Introduction to Indiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019
The machines will still take your money, without restrictions. The comps have all but disappeared, all blamed on Covi19. Was disappointed in the lack of management initiative in adapting and overcoming the difficulties of the current situation. Our host, Joann Stephens was very helpful and did the best under the trying circumstances. Experience the best casino games in Southern Indiana at Tropicana Evansville. We offer everything from slots to live poker & sports betting.
Indiana slot machine casino gambling consists of eleven commercial casinos, two pari-mutuel wagering racetracks, and one tribal casino.
Indiana does not offer payout limits but does provide annual and monthly return statistics for its non-tribal casinos.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
Choose from any of the 1,000 slot machine and video game terminals. You’ll be able to bet in increments ranging from one cent to $100 a spin. Get your heart rate going at one of the three dozen live table games at the Evansville Tropicana, featuring local favorites like Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Mini-Baccarat, and more.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Indiana*
The minimum legal gambling age in Indiana does not depend upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 21
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
Indiana’s 1851 constitution banned lotteries, historically interpreted by courts to mean all gambling. In 1988, Indiana approved a constitutional amendment removing this ban. Within months, cities with economic difficulties had casino proposals.
In 2007, Indiana allowed horse tracks to have as many as 2,000 electronic gaming machines. Further, the state legislature approved land-based casinos in 2015. Also, in 2015, the state legislature approved a measure allowing riverboat casinos to move into a land-based casino facility if located on their current property.
The state of Indiana has a federally-recognized American Indian tribe. In 2015, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians successfully negotiated a tribal-state compact subsequently approved by the U.S. Department of Interior.
By the compact’s terms, the tribal casino could only have Class II bingo-style gaming machines. In early 2018, the tribe opened its first tribal casino.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Indiana
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in Indiana if it is 40 years old or older.
Gaming Control Board in Indiana
The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) regulates gaming in Indiana. The IGC offers comprehensive annual reports on all aspects of legal gaming in Indiana. Indiana’s two other gaming commissions regulate the Hoosier Lottery and Indiana Horse Racing.
The Indiana Gaming Commission has a law enforcement arm called the Gaming Control Division. Its primary role is to investigate illegal gambling. Enforcement of illegal gambling at bars and taverns is by the Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission.
Casinos in Indiana
There are eleven commercial casinos, two pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines, and one American Indian tribal casino in Indiana.
The largest casino in Indiana is Horseshoe Casino Hammond with 2,123 gaming machines, 116 table games, and a 34-table poker room.
The second-largest casino is Indiana Grand Racing Casino with 2,020 gaming machines.
Commercial Casinos in Indiana
Indiana’s thirteen commercial casinos include its original ten riverboat casinos, an additional land-based casino, and two pari-mutuel wagering racetracks with slot machines. These non-tribal casinos are:
- Ameristar East Chicago located 11 miles northwest of Gary.
- Belterra Casino Resort in Florence located 116 miles southeast of Indianapolis on the Kentucky border.
- Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa in Michigan City located 26 miles northeast of Gary.
- French Lick Resort located 100 miles south of Indianapolis.
- Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg located 98 miles southeast of Indianapolis on the Ohio border.
- Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson located 43 miles northeast of Indianapolis.
- Horseshoe Hammond located 20 miles northwest of Gary.
- Caesars Southern Indiana in Elizabeth located 123 miles south of Indianapolis across the river from Louisville, Kentucky.
- Indiana Grand Racing Casino in Shelbyville located 27 miles southeast of Indianapolis.
- Majestic Star Casinos I & II in Gary.
- Rising Star Casino Resort located 105 miles southeast of Indianapolis on the Kentucky border.
- Tropicana Evansville located 169 miles southwest of Indianapolis.
Tribal Casinos in Indiana
Indiana’s tribal casino is the Four Winds Casino South Bend located 150 miles north of Indianapolis directly east of Chicago on the border to Michigan. It offers 1,800 Class II competition-style gaming machines alongside live poker tables.
Poker has been interpreted in Indiana as a skill-based game and, therefore, just another Class II game. It is considered a competition-style game as players bet against each other and aren’t betting “against the house” or casino.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Indiana slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Indiana is:
- North: Michigan Slots
- East: Ohio Slots
- South: Kentucky Slots
- West: Illinois Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Indiana.
Our Indiana Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Indiana? If so, join our new Indiana slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Indiana. Join us!
Payout Returns in Indiana
Indiana has not set minimum or maximum theoretical payout return limits. Monthly and annual return statistics are available, although none are available from the tribal casino. The annual reports detail return statistics by slot machine denomination.
The IGC’s 2019 annual report has Electronic Gaming Device (EGD) COIN-IN on page 41. The next page has EGD Win. Divide WIN by COIN-IN, then subtract the result from 100% to calculate a player’s win percentage.
For your convenience, I have calculated the mid-2018 through mid-2019 player win percentages for each casino below. In addition to an annual report, the Indiana Gaming Commission also offers monthly revenue reports by the 11th of the following month.
Again, use COIN IN and WIN to calculate the player’s win percentage. Unlike the annual reports, these monthly reports do not contain return statistics by slot machine denomination.
These Annual and Monthly Player Win% are:
- Ameristar East Chicago: 89.91% (annual) and 90.05% (Nov. 2019)
- Belterra Casino Resort: 90.78% (annual) and 90.82% (Nov. 2019)
- Blue Chip Casino: 91.40% (annual) and 91.23% (Nov. 2019)
- French Lick Resort: 91.56% (annual) and 91.05% (Nov. 2019)
- Hollywood Lawrenceburg: 89.96% (annual) and 90.23% (Nov. 2019)
- Harrah’s Hoosier Park: 91.08% (annual) and 90.63% (Nov. 2019)
- Horseshoe Hammond: 90.07% (annual) and 90.04% (Nov. 2019)
- Caesars Southern Indiana: 89.99% (annual) and 90.67% (Nov. 2019)
- Indiana Grand Racing: 90.90% (annual) and 90.34% (Nov. 2019)
- Majestic Star Casino I: 90.26% (annual) and 90.21% (Nov. 2019)
- Majestic Star Casino II: 89.84% (annual) and 89.90% (Nov. 2019)
- Rising Star Casino Resort: 91.38% (annual) and 92.07% (Nov. 2019)
- Tropicana Evansville: 89.60% (annual) and 89.93% (Nov. 2019)
Further, the mid-2018 through mid-2019 statewide annual player’s win percentage is 90.52%. The monthly statewide player’s win% was slightly less at 90.45%.
The casino with the highest annual return was French Lick. The highest monthly return went to Rising Star. It’s worth mentioning that French Lick had the second-highest annual return and Rising Star the third-highest in the previous year.
The casino with the lowest annual return was, once again, this year, Tropicana Evansville. Its monthly return was the second-lowest while Majestic Star II had the lowest.
Summary of Indiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019
Indiana slot machine casino gambling consists of 10 riverboat casinos, one land-based casino, two pari-mutual racetracks with slot machines, and a tribal casino with Class II bingo-style gaming machines.
Indiana’s casinos don’t operate under theoretical payout limits. However, non-tribal casinos have annual return statistics by casino and slot machine denomination. Monthly return statistics are by the casino only.
Annual Progress in Indiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In the last year, Horseshoe Casino Hotel Southern Indiana became Caesars Southern Indiana. Hoosier Park has become Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
Related Articles from Professor Slots
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Illinois Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: Iowa Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC
The city of Evansville was actually home to the first casino allowed in the state. Opened in 1995, Evansville gambling has been a huge attraction for both visitors and residents. Evansville Sportsbooks are sure to be an even bigger boost to the local economy when Indiana sports betting is fully launched. The Indiana Gaming Commission is going to soon be accepting sports wagering applications from casinos and off-track betting facilities all across the state so it’s only a matter of time before one in this particular city is approved. With legal sports gambling on the horizon, you must be asking yourself – where are the best sportsbooks in Evansville?
Well, seeing as none have opened yet, there are tons of possible contenders. Which is why we’re here – we’re taking a look at all possible venues that could expand their gaming operations to include one, where they could open, what they’ll have to offer, even whether they’ll be land-based or online. The possibilities are wide open right now, and we’re going to help you understand them to the best of your ability. When we’re done, you should know everything there is to know about the best sportsbooks in Evansville.
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Is Sports Betting Currently Legal In Evansville, Indiana?
As of now, sports betting in Evansville, Indiana is legal. Until May of 2018, the answer to this question would have been a very hard and definite no. But when the Supreme Court decided that the federal ban on sports betting in the United States was unconstitutional, lawmakers in Indiana began to raise questions about their own sports betting laws.
Without federal restrictions holding the state back, Indiana legislators set forth laws that would allow and regulate the industry. The state can now collect an additional stream of taxes and sports bettors can feel safe and free to place a wager on all their favorite teams. The Indiana Gaming Commission is the regulatory body for sports betting in the state and is in charge of approving casinos and off-track betting facilities that apply for a sportsbook license. They are also in charge of doing the same for any online sports betting providers that try to operate within state lines.
But, they have not done either of these quite yet. The new sports betting laws in Indiana, however, failed to mention anything in regards to using online offshore sportsbooks. These sites will gladly accept members from Evansville, Indiana right now and can provide them with betting lines for every major sports team in the Hoosier state. Online casino gambling is still prohibited under state law, but placing sports wagers with these sites is seen by many as a safe alternative now that state legislatures have changed their stance on sports betting.
What is the Legal Age To Bet On Sports In Evansville
In Indiana, the legal age to bet on sports is restricted to only those who are 21 and up. This falls in line with most states who have legalized sports betting within their borders. This age will also have to be complied with when it comes to mobile sports wagering platforms either issued by the state or through online offshore sportsbooks. Even though sports betting sites based overseas only require members to be 18, you will have to abide by your state laws if you don’t want to risk forfeiting your account.
The Best Sportsbooks In Evansville
The best sportsbooks in Evansville are going to be full-service books with more coverage and more promotions than any other sports betting venue. When we say full-service, we don’t just mean the big four professional leagues in the US. We’re talking NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, Tennis, Boxing, UFC, MMA, Esports, Auto Racing and more. You want to be able to bet on everything taking place in the US no matter the time of year, and the best sportsbooks in Evansville are going to provide it for you.
You’ll also want coverage on as many NCAA events as possible. Whether it’s the March Madness tournament or the College Football Playoffs, the best Evansville Sportsbooks should have coverage on all the action. All the coverage in the world doesn’t mean a thing unless you’ve got a variety of wager types to go with it. Moneylines, Spreads, and Totals are just the beginning. You’ll want to be able to choose your own parlay cards, make prop bets, and wager on futures for so many different games. Get lucky with a round robin and you’ll never look at a parlay again. Use pleasers and teasers to make your bet slip more enticing.
Not sure what most of those were? The best Evansville Sportsbooks will have a highly trained staff to help you learn everything you need to know. They’ll also be able to help you put together the best bet slip possible so that you’re not staring at the screens like a mindless zombie. State of the art sports betting lounges are going to be opening at the best sportsbooks in Evansville, and they are going to have all of this and more. Check out our review of the Evansville Sportsbooks at the Tropicana Evansville. Home of the first Indiana Casino, it is sure to be one of the top contenders for the title of best sportsbook for sports betting in Indiana.
- Evansville Sportsbooks At Tropicana Evansville
- Address: 421 NW Riverside Dr, Evansville, IN 47708
- Phone: (812) 433-4000
When you play at the Evansville Tropicana, expect to feel like a superstar. From the moment you step foot on to their first-class gaming floor, you’ll instantly be swept into a whirlwind of gaming delight. Choose from any of the 1,000 slot machine and video game terminals. You’ll be able to bet in increments ranging from one cent to $100 a spin.
Get your heart rate going at one of the three dozen live table games at the Evansville Tropicana, featuring local favorites like Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Mini-Baccarat, and more. The High Limit room is where high rollers go to play. Set apart from the main gaming floor, you’re able to focus on what you love to do best – roll the dice and place bets that make a splash.
When you’re worn out from a day of exciting gaming at the Evansville Tropicana, stay a night or two at the luxurious Hotel. Trop Advantage Rewards members get a discount on every stay, with members in the top two tiers of the program getting complimentary hotel rooms whenever they want. This comprehensive rewards package is better than any we’ve seen before it, with complimentary drink service, discounts at entertainment and dining venues as well as at the hotel, and free plays every time you come in.
Best Slot Machine At Evansville Indiana Casinos
The excellent service offered at the Evansville Tropicana is second to none, and you’ll find all this and more for any sportsbook that opens at this venue. Tropicana is one of the biggest names in US sports betting today, so you know you’re going to get the best of the best when it comes to Indiana sports betting. The best sportsbooks in Evansville, Indiana are going to have huge competition when Evansville Tropicana starts accepting sports bets.