Given its rich gambling history, you would think that Indiana would be a friendly state for online poker. However, it’s only really in the last few years that the state has opened up to casino betting. We’ve reviewed all the best online casinos for Indiana, as well as how you can play from Indiana.
Stay with us as we walk you through our top five online poker sites for Indiana, which includes a breakdown of the whole betting experience. You’ll find out how playing poker online stacks up against offline casinos in the state of Indiana. This includes how legal it is to play, what the tax rules are, and which offshore casino games you can play, including poker.
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List of the Best Online Poker Sites in Indiana
Indiana doesn’t have any in-state poker sites. Instead, we’ve found the best offshore poker sites for you to play at while you wait for Indiana to bring more online gaming action to the state:
The Latest IN Poker News
February 2023 – The house fails to schedule a hearing for the iGaming expansion bill, pushing the prospects of online poker in Indiana back to 2024.
January 2021 – North of Indiana, the first online poker sites begin operation in Michigan, putting further pressure on Indiana to legalize online gaming within the state.
September 2019 – Indiana State Legislature passes a senate bill designed to license and create provisions for the operation of fantasy sports gaming within the state, as well as a house bill for online sports wagering. This bill marks a significant change in Indiana’s attitude towards online gaming in the last few years.
Reviews of the Best IN Poker Sites
Indiana has a few great casinos to play at in person, but the advantages of playing poker online are numerous. Better tournaments, more tables, and a 24/7 player pool. There aren’t any online poker sites operating from inside the state of Indiana. Instead, we can recommend some of the best offshore poker sites out there. Check out our thoughts below on the best poker sites for bonuses, game variety, and overall experience.
1. BetOnline – The No.1 Overall Online Poker Site for Indiana
- Payout Time: Up to 24 Hours
- Established: 1991
- License: Panama
- Headquarters: Panama
Our Verdict: 4.5/5
BetOnline has a long history as an excellent provider of online casino services since 1991. All gaming on BetOnline is licensed by the Panama Gaming Commission, which guarantees you’re in safe hands when you’re playing online poker. You can take the play money tables for a spin to cut your teeth, or dive straight into the cash money games.
BetOnline’s online poker games are backed by three different providers. For live games, there’s the Black offering from Visionary iGaming, whereas the Red live tables are provided by Fresh Deck Games. Both offer games around the clock, but if you want a range of fast-pasted poker games you’ll want to sit at the software tables. These are provided by RealTime Gaming, an excellent software developer for premium casino games.
BetOnline’s website puts you into the action instantly, but you can also download the BetOnline app to play games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hi/Lo in a separate window. This makes it way easier to jump into a game. The poker games are fast paced. You’ve got all the creature comforts you’d expect from an advanced poker client such as automatic betting, full emote-enabled chat lobbies, card histories and statistics from past games, as well as win percentages when all cards are on the table. You’re able to join multiple games at once which massively speeds up the number of games you’re playing, especially useful when you end up locked into a slow hand.
Poker Game Variety at BetOnline: 4/5
There’s a whole bunch of games to play on BetOnline, but the main poker that BetOnline offers is Texas Hold’em and Omaha. When we logged on, we found that there were about 15 tournaments in action and hundreds still open for registration. BetOnline also offers live poker games through their Red or Black live portals, but the games are on rotation so you’ll have to check when there’s poker available.
Payment Options: 5/5
It’s easy to add money to your cashier account on BetOnline using any major debit or credit card. This process is instant, but there’s a 9.75% fee on paying in this way. There’s a bunch of other cash ways to pay in, including wire transfer, cashier check, Moneygram, and money orders. Paying in via cryptocurrency is way easier, as there’s no fee on cashing in or out. It’s not just Bitcoin accepted either, there’s also Altcoins like Ethereum and Dogecoin too.
Customer Support: 4.5/5
You want to know that you’re able to contact support when something goes wrong, and we can confirm BetOnline has a complete support setup to answer your questions. Our first stop was their live chat, which put us in touch with a support agent immediately who talked us through the payment process. Should you need more direct support, BetOnline also has a phone number and an email line. Best of all, it’s all 24/7 so you’ll be put in touch with support as soon as you need it.
Bonuses & Promos: 4.2/5
Most of the BetOnline bonuses you’ll see here are geared towards first time players, and that’s no different for poker. When you deposit up to $1000 on your first cash-in, you’ll receive a 100% bonus on your stake. This bonus is released back to you gradually, with $5 for every $50 in rake. There’s also a 100% first time deposit bonus for cryptocurrency, as well as a 35% ongoing top-up bonus.
Bonus name Bonus amount Promo code Rollover Minimum deposit Bitcoin accepted? Poker Sign-up Offer 100% up to $500 BOLCASINO $5 for $50 rake $50 ✅ Pros:
- Variety of cash money and play money poker games
- Bonuses are attractive to new players
- Tournaments day and night including Sit & Go
- Offers Six Plus Hold’em to play with a live dealer
Cons:
- High Credit and Debit Card Fees
2. Bovada – Indiana’s Best Poker Site For New Players
- Payout Time: Up to 72 Hours
- Established: 2011
- License: Curacao
- Headquarters: Canada
Our Verdict: 4.7/5
Not many poker sites can claim Bovada’s longstanding reputation as an online casino operator with over ten years of gaming experience. Not only do they provide table games like poker and blackjack, but also a sportsbook and slots games to suit your fancy. Bovada has a world-wide player pool, but it can be difficult to access without a VPN.
Bovada’s interface is a little dated, but once you’re into the poker games it’s non-stop action. New players can try out the demo modes before they get into the cash games. In fact, before you play you can check out Bovada’s online masterclass in poker. There’s a huge compendium of video tutorials to get you up to date on how to play. There’s anonymous poker too if you’re trying to get into the action without being profiled by other players. One major downside we found is that there’s no iOS or Android app, but you can still play on mobile through the browser with a clean interface.
Bovada’s great for new players, but experienced gamblers will also find something interesting at Bovada. There’s constantly rotating tables full of players across both Texas Hold’em and Omaha. Whenever we checked in on the tournaments, we found open registration games available. It’s really easy to find a table for your skill level on Bovada.
Poker Game Variety at Bovada: 4.7/5
Bovada’s real expertise is in the large number of tournaments offered for poker games. The best ones are the jackpot sit & goes, but there’s also single table and multiple table games for Heads Up, Double Ups, Triple Ups, and more for Texas Hold’em and Omaha. You’ll find no-limit and pot limit games, as well as fixed-limit variants. Our favorite tournament is the monthly milly, featuring a one million dollar prize GTD.
Payment Options: 4.0/5
There’s a few different ways to pay for credit on Bovada. They accept all major cards, including Mastercard, Visa, and American Express. Cryptocurrencies are also supported for cashing in and out, which is way quicker than the several day turn around for cash payments. You’ll be able to pay in by Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and a range of other cryptocurrencies. Getting paid out by wire transfer is fee-free the first time per month, but after that it’s $50 per transaction.
Customer Support: 4.3/5
We checked out Bovada’s customer support, and we have to say it’s pretty good. Some of our other providers have quicker turnaround times, but the staff we talked to were knowledgeable in the payout times we asked about. Their conduct was respectful, especially over follow-up conversations via email. The main thing Bovada is missing out on is a phone line, but we found the live-chat worked just as well. Some questions are more easily answered through the help forum, which lets you chat with other Bovada members who have experience, as well as support staff.
Bonuses & Promos: 4.2/5
Bovada has a signup reward for poker, but it’s not quite as good as some of the other signup bonuses you’ll see on this list. There’s a first deposit bonus of 100% on the initial $500 for poker, which is released back to you in their loyalty program. There’s a sliding scale on how many reward points you need to unlock your cash, but you’ll get points for playing cash games, paying tournament fees, and participating in sit & go tournaments. Bovada rewards long term play over flashy monthly bonuses, so stick with them and you’ll see a better rate of return.
Bonus name Bonus amount Promo code Rollover Minimum deposit Bitcoin accepted? Poker Sign-up Offer 100% up to $500 CAWELCOME100 N/A $10 ✅ Pros:
- Online mobile browsing better than other casinos
- Lightning-fast cryptocurrency payments
- Constant tournaments with high value payouts
- Loyalty bonuses encourage long term play
Cons:
- Slow payout times for cash
3. Everygame – Great Selection Of Low Stakes Poker Games
- Payout Time: Up to 48 Hours
- Established: 1996
- License: Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- Headquarters: Antigua
Our Verdict: 4.7/5
Everygame’s been serving up red hot poker action since 1996, which means they’ve been trading for over two decades. You can be confident in Everygame’s reputation given their history in the business, but is their poker table as good as their other casino games?
We found their poker games are great for long term gamblers thanks to a very rewarding loyalty plan. It’s also really easy to get involved, no matter if you’re on a desktop or mobile. The browser-based app is stylish and easy to use, which complements the iOS and Android apps nicely. Everygame has a free game system you can try out before you get into the Texas Hold’em and Omaha cash games. Everygame’s client base is slightly smaller than the knock-out competitors at the top of our list, but we still found that most days there’s a very active poker room.
Poker Game Variety at Everygame: 4.7/5
You’ll get a range of No Limit, Pot Limit, and Fixed Limit games at Everygame. No Limit Texas Hold’em games max out at $10/$20 which isn’t particularly high, but the Pot Limit Omaha games tap out at $50/$100. There’s always new tournaments being hosted every day, with a player-base well into the hundreds. There’s also video poker and several table games for solo play.
Payment Options: 4.0/5
There’s plenty of different ways to pay into Everygame, including several third party wallets like Skrill and Neteller. You’ll also be able to deposit with traditional money transfers or by card, as well as by several cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash. There’s several advantages to depositing with cryptocurrencies, the foremost being that it’s way quicker to cash out when you use Bitcoin. It’ll take up to 48 hours by Bitcoin, but it can take up to two weeks if you cash out by wire exchange. You can also only take out $2,500 per week via wire exchange.
Customer Support: 4.3/5
We were pretty happy with the customer support we received when playing at Everygame. Live chat was our first port of call for support questions about payment. We had to be redirected a few times until we found a suitable support agent, but as soon as we got in touch with the correct support staff our questions were answered well. We haven’t tried out their e-mail or phone line yet, however there is an FAQ section you can consult before you get in touch with support.
Bonuses & Promos: 4.2/5
Everygame has one of the best spreads of poker bonuses out there, but you need to know which bonuses to keep an eye on. The 200% sign-up bonus maxes out with a $500 deposit, after which you’ll be given 90 days to play out your bonus funds. There’s also a loyalty bonus when you play with real money at the poker tables. You earn Frequent Player Points, which can be converted into real money bonuses after you earn enough. The occasional reload bonus will pop up in your email inbox too, so keep your eyes open for Everygame Promo Codes.
Bonus name Bonus amount Promo code Rollover Minimum deposit Bitcoin accepted? Poker Sign-up Offer 200% up to $1,000 INSIDERS1 30x $25 ✅ Pros:
- One of the best Rakeback rates online
- Great sign-up bonuses for poker
- Fantastic mobile app
- Support staff are always online 24/7
Cons:
- Low withdrawal limits
4. SportsBetting.ag – Easy Mobile Poker Gaming
- Payout Time: Up to 48 Hours
- Established: 2011
- License: Panama
- Headquarters: USA
Our Verdict: 4.7/5
SportsBetting.ag’s website design is a little behind the times when you compare it to some of the other casinos on our list, but it still provides some of the best poker action out there. SportsBetting.ag has been providing great online poker experiences for over ten years, having been guided by the BetOnline group since 2016.
Poker on SportsBetting.ag is handled by Realtime Gaming, one of the premier providers of anonymous online poker games. We sat down to play a few hands and had a great time using the RTG poker interface. It’s a CGI rendering of a real poker table, complete with realistic chips and cards which is great for keeping the feel of gambling in a real casino. You’ll find many features which are helpful for improving your poker game, such as a history of past hands that you can study at your leisure, automated betting options to keep you in the game when you’re occupied, and play money games you can use to test out new strategies.
As far as the actual games go, we were always able to find an active table with a free seat. There’s consistently between 200 and 300 players in the poker lobby at any one time, but this can jump into the thousands when big money tournaments are live. Blinds range from $0.05/$0.10 to $10/$20 depending on the game, so there’s something for everyone regardless of your budget.
Poker Game Variety at SportsBetting.ag: 4.7/5
One thing that SportsBetting.ag seems to lack is live poker games, but it’s made up for in the sheer selection of games on offer. Most of the games we saw were No Limit Texas Hold’em, but Omaha also has a healthy representation here. There are also some more obscure games such as 32 Card Draw, Americana, and 7 Card Stud. Something that caught our eye was SportsBetting.ag’s weekend tournaments, which range from $20,000 to $50,000 GTD. You’ll need to prove yourself at one of the smaller tournaments first, but there are a bunch of Sit & Go tournaments running daily which always see consistent action.
Payment Options: 4.0/5
SportsBetting.ag is one of the better casinos out there when it comes to handling payments. There’s some extremely high maximum deposit and withdrawal limits for cryptocurrencies. You can take out or deposit $100000 in one go. It’s not just Bitcoin they support, either. You can pay in Avalanche, Binance Coin, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Polygon, Tether, as well as other cryptocurrencies. Each has a minimum limit of $20. This makes SportsBetting.ag one of the most extensive casinos when it comes to accepting cryptocurrency. The payout times are pretty quick too, usually around 24 hours. Naturally, traditional payment options are a worse choice here as you’re limited to withdrawing $25,000 at a time by wire transfer.
Customer Support: 4.3/5
SportsBetting.ag also has a pretty strong customer service department. We found it pretty easy to find a support agent through the live chat, which we are told runs 24/7. There’s also an email and phone line if you need detailed support or an instant answer.
Bonuses & Promos: 4.2/5
The first time deposit bonus from SportsBetting.ag is fairly standard at 100% up to $1000, but it’s released back to you in the form of comp points at $10 an increment. You build comp points by paying into tournament entry fees, or by contributing to the rake for cash games. It works out at the equivalent of a 33% rakeback rate, but as it’s a bonus you’ll need to clear it within 120 days or you’ll lose it. There’s also a 25% lifetime deposit bonus to keep long-term players engaged.
Bonus name Bonus amount Promo code Rollover Minimum deposit Bitcoin accepted? Poker Sign-up Offer 100% up to $1,000 SB1000 $5 for $50 rake $50 ✅ Pros:
- Payment in over 18 cryptocurrencies
- A great range of Sit & Go tournaments
- Play on your desktop with a downloadable app
Cons:
- Other casinos have more pleasing interfaces
5. Ignition – Best Choice Of Poker Bonuses
- Payout Time: Up to 48 Hours
- Established: 2016
- License: Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- Headquarters: Costa Rica
Our Verdict: 4.7/5
Ignition doesn’t have quite the storied history that some of the other casinos on our list can brag about, but it’s still a strong choice for playing poker online. Operated by Lynton Limited, Ignition offers a wide variety of table games, sports betting, and of course, poker.
Players from Indiana can get in on the poker action at Ignition but you’re going to need a VPN to get access to the site. Once you’re past that hurdle, you’ll have access to a fantastic set of poker games, as well as some of the best poker tournaments on the net. There’s a lot of Sit & Go tournaments for new players who want to cut their teeth in serious cash games, whereas experienced veterans can try their hand at the Super Millions Poker Open.
Poker Game Variety at Ignition: 4.7/5
Ignition has the standard mix of Texas Hold’em and Omaha, both in Hi and Hi-Lo formats. There’s always open Sit & Go games, which is great for newer players trying to break into cash money poker. In fact, there’s a range of articles and FAQs on Ignition’s site which teach both the basics and advanced poker strategy. It’s well worth keeping some of these articles open when you’re sat at a table, just to keep your mind on the strategy. Lightning rounds are also great for quick-fire poker games, where the blinds increase every three minutes.
Payment Options: 4.0/5
You can deposit at Ignition via Bitcoin or Visa and Mastercard. Card deposits are from a minimum of $25 to a maximum of $1500, but the deposit limit for Bitcoin is increased to $5000. These deposits are usually instant and we found that we were able to start playing after depositing cash almost immediately. Withdrawals are also pretty quick, with only 24 hours clearing time for Bitcoin withdrawals. There’s no fee on Bitcoin withdrawals either. For bank wire, the main problem is that there’s a minimum withdrawal limit of $1500. Make sure you’re aware of this before you try to withdraw cash.
Customer Support: 4.3/5
Ignition’s customer support wasn’t too shabby. We found that the email form for support got back to us within two hours, and our support questions were answered thoroughly and politely. We would have liked to see a live chat option, but it’s not the end of the world as we found we were put through to a representative pretty quickly. The help desk is also pretty comprehensive, with plenty of information on the various games and policies of the casino.
Bonuses & Promos: 4.2/5
Ignition has a pretty standard poker sign-up bonus of up to $1000, but there’s also a bunch of poker free-rolls doled out every week to keep people playing. The Ignition poker sign-up bonus can also be used on some other casino games, so check out the conditions when you sign up to see exactly which ones the bonus funds.
Bonus name Bonus amount Promo code Rollover Minimum deposit Bitcoin accepted? Poker Sign-up Offer 100% up to $1,000 N/A 25x $20 ✅ Pros:
- Offers a mobile-friendly poker site
- Sit & Go’s with high-value guaranteed prize pools
- Provides 24/7 live chat support
- Offers some of the fastest payouts in the US
Cons:
- Lacks eWallet options like PayPal
- High wagering requirements for promos
6. Juicy Stakes – Specializes In Poker For US Players
- Payout Time: From 24 to 48 Hours
- Established: 2009
- License: Curacao
- Headquarters: Curacao
Our Verdict: 4.7/5
Juicy Stakes is our final recommendation for users from Indiana who want to play poker online. It’s actually one of the biggest poker networks in the United States, which means you can expect constant action 24/7 and a wealth of tournaments to choose from.
Juicy Stakes doesn’t have the biggest player pool out there, but it caters directly to US players who want to play at an offshore casino. However, you will not be able to join from New Jersey, Kentucky, New York, Washington, Maryland, Louisiana, or Missouri. Indiana players can sign up directly to Juicy Stakes and begin playing within minutes. Cryptocurrency players are encouraged to join in the action with several promotions for Bitcoin deposits.
The poker games are powered by an intuitive HTML5 interface which gives a very different feel to poker on Juicy Stakes. If you’re not happy with the traditional poker offerings from sites like BetOnline and Ignition, give Juicy Stakes a try. Multi-table tournaments are run throughout the week in addition to Sit & Go games that can cap out at $200. Occasionally, you’ll find high roller games where the maximum blind is $500/$1000. Definitely for players who prefer high risk, high reward.
Poker Game Variety at Juicy Stakes: 4.7/5
No Limit Texas Hold’em games start at $0.02/$0.04 and go all the way up to $10/$20, which is really accommodating for new players who may not want to spend too much per hand. Pot Limit Omaha is also on offer, as well as more obscure games like 7 Card Stud. There’s a number of Sit & Go tournaments on offer which can reach up to $200. Tournament schedules are weekly, so you’ll always find a game to register for no matter when you want to play. There’s some interesting formats such as Resurrection, Take a Break, and Lucky 3s. These change often, so check the site for more info.
Payment Options: 4.0/5
Payment at Juicy Stakes is an easy process. You’re able to deposit with a huge number of payment methods, including debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, Sofort Banking, and cryptocurrencies. It’s great to see that Juice Stakes offers support for so many eWallets, putting it ahead of many other casinos. The minimum deposit is $25 and maximum is $5000 per transaction, regardless of payment method. You can only withdraw $2500 by Bitcoin, and $1000 for other methods. Thankfully, Juicy Stakes processes Bitcoin transactions very quickly which means usually you’ll recieve your withdrawal within 24 hours, although it can sometimes take up to 48.
Customer Support: 4.3/5
There’s a direct phone line dedicated to poker, which is a rarity for casinos. We tried out their live chat and was immediately connected with a pleasant and knowledgeable support agent who walked us through some of the bonus structures. Our follow-up emails were answered quickly and professionally. You always want to be able to get to a support agent quickly when something goes wrong, and Juicy Stakes does not disappoint.
Bonuses & Promos: 4.2/5
Juicy Stakes has one of the highest rakeback rates we’ve seen on a poker site at 36%. It’s a pretty generous bonus scheme and comes with a rakeback calculator so you can work out ahead of time how much you’ll need to play out in bonuses. Bigger tables will help you clear this bonus quicker, so if you’re playing with your rakeback in mind we recommend avoiding head-to-head games. Seasonal bonuses are also regularly dropped on Juicy Stakes, so keep an eye out for new promotions on their site.
Bonus name Bonus amount Promo code Rollover Minimum deposit Bitcoin accepted? Poker Sign-up Offer 200% up to $1,000 N/A 25x $25 ✅ Pros:
- Fantastic multi-table tournaments
- Innovative poker games using HTML5
- Caters towards US players
Cons:
- Not as many competititors as other sites
More on gambling in Indiana…
Learn about all types of online gambling in Indiana in our expert guides below:
- Indiana Real Money Online Casinos
- Indiana Online Gambling
- Indiana Sports Betting Apps
- Indiana Sports Betting
- Indiana Sportsbook Promos
FAQs
Is online poker legal in IN?
Can I legally play poker online in IN?
What is the most legit online poker site for IN?
What is the best online poker site for beginners in IN?
Comparing Poker Sites in IN
Each one of our poker site providers listed below are reputable, safe, and have a huge player pool so you’ll always be able to find some action. That said, you can check out our comparison table below to help you decide exactly which casino is best for your needs.
Poker Room Poker Bonus Promo Code Casino Poker Freerolls Qualifiers Guarantees BetOnline 100% up to $1,000 BOLCASINO 16+ ✅ ✅ ✅ Everygame 200% up to $1,000 CAWELCOME100 1+ ✅ ✅ ✅ SportsBetting.ag 100% up to $1,000 INSIDERS1 10+ ✅ ✅ ✅ Bovada 100% up to $500 SB1000 5+ ✅ ✅ ✅ Ignition 100% up to $1,000 N/A 10 ✅ ✅ ✅ Juicy Stakes 200% up to $1,000 N/A 10+ ✅ ✅ ✅ Is Online Poker Legal in Indiana?
Unfortunately, it’s not yet legal to operate an online poker site from inside Indiana. While there’s no federal law prohibiting gambling, there is a state law that theoretically makes online gaming inside the state illegal. Poker is considered a game of chance in the state legislation. Therefore, it comes under gambling legislation which makes participating in it a Class B misdemeanor. In practice, nobody in the state of Indiana has ever been prosecuted for online gambling.
However, there are other considerations you’ll need to make when gambling online. It’s legal for most US citizens to gamble at offshore online casinos, which really just means any casino that isn’t located in the US. You must be a legal adult to gamble with these gaming sites, so you’ll need to comply with your local gaming laws. The legal age for gambling at poker rooms in Indiana is 21.
Indiana, like many other US states, is moving towards online iGaming. In 2019 the law was changed to allow for fantasy sports and betting on online sportsbooks in the state, opening the way for more online gaming in the future. Since then, several bills have been drafted for viewing at the Indiana state legislature but none have passed yet. In the meantime, you can try out several different offshore poker sites such as BetOnline, Everygame, and Ignition.
IN Poker Laws
Gambling was illegal in Indiana under a state constitutional ban until 1988, when it was repealed through a ballot. Licensed casinos didn’t appear for a few years afterwards, with the very first riverboat casino opening for business in December 1995. Today, there’s more than a dozen different casinos with poker rooms to be found throughout Indiana for the die-hard poker fan. More casual players be warned, as playing poker outside of a venue licensed for gambling is considered a crime. This includes home games with a house rake, so unless you’re willing to head to a casino you’re out of luck. However, of course, you can always try playing online.
Indiana has been very friendly to riverboat casinos ever since the 1990s, and even today you’ll find several in the region. They offer a one of a kind, completely unique gambling experience you just won’t find elsewhere. This is because originally, casinos in the state were only licensed to operate on water.
Here’s the most important laws you’ll want to know about while gambling in Indiana.
- Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This act established the framework for gaming on Indian Reservations in 1988, which was the first step towards legal gambling on the federal level in America. As a result of this act, casinos could be built on any tribal lands in the United States. These lands are considered sovereign property of the tribes that live on them, and so there is a limited ability to forbid gambling there. This led to many casinos being built across America, but especially in Indiana.
- The Riverboat Gaming Act. This act paved the way for ten riverboat casinos to operate within Indiana, opening the way up for future casinos in the state. Eventually in 2004 the law was updated to increase the number of casinos, and amended again to allow land-based casinos.
- Indiana State Code IC 35-45-5. This section of the Indiana state code deals with all forms of gambling under the law. Electronic card games are explicitly considered a game of chance under this law, which means that there’s currently no way to operate an online poker site in Indiana. It also defines the penalties for illegally gambling in the state.
When Will Online Poker be Legal in Indiana?
Although there was a proposed change to the law in 2023, this act did not pass before the necessary committees before the end of session. This means that there is no current active proposition to change the law in Indiana to allow for online poker. However, it’s quite likely that during the next legislative session another attempt will be made to legalize iGaming in the state. Previous measures to introduce fantasy sports and sportsbooks in the state have been successful, so it’s likely we’ll see continued attempts to legalize online poker during the 2024 legislative session.
Previous Online Poker Bills in IN
Indiana has a long history of gambling, but legalization of online gaming has been slow. Most of Indiana’s current iGaming proposals revolve around allowing existing casinos and riverboats to offer iGaming as part of their operations, giving a big advantage to established casinos in the state.
2023
- HB1536. Introduced by State Representative Ethan Manning. This House bill provides provisions for iGaming in the state in totality, of which online poker is a part. Under the premise of this bill, operators who are already licensed to run casinos within the state would also be allowed to run online gaming from the casino location. This would have opened the way for Indiana to become part of a multi-state poker agreement, but unfortunately this bill was not passed to committee before the end of session.
2022
- HB1356. Introduced by State Representative Doug Gutwein. This House bill was an attempt to provide provisions for legalizing and taxing online gaming as long as it’s being run out of licensed casino operators in the state. This bill didn’t make it past the house’s Committee on Public Policy, leaving this attempt at legalizing online gaming in limbo.
2021
- HB1406. Introduced by State Representative Alan Morrison. This house bill is another attempt to legalize interactive gaming in Indiana.
2019
- HB1015. Introduced by State Representative Todd Huston. This is the first meaningful attempt in recent years to legalize iGaming in Indiana, which would include online poker under the law. Riverboat licensed casinos would be able to run poker sites.
Tax on Online Poker Winnings in IN
When you gamble online in the United States, you’re creating taxable income. It’s legal to gamble online in the US, but you have to declare your winnings when you gamble. Betting with a regulated poker site in the United States means your winnings are reported, but you still have to make sure your taxes you file declare both your winnings and losses. You can deduct your losses from your winnings, but only up to the value of your winnings. Additionally, you will have to declare yourself as a professional gambler on your income forms.
Offshore casinos are not required to follow the same reporting requirements, so it’s up to you to make sure you’re correctly declaring any income. Make sure you consult with your tax accountant or another qualified professional for information on your particular tax situation.
Regulated Poker Sites vs Offshore Poker Sites
There’s only a few key differences between regulated and offshore poker sites. The term “offshore” is a little misleading, as it simply refers to gambling providers who are licensed in countries other than the United States. Each casino on our list is regulated by a gambling commission and has a proven track record of adhering to regulation in their respective countries. The rise of offshore casinos can mainly be attributed to widespread acceptance of cryptocurrency. It used to take weeks to receive your winnings by wire transfer, but now with Bitcoin you can cash out within a day.
The other main issue with poker sites is who you’re playing against. You would expect regulated sites to have huge player pools, but the nature of gambling regulation means inter-state play is heavily discouraged. Most casinos only let you play with players in-state, whereas offshore sites let you play against a worldwide player pool.
One of the most appealing aspects of online poker is being able to play against people in any country on the planet, at any time of day, without any barriers. This isn’t the case for casinos in the United States, which are legally required to enforce “ring-fenced” player pools. This is where one state is required to only allow players from that state to play at their tables. If poker became legal in Indiana, it is still likely that you would only be able to play with other players in Indiana.
However, there is the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association. This is an inter-state agreement between Michigan, New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada to align regulatory requirements so that players from each state can play with each other in online games. If Indiana does legalize then it’s quite likely the next step is to join the MSIGA.
Offshore casinos are not ring-fenced in the same way, so you’ll be able to play against players from anywhere. However, some locations may require a VPN. If you are not sure, talk to site support at whichever casino you’re trying to use for more info.
How to Play Online Poker in IN
Each featured site on our list requires you to register an account before you can start playing online poker. This keeps each casino in line with licensing requirements, as well as making sure there’s no underage gambling going on. Check out our quick registration guide below for the quick steps you’ll need to take to get playing your favorite poker game with BetOnline.
Step 1: Register a BetOnline Account
Visit the BetOnline Casino website and click on ‘Join’. Enter your personal and contact information and click on ‘Create Account’.
Step 2: Verify Your Email Address
Right after completing registration, you should receive an automated email from the BetOnline team. This email welcomes you to the casino and asks you to confirm that your email address is correct by clicking on the link. Do this in order to complete this step.
Step 3: Place a DepositIn order to play online poker with real money, you must place a USD or cryptocurrency deposit. Once you’re logged into your BetOnline Casino account, click on ‘Deposit’ and select one of the available payment options. Enter the value of your payment and other information as shown on your screen.
Step 4: Access the Poker Platform
With your payment complete, you’re ready to start playing online poker. Click on ‘Poker’ on the navigation menu and choose between playing standalone games or ‘Tournaments’. You will be asked to log in once again using the same credentials.
Step 5: Start Playing Poker Online
Browse through the available games and tournaments until you find one that you wish to play. Click on it to launch it and start playing. You’ll find the appropriate rules in the game’s options and you can also set your nickname from your profile options if you wish to hide your name.
Types of Poker Games available at IN Poker Sites
Most people with an interest in gambling have probably played a game or two of Texas Hold’em, which is one of the most popular types of poker out there. However, offshore casinos offer many different types of poker, some of which have fairly exotic rules. These are the most common game types we’ve found while playing poker online, so we’ll take you through each one briefly before you sit down and try them out for yourself.
Texas Hold’em
Poker and Texas Hold’em are synonymous at this point, although certain kinds of poker have been more fashionable in the past. Today, it’s almost impossible to walk into a poker room and not find a Texas Hold’em table. In its most basic form, each player at the table is given two face-down cards at the start of the hand. A round of betting commences, where the “button” player who is two players left of the dealer must bet the “big blind”, which is the minimum pot for the hand. The player to their right bets the small blind, which is half of the big blind. Each other player can call to the value of the bet, or raise. Another three communal cards are drawn face up, followed by another round of betting. There are two more rounds of betting with one communal face-up card reach round. At the end of the round, all players reveal their cards and the best five-card poker hand wins. The hand can be made up of any combination of hole cards and table cards.
Omaha
After Texas Hold’em, Omaha is the next most popular variant of poker you’ll find in casinos. The same basic concept is the same as Texas, but the way the winner is decided is a little different. Each player at the table is dealt four face-down hole cards. The rounds of betting continue exactly like Texas, with a pre-flop round before the table cards are dealt, a flop round for the first three community cards, and a turn and river round with a card each. The main difference is that at the showdown, each player must pick two cards out of their hand and three cards from the table to form a winning poker hand. This makes it much more difficult to form straights and flushes, as both hole cards must be part of the sequence.
7 Card Stud
There’s many older poker games that have fallen out of popularity, but Seven Card Stud used to be found in every bar and saloon across America. Each player receives two face-down hole cards, and two face-up table cards. The player with the lowest card on the table starts betting, which is played out in antes instead of big blind and small blind. Essentially, this means that the betting structure plays out in multiples of the ante value. Five rounds are played out instead of four, where each round another face-up card is played. The final card for each player is played face-down. After the game’s over, the player with the best poker hand from all of their own cards wins.
Five Card Draw (Video Poker)
Most versions of poker are played head to head with other players, but Five Card Draw brings poker to the video-machine format. You play each round against the machine. Five cards are randomly drawn from the deck, which makes up your hand. You pick each card you want to keep, while the rest are reshuffled and replacement cards are drawn. You win if there’s a winning poker hand in your five cards, according to how rare that hand is. Video-poker terminals are a great way to kill some downtime while you’re at the casino, but many online casinos offer variants alongside their slots.
Poker Site Bonuses available for IN Players
Poker site bonuses are useful for weighing up which casino you’re going to go with, as some offer extremely attractive deals to attract new customers. However, it’s important to know exactly what sort of bonus you’re getting when you sign up. Check out our list of bonus types below for more info.
Bonus Type About Recommended Site Welcome Bonus - All online casinos offer a welcome bonus either as a % of the amount deposited and or free spins.
- Some sites have a no deposit bonus.
- Everygame Casino offers a fantastic welcome bonus of 200% up to $1,000.
Ongoing Promotions - Some sites give you a % back each time you make a deposit.
- Some sites offer weekly and or daily promotions
- BetOnline Casino offers a 25% on every qualifying reload.
Free Roll - Freeroll bonuses let you enter the competition for free.
- Potential of winning cash without using your own funds.
- SportsBetting.ag offers four free entries for Weekly New Player events
Comparing Sign-Up Bonuses
Casino Casino Bonus Promo code Rollover Minimum deposit Bitcoin accepted? Expiration date BetOnline 100% up to $1,000 BOLCASINO $5 for $50 rake $50 ✅ 30 Days Everygame 200% up to $1,000 CAWELCOME100 30x $25 ✅ 90 Days SportsBetting.ag 100% up to $1,000 INSIDERS1 $5 for $50 rake $50 ✅ 30 Days Bovada 100% up to $500 SB1000 N/A $10 ✅ 6 Months Ignition 100% up to $1,000 N/A 25x $20 ✅ 6 Months Juicy Stakes 200% up to $1,000 N/A 25x $25 ✅ 90 Days Making Deposits & Withdrawals at IN Poker Sites
You’ll always want to know exactly how and when you can withdraw your money when you’re gambling online. There’s pros and cons to each, so check out our breakdown below:
Payment Method About Examples Cryptocurrencies - There’s usually less fees when you’re withdrawing in Bitcoin
- Bitcoin withdrawals are lightning fast, even the slowest clearing time is usually two days
- Cryptocurrency makes it much easier to pay and withdraw money from poker games
- Bitcoin
- Bitcoin Cash
- Litecoin
- Ethereum
Traditional Payment Methods - It’s much longer to process a money order through your bank, which can take up to two weeks
- Deposit and withdrawal in cash can incur some high fees, either flat or percentage based
- International money payments can be difficult to process and require lengthy documentation processes
- Debit cards
- Credit cards
- Bank transfers
- Payment vouchers
eWallets - eWallet vendors can use your bank account without exposing it to a third party
- Withdrawal through eWallet can take a day or two to process
- eWallets are a third way between the ease of use of crypto and the trust of spending from a bank
- PayPal
- Skrill
- Neteller
- ecoPayz
Deposit Options Available
Each one of our recommended casinos allows you to pay in by a bunch of different deposit options. Check out our table below for more. Be aware, PayPal is not usually available for online deposit so you may need to resort to cryptocurrency if you can’t do a bank transfer.
Casino Bitcoin Bitcoin Cash Ethereum Dogecoin Debit / Credit Cards Bank Transfer PayPal BetOnline ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ Everygame ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ ❌ SportsBetting.ag ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ Bovada ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ ❌ Ignition ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ ❌ Juicy Stakes ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅ ❌ Withdrawal Options Available
It’s a little harder to withdraw money than it is to deposit, particularly as less of our recommended casinos will cash out to debit or credit cards. Bitcoin remains a consistently acceptable currency for cashing out, which also often processes way quicker than bank transfers.
Casino Bitcoin Bitcoin Cash Ethereum Dogecoin Debit / Credit Cards Bank Transfer PayPal BetOnline ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ Everygame ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌ ✅ ❌ SportBetting.ag ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ Bovada ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌ ✅ ❌ Ignition ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌ ✅ ❌ Juicy Stakes ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌ ✅ ❌ Playing on IN Poker Apps & Mobile Sites
Each provider in our list allows you to play their poker games through a mobile portal, either by a custom app or through your internet browser. One of the most appealing aspects of online poker is that it doesn’t take a lot of time to play out a hand. This makes it easy to play when you’ve got a few minutes of downtime, but make sure you’ve got a good connection. There’s nothing more frustrating than losing money because you dropped out of a hand you could’ve won because of a poor connection.
Generally, we’d recommend you play indoors when you’re playing for cash money games. While it is convenient playing wherever you want, we find that cash-money games require a level of focus that isn’t guaranteed when you’re outside. Some of the mobile apps we tried sometimes lagged out and didn’t reach the same level of polish as the mobile browser sites, so where possible you should stick to gaming in the browser.
Tips for Playing Online Poker for Real Money in Indiana
Here are our top five tips for playing online poker for real money in IN:
- Read Up: Poker has been endlessly agonized over by generations of the best gamblers in the world. It would be a huge mistake not to learn from some of the best, such as Phil Gordon, Dan Harrington, and Mike Sexton. You’ll learn a lot about the mental aspect of the game that regularly requires years of serious play to unravel, as well as the statistical basis for the game. There’s so many different ways to approach the game, so taking someone else’s view can help you develop your own.
- Keep An Eye On Your Outs: One of the best ways to level up quickly in poker is to understand the value of your hand. Knowing how many cards are left in the hand that can improve yours is an essential skill when playing poker, as it should inform your betting decisions. Every turn of poker is a bet against the pot, so you should consider how likely you are to win against how much money you’re betting on your next call. The number of “outs” you have is the number of cards that will make your hand better, which you divide by the total number of hidden cards to get your odds on your cards.
- Play Your Opponents: Whether you’re playing online or in person, your opponents will always have behavioral and betting habits you need to consider. Even online, you’ll get a sense of how aggressive or tight players are within a few hands if you’re paying close attention. You can make notes of how they play, or review past hands to remind yourself of how they played earlier in the round. It’s much harder to do this in person, and there’s a different set of tells to read.
- Have A Plan: Work out how much money you’re bringing to the table and stick to it. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than throwing good money after bad at awful cards, especially when your luck doesn’t change. Poker requires a clear head and a calm hand. You need to be able to walk away when you’re out of chips, otherwise it’s very easy to spiral down emotionally on a bad streak of luck.
- Practice, Practice, Practice: There is no replacement for grinding out games at the table. As you play more, you’ll be exposed to more situations so that you’ve got the composure to play them through or fold when there’s big money on the line. It’s also essential for building mental focus, as long games of poker can become strenuous when you’re split between calculating odds and reading the other players, all for real money. The best can play for hours at a time without cracking, but you’ll likely need a few breaks on the way there.
Playing Online Poker vs Poker Live in IN
The game of poker itself doesn’t change no matter where you play it, but the experience of playing online can be a thousand miles away from playing in person. This has it’s advantages and disadvantages, but it’s our view that online poker is way easier to fit into the daily grind. Some of the poker rooms in Indiana are 24/7, but it can be a nuisance driving across state just to get to one. You’re also beholden to tournament times and table population when you play in person.
Of course, there’s some up-sides too. Most poker rooms compensate you with free drinks and comp rates, which can contribute a lot to a good atmosphere. There’s also the social interaction of playing offline, where you can rely on other player’s tells. There’s no replacement for staring someone down over a bluff, but this goes both ways. Online poker doesn’t require you to hold a good poker-face, or even to be smartly dressed at your seat.
If you’re learning poker for the first time, there’s so many convenience features that make playing online the way to go. You can keep a cheat-sheet up alongside your games to make sure you understand how the hands work, as well as outs-calculators, player notes, or just your own music. There’s also a worldwide player pool to choose from when you play online, so whether you’re gaming day or night you’ll be able to find a game you can drop right into. Similarly, there’s no commitment if you suddenly need to leave a table to deal with the real world.
Playing poker online lets you control your environment and keep your emotions under control, which is key in poker. Each hand gets your undivided attention, whereas it’s pretty easy to be distracted when you’re sitting at the table. It’s possible to sit in multiple tables at the same time too, which makes the learning process so much quicker. Give it a shot with one of our top five casinos!
Live Poker in IN – Casinos With Poker Rooms
Indiana is one of the best destinations in America for real-life poker rooms. Check out our list below of top five Casino Resorts.
Horseshoe Indianapolis
- Address: 4300 N Michigan Rd, Shelbyville, IN 46176
- Opening hours: All Day, Weekly
Horseshoe Indianapolis is one of the best destinations in the state for poker rooms. There’s a good split of No Limit and Pot Limit Omaha games if you’re looking for single table action, but they also put on daily tournaments for $100 buy-in. It’s also an extremely comfortable room, with comped drink service, complementary wi-fi, massage service, and every other creature comfort you can think of. It’s a non-smoking room, so leave your cigars at the door.
Caesars Southern Indiana
- Address: 11999 Casino Center Drive, Elizabeth, IN 47117
- Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-5am, Friday-Sunday All Day
It’s hard to top the number of poker tables at Caesars Southern Indiana’s room. They have 16 tables running concurrently with a lively atmosphere and hyper-comfortable seats, as well as drinks service. Beginners and experts are welcomed with a wide range of games on offer from No Limit Texas Hold’em and Omaha to more exotic games like Seven Card Stud. It’s also on the WSOP circuit, so you can be assured when you head on down that there’s a tournament running within a day or two of your arrival. There’s Wi-Fi and high-definition sports TV so you can keep an eye on your other bets, too.
Four Winds Casino
- Address: 3000 Prairie Ave, Four Winds Casino, South Bend, IN 46614
- Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 10am-6am, Friday-Saturday All Day
Four Winds has an expansive table game room, which hosts 12 live poker tables. The games are regularly shuffled in and out of rotation, but you’ll see some combination of $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em, $3/$6 Limit Hold’em, and $1/$2 Pot Limit Omaha. You can download the Bravo Poker Live app to keep up to date with the latest promotions and table availability, so you can comfortably slide into a table as soon as one becomes available without waiting around in the room. It’s easy to get comfortable in there though, with comps offered on cocktail service, complementary Wi-Fi, and high-def TV.
Horseshoe Hammond
- Address: 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond, IN 46320-1003
- Opening hours: All Day, Weekly
Horseshoe Hammond lags a little behind the Indianapolis location for poker, but it’s still pretty good. There’s a $1/hour comp rate, food and cocktail service straight to your table, and valet parking outside the venue. It’s just as comfortable as Indianapolis, but the tables don’t offer as many tournaments. $1/$2 No Limit Hold’Em is a mainstay, with buy-ins from $100 to $300. Occasionally you’ll see much higher stakes, such as the $5/$10 No Limit Hold’em table with buy-ins starting at $500.
Elks #155 Charity Casino
- Address: 3233 St. Joe Center Road, Ft. Wayne, IN 46835
- Opening hours: Wednesday 9am-12am, Friday 9am-2am, Saturday 10am-12am
Elks isn’t the biggest poker room, but it’s got a great atmosphere and intimate games without distraction. Cocktail and food service comes straight to your table, between games of 3-card poker, 4-card poker, and ultimate Hold’em. Don’t be fooled by the atmosphere however, there’s some intense action to be had at the elks. It’s only open a few days a week, spread out over 13 tables, and mainly features $1/$2 Mixed Limit Hold’em and Omaha Games.
Famous IN Poker Players
Indiana has raised some of the most premier figures in Poker, as well as a couple of high-stakes winners. These players, past and present, represent the rich culture of gambling that’s preserved in Indiana for hundreds of years.
- Mike Sexton was one of the earliest mainstream icons in poker, both on the table and in front of the camera. He was called the “ambassador of poker”, and although he sadly passed in 2020, he has left behind an impressive legacy. Born in Shelby in 1947, Sexton made a splash in 1989 by winning his WSOP gold bracelet in a $1,500 7-Card Stud Split event. In later years, Sexton moved away from the table and become a commentator for World Poker Tour events, where his wit and charm made him a fan favorite. Party Poker also owes some of its early success to his involvement, as well as several poker charities. His philanthropy was well known and due to this he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Game.
- Jason DeWitt is a double recipient of the WSOP gold bracelet. He was born in Mishawaka, where he learned how to play poker while working at a local super market in his early 20s. Jason made his first quarter of a million dollars playing online tournaments, which allowed him to make the swap to live games. He won the 2010 and 2016 WSOP first place tables, both for No-Limit Hold’em. Jason now lives in Las Vegas, where he relocated to further his career in professional poker.
- John Cynn deserves a special mention as the state’s biggest winner for poker, with over $10 million in winnings from live poker games. A great deal of this is down to his 2018 WSOP win, where he took home almost $9 million in cash. In his past life he was an IT consultant, but since 2010 he’s been a professional player with plenty of in-the-money finishes.
The Best Poker Site in IN
Our number one poker site in IN absolutely has to be BetOnline. It’s a well established casino with prompt payouts, a huge variety of poker game types, and a great player pool. You know you’re in safe hands with a 24/7 support team dedicated to solving any issues you might have, and as one of the oldest online casinos you can be confident in their liquidity. We found that it was simple to register for BetOnline, and the deposit process went smoothly. Similarly, we had no issue with drawing out our winnings in Bitcoin. Give them a chance yourself, or try one of the other top-tier offshore casino providers for online poker in Indiana!
Sam Dawson
Sam Dawson
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Step 3: Place a Deposit
