Indiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018

Introduction to Indiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018

Indiana slot machine casino gambling consists of 10 riverboat or land-based casinos, two pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines, and one tribal casino. The American Indian tribal casino opened in early 2018.

Each location offers electronic gaming machines. However, the tribal casinos only offer Class II bingo-style gaming machines due to restrictions within their tribal-state gaming compact.

Detailed annual and monthly reports with payout return percentages are available for slot machines on the website for the state gaming commission, including by slot machine denomination as well as a specific casino. As is typical, the tribal casino is exempt from this reporting requirement.

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This post continues the weekly blog series Online Resource: State-By-State Slots Gambling Summaries, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambling enthusiasts to success. Each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Indiana*

The minimum gambling age in Indiana depends upon the gambling activity:

• Land-Based Casinos: 21
• Poker Rooms: 21
• Bingo: 21
• Lottery: 18
• Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

Gambling in Indiana has an interesting history. The Indiana constitution of 1851 banned lotteries, which the courts took to mean all gambling was prohibited. In 1988, voters approved a constitutional amendment removing this ban.

Within months, casinos were proposed for cities with economic difficulties, with Gary making plans for 5 casinos to be located in their city. While unsuccessful at gaining state legislative approval, subsequent lobbying efforts by gaming companies helped with the eventual approval of 10 riverboat casinos in 1993.

In 1993, Indiana was the sixth state to legalize riverboat casino gambling. 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.

The state of Indiana has a single federally-recognized American Indian tribe. In 2015, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians successfully established a tribal-state compact subsequently approved by the U.S. Department of Interior.

By the compact’s terms, they are only allowed to offer Class II bingo-style or competition-style gaming. In early 2018, they opened their first tribal casino.

In 2015, the state legislature also approved a measure allowing riverboat casinos to move into a land-based casino facility if it is located on their current property. So far,

• Tropicana casino in Evansville was the first to open a land-based facility in October 2017, already showing an 18% increase in revenues.
• Horseshoe Southern Indiana has broken ground on a new 100,000 square foot facility targeted to be open in December of 2019.
• Ameristar in East Chicago opened a new land-based high limit room in May 2018.
• Blue Chip Casino began construction of a $15 million addition to its convention space.

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*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws apply to various forms of gambling. This information is not intended to provide legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Indiana

It is legal to privately own a slot machine in Indiana if it is 40 years old or older.

Gaming Control Board in Indiana

The Indiana Gaming Commission regulates gaming in Indiana but does not regulate the Lottery or Indiana Horse Racing. Further, illegal gambling at bars and taverns is regulated by the Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission.

The gaming commission offers comprehensive annual reports on all aspects of legal gaming in Indiana.

The Indiana Gaming Commission has a law enforcement arm called the Gaming Control Division. Its primary role is to investigate illegal gambling.

Within it, 16 officers have full police powers and can enforce all Indiana laws. The Division prioritizes investigations, taking the practical approach of voluntary compliance rather than making arrests.

These Division investigations were initially focused on electronic gaming devices. As of early 2015, 6,000 illegal devices have been removed from operation. They have also investigated several illegal bookmaking operations and illegal poker establishments.

Casinos in Indiana

There is one American Indian tribal casino as well as 12 non-tribal casinos including 10 permanently moored riverboat casinos and two pari-mutual racinos in Indiana. The riverboats are permanently docked and give the appearance of being land-based casinos.

The largest casino in Indiana is the Horseshoe Casino Hammond, having 2,289 gaming machines and 1,104 table gaming positions.

The second largest casino is the pari-mutuel facility Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville, having 2,089 gaming machines but no table games.

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List of Casinos in Indiana

Indiana’s 12 non-tribal casinos are, including the original 10 riverboat casinos as well as one land-based casino and two pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines are:

1. Ameristar East Chicago is a riverboat casino in East Chicago located 11 miles northwest of Gary.
2. Belterra Casino Resort and Spa is a riverboat casino in Florence located 116 miles southeast of Indianapolis on the Kentucky border.
3. Blue Chip Casino & Hotel is a riverboat casino in Michigan City located 26 miles northeast of Gary.
4. French Lick Springs Resort & Casino is a land-based casino in French Lick located 100 miles south of Indianapolis.
5. Hollywood Casino & Hotel – Lawrenceburg is a riverboat casino in Lawrenceburg located 98 miles southeast of Indianapolis on the Ohio border.
6. Hoosier Park is a pari-mutuel racino in Anderson located 43 miles northeast of Indianapolis.
7. Horseshoe Casino Hammond in Hammond located 20 miles northwest of Gary.
8. Horseshoe Casino Hotel Southern Indiana is a riverboat casino in Elizabeth located 123 miles south of Indianapolis across the river from Louisville, Kentucky.
9. Indiana Grand Racing & Casino is a pari-mutuel racino in Shelbyville located 27 miles southeast of Indianapolis.
10. Majestic Star Casinos & Hotel are two riverboat casinos located in Gary.
11. Rising Star Casino Resort is a riverboat casino in Rising Sun located 105 miles southeast of Indianapolis on the Kentucky border.
12. Tropicana Evansville is a riverboat casino in Evansville located 169 miles southwest of Indianapolis.

List of Tribal Casinos in Indiana

The single tribal casino in Indiana is the Four Winds Casino South Bend located 150 miles north of Indianapolis near the Michigan border directly east of Chicago.

In September 2018, the Four Winds Casino South Bend made 10 tables available with live poker dealers alongside their existing 1,800 electronic gaming machines. These poker tables were added at the request of visiting casino patrons.

Poker is allowed by the tribal-state compact as it is a competition-style game when players bet against one another and aren’t betting “against the house” or casino. Adding blackjack, craps, and other Vegas-style casino gambling would require the tribal-state compact to allow Class III gaming.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Indiana slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state.

Indiana is bordered by:

• North: Michigan Slots
• East: Ohio Slots
• South: Kentucky Slots
• West: Illinois Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my state-specific blog for that bordering state to Indiana.

All casinos, including both pari-mutuels, are open 24 hours. This is an advantage Indiana casinos have over casinos in Illinois, which are legally required to be closed 2 hours each day.

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Payout Returns in Indiana

In the 2018 annual report from the Indiana Gaming Commission, pages 42 and 43 provides actual payout return statistics. These annual statistics are offered by slot machine denomination for each casino.

A total actual payout return can be calculated at each casino. For each casino’s slot machine denomination or casino total, simply:

1. Locate the WIN of interest on Electronic Gaming Device (EGD) page 43.
2. Find the corresponding COIN IN on EDG page 42.
3. Divide the WIN value by the COIN IN value to get the casino hold amount.
4. Multiply by 100 to get the casino hold percentage.
5. Subtract the hold percentage from 100% to get the payout return percentage.

A total actual payout return percentage for each casino is provided below along with total electronic gaming machines available at each casino.

• Ameristar East Chicago has reported having 1,492 electronic gaming machines with an annual payout return of 89.86%.
• Belterra Casino Resort and Spa has reported having 1,188 electronic gaming machines with an annual payout return of 90.91%.
• Blue Chip Casino & Hotel has reported having 1,679 electronic gaming machines with an annual payout return of 91.48%.
• French Lick Springs Resort & Casino has reported having 926 electronic gaming machines with an annual payout return of 91.68%.
• Hollywood Casino & Hotel – Lawrenceburg has reported having 1,390 electronic gaming machines with an annual payout return of 90.14%.
• Hoosier Park has reported having 1,827 electronic gaming machines with an annual payout return of 91.70%.
• Horseshoe Casino Hammond has reported having 2,289 electronic gaming machines with an annual payout return of 89.92%.
• Horseshoe Casino Hotel Southern Indiana has reported having 1.582 electronic gaming machines with an annual payout return of 89.87%.
• Indiana Grand Racing & Casino has reported having 2,089 electronic gaming machines with an annual payout return of 91.63%.
• Majestic Star Casinos & Hotel has reported having a combined 1,675 electronic gaming machines with an annual payout return of 90.24%.
• Rising Star Casino Resort has reported having 933 electronic gaming machines with an annual payout return of 91.64%.
• Tropicana Evansville has reported having 1,137 electronic gaming machines with an annual payout return of 89.54%.

Tip: Be careful to not use the simple iPhone calculator app for this, as it cannot handle numbers of 1 billion. Instead, used the advanced calculator by turning the iPhone sideways.

Note that Hoosier Park has the highest payout return for 2018 closely followed by French Lick and Rising Star. The casino with the lowest 2018 payout return is Tropicana Evansville, just below Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Ameristar, and Horseshoe Hammond.

The Indiana Gaming Commission also offers monthly revenue reports by the 11th of the following month in addition to an annual report. Again, COIN IN and WIN are offered for each slot machine denomination and casino.

Indiana’s tribal casino does not have payout return limits nor are payout return statistics provided for their Class II bingo-style electronic gaming machines.

Summary of Indiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018

Indiana slot machine casino gambling consists of 9 riverboat casinos now allowed to be land-based casinos, one land-based casino, two pari-mutuel racinos, and a new tribal casino with Class II bingo-style games.

Detailed annual and monthly revenue reports from the state gaming commission offer actual payout return statistics for all non-tribal casinos.

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Annual Progress in Indiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Over the last year, the two riverboat Majestic Star I and II casinos were combined into a single casino location due to land-based casinos now being allowed in Indiana.

In mid-June 2018, the Indiana Gaming Commission approved the acquisitions of both of Indiana’s pari-mutuel racetrack casinos with slot machines by Caesars Entertainment.

2017 Archive: Indiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2017 – Indiana slot machine casino gambling currently consists of thirteen gambling establishments, with an additional casino planned to open in early 2018. Casinos include ten riverboat casinos, two pari-mutuel facilities, and one land-based casino. There are 23,550 slots and gaming machines and 607 table games in the state.

Related Articles from Professor Slots

• 11 Things You Need To Know About American Indian Tribal Casinos – Tribal gaming is involved, even sophisticated, in terms of legal, regulatory, political, and economic factors. It’s one of the least understood segments of the U.S. gaming industry. This summary article on American Indian tribal casinos helps slot machine casino gamblers better understand the tribal casinos they visit.

Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots

• Series: Online Resource: State-By-State Slots Gambling Summaries – Now in its second year, this series is an online resource dedicated to slot machine casino gambling enthusiasts. It provides 56 weekly, detailed gambling summarizes covering each U.S. state, territory, and the federal district to capture dynamic changes occurring of late in the U.S. gaming/gambling industry specific to slots play.
• Previous: Illinois Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018 – Illinois slot machine casino gambling includes 10 riverboat casinos and video lottery terminals at over 6,300 bars, restaurants, truck stops, and other licensed locations. Minimum and maximum legal limits are 80% and 100% over a game’s lifetime. Actual payout return statistics as casino hold percentages are publicly available.
• Next: Iowa Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018 – Iowa slot machine casino gambling consists of 16 non-tribal casinos, 3 pari-mutuel racinos, and 3 tribal casinos. Tribal casinos have payout return minimum and maximum payout return limits of 80% and 99%. Extensive payout return statistics are available for non-tribal casinos, but none are available for tribal casinos.