Online casinos will not be coming to Indiana in 2025. House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) told the Indiana Capital Chronicle last month that House Bill 1432 wasn’t heard in the Ways and Means Committee. That ultimately means online poker, slots, and table games will not be legalized during this legislative session.
HB 1432 Would Have Allowed Licensed Casinos In Indiana To Offer Electronic Gaming
Huston called HB 1432 a complex bill with a “lot of different moving parts.” He continued, “And I think, you know, just trying to find something there was some consensus on, felt like it was a pretty tough spot to be.”
The legislation would have allowed Indiana’s licensed casinos to offer interactive electronic gaming alongside the Hoosier Lottery. Supporters said since Hoosiers are already gambling online, it made sense to regulate and tax it.
Indiana residents continue to engage in sports betting and sweepstakes casinos, which are free-to-play online gaming platforms that allow players to spin slots and play table games using virtual currencies.
Rep. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport) spearheaded the bill and estimated that the digital lottery and casino games, combined with sports wagering tax hikes, would bring the Hoosier State more than $300 million annually in new revenue.
At Least One Casino Opposed The Bill
According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, while Huston complimented Manning on his stewardship, he said the bill would impact members of the gaming industry differently. At least one casino reportedly opposed the move.
“There’s all sorts of moving parts about how it impacts certain communities, what it does to the overall gaming environment in Indiana. I think all those things just make it complex to work through,” Huston said.
Online casino legislation has always been a controversial topic among Indiana lawmakers.
Rep. Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville) is currently facing a one-year prison sentence for pushing a bill that helped a casino company in exchange for a job.
In November 2023, Eberhart pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit fraud. He would have faced a maximum sentence of five years in prison and agreed to pay $60,000 in restitution.
However, prosecutors advised leniency as part of the plea deal signed that month.