended for you. Browse through our guide to find all the information you will need to navigate the Indiana gambling circuits.
Since the expansion of the legal definition of online gambling in the US, a lot of states in America have moved to amend previous gambling laws in their respective jurisdictions. Indiana gambling laws took a lot longer to revise. We have collated all of the gambling laws in Indiana along with the history of gambling in Indiana. This guide also expands on whether US players can play online casino games for US dollars and win big.
Top Indiana Online Casinos
What you will find in this Indiana Gambling Guide
- Is Online Gambling Legal in Indiana?
- Indiana Gambling Laws
- Indiana Sports Betting
- Live Casinos in Indiana
- History of Indiana Gambling
- Indiana Casinos FAQ
Is Online Gambling Legal in Indiana?
The gambling laws in Indiana have been relaxed over the years, yet there is still a lot of activities that constitute gambling that is still classified as illegal. Indiana sports betting has benefitted from revisiting the laws of gambling in the state. Of the gambling activities that are permitted on the internet, off-track horse racing is allowed at recognised online bookies such as TwinSpires and TVG. These laws have opened doors for popular daily fantasy sports companies to set up shop in the state. DraftKings and FanDuel are the biggest online sportsbooks in the state and can also be found inside some casinos in Indiana.
The law is also explicit about online casino gambling in Indiana, prohibiting all forms of casino gaming on the internet. US players elect to play at offshore online casino sites that accept players from America. It should be noted that being found to be in contravention of these laws may result in imprisonment as per the law. The hasn’t been a case where players had been jailed for playing online casino games from the comfort of their homes. It is a different story for operators of internet casinos who face harsh penalties if caught.
Indiana Gambling Laws
The regulator that oversees gambling laws in the state is the Indiana Gaming Commission. This also entails the awarding of licenses to landbased casinos and dictating the legal definition of gambling in the state.
- Gambling Age: The official minimum gambling age in Indiana state is 21 years. It differs based on the type of games that you will participate in. For casino players, it is set at 21 while other forms of gambling are set at a minimum age of 18 years in Indiana.
- Indiana State Lotteries: dubbed the Hoosier Lottery, it has been operational since 1988. In total, there are several lotto games that include your typical scratchoff along with the more popular lotto draws such as Mega Millions and Powerball.
- Charities: The state of Indiana keeps tabs on charitable gambling events that take place on occasion. Charitable gambling is permitted in Indiana though it comes at a cost. The cost to acquire a Charitable Gaming license is US$50 for the initial year with additional fees to be charged for the subsequent years depending on how much was made from the games in the previous year. This does not constitute taxes to operate charitable gambling in the state.
Indiana Sports Betting
2019 saw the introduction of legal sports betting in Indiana, with the first bookmaker opening its doors in September. The Indiana Gaming Commission oversees both land-based sports betting venues along with live sportsbooks in the Hoosier State. While not all the online bookies have received a license to roll out their sportsbook apps, Indiana bettors can place bets on NFL games with BetRivers, DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel online. The gaming regulator will rollout additional licenses to sports betting sites at a later stage for players to have options for mobile wagering online.
Live Casinos in Indiana
You won’t struggle to find a live casino in Indiana that is located close to you. If you observe the Indiana casinos map, you can identify a casino near you and visit the establishment for a great experience. The Indiana state only permits 21 years of age players to enter the brick-and-mortar casino venue. Here’s a list of casinos in Indiana you can visit:
| Casino | Games | Casino Address | Website |
| Ameristar Casino – East Chicago | 1700 Slot Machines | 777 Resorts Blvd. | www.ameristar.com |
| Belterra Casino – Florence | 1,200 Slot Machines | 777 Belterra Dr. | www.belterracasino.com |
| Blue Chip Casino – Michigan City | 2,000 Slot Machines | 2 Easy Street | www.bluechipcasino.com |
| French Lick Casino | 1,200 Slot Machines | 8670 West State Road 56 | www.frenchlick.com |
| Hollywood Casino – Lawrenceburg | 3,300 Slot Machines | 777 Hollywood Blvd. | www.hollywoodindiana.com |
| Hoosier Park Racino – Anderson | 2,000 Slot Machines | 4500 Dan Patch Circle | www.hoosierpark.com |
| Horseshoe Casino – Hammond | 3,200 Slot Machines | 777 Casino Center Drive | www.caesars.com/horseshoe |
| Horseshoe Southern Indiana | 2,400 Slot Machines | 11999 Avenue of the Emperors | www.caesars.com/horseshoe-southern-indiana |
| Indiana Grand Casino – Shelbyville | 2,000 Slot Machines | 4300 N. Michigan Road | www.indianagrand.com |
| Majestic Star Casino – Gary | 2,400 Slot Machines | 1 Buffington Harbor Drive | www.majesticstarcasino.com |
| Majestic Star II Casino – Gary | 2,400 Slot Machines | 1 Buffington Harbor Drive | www.majesticstarcasino.com |
| Rising Star Casino – Rising Sun | 1,000 Slot Machines | 777 Rising Star Casino | www.risingstarcasino.com |
| Tropicana – Evansville | 1,200 Slot Machines | 421 N.W. Riverside Drive | www.tropevansville.com |
History of Indiana Gambling
The history of gambling in Indiana and by extension the casinos in the state is unique. Like most states, in order to pass gambling laws, Indiana Gambling Commission needed the approval of voters to give consent. It happened with lottery games back in 1988. Some parties that were against the bill, however, the votes to legalize lottery games won by a 62-38 margin. It would take time before the first instant game ticket was sold, which happened back in October 13, 1989.
The rollout of gambling regulation had spawned to horse racing, which only started in 1994 September 1st. This was the day Hoosier Park first opened its doors to US punters. At the time, off-track betting wasn’t legal until the following year. It would take eight years until Indiana’s second track (Indiana Downs) was opened on December 6, 2002,
In 1993, the Indiana Riverboat Act was passed on July 1. This gambling law allowed riverboat casinos in Indiana to exist around the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. This law didn’t last for long as it was repealed in 1999. Several Indiana casinos were once riverboats, such as French Lick Casino which is anchored today. In 2007, Indiana gambling casino list was expanded to include operating racetracks in the state. They would be called racinos. There are only two racinos, Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs and players can find 2,000 slots and video poker machines to enjoy at the venues.
Indiana Casinos FAQ
There only form of gambling that is permitted online in Indiana is off-track betting. All other forms of gambling are not allowed and are considered illegal.
Yes, players can find Indiana casinos all around the state that they can visit. There are 12 casinos in total, made up of two racinos as well as ten regular casino venues.
There are 12 casinos that you can visit in the state of Indiana.
In the past, casino gambling in Indiana was only legal if it happened on riverboats. Up until 1993, it became legal to conduct gambling activities at a brick and mortar casino venue.
The minimum age for gambling in Indiana is 21 years of age. You can make pari-mutuel bets as well as lottery bets once you are 18 years.
Yes, sports betting in Indiana is now legal as of September 2019. You can visit casino venues that have licensed sportsbooks on site or visit online bookies such as DraftKings and FanDuel on their mobile apps.
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