- Indiana will have an online gambling bill on the docket in the 2023 legislative session.
- The bill will be similar to last year’s HB 1356, and pushed by the same people.
- If it passes, it could have online gambling and poker up and running in IN by fall.
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana State Senator Jon Ford and Representative Ethan Manning are attempting to regulate online casinos in the Hoosier State.
The Indiana legislative session starts in 2023, but Ford and Manning have already written the first draft of a bill that would, among other things, regulate online gambling, online poker, and other casino games.
What Would The Bill Do?
- Online poker would be legalized and regulated by the state of Indiana.
- iGaming would be regulated by the state of Indiana.
- Casinos and Racinos in the state would receive licenses to offer online casino games.
- The Hoosier Lottery would be able to offer online games as well.
- Online casino revenue would be taxed at 18%, and licenses would cost an up-front fee of $500.
Will The Bill Pass?
This is more unclear. Ford and Manning tried to do similar things in last year’s legislative session, and were rebuffed by other lawmakers with differing ideas on Indiana online gambling.
Last year, the bill was known as HB 1356, and it was referred to the Committee on Public Policy in early January.
By March, however, it was clearly dead, and it never really got the momentum it needed to make a push at becoming law.
Note also that the bill from last year is very similar to the bill from this year – the same 18% tax rate, the same racino and casino regulations, and similar licensing requirements.
If The Bill Passes, When Will IN Launch Online Casinos?
Indiana was quick to launch sports betting after approving it at a governmental level in 2019.
That bill was signed in May 2019, and sports bets were being placed by September.