Indiana Casino and Card Room Gaming

Riverboat casinos are permitted in Indiana. Gambling became legal in 1993, and the first casino boat opened in December 1995. Riverboats in Indiana are not required to sail on the river. Indiana also allows pull-tabs to be operated in bars and similar establishments.

In 2006, an attempt to bring video gambling to bars, restaurants and clubs that sell alcohol was not approved by the Indiana General Assembly.

In April 2007, the General Assembly approved the House Enrolled Act 1835, which allows 2,000 slot machines at each of the state's horse tracks. The plan passed the House 54-44 and the Senate approved the measure minutes later, 33-17. It was signed into law in May 2007. Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Downs in Shelbyville agreed to pay the state $250 million for slot licenses and to invest at least $100 million in developing the racinos. Two similar bills were proposed in 2005, but called for 2,500 slot machines at each track and did not receive approval from the legislature.

In April 2007, lawmakers discussed allowing the state's casinos to build on platforms over water, instead of requiring them to operate on boats. Under the proposal, casinos would have to pay a 40% tax on income higher than $200 million, regardless of whether or not they chose to build on platforms. The proposal was rejected by the legislature in 2010.

In January 2008, lawmakers in the state House and the Senate filed legislation to allow bars and similar businesses to offer paper pull-tabs and other small-stakes gaming. The bill was approved and became effective as law on 1 July 2008. Under the law, licensees pay the state a fee to obtain a license and taxes on ticket sales. The revenue collected is split, with two-thirds going to the county where the business is located and one-third going to the school districts in those counties. The Indiana Alcohol and Gaming Commission regulates Class II gaming.

In February 2009, the legislature passed an amended version of House Bill 1213 that banned smoking in all public places in Indiana, including restaurants and bars, but allowed smoking in casinos.

On 10 May 2013, Senate Bill 528 was signed into law. Originally, in addition to providing tax breaks to the casinos, the bill proposed allowing riverboat casinos to relocate onto land, and adding live table games at racinos. The House rejected all but the measure allowing for the tax breaks.

In May 2015, Gov. Mike Pence did not sign a bill that gave the 10 riverboat casinos the ability to build new casinos on land near their current locations on Lake Michigan and the Ohio River, thereby allowing it to become law. At the same time, he vetoed a bill that would have allowed residents to place pari-mutuel bets from wagering accounts. An earlier version of the bill would have allowed casinos in the state to offer table games, but the provision was dropped when Pence objected. Casinos may, however, seek permission for live dealer games in 2021, under the law.

In June 2022, Churchill Downs Inc. broke ground on the Queen of Terre Haute Casino Resort, which is scheduled to open in late 2023.