Indiana Legislative Leaders Open To Online Casino Legislation


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Last year, Indiana lawmakers aimed to avoid gambling issues, but it appears online casino legislation could be back on the menu. 

Last week, an online casino bill passed through a committee to the House floor. That comes after last year, when legislative leadership agreed to a hiatus on gambling legislation because of a corruption case tied to the legislature

With the House bill advancing, House Speaker Todd Huston told reporters last week that he is open to taking action.

“We just can’t stand still … Like any … industry that is an important component of our state, there should be continual discussions about what ends up happening,” Huston told reporters, per the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Senate a bit tougher

Former Rep. Sean Eberhart was sentenced to a year in prison last year connected to a gambling bill in 2019. His conviction in 2023 led to last year’s moratorium on gambling legislation. 

While the lawmakers are opening the consideration back up, Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray said the conviction is still top of mind, and gambling-related issues need to be treated carefully. He also said the industry is “very helpful” to Indiana. 

“I don’t think it’s good policy to chase revenue. I think you have to decide what the right policy is and then maybe the revenue comes,” Bray said. “But if you’re chasing revenue that way, you’re probably not making good policy decisions.”

Indiana online casino moves forward

Rep. Ethan Manning guided his HB 1432 through the House Public Policy Committee last week. It is now headed to the Ways and Means Committee

Manning said gambling expansion could bring in more than $300 million annually to the state. Indiana would implement a 26% tax rate in the first year before moving to a tiered system of between 22% and 30% after July 2026

Each of the state’s casinos could operate up to three online skins, which they could apply for as soon as the bill is passed. Online casinos could go live by Sept. 1

Photo by Shutterstock / Gustavo Frazao