
Although online gambling in Indiana may seem complex, there are still plenty of ways to play safely and legally from home. In this guide, we’ll answer the question 'is online gambling legal in Indiana?', discuss the current gambling laws, and the online gambling options you have.
We’ll also explain the legal status of sweepstakes casinos - a way to play casino-style games online for free - and provide tips for getting the most out of your online experiences. We’ll also give you our recommendation for the best sites to use in Indiana and the bonuses you can expect as a new user.






Visit Bet365

Visit Bet365

Yes, Indiana law allows for certain types of online gambling within the state. The legal options include sports betting, horse racing, and daily fantasy sports (DFS), all of which are regulated and accessible through licensed online platforms.
In terms of casino gambling, land-based retail casinos have been legal since 2015, offering a range of slots and table games at physical locations across the state. However, real-money online casinos remain prohibited under current Indiana law.
For those looking to play casino-style games online, sweepstakes casinos offer a legal alternative, which we'll explore in more detail later in this guide.
The state of Indiana has quite a few forms of legal online gambling, which are permitted to operate and are fully regulated. However, there are still a few online gambling activities that are banned in the Hoosier State.
Below, we’ll explain what’s currently allowed and what remains prohibited.
The following types of online gambling are legal and regulated in Indiana:
The following forms of online gambling are currently prohibited under Indiana law:
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are legal in Indiana. As these sites operate under US sweepstakes laws, they are not classed as gambling, and therefore do not fall under the gambling restrictions imposed by the state. This means Indiana players can enjoy casino-style games online without using real money.
Instead of depositing funds like at a traditional online casino, sweepstakes casinos use virtual currencies. These virtual currencies are free, and allow you to enter slot games, play table games, and in some instances, you can even redeem them for prizes.
Sweepstakes casinos provide a free, fun, and legal way to enjoy casino-style games across the majority of the US.
Sweepstakes casinos operate using virtual currency. Here's a breakdown of the two main virtual currencies you'll find:
| 🪙 Virtual Currency | 💡 Purpose | 🎁 Can it be redeemed for prizes? |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Coins (GC) | Gold Coins are used for standard play and purely for entertainment purposes. They hold no real-world value and are typically received for free via bonuses and promotions. GC can also be purchased in bundles, although this is entirely optional. | ❌ No - Gold Coins cannot be redeemed for prizes. |
| Sweepstakes Coins (SC) | Sweepstakes Coins are used in promotional sweepstakes games. They also hold no real-world value, but if you collect enough of them you may be able to redeem them for real prizes, including gift cards, merchandise, or cash prizes.
You cannot purchase SC, and they are always received for free, via bonuses, mail-in requests, and sometimes via optional GC purchases. | ✅ Yes - Sweepstakes Coins are redeemable for real prizes, once you have collected the minimum amount and met the playthrough requirements. |
Sweepstakes casinos provide a fun, free, and legal way for residents in Indiana to enjoy casino-style games. Here are the main features you’ll find at a sweepstakes casino:
| 🎰 Sweepstakes Casino Feature | ⭐️ Description |
|---|---|
| Legal Status | Legal to operate across majority of US |
| Game Variety | Casino-style games including: - Slot - Table games - Live dealer - Slingo - Instant Win - Scratchcards |
| Bonus Options | - No-purchase welcome bonus - First purchase bonus - Daily login bonus - Referral rewards - Social media contests - Mail-in request - VIP loyalty rewards |
| SC Prize Redemption | Sweepstakes Coins won through promotional gameplay can be redeemed for real prizes such as gift cards, merchandise, and cash prizes. |
Now that we’ve established that real-money online casinos are prohibited in Indiana, we can turn our focus to sweepstakes casinos. These sites have quickly become a popular and legal alternative to traditional online casinos, and the best sweeps sites offer a great selection of casino-style games without risking your own cash.
To help you find the best sweepstakes casino, we’ve selected our top 4 sweepstakes sites currently available to Indiana players. Below, we review the bonuses available, site usability, game selection, and more.
RealPrize comes out top in our IN sweeps casinos thanks to its generous welcome bonus of 100,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweepstakes Coins and solid game selection.
With such a big amount of free virtual currency, you can really explore the games here. The site holds around 500 quality titles from studios such as Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and Relax Gaming. We particularly recommend Irish Dreams, Digging Gold, Buffalo King, and Fire Stampede.
If you enjoy live dealer classics like Roulette and Blackjack, then the selection of ICONIC21 games is worth a shot too.
We found the RealPrize site to be intuitive, with a nice, clean design and clear structure. For example, customer support is easily accessible via contact form and FAQs. The site is mobile optimized, too, and the recent addition of an iOS app just shows that the site continues to grow and develop.
In terms of ongoing promos, a daily login bonus can be claimed every 24 hours, there’s a good VIP program to work through, and a huge first purchase bonus (optional) where you can collect up to 625K Gold Coins, 125 free SC, and 1250 VIP Points when you buy a GC bundle.
The McLuck sweepstakes casino is well worth a look, mainly due to its wide game variety. But first, at registration you can collect a welcome bonus of 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 free Sweepstakes Coins.
If you run low on virtual currency, a daily login promo will help top up your balance, plus an optional first purchase promotion of 30 SC and 100,000 GC for $9.99 is on the table.
Armed with GC and SC, you can now check out the games. We like the sheer variety of titles within the 1,200 games available. Popular slots like Sugar Rush and Big Bass Bonanza are always a welcome sight, and the addition of table games, live dealer classics, and jackpot play keeps things fresh.
If you play regularly, be sure to check out the McLuck Loyalty Club and the McJackpots - with the latter giving you access to 4 different jackpots.
We like the fact that this is one of the few sweeps casinos to offer phone support within the help center. This is complemented by an online form, FAQs, and email help too.
Stake.us may be a well-known sweepstakes casino, but it rightfully deserves its place in our top Indiana sweeps sites. For starters, the new players can claim an exclusive welcome bonus of 56 Stake Cash, 560,000 Gold Coins, and 5% rakeback when using promo code STFSOCIAL.
After that, daily login rewards of 10K GC and 1 SC can be claimed each day. This is a great start for exploring the games available at Sake.us. The site gives players access to well over 1,500 titles, with classics slots, Megaways, table games, and live dealer options all ready to load up.
We particularly like the Stake Originals, which are unique in-house developed games. Give Plinko a go when you join, which is inspired by the Japanese game Pachinko. The aim is to drop a ball into a triangular pin pyramid and find the route to the highest multiplier.
The Stake.us site is full of great features, such as a VIP club, numerous promotions, a dedicated customer support team with live chat, and optional GC purchase via cryptocurrency.
When you compare it to other sweeps casinos, Spree offers an impressive welcome bonus - 1 million Gold Coins and 2.5 Spree Coins completely free. This is plenty to start gaming, however there is a 200% match on your first purchase if you want to add to your GC collection.
When we loaded up the site, we were struck by the colorful but clean design, and found it really easy to navigate. Promotions are regularly refreshed, with Reel Rampage and Spinvasion running at the time of writing.
Games are provided by top developers like Pragmatic Play and Habanero, and you’ll be met with a huge collection to browse. It’s hard to believe but there’s over 2,000 games in the portfolio, with popular options like Buffalo King Megaways and Gold Party firm favorites here.
The site is also home to unique multiplayer battles like Sit&Spin and jackpot features like Spree Potz. Customer support is available via online tickets or phone, and we found the Help Center to be comprehensive.
| 🎰 Sweepstakes Casino | 🎁 Welcome Bonus | 💵 First Purchase Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| RealPrize Real Prize Review | 100,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweepstakes Coins | 625K Gold Coins, 125 free SC, and 1250 VIP Points |
| McLuck McLuck Review | 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 free Sweepstakes Coins | 30 SC and 100,000 GC for $9.99 |
| Stake.us Stake.us Review | 56 Stake Cash, 560,000 Gold Coins, and 5% rakeback using promo code STFSOCIAL | N/A |
| Spree Spree Review | 1 million Gold Coins and 2.5 Spree Coins | 200% Extra Coins: 30 SC FREE + 30K Gold Coins |
As traditional real-money online casinos are prohibited in Indiana, sweepstakes casinos give IN players a legal and fun way to enjoy casino-style games. Most sweepstakes casinos offer popular slots, table games, and even live dealer titles to play for free.
Instead of using your own cash, you’ll be using the site's virtual currencies, typically called Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins. And even though you are playing the games for free, you still get the opportunity to redeem winning Sweepstakes Coins for real prizes.
All of the top sweepstakes casinos will offer new players a welcome bonus full of free virtual currency to help kickstart the fun. Add in daily login rewards, social media contests, tournaments, challenges, VIP programs, and seasonal promos and you’ve got a great way to social game for free.
There’s also the option to purchase Gold Coin bundles, and although this is optional, it’s worth considering if you have a budget, as you can usually get some free SC thrown in as a bonus.


Although sweepstakes casinos offer a great way to play casino-style games for free, they also give Indiana players the chance to redeem real-world prizes.
As we’ve mentioned before, Sweepstakes Coins can be redeemed for prizes such as gift cards, merchandise, and cash prizes once certain conditions are met.
Here's how prize redemption typically works at a sweepstakes casino:
Indiana has an interesting history when it comes to online gambling. Let's take a step back and reflect on what has happened in terms of gambling in the Hoosier State:
| 📅 Date | 📢 Event | 💡 Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1851 | Gambling ban starts | A constitutional amendment banning lotteries marks the start of all forms of gambling becoming illegal. |
| 1989 | State lottery reinstated | The Hoosier Lottery relaunches. |
| 1993 | Riverboat Casino Act passed | Indiana legalizes riverboat casinos, allowing a restricted number of vessels to operate on Lake Michigan, the Ohio River, and other areas. |
| 2015 | Land‑based casinos legalised | Riverboat casinos are allowed to convert to land-based venues, with new license opportunities |
| 2016 | Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) legal | Indiana authorises fantasy sports, regulated by the IGC. |
| May 2019 | Sports betting legalized | HB 1015 is signed, legalising retail and online sports betting. |
| September 2019 | Retail sportsbooks open | Casinos and racinos begin taking in-person sports bets |
| October 2019 | Online sportsbooks go live | BetRivers, DraftKings, and others launch online wagering. bet365 joins a few years later. |
| January 2025 | iGaming legalization proposed | Bill to add online casino and lottery sales introduced, and sponsors seek House committee review |
| February 2025 | Online casino bill stalls | HB 1432 stalls, pushing online casino expansion back to future sessions |
Regardless of whether you’re placing bets on your favorite sports teams or spinning some slots at a sweepstakes casino, it’s important to approach online gambling and social gaming in the right way. By following a few of our top tips, you can stay safe, maximize bonuses, and get more value out of every session.
Only use fully licensed sportsbooks or sweepstakes casinos that follow local sweepstakes laws. This helps protect your funds and personal information. Using an unlicensed or unregulated site could compromise your security and safety, and result in loss of personal data or even money in some cases.
Each sportsbook is different, especially when it comes to bonuses, deposits, withdrawals, wagering, etc. The same applies to sweeps casinos, including the virtual currency they use, prize redemption, playthrough requirements, bonuses, etc.Always check the terms and conditions and read up on any rules the site promotes so you can have the most enjoyable experience with no surprises.
Look for generous welcome bonuses and regular promos to get the most value. Online sportsbooks often offer risk-free bets or bonus bets, while sweepstakes casinos provide free GC and SC through daily bonuses, social media, and promotional codes.
Always use strong passwords, enable 2FA where available, and never share account details - even with site staff. This applies to both sportsbook and sweepstakes sites.
Use the responsible gambling tools like deposit, loss, and time limits available on sportsbook sites. While sweepstakes casinos use free virtual currency, it's still important to manage social gaming time and any spending wisely.
While online sports betting has been permitted since 2019, attempts to expand into regulated online casino gambling have repeatedly stalled.
In early 2025, things looked promising, as a bill, HB 1432, aimed to legalize online casinos and the state lottery in digital format was put forward. However, despite initial interest, the bill failed to pass and was later dropped.
But is there any hope for the future of online casinos? Well, there is chatter and potential interest being discussed, with talk of more proposals happening in 2026, but until something solid is released, we cannot really predict when online gambling will be legal in Indiana.
For now, Indiana residents can still enjoy legal US gambling sites and sweepstakes casinos.
As we've seen during our assessment of online gambling sites in Virginia, online gambling in Indiana is also limited to online sportsbooks and DFS. As online casinos are banned in the state, the only alternative is sweepstakes casinos.
Here we break down the key pros and cons of online gambling in the Hoosier State.
As you can see, Indiana’s online gambling scene has a vibrant history, with online sports betting and daily fantasy sports legal. On the flipside, online casinos are still prohibited.
However, Indiana residents can still enjoy casino-style games through a number of top sweepstakes casinos. We’ve covered all angles of online gambling in the Hoosier State, explored the pros and cons of this, as well as introduced you to the best Indiana sweepstakes casinos.
So while traditional online casino gaming remains off the table for now, there are still many options open, and we’re excited to see what develops in the future.
Yes, online sports betting is fully legal and regulated in Indiana. However, real-money online casino games remain banned under state law. Fortunately, sweepstakes casinos offer a legal way to enjoy casino-style games, letting you enjoy popular slots and table games for free, and with the chance to redeem real prizes.
There are only a few guidelines as to who can gamble online in Indiana. For example, many websites will require that you are physically located within Indiana at the time of gambling and that you’re an Indiana resident too. These may seem like nit-picky rules, but it’s important to keep online gambling safe and regulated. There are some other conditions which you should be aware of, so we at Strafe.com are going into detail on this topic on our website.
This is a tricky question to answer. Although we at Strafe.com can objectively tell you which website we consider to be the best regarding our own criteria, we can’t say which website you will enjoy using the most. We have, however, found a middle-ground. If you check through our reviews and find some factors which are important to you, then you should be able to work out which online gambling website is best for you with the help of our website. We cover plenty of other states, too - from Indiana online sportsbook operators to Colorado casinos.
Online gambling for sports betting is currently legal in Indiana, however online casinos are not. Although there is talk about the subject and previous proposals to legalize online casinos have been submitted in the past, there is no further development with this and no dates for future proposals right now. In this guide we answer the most common questions such as 'is online gambling legal in Indiana?' and 'what is the best IN sweepstakes casino?'.
Online casinos are currently prohibited in Indiana. As an alternative, sweepstakes casinos offer casino-style games for free and are legal to operate in the state. Read our guide for further details on playing at a sweepstakes casino, and check out one of our top Indiana sweeps casinos.
No, you cannot win real money at a sweepstakes casino, nor can you play with real money. Sweepstakes casinos use virtual currency, which is free and holds no real-world value. However, if you collect enough Sweepstakes Coins you may be able to redeem them for prizes, such as gift cards and cash prizes, subject to specific terms and conditions.