Online gambling in Indiana 2023
Is online gambling in Indiana legal? Yes, if you’re referring to sportsbooks, but not quite so if we’re talking about online casinos.
Below you can see the best legal online gambling options Indiana has to offer, including online sports betting sites, casinos, and poker rooms. We’ll also dive deep into Indiana gambling laws to hopefully offer you some clarity on what to expect when playing in this state.
| Sportsbook Logo | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to sportsbook Button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
90/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 94% Playscore based on |
Up to $1,250 Stakeback + 2,000 loyalty credits
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
|
2
|
85/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 91% Playscore based on |
Up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
|
3
|
83/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 86% Playscore based on |
Second Chance Bet of up to $500
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
|
4
|
80/100 Expert rating by Ramona D. 83% Playscore based on |
100% up to $100 FC
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
Online gambling in Indiana is legal when it comes to online sports betting sites and sweepstakes. So, depending on your preferences, you could go for one or the other, or you can enjoy placing bets and spinning the reels.
If you opt for all-coverage entertainment, it would be convenient to receive all-exclusive treatment. And there’s no better way to do that than by joining the top sportsbooks and sweepstakes.
Is online gambling legal in Indiana?
If you want to gamble in Indiana with no legal consequences, you can do so in land-based casinos, social casinos, sportsbooks, sports betting apps, land-based poker rooms, and racinos (horse racing and betting establishments).
Moreover, the gambling age in Indiana varies depending on the wagering activity. For instance, you can buy lottery tickets as soon as you turn 18, but you must be 21 to take part in sports betting.
Look at the table for a complete overview of legal gambling activities, including how old you must be to participate.
| Gambling vertical | Offline legal age | Online legal age | Online since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casinos | 21 | N/A | N/A |
| Social casinos | N/A | 21 | N/A |
| Sportsbooks | 21 | 21 | 2020 |
| Social betting apps | N/A | 21 | N/A |
| Poker | 21 | N/A | N/A |
| Lottery | 18 | N/A | N/A |
| Horse race wagering | 18 | 21 | 2020 |
| DFS | N/A | 18 | 2016 |
Online sports betting — legal since 2019
The Indiana online gambling ground is the best place if you’re into sports betting. Ever since the passing of the Bill in September 2019, both in-person and online sports betting activities have been legal. And this includes Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) as well. The first online bookie that launched was Gamble Indiana.
You can bet at land-based regulated sportsbooks, online sports betting sites, and mobile betting sites, as long as the Indiana Gambling Commission properly licenses them. To join any sportsbook within IN, you must be at least 21 years old. Residency and nationality aren’t considered as long as you’re in the territory of Indiana.
Now that placing wagers is finally legal, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make the most of it. And this is where our transparent suggestions come into play. We developed and followed strict criteria while deciding on the top online bookies.
We have singled out a few of the best online gambling sites Indiana offers by first ensuring their safety and reputation. Then, we provided multiple payment method alternatives, a comprehensive FAQ, reliable support, and wide betting market coverage.
Lastly, we compared the bonus sections head-to-head, and the top-notch Indiana gambling sites surfaced.
Social and sweeps — the best alternative to Indiana online casinos
While betting fans can make the most of the online sportsbooks, the Indiana gambling laws are rather strict with online casinos. Given that online sports wagering passed in Congress, it’s strange that the same movement to legalize online casinos hasn’t been made. In the meantime, land-based casinos are available.
Even though this is somewhat disappointing for players on the go, Indiana residents may still enjoy their favorite casino games while remaining within the legal framework. And we aren’t talking about playing demo games — you have a chance to win real cash as well.
The one way you can gamble in Indiana is by joining the sweepstakes available to IN gamers. The sweeps casino idea lets you purchase Gold Coins (GC) to use on the reel machines, cards, and table games. And it’s not as limited as it may seem, especially when you find out that you can sit at a live dealer table at BetRivers and win real money.
With a little bit of luck while spinning the reels, you will get Sweeps Coins, which you can later exchange for cash. So, even though they are not as straightforward as online casinos, the sweepstakes are the perfect substitute, and they’re legal!
On the other hand, if you’re looking for free gaming, you can do so in social casinos like BetRivers.net social casino and Pulsz social casino. You can think of social apps as a free alternative to online gaming sites. And we call them free because you don’t need to wager any money if you don’t want to.
- You’re staying within the legal frame while playing casino games
- You can wager real money and win cash prizes
- You have access to an abundance of games
- Most sweepstakes have recurring bonuses
- More limited game array than online casinos
- Live support isn’t common
- The choice of sweepstakes is limited
| Casino Logo | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to casino Button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
94/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 92% Playscore based on |
1.5 million WOW Coins + 30 free Sweepstakes Coins
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
|
2
|
88/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 96% Playscore based on |
250,000 Gold Coins and $25 Stake Cash
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
|
3
|
87/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 84% Playscore based on |
Up to 367,000 Gold Coins + 32.3 free Sweepstakes Coins
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
|
4
|
84/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 89% Playscore based on |
27,777 Lucky Coins + 2 Sweeps Coins
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
|
5
|
80/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 86% Playscore based on |
Daily Free Spins and Credit Bonus
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
|
6
|
79/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 92% Playscore based on |
Up to 380,000 Gold Coins and 1,400 Fortune Coins
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
|
7
|
79/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 85% Playscore based on |
200 free spins + 25,000 free credits
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
|
8
|
79/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 79% Playscore based on |
250 Gold Coins + 5 Sweeps Coins and 600 Diamonds
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
|
9
|
78/100 Expert rating by Charlie S. 86% Playscore based on |
1,050,000 Gold Coins + 3,999 Sweeps Coins
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
|
10
|
77/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 79% Playscore based on |
Up to 775,000 free coins and 700 promotional entries
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
|
11
|
76/100 Expert rating by Charlie S. 87% Playscore based on |
88,000 Tao Coins
|
Play now |
Good to know
|
Online poker — available at social casinos
Similar to the status of online gambling in Indiana online casinos, online poker is not legal yet either. The upside is that you can still play it from your mobile or desktop PC at social casinos.
Your other option while in Hoosier State is to play video poker in land-based casinos. Of course, you could play it at home with friends too, but if you’re looking for something you could do over the Internet, then social casinos are your only (legal) option.
And if playing without real money doesn’t sound as exciting, it may help to see it as preparation and strategy development until online poker becomes legal in Indiana.
Speaking of social casinos, you can enjoy the social aspect and try a few poker variants.
Gambling laws in Indiana
Is online gambling legal in Indiana? The gambling laws in the country vary depending on the type of wagering activity. For instance, sports betting is legal online and offline, while the lottery is legal only in person. Let’s look at what the betting regulations say in 2023.
Horse race betting
Whether you’re a resident or currently on Indiana land, you can enjoy horse race betting. You can place the wagers both at racinos and online betting sites. You’ll have to be 18 years old for the OTB venues. BetRivers is one great site for placing horse racing wagers in the state.
Lottery
While there aren’t any legal ways to participate in lotteries online, you can participate in Indiana’s Hoosier Lottery. Indiana’s state lottery first started selling tickets on October 13, 1989. Today, you can play a variety of keno and draw games, including Poker Lotto, Mega Millions, and Powerball.
Daily Fantasy Sports
DFS betting has been legal in Arizona since 2016, and anyone aged 18 or over can participate. Ever since sports wagering was approved in 2019, the best sports online gambling sites in Indiana offer Daily Fantasy Sports bets as well. One great example of a DFS platform is FanDuel.
Casinos
The brick-and-mortar, or in this case, riverboat casinos, first became a thing in Indiana in 1993. Actual land-based casinos were allowed in 2015. Yet, online casinos are not yet legal in the state. In fact, while most US states have left Internet casinos in the gray zone, Indiana has explicitly banned them.Land-based Indiana gambling
You want to gamble in Indiana? If casinos are your go-to thing, then you’ll be happy to hear that IN has much to offer. Apart from the state’s lottery, parimutuel betting, and sports wagering, land-based casinos have an operating license too.
Indiana’s legislation allows for 10 land-based or riverboat casinos on Lake Michigan and the Ohio River, one in French Lick. Plus, there are racinos at the state’s 2 horse races and 1 Indian casino.
In these establishments, you’ll be able to enjoy over 2,000 slot machines, video poker, and table games.
| Retail | Launch date | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ameristar East Chicago | 1997 | 777 Ameristar Blvd., East Chicago | Riverboat |
| Bally’s Evansville | 1995 | 421 NW Riverside Drive, Evansville | Land-based |
| Belterra Casino Resort and Spa | 2000 | 777 Belterra Drive, Florence | Riverboat |
| Blue Chip Casino & Hotel | 1997 | 2 Easy Street, Michigan City | Riverboat/land |
| Caesars Southern Indiana Hotel & Casino | 2019 | 11999 Casino Center Drive SE, Elizabeth | Land-based |
| Four Winds Casino South Bend | 2007 | 3000 Prairie Avenue, South Bend | Native American |
| Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana | 2021 | 5400 W 29th Ave, Gary | Land-based |
| French Lick Resort | 2016 | 8670 West State Road 56, French Lick | Land-based |
| Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino | 1994 | 4500 Dan Patch Circle, Anderson | Racino |
| Hollywood Casino & Hotel Lawrenceburg | 1996 | 777 Hollywood Blvd., Lawrenceburg | Riverboat |
| Horseshoe Casino Hammond | 1996 | 777 Casino Center Drive, Hammond | Riverboat |
| Horseshoe Indianapolis | 2009 | 4300 N. Michigan Road, Shelbyville | Racino |
| Majestic Star Casinos & Hotel | 2021 | 1 Buffington Harbor Drive Gary | Riverboat |
| Rising Star Casino Resort | 1996 | 777 Rising Star Drive, Rising Sun | Riverboat |
Selecting the right gaming site
Would you rather look for the best Indiana online gambling sites on your own? Time2play is here to help with it too. As we pride ourselves on transparency, you can check our ranking criteria and use them while searching for the right sports betting site or a sweepstake. Below is what you should pay close attention to.
Licensing
No matter the kind of platform you’re looking for, it’s of utmost importance to find a licensed operator. Check whether the platform has a license from the Indiana Gambling Commission or other US states, such as the New York State Gaming Commission. You could additionally look for audits and ensure that the site has a valid SSL certificate.
Products offered
The products on offer are largely dependent on the regulations. While most popular sports are allowed, betting on eSports and political events is illegal. However, you should pick a sportsbook, such as BetMGM sportsbook, that covers the NBA, WNBA, NCAAB, NFL, MLB, NHL, UFC, and others. Plus, college betting is allowed too, so there’s no reason for you to miss it.
Live betting
Live betting is a staple in the sports world, and you shouldn’t be limited to placing bets only before the game. You could count it as an essential feature and make it a deciding factor when choosing the right betting site. You can also look at the available live wagering types to ensure you have more options. BetRivers sportsbook pulls out all the stops when it comes to live
Mobile apps
Online sports betting is one of the ways you can gamble in Indiana while on the go. And wagering through a mobile app is far more convenient than using a web browser. So if we were you, we’d look for platforms with Android/iOS mobile apps. WynnBet online sportsbook, FanDuel sportsbook, DraftKings, and BetMGM are only a few of the available IN sportsbooks that let you claim promotions and wager through their apps. And we’d stick to those platforms that have their apps available on the App Store and Play Store rather than just their official sites.
Payment options
When it comes to banking options, quantity doesn’t always align with quality, but it’s good to have options. Check whether you can bank through debit or credit cards, prepaid cards, or can play with cash. We suggest you look for online bookies that offer e-wallets, as they are among the fastest withdrawal methods available and come with little to no fees.
Reputation
Brand recognition is important as it signals safety and security. Therefore, ensure that the sportsbook has partnerships with famous leagues (NFL, NBA, TopGolf) or that it offers its services in other states and different verticals (DFS, horse racing, eSports). You could also look for real player reviews to check whether everything is as presented.
Gambling regulators
The safety of our T2players is among our biggest concerns, which is why we’ve taken a close look at Indiana’s top auditors.
The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) is the state’s government regulatory body that is responsible for overseeing all online, land-based, and riverboat casinos. Additionally, there’s a Sports Wagering and Paid Fantasy Sports Division that’s responsible for regulating these wagering activities.
If you find an Indiana online gambling site with a valid IGC stamp, you can rest assured you’re in good hands.
Indiana gambling laws: a brief history
Gamble Indiana was the first online sportsbook to launch in the state, but that’s far from the first legal gambling activity. Let’s review how Indiana has handled the gambling world over time.
Lottery legalization
In 1988, the state of Indiana approves a new constitutional amendment for a state-regulated lottery. The Hoosier Lottery launches its operations in 1989. To this day, the lottery is available only in person.
Failed authorization for riverboats
Once the lottery s liegalized, Gary’s major, Thomas Barnes, initiates the legalization of land-based casinos. However, all his attempts fail, and the bill is never passed on to the Senate.
Legalization of land-based casinos
In 1993, Brown’s bill is approved, allowing the legal operation of 11 riverboat casinos. Lake Michigan and the Ohio River hosts 5 each, while 1 is allocated to Patoka Lake.
First off-track betting parlors
Hoosier Park is the first racetrack to open in the state. Not even a full year later, the first off-track wagers parlors were opened.
Legalization of DFS
In 2016, Indiana is the second US state to legalize daily fantasy sports as soon as Governor Mike Pence puts his signature on the bill.
Legalization of sports betting
On May 8, 2019, Governor Eric Holcomb signs the bill that converts it into law and legalizes land-based and online sports betting activities. Plus, they assign the IGC as a regulatory body.
Latest updates — more casinos are coming soon
While many expected online casinos to be legalized along with sportsbooks, this didn’t happen. Here’s what’s been going on ever since the sports betting legalization in Indiana:
- In September 2019, the first legal land-based sportsbook was opened: Bettors could start placing bets in person.
- In October 2019, the first online sportsbook was launched: Players no longer need to go out to wager.
- In November 2021, Churchill Downs and the IGC were selected to build new casinos: More slots, table games, and sports betting opportunities.
FAQs
Is online gambling legal in Indiana?
Sports betting (online and offline), horse race betting, pari-mutuel wagering, DFS betting, and lotteries are legal in Indiana. Online casinos and poker games aren’t yet legal in the state. We have made a list of all the casinos you can play at legally above.
What is the legal gambling age in Indiana?
You have to be at least 18 to be able to participate in the lottery, bingo, pari-mutuel betting, DFS, and horse race betting. However, you must be 21 or older to place sports bets or enter land-based casinos. We find all the legal info you’ll need to get started in our Indiana gambling laws section.
Can you play in online casinos in IN?
While online casinos aren’t yet legalized in Indiana, you can turn to sweepstakes and social casinos. Those are the only two available online casino gambling alternatives. In the meantime, land-based casinos and riverboats are legal.
Can you place bets on college sports?
Yes, you can wager on college sports in Indiana, but with a couple of limitations. You can’t place live and player proposition bets.