Legal in land-based casinos, allowed only in the mobile sports betting arena.
The 38th-largest state in America, admitted to the United States in 1816, is located in Midwestern and Great Lakes regions bordering Michigan to the north, Ohio to the east, Kentucky to the south, Illinois to the west, and Lake Michigan to the northwest.
Indiana has a diverse economy with a state gross product of $366.70 billion in 2018, which amounts to 1.8% of the U.S. overall GDP. The key state’s income verticals include steel production, car manufacturing, pharmaceutical and medical devices industry, electrical and transportation equipment, factory machinery, while also focusing on renewable sources of energy.
As of September 1, 2019, following HEA 1019 legislation enacted by the Indiana General Assembly (IGA), Hoosiers are allowed to generate revenues through online sports betting in addition to legalized land-based gambling (since 1993).
Legal Framework
Enacted by the IGA on April 24—passed by the Indiana Senate by 37-12 vote and the Indiana House of Representatives by 59-36 vote—HEA 1019 (initially HB1019) fundamentally changes the gambling landscape.
As an omnibus bill, it covers a wide variety of gambling topic and governs major aspects of state gaming such as licensing, operations of sports betting providers, live dealer table games at two race track casinos (racinos), operators’ taxation, and the introduction of the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) as the state regulatory body.
While the bill fine-tunes several important matters in land-based gambling scene which includes brick and mortar and riverboat casinos’ featuring slots and table games—plus pari-mutuel horse race betting, bingo, charitable games, and permissible usage of pull-tabs and video gaming terminals operated in bars, restaurants, and clubs—the most significant iGaming novelty is the legalization of sports betting on professional and collegiate sports events.
However…
Sports betting remains banned when it comes to e-sports and/or amateur athletic contests with contenders below 18 years of age. Furthermore, the full-blown online gambling market is yet to be regulated, thus onshore iGaming companies are not allowed operating in Indiana.
The gambling age limitations vary between 18 (lottery, pari-mutuel betting, bingo, pull-tabs) and 21 years of age (land-based/riverboat casinos, one-armed bandits, sports betting).
Tax rates on casino products range from 15-40% of gross gaming revenues (25-35% on slots) and 9.5% on sports betting winnings.
Licensing
Other than State Lottery Commission and Horse Racing Commission already in place, HEA1019 establishes the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) as a government agency to oversight casino operations and sports betting, and “to provide a fair, transparent and dynamic regulatory environment that encourages economic development while requiring the highest level of integrity of all activities under its jurisdiction.”
As of August 28, 2019, there are 13 land-based and riverboat casinos licensed by the IGC
In online and offline domains of sports betting licensing, HEA1019 establishes three categories:
- Certificate holders (operators looking to offer sports wagering) due to pay $100,000 initial license fee and $50,000 annual fee;
- Vendors (contractors of the certificate holder, companies managing operations at land-based casinos’ sportsbooks or via an application on a mobile device) due to pay $100,000 license fee;
- Service providers (entities providing equipment, risk management, odds, or integrity services to certificate holders or vendors) due to pay $10,000 license fee.
All certificate holders and vendors are obliged to report to IGC all information regarding integrity concerns, including abnormal wagering activities. All data related to sports betting operations are to be shared with the IGC.
New gaming legislation also allows the IGC to approve two racinos to start live dealer table games wagering on January 1, 2020 (moving deadline one year ahead of previously stipulated timeframe).
Player Protection
Since 2003, Indiana maintains the Voluntary Exclusion Program (VEP) allowing players to sign-up and to enroll gambling problem treatment for a period of one or five years, or lifetime exclusion.
Now there is the Internet Self-Restriction Program (ISRP) which applies only to sports wagering on mobile devices. Patrons can opt for a one- or five-year self-restriction period.
Moreover, sports betting operators may deny service and/or evict participants from their land-based premises and facilities. Once in the program, self-restricting participant volunteers to forfeit any gains obtained and/or debts created by the casino if/when found gambling on a website that conducts mobile sports wagering.
All operators have to cease all direct marketing activities targeting ISRP participants, have to cancel their wagers and refund amounts wagered, while patrons’ assets in sports betting accounts at the time of self-exclusion may be collected by operators.
Final Notes
The new sports wagering regulation will last for 90 days in its current form, with an optional 90-day extension period before the IGA drafts the permanent version of this law.
It is considered to be the very cautious approach of the predominantly conservative legislature, representing recognition of gambling potentials in terms of state tax revenues (following the path of other state regulations in America) while also maintaining the upper hand in mitigating negative ramifications if any.
Thus…
It would be safe to assume that the final version will include some tweaks and new features when it comes to gambling and sports betting. Also, it remains to be seen whether it will further address other aspects of online gambling as well.
Until then, make sure to gamble prudently and responsibly, within the limits of your budget, and have good luck.
Further Reading
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