Guide to the Indiana Gambling Age: Casinos, Sports Betting & More

There is a wide-variety of gambling options in Indiana and from the table below you can quickly see the situation regarding the legality of each. The current gambling age Indiana varies between 18 years for Bingo, Lottery and Horses, and for entering a casino or sports betting shop you need to be 21 years old. Indiana has a large population that loves to engage with betting, and the variety of gambling products throughout this state is testament for the passion that residents here have. The Indianapolis Colts in the NFL and the Indiana Pacers in the NBA bring a global audience to sports in this state, and the legal Indiana gambling age allows individuals aged over 21 to bet on these great franchises.

The legal gambling age in Indiana has a difference from 18 to 21 depending on which type of gambling you are participating. This is not a common approach towards the law, and many political and economic forces are at work when deciding on the current age limit of each. This state is one of the more accommodating towards casino gaming, as many states in this part of the country are of typically conservative disposition and resist all forms of gambling. Whilst there is room for improvement, particularly in the online gambling space, Indiana has adopted quite a progressive set of gambling laws.

Legal Gambling Age in Indiana for Casino

The legal gambling age in Indiana does not permit individuals aged below 21 to enter its casinos, the simple reason being alcohol is a fundamental part of the experience. The law prohibits individuals from drinking until 21 years across the entire country, and for that reason the casino gambling law must be at the same age. Unlike lottery or bingo for example, casinos are very much integrated with the enjoyment of alcohol, so the law prevents persons aged below 21 from being on premises of a bar or casino.

Given that 18, 19 and 20 year old individuals are prevented from entering Indiana casinos, you can expect the atmosphere to be more mature and less focused on cheap thrills. There are many fantastic casino floors across this state, and some of the country’s most enthusiast casino goers stop by to Indiana to soak up the unique atmosphere that top venues in this state are able to provide.

Which Casinos In IN Accept 21 Year-olds?

There are some wonderful casinos around the country, but no 18 year old casinos in Indiana. As we have mentioned already, gamblers from across the country regularly travel to the five casino venues in the table below. In fact, there is an abundance of quality choices across this state, it was particularly difficult to summarize them all into a short list. You will not find any casinos that violate the state Indiana gambling age legal code, and all of the venues we have selected are strictly 21 years and older, if you are a young adult it is advisable to carry a valid identification document with you so you are able to enter the premises and prove you are in accordance with casino age in Indiana. In our ranking process we took into account many fundamental aspects of casino gaming, from table games variety, slot machine count, base RTP across the casino floor, and of course the amnesties that truly define the quality of a casino. All in all, you wouldn’t be disappointed with a visit to any of the five establishments detailed below.

Sports Betting In Indiana

Sportsbook betting has a unique charm in Indiana, there are very few states around the country that have adopted it in the way they have. It is truly one of the most exhilarating forms of gambling, as nothing quite beats the thrill of watching professional athletes showcase their immense speed, power and strength in games such as football, basketball and tennis. All of these sports and more are heavily featured at Indiana sports betting establishments. For those aged over 21 years old, you can make bets on the Indiana Pacers, and indeed any other NBA or sports team you desire. Following the monumental U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 that overturned the previous outlawing of sports betting online, states have now been given the individual rights to establish online betting platforms. Indiana is not one of such places, and for betting you’ll need to head to a brick and mortar establishment.

Indiana Online Gambling Age

Online gambling throughout the United States holds a very peculiar place within the legal environment. On paper, it is prohibited to gamble online in almost every single jurisdiction across the United States, and yet, many thousands of people across the country are actively engaging in online casino gaming from the comfort of their own homes. This is possible due to online gambling services hosted offshore in places where gambling isn’t illegal. These platforms are easily accessible to residents of the United States, and they provide an efficient and trusted method to exercise their desire to gamble.

State lawmakers are becoming increasingly aware that the situation needs a massive overhaul, and whilst there is a huge amount of resistance to introducing online gambling legislation, politicians are beginning to realize that the loss in capital from residents engaging in gambling with offshore providers prevents an unstable and unattainable future outlook. There is widespread calls for online gambling laws to be relaxed, especially in the post-pandemic world where more businesses are looking for remote alternative to their classic operating model. In the future we expect increased lobbying power to be focused on this effort, as business and political interests become more closely aligned, change will undoubtedly come.

Online Poker/Poker Gambling Age

Poker is a game of complexity and skill, and anybody who has played a decent amount of classic Texas Hold’em will be able to guarantee you how difficult this game can be to master. Unfortunately, there are still a large portion of lawmakers who do not regard poker as a game of skill, and consider all too similar to Blackjack and Roulette. The unfortunate disregard for poker as a game of major skill means that it is lumped together with legislation concerning actual gambling games. We don’t mean to say that poker isn’t gambling, but it is a battle of intellect, with players utilizing a series of game theory concepts and algorithms to outwit each other, it is a truly fascinating endeavor! The Indiana online gambling age Indiana does not allow for any form of online gambling including poker, no matter if you’re 18 or 21.

Daily Fantasy Sports

There is a unique way to enjoy sports gambling in Indiana, and it is the Daily Fantasy Sports. This unique type of gaming allows customers aged 18 years or older to pick a selection of sports players from various different teams, and win money depending on their real life performances. Baseball, football and basketball are particularly strong and popular choices for the sport, and Indiana residents have been engaging with companies such as FanDuel for a while as they prove that this is a type of gambling with immense popularity in the local scene.

Legal Age to Play the Lottery in Indiana

There is an abundance of lottery gambling options in Indiana. You’ll be able to actively participate in these types of gambling from the age of 18. Across the state there are thousands of vendors to play a host of Indiana Lottery games, from classic draw games like the Powerball and Mega Millions, to the locally run games – there are numerous chances to win big. If you’re more interested in instant win scratchers, then you’ll be pleased with the enormous selection of scratch card options available at the licensed vendors across the state.

Indiana Gambling Laws & Future Outlook

The Indiana gambling regulator has a tight grip on the future outlook of the Hoosier state, and has set clear guidelines on the legality and age limits of several popular types of gaming. With a considerably large population of nearly 7 million people, there is a widening pool of gamblers engaging in offshore gambling activities. All of this represents opportunity cost and lost capital for the state tax authorities. In the coming months and years we expect to see a concerted effort on behalf of these people to bring about a better and more functional online gambling system. In light of a global pandemic, now is the time to remove barriers to online gambling, and allow people to play from the comfort of their own homes rather than be forced to visit a licensed establishment.

Whilst the Indiana gambling age limits across the most popular types of in-person gaming options are unlikely to be changed anytime soon, we do hope that online gambling will be given the green light to go ahead. If other states are anything to go by then the casino age in Indiana for online alternatives would likely be set at 21 years old. Whilst there is no alcohol involved in this thought process, the lack of progressive ideals would prevent this age being any lower, and many locals would see this as an appropriate age for online casino games to be available to individuals.

The US legal gambling age can differ from the one for this state, which varies between 18 and 21 year depending on the type of gambling in question. There are many reasons why certain types of gambling are allowed, and online gambling is. The issues is multi-faceted and politically complex, native and tribal communities often rely on the revenue of land-based casinos for their economic stability and these industries were provided to them as a reconciliation for the crimes committed against them in past generations. Disturbing this economic system with the introduction of online gambling is incredibly controversial and is strongly resisted. Despite this, technological solutions are becoming more wide-spread and it’s easier than ever to access offshore gaming providers, in light of this, the longstanding resistance to legalized online gambling is gradually eroding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Across this review we have brought you the latest information regarding the legal gambling age in Indiana. If you want to learn a little bit more, see below our most frequently asked questions.