Indiana Lawmaker Prepares Online Casino Gambling Bill

Indiana could be added to the list of states considering legislation for internet casino gambling in 2021.

Sen. Jon Ford has informed Play Indiana that he is already in the process of drafting a bill for an online casino.

“Ford stated that our casinos are still operating at 50% capacity due to COVID. He confessed his uncertainty about when this restriction may be lifted. He suggested that introducing iGaming could provide these casinos with a method to generate revenue for themselves and the state.”

Ford intends to present the bill in the upcoming year, although he warns it is not a certainty. Indiana is still undecided on how it will manage the forthcoming legislative session amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

He suggested that legislators are considering delaying the start of the session until March, focusing only on essential policy bills, and solely working on the budget. Such limitations could potentially postpone the iGaming bill by a year.

How online gambling could appear in Indiana

Ford stated that he envisions the structure of online casino gambling in Indiana to be similar to that of sports betting.

Every one of the 13 casinos or racinos in Indiana could potentially obtain an iGaming license. The oversight would be provided by the Illinois Gaming Commission.

The casinos could potentially partner with up to three mobile providers for sports betting, which could result in 39 skins.

Ford stated that he might restrict the number of skins to two for online casinos, considering that most of them are going unused. However, he acknowledges that having more skins could potentially generate more revenue.

He anticipates that the allowed games will resemble those offered in New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, which are predominantly what one would find on a casino floor.

Ford stated that, regardless of the coronavirus situation, he would have still advocated for Indiana to explore internet casino opportunities, especially after witnessing its legalization in neighboring Michigan.

“Ford stated, “We should consider this because our northern neighbors will soon have iGaming. We need to explore other options to support our casinos.”

Indiana may have to delay online poker.

Ford has no intention of incorporating online poker into the internet casino legislation.

He thinks online poker is more complex, which may be challenging for lawmakers to fully understand within a limited timeframe.

Ford stated, “Online poker involves pooling and interstate compacts. Educating my colleagues on this might require more time than we have next year. They are still trying to comprehend in-play bets.”

He stated that he would consider including online poker if members are receptive to it.

“Ford said, “We’ll be ready to go with everything if my colleagues surprise me.”

Selling iGaming could be challenging in a conservative state.

It wasn’t an easy task to introduce online sports betting in Indiana. The Chairman of the House Public Policy Committee, Ben Smaltz, eliminated mobile wagering from the Senate bill. Initially, the House passed the legislation without the online element until Ford managed to reinstate it.

“During the initiation of sports betting, some individuals were against online and home betting,” stated Ford. “They viewed it as a significant expansion of gambling in a traditionally conservative state. Today, a considerable number of people still hold that perspective.”

Smaltz, who is still a member of the legislature, previously expressed concern that internet casino would follow.

However, Ford, who was instrumental in passing sports betting legislation in 2019, is confident that the success of online sports betting will assist in passing the internet casino bill. Last month, Indiana recorded an all-time sports betting handle exceeding $1 billion.

Ford stated, “Our success in online sports betting and the demographic it attracts indicate there’s an untapped market segment. A younger demographic, uninterested in visiting physical casinos, is already gambling online. By integrating them into a regulated market, casinos have the opportunity to advertise to them and secure their business.”