Lawmakers in Indiana are holding off on legalizing online gambling (iGaming) and lottery sales, delaying any progress until at least the next legislative session. House Speaker Todd Huston confirmed that the proposed bill, which aimed to introduce legal online gaming and iLottery, will not move forward this session.
Huston pointed to the complexity of House Bill 1432, describing it as having “a lot of different moving parts.” He acknowledged the difficulty in reaching consensus, saying, “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 House Public Policy Committee had advanced two gambling-related proposals. One sought to legalize online casino games and lottery ticket sales, while the other aimed to permit electronic pull tab machines in veterans’ organizations, bars, and charitable venues. House Bill 1432 passed with a 9-2 vote, and House Bill 1433, focused on pull tab machines, was approved unanimously at 13-0. Both bills were introduced by State Rep. Ethan Manning of Logansport.
Huston acknowledged Manning’s efforts in handling the bill but emphasized that various stakeholders in the gaming industry would be affected differently. He explained that the impact on communities and the broader gambling landscape in Indiana made the issue more complicated. “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,” he said.
Indiana already has an established gambling industry, with 13 commercial casinos operating in the state. Mobile and retail sports betting has been legal since 2019, drawing interest from bettors across the state. However, expanding into online casino gaming and digital lottery sales remains a topic of debate among lawmakers.
For now, iGaming and iLottery will have to wait as legislators push the discussion to a later date.
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