Although there may not be as many casinos in Indiana as in other states, players in Indiana will certainly have an array of options to choose from. In fact, Indiana is home to eleven casinos, ranging from riverboat casinos to commercial casinos.
Apart from offering an extensive selection of games to players, these casinos also provide other recreational activities, such as sightseeing, swimming, and dining.
To help Indiana residents have a great casino gambling experience, we have listed the available casinos in Indiana. In addition to the list, we have included other relevant information about Indiana gambling. This includes regulations surrounding gambling in Indiana and details about the taxation of gambling winnings in the state. We also gave our verdict on what we think about the future of gambling in Indiana.
Are there casinos in Indiana?
Home to 11 casinos, Indiana offers an array of games ranging from roulette to dice games and blackjack to poker. These casinos are typically inside entertainment facilities that not only house casinos, but also offer other recreational activities such as spas, hotels
What different types of casinos are there in Indiana?
There are four types of casino Indiana establishments, including riverboat casinos, land-based, native-American-owned, and racing casinos.
While riverboat casinos operate inside large boats or ships docked in Indiana waters, land-based casinos are brick and mortar facilities. The state also has several Native American-owned casinos, which are solely on Indiana reservations. Instead, for horse racing lovers, Indiana offers racetrack casinos, which are affectionately known as Racinos.
History of casinos in Indiana
Over the years, several events helped shape the gambling and casino industry in Indiana into what it is today. On November 8, 1988, state voters established the Hoosier lottery through a 62-38 in-favor vote. The following year, on October 13, 1989, the Hoosier lottery was authorized to sell its first instant game ticket.
April 1990 welcomed the first lotto game known as the daily Lotto Cash and after three months, Daily 3 and Daily 4 draws commenced. Finally, the Indiana Lottery launched multi-state lotto drawings in October 1990.
Both 1994 and 1995 saw changes in gambling laws. In fact, on September 1, 1994, horse racing became legal with the opening of Hoosier Park and a year later, the gambling authorities also made off-track betting legal. The state’s second track, Indiana Downs, welcomed bettors on December 6, 2002.
On July 1, 1993, Legislators approved the Indiana Riverboat Act and later legalized casinos. The act allowed the operation of riverboat casinos on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. The state’s authorities mandated the riverboats to be navigable. However, several parties overturned this mandate in 1999. With this development, the ships were no longer required to have a motor and a crew.
Furthermore, thanks to the 2007 gambling law, which permits Indiana racetracks to run slot machines, the Indiana casino operators could add 2,000 slots and video poker machines at Indiana Downs and Hoosier Park.
Full list of Indiana casino establishments
The following list contains all the current Indiana casino establishments:
- Ameristar East Chicago 777 Aldis Ave, Hammond, 46312
- Belterra Casino – Florence
- Blue Chip Casino – Michigan City
- Ceasars Southern Indiana 11999 Casino Center Dr SE, Elizabeth, 47117
- French Lick Resort 8670 IN-56, French Lick, 47432
- Four Winds Southbend 3000 Prairie Ave, South Bend, 46614
- Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino 4500 Dan Patch Cir, Anderson, 46013
- Hollywood Casino Lawrenceberg 777 Hollywood Blvd, Lawrenceburg, 47025
- Horseshoe Hammond 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond, 46320
- Indiana Grand Racing & Casino 4300 N Michigan Rd, Shelbyville, 46176
- Majestic Star Casino 1 Buffington Harbor Dr, Gary, 46406
- Majestic Star II Casino – Gary
- Rising Star Casino Resort 777 Rising Star Dr, Rising Sun, 47040
- Tropicana Evansville 421 NW Riverside, Evansville, 47708
Best casinos in Indiana
Based on reviews and customer feedback, the following are the best casino Indiana establishments:
- Four Winds Southbend 3000 Prairie Ave, South Bend, 46614
- Indiana Grand Racing & Casino 4300 N Michigan Rd, Shelbyville, 46176
- Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino 4500 Dan Patch Cir, Anderson, 46013
Bettors selected these casinos as the best ones because of their satisfactory customer service, a wide selection of games, excellent cuisine, and other entertainment offerings.
Is online casino legal in Indiana?
No. The Indiana gambling authorities have not yet legalized online casinos. They only allowed bettors on sweepstakes sites and social casino sites such as Luckyland and Chumba. These sites apply federal sweepstakes mandate to sell many draw-based selections, including slots, video poker, and keno. However, in 2019, the state legalized online sportsbooks and land-based gambling only.
Gambling laws in Indiana
The Indiana Gaming Commission is the governing body in the state that oversees all the gambling laws and regulations. The commission also monitors the operations of gambling establishments such as casinos. It’s also in charge of approving gambling licenses and ensuring the protection of bettors.
Indiana has many specific gambling regulations in place in terms of gambling laws. Online betting is not yet legal in Indiana, so the state is always looking out for those who operate illegal gambling sites. The state considers this a Class D felony.
Another important law is on the minimum gambling age of those allowed to play in Indiana casino establishments. At present, only players over the age of 21 are permitted to gamble in these casinos.
Meanwhile, the current version of the Indiana gambling laws authorizes sports wagering in all the major professional and collegiate sports leagues. This happened when Gov. Eric Holcomb approved House Bill 1015. The bill enabled the legalization of online sports betting and offline sports wagering in Indiana’s licensed casinos. Bettors can now place their wagers on Indiana teams and several international sports.
Quick facts about gambling in Indiana
See below for some details on the state of gambling in Indiana.
- Casino games examples: roulette, live poker, blackjack, video poker, and slots
- Estimated Gambling Revenue: $3.8 billion
- Daily fantasy sports were allowed after legalization in February 2016
- Estimated Tax Revenue from Gambling: $475 million
Taxation of gambling winnings
In Indiana, gambling winnings are subject to applicable taxes. Residents who have stayed in Indiana for the full year will need to pay taxes for all the money they won from gambling activities.
The applicable federal tax rate on winnings above $5,000 is 24%. If the amount falls below this, the bettor still must file them in a tax report. The winnings are also subject to the state’s 3.23% personal income tax rate.
The future of gambling in Indiana
Casino patrons in the state can expect more gambling choices in the future as more operators apply for licenses and build their facilities. As an example, the gaming Commission and Churchill Downs have already finalized a plan for the latter to renovate the Queen of Terre Haute Casino Resort on November 18, 2021. However, as yet, there’s no estimated completion date. This soon-to-be-built casino will house over 1,000 slots, a sportsbook, and 50 table games.
Summary of casinos in Indiana
Overall, the casino landscape in the state has been alive and thriving since 1993, when the state’s authorities approved the Indiana Riverboat Act. Although there are currently eleven operating land-based and river-based casinos in Indiana, the state still has not legalized online casinos. Bettors are confident that there will be more gambling options in the coming years as the gambling authorities start to allow more operators.