Indiana will take another crack at legalizing online casino gaming in 2023. Lawmakers tried to bring iGaming into the fold earlier this year but ultimately fell short.
If you’re not familiar with iGaming, then it might be time to brush up on the basics. Online casinos will change the nature of Indiana’s entertainment industry if the state adds them to its gambling lineup next year.
What are online casinos?
Online casinos in Indiana would work very similarly to sports betting in the state.
In other words, Hoosiers everywhere would have the power of an entire casino in the palms of their hands.
Just like online sportsbooks, online casinos have their own smartphone apps. Some companies even use the same app for sportsbooks and casinos, which makes everything incredibly simple for gamblers.
Once you download an app, you’ll be able to legally play all sorts of casino games from your phone. That includes classics like slot machines, blackjack and poker. Online poker is a key part of Indiana’s push to add online casinos.
Online poker and casino gaming
Indiana’s online casino bill was planning to bring online poker into the mix. That’s notable because poker doesn’t always make the cut during iGaming legalization.
Online poker is a little more complicated than traditional casino games. There are all sorts of extra rules and regulations that lawmakers have to work hard to pass.
Because of that, some states opt to get regular casino games up and running before they tackle poker.
Thankfully, that isn’t the case in Indiana. If online casinos make it to the end zone next year, then poker will more than likely be a part of the action. That’s thanks to lawmakers making poker an important part of the gaming bill.
Indiana iGaming bill
Indiana tried to legalize online casinos in 2021 and 2022. Both times, the bill that would have brought them to the state fell short.
That was due to a handful of circumstances like education. After all, a lawmaker isn’t going to vote to legalize online casinos if they don’t know what they are.
When Indiana tries again in 2023, the bill will likely look nearly identical to the first two. Here’s a quick look at some of the highlights:
- Indiana’s casinos can offer internet gaming
- Casinos can offer legal online poker
- iGaming revenue taxed at 18%, including 3% for local governments
- 3.33% of tax revenue goes to the Addiction Services Fund
Tax revenue is an important piece of the puzzle since online casinos are incredibly profitable. Keeping a solid tax rate in hand will help make sure that Indiana benefits from gambling expansion in the long term.
What could stop online casino gaming?
All things considered, lawmakers should have an easier time trying to pass an online casino bill in 2023.
Many of the roadblocks that were causing problems like the Spectacle Entertainment scandal are out of the way now.
Lawmakers will have also had an extra year to read up on online casinos and their benefits.
However, there are still a few hurdles that could bog down the process.
Gambling expansion will always be a tough sell in a conservative state like Indiana. That could potentially end up causing problems down the line.
Online casinos also aren’t the only new gambling option that wants to make its Indiana debut next year. The Hoosier Lottery is also hoping to add online games to its lineup.
The lottery also fell short of its goal this year, so things will pick back up again in 2023.
Despite that, online casinos should be able to steal most of the legislative spotlight next year. The iGaming benefits are hard to pass up, so lawmakers will be hard at work right after the new year.
