Indiana Lawmakers Finish Draft Of New Internet Casino Bill

Indiana legislators have completed the assembly of the state’s new online casino bill.

Having sorted out the major details, Hoosiers can begin to form an initial image of what the gambling industry in Indiana might resemble at this time next year.

The bill for online casinos in Indiana is set to commence its progression through the statehouse in early January. Should everything proceed smoothly, residents of the state may have the opportunity to engage in online versions of games such as blackjack and poker by September 1, 2023.

Details of Indiana Online Casino Bill

In 2022, Sen. Jon Ford and Rep. Ethan Manning attempted to legalize online casinos, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Despite this, the pair will make another attempt in a few weeks. Their latest online casino bill will take center stage when Indiana’s legislative session begins next month.

The aim is to have the industry operational by Sept. 1, 2023, although this date is not yet firmly established.

Here are some key details of the bill at a glance:

  • Permits casinos and racinos in Indiana to provide online casino games.
  • Legalizes online poker
  • Each partner in a casino can collaborate with three distinct brands.
  • Permits the Hoosier Lottery to provide online versions of its games.
  • Casinos are required to pay $500,000 for their licenses, and an annual renewal fee of $50,000.
  • Revenue from online casinos would be subject to an 18% tax.
  • The Addiction Services Fund would receive a 3.33% increase in taxes.

Hoosiers have become accustomed to online gambling due to the sports betting sector, but online casinos present a completely different scenario. The industry in Indiana has the potential to yield almost $1 billion in annual revenue.

Expansion of gambling in Indiana is impending.

The initial draft for Indiana’s new iGaming bill is finished, but the specifics are not yet firmly established.

This major expansion of gambling will necessitate several rounds of debate in Indiana’s legislature. This process could result in changes to some of the bill’s more detailed aspects in the following weeks.

Previously, Ford and Manning attempted to legalize online casinos in Indiana but were unsuccessful. However, circumstances could change in this new attempt.

In the past, numerous obstacles, including the Spectacle Entertainment scandal and pandemic-related issues, delayed gambling expansion. However, these hurdles are no longer present.

Once those obstacles are removed, the prospects for Indiana’s online casino could be better than ever in 2023.

The online sports betting industry in the Hoosier State was launched rapidly after being legalized. In May of 2019, Gov. Holcomb provided the ultimate approval, and by September, gamblers were already placing their bets.

Legislators are considering a similar timeline for online casinos. The existing bill aims to get the industry up and running by the coming September.

To put it differently, if Indiana’s new internet casino bill is successful, Hoosiers could be enjoying casino games at home in less than a year.

Photo by play-indiana.org
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Jake Garza

Jake Garza serves as a US Gambling Industry Analyst at Catena Media, with a focus on Midwest sports betting and casino content. Before venturing into the legal gambling sector, Garza was a professional sports writer, covering teams including the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, and Indiana Pacers. Currently, he holds the position of Managing Editor for Play Indiana and PlayOhio, having previously worked with popular brands like PlayIllinois and PlayMichigan. Since 2019, Garza has been reporting on the gambling industry, collaborating with a team of journalists to deliver exhaustive coverage of the legal U.S. gambling sector.

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