Maybe you’re thinking of heading out to the Indiana Grand to play the ponies or try your luck at Texas Hold’em. Or maybe you’re hosting the weekly buddies poker game or throwing $20 on the Hoosiers to make the Final Four in the office March Madness pool. Whether at a casino or in your kitchen, all of these activities are covered by the Hoosier State’s gaming and gambling laws. So here is a brief summary to gambling laws in Indiana.
Indiana Gambling Laws
Certain types of gambling are illegal and prosecuted under each state's gaming statutes. However, many states have recently relaxed their gambling laws and permitted casinos and other gaming venues such as card rooms. While Indiana gambling laws allow betting on horse racing and riverboat casinos, most other types of gambling are prohibited in the state. Bona fide contests of skill are acceptable, as are bingo, raffles, and other charitable games.
Learn more about Indiana gambling laws in the table below.
| Code Section | 35-45-5-1 et seq.; 4-31-1-1 et seq. |
| Gambling | Risking money or other property for gain, contingent upon lot, chance, or the operation of a gambling device. |
| Horse Racing/Off-Track Betting | Horse racing and satellite facilities licensed for parimutuel wagering legal. |
| Dog Racing/Off-Track Betting | Not specified |
| Casinos Allowed? | Riverboat gambling legal in counties contiguous to Lake Michigan, Ohio River, and Patoka Lake. |
| Other Kinds of Gambling-Related Activities Allowed or Banned | Bona fide contests of skill, speed, strength or endurance in which only entrants are awarded prizes; bona fide business transactions, charitable organizations "gaming nights" allowed. Bookmaking; pool-selling; maintenance of slot machines, dice tables, or roulette wheels; and conducting banking games banned. |
Gambling and gaming (including casinos, racetracks, and lotteries) are regulated by a combination of federal and state laws. States like Indiana that permit gambling generally have gaming commissions that oversee industry practices, such as licensing employees and regulating the games and books. In most cases, these states will add strict zoning regulations to separate casinos and racetracks from schools and residential areas. The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act regulates gambling establishments on Indian reservations, which must also be in compliance with any other tribal gaming regulations.
Indiana Gambling Laws: Related Resources
Each state can have different gaming regulations which can change over time. If you would like legal advice regarding a gambling matter, you can contact an Indiana gaming law attorney in your area for a legal consultation. You can also visit FindLaw’s gaming law section if you’d like more introductory information on this topic.
