Indiana Online Gambling
Indiana offers a well-established and diverse online gambling landscape, anchored by a competitive legal online sports betting market.
Although real-money online casinos and poker are not yet legal, lawmakers have consistently shown interest in expanding these activities. In the meantime, sweepstakes casinos operate in a legal gray area in Indiana as an unregulated alternative.
Additional Indiana online gambling options include daily fantasy sports and pari-mutuel horse racing wagering.
This page provides a comprehensive guide to Indiana’s online gambling options, the laws governing them, and the resources available to ensure a safe and responsible gaming experience.
Legal Indiana Gambling Sites
21+ and present in Indiana. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT.
Indiana Online Gambling Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited under IN Code § 345-5-2; no licensed operators |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | Operates in a gray area under sweepstakes laws; no direct wagering required |
| Online Poker (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited under state gambling statutes; no regulated platforms |
| Online Sports Betting (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Authorized since 2019 under IC 4-38 via licensed operators |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Authorized under IC 4-33-24; requires operator licensing |
| Fantasy Pick’em Contests (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Treated similarly to DFS under paid fantasy sports laws; no specific restrictions. |
| Online Lottery Sales (n/a) | Illegal | Hoosier Lottery prohibits online ticket sales; in-person only |
| Online Horse Racing (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Authorized via advance deposit wagering platforms (ADWs) approved by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. |
Indiana Online Casinos
Indiana law prohibits online casinos.
State law (Indiana Code 35-45-5) prohibits gambling activities not explicitly authorized, defining gambling as risking something of value on a game of chance.
Indiana’s online gambling prohibition includes casino-style games like real-money roulette, slots, and baccarat played online.
The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) enforces these restrictions and has issued warnings about unauthorized sites posing as affiliates of licensed casinos.
Penalties for participating in illegal gambling can include fines and misdemeanor charges, though enforcement typically targets operators rather than individual players.
Recent efforts to legalize online casinos, such as HB 1432 in 2025, proposed allowing licensed operators to offer games with a 22-30% tax on gross receipts but failed to advance beyond committee due to opposition from responsible gambling advocates and regional casinos concerned about revenue cannibalization.
HB 1432 would have limited licenses to existing casino holders and included funding for problem gambling programs. Future legalization remains unlikely without broader political support.
Indiana Sweepstakes Casinos
Sweepstakes casinos are easily accessible in Indiana but operate in a legal gray area.
Indiana law does not expressly prohibit sweepstakes gambling sites, but neither does it authorize them.
As a result, most name-brand sweepstakes platforms are operational in Indiana. Some of the most well-known sweepstakes casinos available to Indiana residents include:
Key things players should know about sweepstakes casinos in Indiana:
- Sweepstakes casinos are unregulated in Indiana, so it’s critical to choose a high-profile operator.
- Even with name-brand operators, players have no recourse if they have problems withdrawing funds or experiencing fair games.
- Indiana does not provide dispute resolution services for consumers who have issues with sweepstakes casinos.
- Most sweepstakes casinos require Indiana customers to be at least 18, but some have a minimum age of 21 to participate.
How Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Indiana?
Sweepstakes casinos operate under state and federal sweepstakes laws, which permit promotional games where no purchase is necessary to participate and win cash prizes.
By providing free entry methods (alternative methods of entry or AMOE), sweepstakes casinos avoid classification as “gambling,” which requires prize, consideration, and chance under IC § 35-45-5-1(d).
Sweepstakes casinos eliminate the consideration element by providing typical AMOEs such as mail-in requests and various promotions (e.g., daily log-in bonuses).
Potential legal concerns arise because sweepstakes casinos mimic traditional gambling platforms, which has led to scrutiny and legal action in other states. To date, Indiana has not enacted legislation or taken enforcement action against sweepstakes casinos.
Indiana Online Poker
Real-money poker sites are illegal in Indiana.
Indiana’s general prohibition on online gambling extends to poker because it involves staking something of value on outcomes influenced by chance or skill.
No state-regulated online poker platforms accept customers from Indiana, and offshore sites are neither endorsed nor governed by local laws. The IGC does not regulate online poker, meaning players have zero recourse if they use offshore poker sites that operate contrary to state law.
Skill-based arguments to authorize online poker in Indiana have not swayed regulators or lawmakers to carve out exceptions, unlike with daily fantasy sports. Players using offshore poker sites risk legal issues, although prosecution is exceedingly unlikely for individuals.
In 2025, House Bill 1432 sought to legalize online poker alongside casinos, restricting it to existing licensees and imposing taxes, but it stalled in committee amid concerns over problem gambling and market saturation.
Alternatives include social poker apps without real-money prizes, sweepstakes poker sites, or traveling to states like Michigan for regulated play.
Indiana Online Sports Betting
Online sportsbooks are legal and regulated in Indiana.
Indiana was one of the first states to launch a competitive online sports betting market, courtesy of HB 1015 in 2019. The first Indiana sports betting apps launched in October of that same year.
Under Indiana Code 4-38, licensed operators may offer online sports betting via partnerships with land-based casinos. The IGC regulates sports wagering and requires operators to implement location/identity verification to ensure all customers are located within state lines and 21+ before placing wagers online.
Legally permitted events for wagering include professional, collegiate, and international sports leagues. Unlike some states, Indiana permits online sportsbooks to accept wagers on in-state college teams (e.g., Purdue, Notre Dame, etc.), although in-play prop bets on college games are prohibited.
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Indiana Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) are legal and regulated in Indiana.
In 2016, Indiana became the second state in the nation to formally legalize and regulate DFS contests. Senate Bill 339 established a clear legal framework for operators and consumer protections for players.
Under Indiana law, DFS is defined as a game of skill, which legally separates it from sports betting and other forms of gambling. The Indiana Gaming Commission is responsible for licensing and overseeing DFS operators. Major fantasy sports brands like FanDuel and DraftKings are licensed and operate legally in Indiana.
Players must be at least 18 years old to participate. Additional regulations ensure that fantasy sports platforms segregate player funds from operational funds, monitor for integrity in DFS contests, and implement responsible gambling measures.
Fantasy Pick’em Contests in Indiana
Fantasy pick’em contests are legal in Indiana and regulated under the same laws that govern traditional DFS games.
Indiana is an outlier in that it actively regulates daily fantasy sports but does not prohibit or heavily limit pick’em-style contests.
Licensed operators like PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy, and Betr are available in Indiana and offer fantasy pick’em contests in which players make more than/less than predictions on individual athletes’ projected totals for stats like rushing yards, golf scores, and points scored.
Indiana Online Lottery Sales
The Hoosier Lottery does not sell tickets online.
Indiana law does not permit the state lottery to offer its games via the internet or a mobile app. All tickets for games like Powerball, Mega Millions, and state-specific draws must be purchased in person from authorized lottery retailers.
Furthermore, third-party lottery courier services, such as Jackpocket and TheLotter, are not authorized to operate in Indiana.
These services purchase tickets on behalf of customers in other states but are not licensed to do so in Indiana. Players can use the Hoosier Lottery’s official website and mobile app to check winning numbers, find retailers, and scan tickets, but not to buy lottery tickets online.
House Bill 1432 (2025), the same bill that proposed legalizing online gambling in Indiana, also sought to authorize the state lottery to sell draw games and “eInstant” games through its website and mobile app.
However, the multifaceted bill failed due to numerous concerns regarding responsible gambling and revenue cannibalization.
Online Horse Racing Betting in Indiana
Online horse racing wagering is legal and regulated in Indiana.
State law permits betting on horse races through advance deposit wagering apps (ADWs), and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) serves as the regulatory and licensing authority.
Indiana residents who are 18 or older can sign up for accounts and use licensed ADWs to wager on races held at tracks across the country and internationally. Leading ADWs such as TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, and AmWager are licensed and legal in Indiana.
Horse racing betting sites licensed in Indiana are the only safe and legal way to bet on horse races online. All licensed ADWs are subject to regulatory oversight from the IHRC, which ensures the integrity of wagering and the protection of customers’ funds.
Indiana Gambling Regulators
Gambling regulation in Indiana is divided among specialized agencies to enforce laws and promote fair play.
- Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC): Regulates casinos, sports betting, DFS, and charity gaming; issues licenses and investigates illegal activities.
- Indiana Horse Racing Commission (HRC): Oversees horse racing, including ADWs and racetracks.
- State Lottery Commission of Indiana: Manages state lottery operations and retailer compliance.
- Alcohol & Tobacco Commission (ATC): Handles Type II gaming in bars and some enforcement.
Responsible Gambling Resources in Indiana
Indiana provides various tools and support for responsible gambling, including statewide self-exclusion options.
A unified self-exclusion program covers casinos and sports betting, with resources funded by taxes and fees paid by licensed operators.
Indiana Self-Exclusion Resources
- IGC Voluntary Exclusion Program: Allows self-bans from all casinos for 1 year, 5 years, or lifetime; managed by the IGC.
- Internet Self-Restriction Program: Bars individuals from online sports betting apps.
- Operator Tools: Licensed Indiana online gambling platforms offer deposit/time limits and self-exclusion options.
Indiana Responsible Gambling Organizations
- Indiana Council on Problem Gambling: Helpline 1-800-994-8448; offers counseling referrals.
- National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER (call/text/chat at 1800gamblerchat.org).
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for treatment info.