Online casinos remain illegal in the Hoosier State. However, as sweepstakes and social casinos do not offer real-money gaming, they aren’t prohibited by Indiana laws that ban online casinos. So, if you are in Indiana, you can play safely in the best sweepstakes casinos available in the country.
In this guide, our casino experts cover everything you need to know about Indiana’s sweepstakes casinos. You’ll find the best games available, the bonuses you can claim, and the best sweeps casinos available to players in the state. We’ll also look at the history of Indiana online gambling and current gambling laws, and provide an overview of the land-based facilities in the state.
Indiana offers a range of legal gambling options, including casino gambling, retail and online sports betting, horse racing, and lottery games.
Sweepstakes casinos have a range of slot games, progressive jackpots, blackjack, baccarat, and poker for everyone. Below, we’ve listed a few of our favorite games at IN online casinos.
Legal Indiana sweepstake casinos attract players with exciting casino-style slots and table games, giving you a chance to experience the feeling of winning at the casino without spending a penny. You can, however, win real prizes with your virtual coins.
Gambling in Indiana consists of land-based casinos, pari-mutuel horse racing, lottery, and online and retail sports betting. Currently, online casinos and online poker are not available in the state.
Two significant pieces of gambling legislation were passed in the late 1980s to kick things off in the Hoosier State - the establishment of the Hoosier Lottery in 1988 and the legalization of pari-mutuel horse racing betting at two racetracks, Belterra Park and Indiana Grand Racing in Shelbyville, in 1989.
From there, momentum carried into the 1990s, with land-based casinos approved by voters in 1993 on the Ohio River, Lake Michigan, and French Lick. Additional sites in cities like Gary were added later.
The next major milestone for online gambling was SB339, signed by Governor Mike Pence in March 2016, which legalized daily fantasy sports in the state. Online sports betting followed in 2019 with the US Supreme Court's 2018 decision to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).
This ruling allowed states to regulate sports betting independently, paving the way for Indiana to launch retail and online sportsbooks in September and October 2019, with the passage of HB1054 in May 2019. However, online casinos and other forms of internet gambling, such as online poker, remain illegal in the state.
Register for a sweepstakes casino and verify your identity to begin playing. This verification process varies between casinos, but all will require you to provide personal information, including name, date of birth, email, and proof of age (copy of a photo ID). This process is usually straightforward. Below, we’ve provided a step-by-step guide to get going.
While you can’t gamble for real money at Indiana online casinos, you can still use trusted banking methods at sweepstakes casinos to purchase coin packages to play casino-style games. Below, we’ve provided a step-by-step guide to buying these coin packages to enable your play.
Indiana social casinos accept various trusted payment methods, allowing you to fund your account and enjoy casino-style games. Widespread options include bank cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers.
Most social casinos require a minimum deposit to purchase virtual currency, with the amount varying depending on your chosen casino. Below is a list of some of Indiana sweepstakes casinos' most popular payment methods.
The legal gambling age for Indiana players at land-based casinos and retail and online sportsbooks is 21. If you are 18 or older, you can play games at sweepstakes casinos.
To play at Indiana online casinos, you must complete a verification process to prove you are over 18, which is the minimum age to play at Indiana sweepstakes casinos. You’ll need to provide a copy of your photo ID to do this. The verification process might take an hour to a couple of days, and you might need to wait to verify your ID before you begin playing.
The Indiana Gaming Commission and Indiana Horse Racing Commission regulate land-based casinos, online sports betting, and pari-mutuel horse racing betting in Indiana. Gambling was legalized in 1993, and the Indiana Gaming Commission was founded to handle the licensing of land-based casinos. Today, it regulates land-based casinos and online sports betting in the state.
Mobile online casinos offer a casino-style experience designed for Indiana players with their mobile devices in mind.
These apps offer an immersive and optimized experience for players on iOS and Android devices. They have a user-friendly interface and various slot titles, table games, and live dealer options.
If playing on the go is your preferred method of playing casino-style games, several operators offer excellent Android casino apps. These apps offer players an immersive casino-style experience designed with your mobile device in mind. Below, we’ve listed some of the best Indiana social casino apps for Android.
Indiana social casinos also offer a range of apps for iOS devices, optimized for iPhones and iPads, and a custom-built design for your device. Below, we’ve listed some of the best Indiana sweepstakes casino apps available for players in the Hoosier State.
Indiana gambling has developed significantly since the legalization of pari-mutuel horse racing in 1989, with land-based casinos, daily fantasy sports, and online sports betting. Below, we've listed some of the key milestones in the legal developments of Indiana’s gambling.
The Indiana General Assembly approved a measure legalizing pari-mutuel horse racing betting and created the Indiana Gaming Commission.
Voters approve a measure to legalize land-based casinos in the Hoosier State, leading to the opening of a land-based facility in Gary, Indiana.
Governor Mike Pence signs SB339, legalizing daily fantasy sports in Indiana under the oversight of the Indiana Gaming Commission.
Governor Eric Holcomb signs HB 1015 to legalize online and retail sports betting in Indiana.
The first retail sportsbooks open at the Ameristar Casino and Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg.
Online sportsbooks launch in the Hoosier State, with several prominent sports betting brands going live.
Sweepstakes casinos are not subject to regulations as they do not offer a direct exchange of real money for gambling. Playing games at these sites, logging in, and entering social media competitions earn you Sweeps Coins, which can be exchanged for cash prizes, gift cards, and sometimes household goods.
Sometimes, you’ll find offshore sites with casino games for real money in states that have not legalized online gambling. These sites will allow you to make deposits and withdrawals and gamble real money on casino games. These sites are not regulated by the Indiana Gaming Commission, meaning they are not required to adhere to the strict standards that protect players.
This lack of oversight means you are not protected regarding payment security, fair gaming practices, responsible gambling measures, and data protection. As a result, gambling at offshore sites is risky, as players have no recourse in cases of fraud, disputes, or unfair practices.
If online casinos become legal in Indiana, sticking to licensed and regulated operators will be crucial. These sites will provide the necessary protections, including secure payments, fair games, and responsible gambling tools, to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Belterra Casino Resort & Spa is a 315-acre site with a 42,201-square-foot gaming floor on the Ohio River in Indiana. The facility features 1,277 slot machines, 45 table games, two poker tables, and a 309-room hotel. The site also hosts a variety of entertainment options, dining, and a spa. Players can access six on-site restaurants and a 1,500-capacity music venue, the CenterStage Showroom.
Four Winds South Bend is a facility owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and opened in January 2018. The site features 1,900 slot machines on its gaming floor, the most in Indiana. In March 2023, it opened a hotel, Ribbon Town, which stands 23 floors high and has 317 rooms. It also has a live performance venue, which has hosted acts such as Lou Gramm and Sister Hazel.
Horseshoe Hammond is a casino in Lake County owned by Caesars Entertainment. The site features 3,000 slot machines, including 250 video poker machines and 100 gaming tables. It also hosts a 90,000-square-foot entertainment complex capable of hosting concerts and events and a 3,400-capacity venue. The site is known for its poker room, featuring 34 tables, and it has hosted several World Series of Poker events.
Online casinos for real money are currently not available in Indiana. However, sweepstakes casinos are available for players in the Hoosier State. These sites offer casino-style games, including slot titles, table games, and live dealer options.
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are legal. With these sites, you can spin the reels and even play blackjack, baccarat, and sic-bo without spending a dime. You can even earn currency, which can be exchanged for cash prizes and gift cards.
Indiana’s best casinos include Real Prize Casino, Hello Millions, High5 Casino, WOW Vegas, and Stake.us. These social casino sites allow you to play various games without spending a dollar.
Yes, the online casinos recommended on this page are safe and accessible to players in Indiana. These sites let you play without exchanging real money for gambling. They also offer a range of trusted and secure payment methods, transparent terms and conditions, and games tested by third-party testing houses.
Yes, Indiana sweepstakes and social casinos offer a range of promotions, including generous welcome bonuses, reload bonuses for making your first purchase, slot tournaments with generous prizes, and other promotions for returning players.