Despite having just 13 casinos, Indiana ranked high in a recent study on casino tourism.
The Hoosier State came in at No. 12, higher than much larger states such as California, which has more than 75 casinos.
BetMGM conducted the study to determine the best casino-friendly states in the US. Indiana received an overall ranking of 59.8. Predictably, the top state was Nevada, ground zero of the US gambling industry, with a ranking of 87.3, followed by Louisiana (81.9) and Oklahoma (81.8).
Indiana’s eclectic casinos
Lawmakers haven’t passed Indiana online casino legislation yet. Thus, the state’s baker’s dozen retail casinos are the only game in town. Fortunately, online casino play is available to Hoosiers through sweepstakes and social casinos until lawmakers can legalize iGaming in the state.
Indiana’s casinos offer a diverse selection of entertainment and resort-style amenities, making them ideal destinations for a weekend getaway or week-long stay, especially during Christmas. Many offer fine dining, nightclubs, lounges, concerts, and family-friendly entertainment.
Notably, Horseshoe Hammond and Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana offer concerts by world-renowned entertainers year-round.
The historic buildings and gardens at the luxurious French Lick Resort Casino & West Baden are an attraction all on their own. The casino resort also hosts an impressive slate of family-friendly Christmas activities at the end of the year, plus it has a golf course.
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg’s “Boogie Nights Dance Club” was rated as the “Best Nightlife” in Indiana by Casino Player magazine.
With such an eclectic mix of activities at Indiana casinos and fairly inexpensive travel options to get to the state, it makes sense why the state ranked so high in the BetMGM study.
Metrics used in the study
BetMGM used six metrics to come up with the overall rankings for each state. Indiana ranked high in most categories.
- Number of casinos per 100,000 people: 25th
- Average casino rating: 3.67 out of 5
- Wi-Fi speed: 7th
- Average cost of Airbnb: 3rd ($212.01)
- Average cost of airfare into the state: 3rd ($392.68)
- Average rideshare cost: 9th ($17.73)
BetMGM used data from the US Census, Tripadvisor, Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics and other sources to determine the rankings.
Some categories had ties among the top five rankings, including average casino rating and Wi-Fi speed.
