Indiana state Sen. Jon Ford, president of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS), recently discussed the prospects of legalizing online casinos in Indiana. During a gaming industry event panel, Ford expressed that the likelihood of Indiana legalizing online casinos in 2023 is slim.
Panelist Howard Glaser also shared a similar sentiment, stating that online gaming is unlikely to be legalized in any state this year, including Indiana. However, both Indiana and New York were mentioned as potential candidates to consider online casino legalization in 2024.
Ford attributed the lack of progress in legalizing online casinos in Indiana to a negative economic report published by legislative services in February. The report suggested that up to 30% of brick-and-mortar casino revenue would be cannibalized if online casinos were legalized. However, Ford expressed doubts about the quality of the report and mentioned a previous report that indicated minimal cannibalization of revenue from established casinos in states where online gaming was introduced.
In summary, the prospects of online casino legalization in Indiana in the near future appear uncertain based on the current circumstances and economic report.
New Jersey is often a potential on the net casinos tutorial
There was some irony in discussing online casino gambling in Indiana while being in Atlantic City, the home of New Jersey’s casinos. The concerns raised in Indiana mirrored those of casino operators in Atlantic City about a decade ago. However, online casinos were launched in New Jersey in 2013, and it was found that there was less overlap between retail casino visitors and online casino players than initially feared.
States like Pennsylvania and Michigan, which have online casino industries, have seen that online casinos provide a new revenue source for traditional casinos. This became particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic when physical casinos were closed for extended periods in 2020.
However, in Indiana, there were concerns from residents in communities that benefit from having local casinos. They were worried about the potential impact of online gambling on their local economies. Ford mentioned that there was pressure from locals who benefited from casino revenues, such as taverns and charity groups, and they wanted to know what they would gain from the introduction of online gaming.
Ford believes that there is a good chance for online casino legalization efforts in Indiana next year. He emphasized the need to educate lawmakers about iGaming and create a structure that allows locals to benefit from it.
In summary, while concerns and pressures exist regarding online casino legalization in Indiana, the prospects for introducing online casinos in the state are seen as favorable in the near future, with a focus on addressing education and ensuring local benefits.
Everyone wants an item of the quiche
Glaser highlighted that the issue of how to divide the gambling pie among different stakeholders has become a major consideration in the debates surrounding online casino legalization in the US. He mentioned Illinois as a state with a robust gambling industry, but the absence of online casinos has created a missing piece in the market. The proliferation of video gambling terminals (VGTs) in the state further complicates the discussion.
Fluharty, a House of Delegates member from West Virginia, emphasized that states that have not yet taken action on online casino legalization are doing a disservice to their constituents. He noted that West Virginia earns three times the tax revenue from online casino operators compared to sports betting, which is a similar trend in the other five states with legal online casino gaming.
Lloyd Levenson, a gambling law attorney, mentioned that in New York, labor unions representing brick-and-mortar casino employees have expressed concerns about online casino approval. However, Ford stated that such discussions have not arisen in Indiana.
Ford emphasized the importance of keeping the tax rate low to attract players to legal online gambling. He expressed the desire to minimize offshore illegal gambling activities and encourage people to participate in legal and regulated online gambling.
