NEW ALBANY, IN (WAVE) - A new casino and legalized sports betting are headed to Indiana. Eric Holcomb signed a new law Wednesday that supporters say makes the state more competitive with gambling operations in neighboring states. Caps the maximum number of gambling games that may be offered at a Gary casino. Requires the licensed owner of the relocated Gary casino to pay an additional fee of $20,000,000 if: (1) gaming operations are relocated; and (2) the licensed owner sells or transfers the owner's interest in the owner's license within five years of relocation. Thankfully, Indiana has one of the best systems for problem gambling in the nation. It is possible to receive treatment for the condition completely free. For those who are hurting or know someone who is, contact the Indiana Problem Gambling Hotline at 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448) as soon as possible.

We do understand how exploring legal online gambling for Indiana residents can cause pause. As with the laws of other states, we had expected Indiana's legislature to not yet include anything related to online gambling. This is not the case, as the legalities of online gambling in Indiana are covered by the state's statutes. While they are prohibitive, there is something in the wording that indicates that casual players are not liable for criminal charges for deciding to gamble online. We also want to point out that while citizens are always encouraged to follow the law, there are online gambling sites that accept Indiana gamblers each and every day without penalty. Just remember that laws are up to interpretation, which is why we will provide you with the pertinent statutes related to legal online gambling for USA players.

Mobile NFL Betting in Indiana

Indiana is a state that has a reputation for its passion for basketball but by the way gamblers in the state place bets on the Indianapolis Colts. One of the fastest growing ways to bet on the NFL is via mobile betting. This type of betting allows users to place bets or add/withdraw funds from anywhere in the state as long as the user's phone, laptop, or tablet is connected to a stable internet source. The convenience of mobile betting is what sports gamblers in the Hoosier state like most. Mobile NFL betting has made it possible for Indiana residents to place bets while at Lucas Oil Stadium cheering on the Colts or at a local coffee shop. Using mobile betting features to bet on the NFL you’ll never miss out on the latest odds or futures.

Live NFL Betting In Indiana

The NFL is one sport where the tide of the game can change with one pass, run, or turnover. One of the best ways to take advantage of the momentum swings in football is to use live betting. This form of football betting allows bettors to place their bets as the action unfolds. If a bettors believes Phillip Rivers has a second half comeback in him after being down to the Patriots at halftime this would be the moment to take advantage of the Colts money line odds since they’re behind. Live betting is the only betting feature at legal sports betting sites that allows bettors to see the game first and then place bets during or later in the contest. While Live betting isn’t the most popular way to bet on the NFL in Indiana it will slowly become one of the most common ways to bet on professional football in a couple of years.

Online Gambling Age For Indiana Residents

Before we go into actual laws related to gambling, we will tell you that there are a few age requirements that you must adhere to. These are fairly typical - 18 for bingo, lottery games, and online bingo. For poker and casinos, both online and offline, you have to be 21 years of age. For online sports betting, you also have to be 21. Remember that state law always supersedes the age requirement of a gambling site, so you will have to adhere to the state law even if the gambling site allows for a lower age.

Indiana Online Gambling Laws

If you are going to gamble online in the state of Indiana, you will want to be aware of the laws of your state. If you decide you want to play the games, you will want to read the text of the law. IC 35-45-5-2 states that 'unlawful gambling' takes place when 'an operator...knowingly or intentionally uses the Internet to engage in unlawful gambling.' This is only one law related to online gambling in the state. You will then see that IC 35-45-5-3 states that, and we're paraphrasing, anyone who knowingly or intentionally engages in pool-selling, bookmaking, or maintains a gambling site, or accepts or offers to accept bets or wagers online is committing a class D felony. That having been said, it is not exactly safe to gamble online due to the laws related to gaming.

As you will notice, there is no specific mention of any one type of gambling in the Indiana online gambling laws. In the case of sports betting, this could change in the coming years. Now that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) has been repealed, it is quite possible that Indiana will regulate online, land-based, and/or mobile sports betting. More than half of the United States is expected to offer regulated sports betting by 2023, which means that Indiana residents may have expanded online gambling options in the future.

Gambling Sites That Accept Indiana Residents

Even though the law is not favorable for online gamblers, you will find that there are plenty of gambling options available for players in the state. We have found that you do not have to worry about being rejected very often, as most online gambling sites accept anyone. You are liable under the rules of these laws, so keep that in mind before you decide to begin playing. Our sole intent with sharing these sites is that we want you to be safe if you decide to break the law - not to tell you to actually break the law. This is something we do not condone.

Bovada: One of The Best Online Casinos Out There

Although sports get all the attention on Bovada, let us not forget about the online casino that is up for many bettors to use. Sporting events are so big that sometimes online casino gets lost in the shuffle as a Bovada feature that you can bet on and make good money! You have many options there which include a live dealer. This live dealer will make you feel like you are at an actual casino while you are actually on your computer. With everything being done at home, there is more reason for bettors to sign up for Bovada. All the features you want are just a click away! So don’t waste any more time and sign up as soon as you can! Go To Bovada Now

50% - $250 BONUS!

No DE, MD, NJ, NY, NV

Online Casinos That Accept Indiana Residents

Even if the laws in the state are not very friendly toward online casinos, there are still quite a few that will accept you regardless of whether or not you are based in the state. Are we going to recommend you join these sites? No. Committing a felony is never a good idea. What we can say is that sites like Lucky Red and Aladdin’s Gold are reputable if you decide to go ahead and play regardless.

Online Sports Betting Sites That Accept Indiana Residents

If you really think it is worth breaking the law to play some odds on sports, you can turn to any of the online sports betting sites that accept Indiana residents. BetOnline and Bovada have been providing the latest betting odds on popular American sports for well over a decade. Bet on the Indianapolis Colts, the Indiana Pacers, or any other popular team all year long!

Online Poker Sites That Accept Indiana Residents

As with other forms of gambling, the state laws have not actually eliminated access to online poker rooms. If you feel like ignoring the laws, you should have no trouble joining up with one of the gambling sites we have found. Regardless, online poker sites that accept Indiana residents are out there for you to join and play regardless of the legal complications. The leading online poker room can be found at SportsBetting, just don't blame us if you get in trouble.

Online Bingo Sites That Accept Indiana Players

Bingo players will find that even online bingo is outlawed in the state. You will still be able to play if you want to break the law, something we do not recommend. In the event that you want to try to earn some money, you can do so by way of online bingo sites that accept Indiana players. Downtown Bingo is the most popular site, as there are bingo tournaments, special funding bonuses, cash prizes.

Is Online Gambling Legal In Indiana?

If you are going to gamble online, you will have to find that you cannot do so legally in the state of Indiana. If you wish to engage in any form of gambling, you will find that you could be indicted or arrested for gambling online in the state. We do not recommend or condone breaking the law, so you will want to be careful if you decide you want to take a chance. We are here solely to share with you the laws and where you can safely play if you are actually going to push your luck with online gambling.

Indiana is quite strict with their gambling laws, which makes it hard to say if online gambling is legal in Indiana. IC 35-45-5-3 states that it is illegal for an individual to participate in bookmaking and use the internet for the purpose of collecting bets for profit. While this law could be interpreted to only apply to gambling operators, it truly is up for interpretation. We are not legal experts and would never encourage illegal activity, but we can say that there have been no reported instances of a casual Indiana bettor getting fined for gambling online.

The decision is ultimately yours when it comes to gambling online in Indiana. The sites that we feature on our page are all legal gambling sites that operate in other countries but are able to accept USA players. We have used the sites without issue for years, and if you do opt to place bets on the internet you should use one of these legitimate online gambling sites.

Are Online Gambling Sites For Indiana Residents Safe?

This is a two-part question. The first answer has to do with the legal aspect of online gambling in Indiana, in which case Indiana does have some laws in place to prevent residents from gambling. That being said, internet gambling laws are not typically heavily enforced. Indiana only goes after those who have illegal gambling operations in the state, online or in person. As long as you do not own/operate an illegal gambling establishment in Indiana, you are likely not to be a target. The second part of this deals with the gambling sites you use when playing in Indiana. You want to stick to the reputable sites like the ones we have listed on this page. These sites have a great record for being fair and paying players as they are requested. The casinos have favorable payouts, the sports betting sites have fair odds, and the online poker part comes down to your skill. All the things you would expect to get in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or any other gambling hot spot.

Are Online Casinos Legal In Indiana?

If you want to play casino games, you will encounter the same laws that cover all of online gambling. You will find that there are plenty of gambling sites that accept residents of Indiana, but you will be faced with the same laws that prohibit everything else. The risk of losing at the slots is compounded by the fact that you could even be arrested for doing something that should be regulated at any rate.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Indiana?

While you can replace the lack of online casinos or poker rooms by visiting land-based gambling locations, you cannot do so with online sports betting. This is why sports betting is the most common type of online gambling in Indiana. Being that hundreds of thousands of residents are already betting online and the repeal of PASPA, online sports betting in Indiana may eventually become legal.

Article: Is online sports betting legal in the USA?

Is Online Poker Legal In Indiana?

Indiana residents will find that online poker is also assumed to be banned in the state of Indiana. Again, while not directly cited within the laws it could easily be argued that it is another illegal form of internet gambling. Unfortunately, the law is the law but there are still plenty of poker players that go online and try their hand at Omaha, Texas Hold’Em, and other popular variants.

Horse Racing Betting Sites That Accept Indiana Residents

Even with the laws, Indiana residents have several options when it comes to choosing a horse racing betting site. You can bet on the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont stakes at online racebooks such as Bovada and BetOnline. You will find that horse betting sites also have live horse race streams, horse racing results, and free handicapping tips for all of their members. If you decide to bet on horses online, choose one of the most trustworthy online racebooks.

Indiana Legal Gambling FAQs

What Is The Fastest Deposit Method For IN Residents?

The fastest deposit method that Indiana residents can use is bitcoin. Bitcoin is the cryptocurrency that is now widely accepted at online gambling sites due to its reliability and speed. Unlike credit card transactions, you do not have to worry about your transaction getting declined. Instantly send anywhere from $10 to $25,000 with no additional deposit fees. All you have to do is visit the cashier at the online gambling site and specify the amount that you would like to send. Once confirmed, send the exact amount to the wallet address of the cashier. Within minutes, your gambling account will be credited and you can start using your funds.

How Safe Is Bitcoin For Wagering On Sports?

Without question, bitcoin is one of the safest ways that you can wager on sports. When you use bitcoin you are using your secure wallet to send and receive funds. This means that you never have to divulge checking account information or credit card numbers. Bitcoin is essentially anonymous and you just use your bitcoin wallet address when accepting funds. The currency is also decentralized, which means that you do not have to worry about a bank or other processor interfering with your transactions. When you want to gamble online safely, bitcoin should be your preferred banking method.

When Do Bonuses Get Credited To My Account?

There are two different ways that bonuses will get credited into your account. Most bonuses are credited to your account or a separate free play account and are available immediately. Others will be disbursed incrementally as a way to manage any rollover requirements. Always read the terms and conditions before redeeming a bonus.

Will I go to jail for online gambling in Indiana?

There is a theoretical risk involved in online gambling, and this is the possibility that you could be arrested for online gambling in the state of Indiana. We have not yet heard of anyone being arrested for participating in the games, and it is entirely unlikely that you will not be the test case for these laws. With some luck, these laws will change. If you are going to gamble online, you technically run the risk of being arrested but it is unlikely.

So you’ve won a jackpot on the slots or defied the odds on a sports bet in Indiana. Other than bragging on social media, one of the next things you have to do is give the federal and state governments their cut.

Winnings from all forms of gambling are taxable income, including winnings from:

• Lottery
• Slots
• Table games
• Sports betting
• Horse racing

Even if you put money down and win an organized Rock-Paper-Scissors competition, you have to pay taxes on the winnings. Even non-cash prizes like merchandise have to be reported on your federal and state income tax returns.

The idea that the Internal Revenue Service and the Indiana Department of Revenue won’t know is folly. The parties which pay out the prizes, whether that be casinos, sportsbooks, whatever, keep receipts and report them.

How much are my gambling winnings taxed in Indiana?

Indiana New Gambling Law

Effective for tax years after 2017, the federal rate on winnings over $5,000 is 24%. Winnings under that benchmark of $5,000 must also be reported depending on their amounts and sources.

Currently, Indiana’s personal income tax rate is 3.23%. Almost all gambling winnings are subject to this tax.

Casinos typically withhold 25% of your winnings for tax purposes. That is only the norm if you provide them with your social security number, however. If you decline that option, they usually withhold 28%.

How to determine if your winnings are taxable income

Another service the casinos usually provide for mutual benefit is sending you the appropriate paperwork. Fortunately, Indiana allows you to fill out the same form for both purposes.

Form W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings reports your winnings for the year to both the IRS and you, in case you haven’t been keeping track.

The amount on this form will include any winnings from the year which qualify for federal taxes. That total will consist of:

• Your winnings (not reduced by the wager) of at least $1,200 from a bingo game or slot machine
• The winnings (reduced by the wager) of at least $1,500 from a keno game
• Your winnings (reduced by the wager or buy-in) of at least $5,000 from a poker tournament
• The winnings (except winnings from bingo, slot machines, keno, and poker tournaments) reduced, at the option of the payer, by the wager are $600 or more, and at least 300 times the amount of the bet
• Your winnings that are subject to federal income tax withholding (either regular gambling withholding or backup withholding)

How to report your gambling winnings to the IRS

The IRS requires you to report the total of your all qualifying gambling winnings for the year on a Form 1040. If you get the W-2G from the payers of your winnings, it’s a simple process of adding up those winnings and the amount of tax they withheld and then transferring those totals onto the 1040.

Add up all the numbers from Box 1 on the W-2G forms and separately, calculate the sum of all the numbers from Box 2. Place the Box 1 total on line 21 of the 1040 and place the Box 2 sum on the line designated as federal income tax withheld.

Even if the game operator didn’t do its job and you didn’t receive a W-2G, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.

You are still required to report all your gambling winnings from the year on the form 1040. To do that, fill out Schedule 1 with your gambling winnings as “Other Income.” Attach that to Form 1040 and include it in your personal income tax return.

So what if you weren’t flying solo, but pooled your resources together with others to maximize your chances of winning it big? That doesn’t change much.

Paying taxes on a shared prize

The IRS is prepared for this scenario. Form 5754is your go-to.

This is the form to use when you receive gambling winnings, not in your name on a W-2G. This form is also appropriate when you’re part of a group of two or more people sharing winnings.

The important thing to remember is that Form 5754 should not be included in your income tax return. Fill it out and give it to the person who received the W-2G.

Keep a copy for your records. The person who received the initial W-2G should submit all the appropriate 5754s back to the casino so they can correctly record the transaction.

The casino will then send each person their own W-2G. From there, the process is identical to how you would report any individual winnings.

How to report your gambling winnings to Indiana

As previously stated, Indiana is a state that allows you to use Form W-2G for your state income tax return as well. To do so, transfer the amount from Line 7 of your Federal 1040 to Line 1 of your IT-40.

If all or part of your winnings came while you were outside of the Hoosier State, you still must report them. That includes winnings from multistate lotteries. Report them just as you would if they came from an in-state game.

There is one legal way to reduce your tax liability from gambling winnings. It only applies if you opt to itemize your deductions, however.

Indiana and IRS gambling deductions for taxes

The IRS does allow a deduction for gambling losses. It cannot be claimed if you take the standard deduction on your return, however.

For those who itemize, gambling losses go on Line 28 of Schedule A, Form 1040. You cannot claim a deduction larger than your reported winnings.

And just because you deposit more than you withdraw from your bank account is not necessarily sufficient evidence. You must prove your losses.

You also cannot deduct expenses incurred along the way. The cost of your hotel and meals are just part of the necessary out-of-pocket expense.

If you opt to itemize and claim gambling losses, you’re better off keeping the following for your records:

• The date and type of each wager
• Where you placed the bet, i.e., the name of the casino
• How much you won or lost
• Wagering tickets
• Canceled checks
• Credit card records

Casinos can make this easy for you as well. If you’re part of their rewards programs, getting an annual summary of your gambling losses is quite simple.

The same goes for any winnings from the latest gambling option, legal sports betting in Indiana.

Taxes on sports betting winnings

With legal sports betting new to Indiana, there are plenty of people betting on college football and the NFL. Your parlay on Notre Dame football or Purdue football games is also taxable income if it exceeds $600. It doesn’t matter whether you placed your wager at an Indiana online sportsbook, inside a casino, on a kiosk at an off-track betting site or on your phone from your couch.

Just like other types of gaming operators, the book you placed your bet with should send you a W-2G. You can use that to report your winnings and withholdings to both Indiana and the IRS.

New Indiana Gambling Law

The positive side of that is just like any other gambling losses; the money you lose betting on sports can be deductible if you choose to itemize. Just as with any other deductions you claim, keeping detailed records is essential.

With any money that is deemed income by the IRS, it’s important to know what your specific tax bracket is to avoid underpayment. The highest federal tax rate is currently 35%, and that’s in addition to the 3.23% you would owe the state on your sports betting winnings.

As most operators only withhold 25% of winnings automatically, you may owe additional federal tax above and beyond what the operator withheld based on your personal income. That amount would be due upon filing.

That applies equally to those who play casino games in person and online in the Hoosier State.

Taxes on online casino games and online poker

While online poker and online casinos have yet to be legalized, when they do, taxes will work the same as they do at land-based casinos.

The operators of the games should send you a W-2G summing up all your winnings from the year once they reach certain thresholds depending on the type of game. Those are:

• Your winnings (not reduced by the wager) of at least $1,200 from a bingo game or slot machine
• The winnings (reduced by the wager) of at least $1,500 from a keno game
• Your winnings (reduced by the wager or buy-in) of at least $5,000 from a poker tournament
• The winnings (except winnings from bingo, slot machines, keno, and poker tournaments) reduced, at the option of the payer, by the wager are $600 or more, and at least 300 times the amount of the bet
• Your winnings are subject to federal income tax withholding (either regular gambling withholding or backup withholding)

With the W-2G in hand, you have what you need to report your winnings and pay any applicable taxes to both the state of Indiana and the IRS. Let’s review all the pertinent information that is relevant regardless of where your winnings came from:

• The gaming operator you placed your wagers with should send you a W-2G
• You can use the W-2G to report your winnings on both your federal and state taxes
• How much federal tax you pay depends on your personal income
• The Indiana rate is 3.23%
• If you don’t get a W-2G, you still have to claim your winnings as income if they qualify
• You can deduct your losses on your federal return, but you must itemize
• If you do go that route, keep any and all records from the transactions

With those simple things in mind, you too can stay safe from tax fraud while gaming in Indiana. Enjoy the games!