Illegal Gambling Indiana

• Illegal Gambling In Indiana
• Illegal Gambling In Anaheim
• Report Illegal Gambling In Indiana
• Illegal Gambling Indianapolis Star
• Illegal Gambling Indiana State
• Illegal Gambling Indianapolis

Indiana Gambling Laws Certain types of gambling are illegal and prosecuted under each state's gaming statutes. However, many states have recently relaxed their gambling laws and permitted casinos and other gaming venues such as card rooms.

1. Legal consequences for unsanctioned gambling. Punishment ranges from jail time to fines, depending on how the state looks at illegal gambling operations. In Texas, for example, illegal gambling is a misdemeanor, subjecting you to up to around $1,000 in fines and potentially months (but not more than a year) in jail.
2. Illegal gambling is any type of gambling that is specifically prohibited by state law. Gambling Involves a Bet While most instances of gambling occur when someone bets money, courts have ruled that gambling can occur whenever a bet is made using anything of value.

• Year Indiana Regulated Gambling: Lottery (1988), Bingo (1992), Horseracing (1994), Casinos (1993)
• Estimated Tax Revenue from Gambling: $475 million
• Estimated Gambling Revenue: $3.8 billion
• Indiana Gambling Age: 18 for lotteries, bingo, and racing, 21 for casinos
• Smoking ban: Indiana's smoking ban does not apply to businesses that restrict access to minors.
• Indiana Online gambling: Horseracing is the only version of online gambling legal in Indiana.

Indiana Casino locations: East Chicago, Gary, Florence, Michigan City, French Lick, Lawrenceburg, Anderson, Elizabeth, Hammond, Shelbyville, Rising Sun, and Evansville. Use our Indiana casinos map as a guide to locate all casinos in Indiana, including the popular casinos in Southern Indiana.

Indiana is a conservative Midwestern state that has widespread gambling. It all started with a state lottery in 1988. Bingo quickly followed. Racing was legalized in the 1990s. Off-track betting was launched a year later.

Indiana casinos were legalized in 1993, and Like many states at the time, casinos in Indiana had been located on the water. Lake Michigan and Ohio River are the common waterways where these riverboat casinos are located. This rule was later relaxed when racetracks were permitted to offer slots and video poker.

Paying Gambling Taxes in Indiana

Looking for how to file your gambling income? OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos has gathered everything you need to know about paying taxes on your gambling winnings straight from a Certified Public Accountant. For more information please visit our exclusive Gambling Taxes article.

Indiana Casinos Map & Guide

• Ameristar
• Hollywood Casino
• Horseshoe
• Majestic Star
• Tropicana

• Number of B&M Casinos: 12
• Number of Poker Rooms: 9
• Number of Indian Casinos: 0

• • Huge Welcome Bonus Package
  • Visa and MasterCard Payment Options Available for US Players
  • Over 150 Real Money Online Slot Games

  Compatible with:

  • windows
  • apple
  • android
  • mobile
• • Safe and Reputable Casino, Mobile Friendly
  • Easy Credit Card Deposits for US Players
  • Impressive Welcome Bonuses up to 260% match

  Compatible with:

  • windows
  • apple
  • android
  • mobile
• • Quick USA Payouts, Credit Cards Accepted
  • Great Selection of Slots & Table Games
  • Legit & Reputable Mobile Friendly Casino

  Compatible with:

  • windows
  • apple
  • android
  • mobile
• • Uses the Microgaming Software
  • Fast Cashouts in Just 1-7 Days
  • Online, Mobile, Instant & Live Play

  Deposit Options include:

  • visa
  • mastercard
  • paypal
  • neteller

  100% up to €1,000
• • Big Jackpots and Massive Deposit Bonuses
  • Over 400 Online Casino Games
  • Play Live Dealer Games

  Deposit Options include:

  • visa
  • mastercard
  • paypal
  • bitcoin

  100% up to €1,600
• • Large Australian Bitcoin-Friendly Casino
  • Mobile, Flash, and Download Play Options
  • Fastest Payouts

  Deposit Options include:

  • visa
  • mastercard
  • paypal
  • neteller
• • Safe and Trustworthy Australian Casino
  • Multiple Daily Deposit Deals
  • 100s of Pokies, Slots, and Table Games

  Compatible with:

  • windows
  • apple
  • android
  • mobile

Types of Indiana Online Gambling Allowed

Off-track horse racing is the only form of legalized online gambling in Indiana. Eligible sites include TVG, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica.

Latest casino No Deposit bonus codes. Exclusive No Deposit bonuses and free spins. No deposit casino signup bonus offers. Casino trial bonuses and freebies. Nabble casino forum. Latest casino bonus codes USA and Australia. Over 100 online casinos. Best Welcome, No Rules, No Deposit and free spins bonuses. Christmas casino promotions 2020.

Daily fantasy sports are not the subject of any action in Indiana. Rep. Alan Morrison introduced a bill that would legalize and regulate daily fantasy sports. It passed a committee in January 2016. It passed the state senate in February 2016. All major daily fantasy sports sites accept Indiana players. DraftKings and FanDuel are the largest.

Types of Live Indiana Gambling

• Slots: Yes
• Blackjack: Yes
• Poker: Yes
• Craps/Roulette: Yes
• Horses: Yes
• Lottery: Yes

Indiana offers many forms of live gambling. The most prolific are the Indiana casinos spread throughout the state. There are many casino games offered, including live poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, slots, video poker and table games that use cards are all legal in Indiana. The original casinos in Indiana were required to be riverboats in Lake Michigan or the Ohio River. This regulation has since been relaxed as gaming expanded to racinos and lakes. Currently, there are 12 Indiana casinos that players can pick from, spreading out from Southern Indiana and reaching the north side, near Illinois.

Indiana offers a state lottery. It is called the Hoosier Lottery. Available games include the typical scratch-off and lotto games. The most popular are the Powerball and Mega Millions. Cash 5, Quick Draw, and Poker Lotto are the more popular state drawings.

Indiana has an active horseracing industry. Indiana Grand and Hoosier Park offer live races. Off-track betting on simulcast races is also available at these facilities.

Charities may offer games of chance with proper licensing. This includes bingos, raffles, casino nights, door prizes, and pull-tabs. Charities must register with the state to offer these games.

Indiana Gambling Laws

Indiana gambling laws and policies are quite liberal in this regulated industry. There is still plenty of illegal gambling. Anything related to gambling in Indiana is regulated by the Indiana Gaming Commission. They are in charge of monitoring all casinos and racetracks, granting gambling licenses, and making sure all players are protected.

The state defines gambling as risking anything of value on that is,

'contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, or the operation of a gambling device,' but exempts 'bona fide contests of skill, speed, strength, or endurance in which awards are made only to entrants or the owners of entries.'

There are certain Indiana gambling laws that directly pertain to the operation of an internet website for the purpose of gambling. The laws target bookmaking and games of chance. That is a Class D felony, one of the harshest penalties in all states. Gamblers are not the subject of online gambling prohibition.

Charities must register in order to be able to offer gambling services. A fee is paid to the state by the charity and the distributor of the games. Fees range from $500 to $5,000, depending on the nature. Prizes may not exceed $5,000 for most games, although pull tabs and punchboards have a maximum value of $599.

The minimum gambling age in Indiana is 21 years for casino players. All other forms of Indiana gambling have a minimum age of 18 years.

List of Indiana Casinos

There are two racetracks and 12 Indiana casinos. Indiana Grand and Hoosier Park are the two tracks that offer live and simulcast betting. Indiana Grand is located in Shelbyville. Hoosier Park is located in Anderson. With Southern Indiana casinos having a head start on the amount of establishments you can find.

See the table below to find a list of Indiana casinos, their locations, and websites.

History of Indiana Gambling

The history of Indiana casinos and gambling is shorter than in most other states. Indiana voters approved a lottery on November 8, 1988, by a 62-38 margin. It is called the Hoosier Lottery. The first instant game ticket was sold on October 13, 1989. The first lotto game started in April 1990. That was a daily Lotto Cash. Daily 3 and Daily 4 drawings started three months later. The Indiana Lottery entered multi-state lotto drawings in October 1990.

The regulation of horse racing began on September 1, 1994. That is when Hoosier Park opened. Off-track betting was legalized the following year. Indiana's second track, Indiana Downs, opened on December 6, 2002.

The Indiana Riverboat Act was passed on July 1, 1993. This permitted riverboat casinos in Indiana to be located on Lake Michigan and the Ohio River. The riverboats were required to be navigable. This law was repealed in 1999. The ships were no longer mandated to include a crew and motor. All ships are anchored today. There are plenty of Indiana casinos that are remembered as riverboats, with French Lick Casino at the top of that list.

In 2007, Indiana casino gambling was expanded to both operating racetracks. This placed 2,000 slots and video poker machines at Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs.

Indiana Gambling FAQ

Yes. There are 12 casinos in Indiana, with 10 regular casinos and two racinos.

The minimum Indiana gambling age is 21 years for casino players, and 18 years for all other forms of gambling.

Yes. Live poker is legal on the riverboats. The racinos may offer electronic tables.

There are two racetracks in Indiana; Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs.

The only form of legal online gambling in Indiana is off-track betting.

TVG, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica are the largest pari-mutuels betting sites in Indiana.

Online poker sites are not legal in Indiana. There is a law that specifically forbids it.

DraftKings and FanDuel claim exemption under the state's skill gaming law. Indiana officials have not refuted this. A bill is making its way through the legislature that would expressly legalize it.

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.

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

Illegal Gambling In Indiana

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.

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

Illegal Gambling In Indiana

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.

Illegal Gambling In Anaheim

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.

Report Illegal Gambling In Indiana

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

Illegal Gambling Indianapolis Star

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.

Illegal Gambling Indiana State

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.

Illegal Gambling Indianapolis

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.