The History of Gambling in Indiana
Hoosier Lottery
The Hoosier Lottery is operated by the State of Indiana. On November 8, 1988 Indiana voters approved a lottery referendum by 62 percent. On May 3, 1989, the Indiana General Assembly ratified the Lottery Act and a week later the governor signed the Lottery Act into law. In June 1989 a Lottery director was appointed and in July the Lottery Commission was appointed. On October 13, 1989, instant, or scratch-off, ticket sales began at 12:10 p.m. On February 1, 2013, the management of the Hoosier Lottery was transferred to GTECH via a contract. This was done to increase the revenues generated by the Hoosier Lottery.
More information on the Hoosier Lottery is available at: www.hoosierlottery.com
Hoosier Park Horse Track
Hoosier Park horse track in Anderson opened on September 1, 1994.
Regulation/oversight of horse racing in Indiana is the responsibility of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. www.in.gov/ihrc
Off Track Horse Betting Parlors
Off Track Horse Betting Parlors are located in several Indiana cities.
Regulation/oversight of these sites is the responsibility of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. www.in.gov/ihrc
Casino Gaming
The Indiana Riverboat Gaming Act was passed on July1, 1993 allowing riverboat gaming in Indiana. This legislation allowed for ten riverboats. The first of these ten casinos opened in 1995. In 2004, legislation was enacted that allowed a riverboat in French Lick. In 2015, the General Assembly passed legislation that allowed the casinos to move from “boats” to their land adjacent to the boats.
Regulation/oversight of casino gaming is the responsibility of the Indiana Gaming Commission. www.in.gov/igc
Indiana Downs Horse Track
Indiana Downs horse track is in Shelbyville opened on December 6, 2002.
Regulation/oversight of horse racing in Indiana is the responsibility of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. www.in.gov/ihrc
Charity Gaming
Charity Gaming is allowed in Indiana but only by specific types of organizations. Bona fide religious, educational, senior citizens, veterans, or civic organizations operating in Indiana that: operate without profit to the organization’s members; is exempt from taxation under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code; and has been continuously in existence in Indiana for at least five (5) years or a bona fide political organization operating in Indiana that produces exempt function income (as defined in Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code) can provide Bingo, Raffle, Door Prize, Pull-Tab, Punchboard, Tip Board, Charity Game Night, Festival, and Special Bingo events. Approval from the Indiana Gaming Commission is required unless the total value of all prizes awarded at the event (including the sale of pull-tabs, punchboards, and tip boards sold at the event) is not more that $1,000 for a single event and not more than $3,000 total for all non-licensed events during a calendar year.
Regulation/oversight of charitable gaming was the responsibility of the Indiana Department of Revenue prior to July 1, 2006 at which time 2006 legislation transferred responsibility to the Indiana Gaming Commission: www.in.gov/igc/2339.htm
Fantasy Gaming
In 2007, the Indiana Legislature passed legislation allowing 2,000 slot machines at each of the two horse racing tracks. This brought casino type gaming to Cental Indiana.
Bars & Taverns
In 2008, the Indiana Legislature passed legislation allowing low stakes gambling in bars and taverns such as tip boards/punch boards.
Regulation/oversight of Type II gambling in bars and taverns is regulated by the Indiana Tobacco & Alcohol Commission.
www.in.gov/atc
Racinos
In 2016, the General Assembly passed legislation that allowed fantasy sports betting.
Sports Betting
In May 2019 the governor signed the bill legalizing sports betting. In September of 2019 casinos were allowed to accept wagers and in October 2019 wagers were accepted online. Sports bets can be made at any licensed casino, off-track betting locations and online. Bets can be made on the outcome of games and proposition bets are also allowed. Wagers can be made on professional and NCAA Division I sports, but are prohibited on high school and amateur youth events. See the Indiana Gaming Commission website for a complete list of leagues and events.
Minimum Age
Minimum Age to Participate in Legalized Gambling in Indiana
- Hoosier Lottery 18
- Casino Gambling 21
- Pari-mutuel Betting 18
- Charity Gaming 18
- Sports Betting 21
Illegal Gaming in Indiana
Video Poker/Cherry Master machines are in wide spread use throughout the State. These can be found in bars, private clubs and truck stops. These illegal machines number in the thousands. Pea shake parlors, a numbers game, can be found in some communities. Internet gambling, book-making , card games for money and numbers games can also be found in Indiana.
Other High Risk Gambling Activity
Often individuals engage in other activities that have the same pathology as gambling but are not generally recognized as gambling. There is a very fine line between some activities seen as being based on knowledge/skill and gambling. These include such activities as stock market/commodity trading and participation in fantasy sport leagues.