INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A shake-up of Indiana’s gambling laws being debated could see two new casinos being built and allow legalizing sports betting to start as early as next year.

Strictly speaking, online gambling is illegal in the state of Indiana with the exception being online sports betting. There are multiple online sportsbooks available for wagering in the state. At this time, the active online sportsbooks in Indiana are. Download today and get $10 mycash and 5m credits at mychoice casino. Get real-time updates on your account with the all-new mychoice® rewards loyalty app. Plus, get $10 mycash® and 5M credits to play for fun at mychoice casino when you download the app today!

The proposal cleared a state Senate committee last week and comes as Indiana’s 13 casinos have largely seen years of declining revenue amid increased competition from surrounding states and tribal casinos.

The plan centers on moving Gary’s two riverboat casinos off Lake Michigan, with one going to an on-land site elsewhere in Gary and the other possibly moving to Terre Haute. Lots of debate could still come as some other casinos worry the moves will hurt their business and the plan will face questions among legislators of whether it is an expansion of gambling.

Here’s a look at some of the issues involved:

POSSIBLE BUMPS AHEAD

So many gambling-related issues are wrapped up in the bill that Senate Public Policy Committee Chairman Ron Alting of Lafayette calls it the biggest overhaul since the Legislature voted in 1993 to allow riverboat casinos on Lake Michigan and the Ohio River.

Each casino company and their host cities are looking at how the proposed changes could impact their bottom lines. So even though the Senate committee unanimously endorsed the bill, plenty of changes could come before the legislative session ends in late April. Less complicated casino proposals have previously been scuttled or taken multiple years to win approval.

Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma critiques the plan as “a very large expansion of gaming.”

The state gets big paydays from all the casinos, but that impact has been shrinking. Casino taxes made up nearly $680 million, or about 5.5 percent, of the state revenue during the 2010 budget year, according to state figures. That revenue dropped to $442 million last year, for about 2.8 percent of state revenue.

Bill sponsor Republican Sen. Mark Messmer of Jasper says the plan aims to help the casinos be more competitive and increase state revenue. “With no additional licenses and no additional table games, I don’t know how you can call it an expansion of gaming,” he said.

GARY CASINO SHUFFLE

The proposal would allow the company that’s buying the two Majestic Star Casino boats in Gary build a new on-land casino in the city and set up a process for shifting the second boat’s casino license to Terre Haute.

The company buying the Gary riverboats is Spectacle Entertainment. It is led by former executives of Centaur Gaming, which sold Indiana’s two horse track casinos in Anderson and Shelbyville to Las Vegas-based Caesars Entertainment Corp. last year for $1.7 billion.

Spectacle says it’s planning a $300 million project building a new casino and 200-room hotel along Interstate 80-94 in Gary. John Keeler, Spectacle’s general counsel, told the Senate committee that it expected to add about 400 jobs to Majestic Star’s 800 employees if the new casino is built.

Gary officials say the casino move would also allow development of a cargo hub, with a Lake Michigan port and nearby railroads and highways to attract shipping business now going through Chicago.

TERRE HAUTE PLAN

Terre Haute and Vigo County (total population about 110,000) is the choice for a new casino site over much larger locations without casinos — including Indianapolis (population 950,000) and Fort Wayne’s Allen County (370,000) — simply because leaders there are asking for it and potential rival cities have shown little interest.

A Spectacle co-owner is from Terre Haute and the company touts a casino project of at least $100 million that would have 300 to 400 workers.

At least one other casino operator in the state wants a chance to grab the Terre Haute action, so the proposal allows companies to submit proposals for the new casino to the state gaming commission. Full House Resorts, which owns the riverboat in southeastern Indiana’s Rising Sun, has sought permission for the last several years to expand operations elsewhere in the state.

Messmer, the casino bill sponsor, says Terre Haute is far enough from other Indiana casinos that it won’t hurt them much while potentially attracting gamblers from eastern and central Illinois as none of that state’s casinos are nearby.

HORSE TRACK CASINOS

Caesars Entertainment, which owns the Hammond casino and another just across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky, gets a boost from the plan for the two horse track casinos near Indianapolis that it bought last year.

The bill would allow those two casinos to offer table games with live dealers beginning later this year. Current law doesn’t let them do so until 2021.

Those casinos can now only offer electronic games and expect live dealers will attract more gamblers.

SPORTS BETTING

The proposal would allow the state’s casinos to start sports betting in person or online starting in 2020 after receiving approval from the Indiana Gaming Commission. Wagers could be made on professional or collegiate sporting events, but not on high school or youth games. Those placing bets would have to be 21.

The step comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last May that all states are free to legalize sports betting. Eight states currently accept bets with many more expected to follow suit.

No big state tax revenue boon is anticipated from sports gambling, as other states have seen modest results . Bill co-sponsor Sen. Jon Ford of Terre Haute says tax revenue estimates range from $3 million to $18 million a year, but sports betting will be an important marketing tool for Indiana’s casinos.

Officials from the Indianapolis Colts and Indianapolis Motor Speedway were among those professional sports representatives backing the proposal.

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We do understand how exploring legal online gambling for Indiana residents can cause pause. As with the laws of other states, we had expected Indiana's legislature to not yet include anything related to online gambling. This is not the case, as the legalities of online gambling in Indiana are covered by the state's statutes. While they are prohibitive, there is something in the wording that indicates that casual players are not liable for criminal charges for deciding to gamble online. We also want to point out that while citizens are always encouraged to follow the law, there are online gambling sites that accept Indiana gamblers each and every day without penalty. Just remember that laws are up to interpretation, which is why we will provide you with the pertinent statutes related to legal online gambling for USA players.

Mobile NFL Betting in Indiana

Indiana is a state that has a reputation for its passion for basketball but by the way gamblers in the state place bets on the Indianapolis Colts. One of the fastest growing ways to bet on the NFL is via mobile betting. This type of betting allows users to place bets or add/withdraw funds from anywhere in the state as long as the user's phone, laptop, or tablet is connected to a stable internet source. The convenience of mobile betting is what sports gamblers in the Hoosier state like most. Mobile NFL betting has made it possible for Indiana residents to place bets while at Lucas Oil Stadium cheering on the Colts or at a local coffee shop. Using mobile betting features to bet on the NFL you’ll never miss out on the latest odds or futures.

Live NFL Betting In Indiana

The NFL is one sport where the tide of the game can change with one pass, run, or turnover. One of the best ways to take advantage of the momentum swings in football is to use live betting. This form of football betting allows bettors to place their bets as the action unfolds. If a bettors believes Phillip Rivers has a second half comeback in him after being down to the Patriots at halftime this would be the moment to take advantage of the Colts money line odds since they’re behind. Live betting is the only betting feature at legal sports betting sites that allows bettors to see the game first and then place bets during or later in the contest. While Live betting isn’t the most popular way to bet on the NFL in Indiana it will slowly become one of the most common ways to bet on professional football in a couple of years.

Online Gambling Age For Indiana Residents

Before we go into actual laws related to gambling, we will tell you that there are a few age requirements that you must adhere to. These are fairly typical - 18 for bingo, lottery games, and online bingo. For poker and casinos, both online and offline, you have to be 21 years of age. For online sports betting, you also have to be 21. Remember that state law always supersedes the age requirement of a gambling site, so you will have to adhere to the state law even if the gambling site allows for a lower age.

Indiana Online Gambling Laws

If you are going to gamble online in the state of Indiana, you will want to be aware of the laws of your state. If you decide you want to play the games, you will want to read the text of the law. IC 35-45-5-2 states that 'unlawful gambling' takes place when 'an operator...knowingly or intentionally uses the Internet to engage in unlawful gambling.' This is only one law related to online gambling in the state. You will then see that IC 35-45-5-3 states that, and we're paraphrasing, anyone who knowingly or intentionally engages in pool-selling, bookmaking, or maintains a gambling site, or accepts or offers to accept bets or wagers online is committing a class D felony. That having been said, it is not exactly safe to gamble online due to the laws related to gaming.

As you will notice, there is no specific mention of any one type of gambling in the Indiana online gambling laws. In the case of sports betting, this could change in the coming years. Now that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) has been repealed, it is quite possible that Indiana will regulate online, land-based, and/or mobile sports betting. More than half of the United States is expected to offer regulated sports betting by 2023, which means that Indiana residents may have expanded online gambling options in the future.

Gambling Sites That Accept Indiana Residents

Even though the law is not favorable for online gamblers, you will find that there are plenty of gambling options available for players in the state. We have found that you do not have to worry about being rejected very often, as most online gambling sites accept anyone. You are liable under the rules of these laws, so keep that in mind before you decide to begin playing. Our sole intent with sharing these sites is that we want you to be safe if you decide to break the law - not to tell you to actually break the law. This is something we do not condone.

Bovada: One of The Best Online Casinos Out There

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Online Casinos That Accept Indiana Residents

Even if the laws in the state are not very friendly toward online casinos, there are still quite a few that will accept you regardless of whether or not you are based in the state. Are we going to recommend you join these sites? No. Committing a felony is never a good idea. What we can say is that sites like Lucky Red and Aladdin’s Gold are reputable if you decide to go ahead and play regardless.

Online Sports Betting Sites That Accept Indiana Residents

If you really think it is worth breaking the law to play some odds on sports, you can turn to any of the online sports betting sites that accept Indiana residents. BetOnline and Bovada have been providing the latest betting odds on popular American sports for well over a decade. Bet on the Indianapolis Colts, the Indiana Pacers, or any other popular team all year long!

Online Poker Sites That Accept Indiana Residents

As with other forms of gambling, the state laws have not actually eliminated access to online poker rooms. If you feel like ignoring the laws, you should have no trouble joining up with one of the gambling sites we have found. Regardless, online poker sites that accept Indiana residents are out there for you to join and play regardless of the legal complications. The leading online poker room can be found at SportsBetting, just don't blame us if you get in trouble.

Online Bingo Sites That Accept Indiana Players

Bingo players will find that even online bingo is outlawed in the state. You will still be able to play if you want to break the law, something we do not recommend. In the event that you want to try to earn some money, you can do so by way of online bingo sites that accept Indiana players. Downtown Bingo is the most popular site, as there are bingo tournaments, special funding bonuses, cash prizes.

Is Online Gambling Legal In Indiana?

If you are going to gamble online, you will have to find that you cannot do so legally in the state of Indiana. If you wish to engage in any form of gambling, you will find that you could be indicted or arrested for gambling online in the state. We do not recommend or condone breaking the law, so you will want to be careful if you decide you want to take a chance. We are here solely to share with you the laws and where you can safely play if you are actually going to push your luck with online gambling.

New Gambling Law Indianapolis

Indiana is quite strict with their gambling laws, which makes it hard to say if online gambling is legal in Indiana. IC 35-45-5-3 states that it is illegal for an individual to participate in bookmaking and use the internet for the purpose of collecting bets for profit. While this law could be interpreted to only apply to gambling operators, it truly is up for interpretation. We are not legal experts and would never encourage illegal activity, but we can say that there have been no reported instances of a casual Indiana bettor getting fined for gambling online.

The decision is ultimately yours when it comes to gambling online in Indiana. The sites that we feature on our page are all legal gambling sites that operate in other countries but are able to accept USA players. We have used the sites without issue for years, and if you do opt to place bets on the internet you should use one of these legitimate online gambling sites.

Indiana New Gambling Law

Are Online Gambling Sites For Indiana Residents Safe?

This is a two-part question. The first answer has to do with the legal aspect of online gambling in Indiana, in which case Indiana does have some laws in place to prevent residents from gambling. That being said, internet gambling laws are not typically heavily enforced. Indiana only goes after those who have illegal gambling operations in the state, online or in person. As long as you do not own/operate an illegal gambling establishment in Indiana, you are likely not to be a target. The second part of this deals with the gambling sites you use when playing in Indiana. You want to stick to the reputable sites like the ones we have listed on this page. These sites have a great record for being fair and paying players as they are requested. The casinos have favorable payouts, the sports betting sites have fair odds, and the online poker part comes down to your skill. All the things you would expect to get in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or any other gambling hot spot.

New Indiana Gambling Law

Are Online Casinos Legal In Indiana?

If you want to play casino games, you will encounter the same laws that cover all of online gambling. You will find that there are plenty of gambling sites that accept residents of Indiana, but you will be faced with the same laws that prohibit everything else. The risk of losing at the slots is compounded by the fact that you could even be arrested for doing something that should be regulated at any rate.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Indiana?

While you can replace the lack of online casinos or poker rooms by visiting land-based gambling locations, you cannot do so with online sports betting. This is why sports betting is the most common type of online gambling in Indiana. Being that hundreds of thousands of residents are already betting online and the repeal of PASPA, online sports betting in Indiana may eventually become legal.

Article: Is online sports betting legal in the USA?

Is Online Poker Legal In Indiana?

Indiana residents will find that online poker is also assumed to be banned in the state of Indiana. Again, while not directly cited within the laws it could easily be argued that it is another illegal form of internet gambling. Unfortunately, the law is the law but there are still plenty of poker players that go online and try their hand at Omaha, Texas Hold’Em, and other popular variants.

Horse Racing Betting Sites That Accept Indiana Residents

Even with the laws, Indiana residents have several options when it comes to choosing a horse racing betting site. You can bet on the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont stakes at online racebooks such as Bovada and BetOnline. You will find that horse betting sites also have live horse race streams, horse racing results, and free handicapping tips for all of their members. If you decide to bet on horses online, choose one of the most trustworthy online racebooks.

Indiana Legal Gambling FAQs

What Is The Fastest Deposit Method For IN Residents?

The fastest deposit method that Indiana residents can use is bitcoin. Bitcoin is the cryptocurrency that is now widely accepted at online gambling sites due to its reliability and speed. Unlike credit card transactions, you do not have to worry about your transaction getting declined. Instantly send anywhere from $10 to $25,000 with no additional deposit fees. All you have to do is visit the cashier at the online gambling site and specify the amount that you would like to send. Once confirmed, send the exact amount to the wallet address of the cashier. Within minutes, your gambling account will be credited and you can start using your funds.

How Safe Is Bitcoin For Wagering On Sports?

Without question, bitcoin is one of the safest ways that you can wager on sports. When you use bitcoin you are using your secure wallet to send and receive funds. This means that you never have to divulge checking account information or credit card numbers. Bitcoin is essentially anonymous and you just use your bitcoin wallet address when accepting funds. The currency is also decentralized, which means that you do not have to worry about a bank or other processor interfering with your transactions. When you want to gamble online safely, bitcoin should be your preferred banking method.

When Do Bonuses Get Credited To My Account?

There are two different ways that bonuses will get credited into your account. Most bonuses are credited to your account or a separate free play account and are available immediately. Others will be disbursed incrementally as a way to manage any rollover requirements. Always read the terms and conditions before redeeming a bonus.

Will I go to jail for online gambling in Indiana?

There is a theoretical risk involved in online gambling, and this is the possibility that you could be arrested for online gambling in the state of Indiana. We have not yet heard of anyone being arrested for participating in the games, and it is entirely unlikely that you will not be the test case for these laws. With some luck, these laws will change. If you are going to gamble online, you technically run the risk of being arrested but it is unlikely.