Horseshoe casino southern indiana

The Biggest Casinos in Indiana

Are There Indian Casinos in Indiana?

There is only one Indian casino in Indiana, and it’s the Four Winds South Bend which, as the name suggests, is found in the city of South Bend. Indian casinos don’t fall under state law to the same extent as other casinos and this has allowed them to proliferate in other states. You might also hear Indian casinos referred to as Native American casinos or tribal casinos.

Racinos

You’ll find two racinos in Indiana, both of which are part of the Caesars group, but what exactly are they? Well, they combine horse racing and casino into one, offering a complete gambling experience. It’s possible to place a bet on the horses, before then changing focus and heading into the casino, where various games are often found.

Are There Cruise Ship or Riverboat Casinos in Indiana?

When casinos were legalized in Indiana in 1993, the law stated that they had to be on water, except for the resort at French Lick. Since then though, the rules have been relaxed, meaning that many casinos have moved onto dry land. You will still be able to find a number of riverboat casinos in Indiana though, all of which are now stationary. Many are moored outside other facilities, including hotels.

Expected New Casinos

There are not currently any plans for any new casinos in Indiana. We will update this page accordingly if any plans to create any new gambling towns in Indiana are announced.

Gambling Legal Situation in Indiana

• Indiana Constitution

  Prohibits most forms of gambling

• Indiana Riverboat Act

  Legalized riverboat casinos in Indiana. Was repealed in 1999 as laws relaxed around casinos

• House Enrolled Act

  Legalized sports betting in Indiana

History

As with most states, gambling in Indiana has a long history. Take a look at the timeline below to see some of the most significant dates for gambling in the state.

• 1851Indiana Constitution bans almost all forms of gambling in the state. While the Constitution only specifically banned lotteries, this was seen by courts as a ban on nearly all forms of gambling.

• 1988Voters in the state approve a constitutional amendment, allowing a lottery to be set up in Indiana.

• 1989Pari-mutuel betting was legalized. Hoosier Park (now Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino) opened in 1994 and off-track betting parlors were first seen in 1995.

• 1993Casinos are legalized. Land-based casinos in French Lick and Gary are permitted, plus riverboat casinos are allowed on the Ohio River. Riverboat casinos on Lake Michigan and Patoka Lake were later added to the law. These laws were later relaxed, allowing more land-based casinos.

• 2019Indiana legalizes sports betting, both online and offline.

Upcoming Changes in the Gambling Regulation

At the moment, there are no upcoming changes to gambling regulation in Indiana. The state has only just legalized sports betting, so it is probable that this will be allowed to settle before any new gambling regulation is even considered.

Indiana Casino Resorts and Trips

If you’re looking for something more than a casino, you should consider visiting one of the Indiana casino resorts. One of the most popular ways to visit the best casino resorts in Indiana is by using an organized tour. We’ve listed the top three casino resorts in Indiana below, plus we’ve also found three great trips to Indiana casinos. However, if you like to travel, then we recommend checking out our top 10 casinos list, where you might just find your next holiday destination.

About Indiana