Indiana Casino Laws

The foundation of modern Indiana casino law is the Riverboat Gambling Act, enacted as Public Law 277-1993. It took effect July 1, 1993 and was codified primarily under Code Article 4-33.

The legislation did two especially important things: it legalized casino gambling aboard authorized riverboats and established the Indiana Gaming Commission to license and regulate the industry.

The original law authorized no more than 11 riverboat licenses in specified areas and included a significant local-control component. Eligible communities generally had to approve riverboat gambling before a casino could operate there.

Indiana took another major step toward its current casino market in 2007, when lawmakers authorized casino-style gaming at the state's horse-racing tracks.

These facilities are governed principally by Code Article 4-35, Gambling Games at Racetracks, rather than solely by the Riverboat Gambling Act. The Indiana Gaming Commission lists IC 4-35 as one of the state's core gaming statutes.

The change allowed the state’s racetracks to develop into what are commonly called racinos. Today's two racinos are Harrah's Hoosier Park in Anderson and Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville.

Initially, the racinos were more restricted than the states traditional casinos, particularly regarding live table games. Later legislation narrowed that distinction.

House Enrolled Act 1540, enacted in 2015, represented another turning point for Indiana gambling venues.

Most importantly, the legislation created a mechanism through which qualifying riverboat casinos could move their gaming operations from the vessel to a land-based facility located within the property's existing footprint or otherwise meeting statutory requirements.

This effectively acknowledged that the original riverboat requirement had become outdated as neighboring states expanded their casino industries.

HEA 1540 also paved the way for racinos to offer live table games with dealers, further reducing the regulatory distinction between racinos and traditional casinos.

Another major change arrived with House Enrolled Act 1015 in 2019, a broad "various gaming matters" bill. The Indiana General Assembly's records identify HB 1015 under that title, while state tax records show that the enacted legislation made numerous amendments to IC 4-33.

The law reshaped local gambling in several ways.

It authorized sports wagering, ultimately establishing the framework now found under IC 4-38. It also facilitated the relocation of casino licenses, including major changes involving the two Gary venue licenses.

Those changes ultimately contributed to the development of the land-based Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary and opened the door for a gaming license in Vigo County, where Terre Haute Casino Resort later opened.

HEA 1015 also made substantial changes to taxation. For example, the legislation established specific supplemental wagering-tax provisions for the Vigo County casino and modified the treatment of gaming revenue associated with the relocated Gary operation.

Indiana Code 35-45-5 contains the state's general criminal gambling provisions. The IGC itself identifies this chapter as one of the primary Indiana statutes relevant to gambling.

In broad terms, state gambling laws prohibit unauthorized gambling operations while creating statutory exceptions and separate regulatory structures for activities the state has expressly legalized, including casinos, horse racing, lottery gaming, charitable gaming, fantasy sports and sports wagering.