Poker in Indiana

There are many places to play live in-person poker in Indiana, aka the Hoosier State.

Poker tables are available at four land-based commercial casinos in the state, as well as one tribal casino, six riverboats, and two racinos. State law also allows charitable organizations like the Elks Club, the Lions Club, the Shriners, and the VFW to offer poker, too. Poker is also available as a sweepstakes.

One place you won’t (or shouldn’t) find poker is in private homes — home games are illegal under state law. That’s because Indiana considers poker to be a game of chance, not skill, and that any play for money is considered gambling. There’s also currently no regulated real money online poker in Indiana, though there are efforts to legalize the activity.

So, although Hoosiers can’t play real money poker at home, they have many options available to make up for the inconvenience.

Is Poker Legal in Indiana?

Yes, live in-person poker is legal in Indiana and can be found at every land-based commercial casino, tribal casino, riverboat, and racino in the state. Poker is also available via charity casinos and sweepstakes. Since poker is considered a game of chance, not skill, by Indiana regulators, only licensed gaming establishments can offer poker to customers — with the exception of charitable organizations like the Elks Club, Lions Club, the VFW, and others.

Indiana Gambling Laws and Poker

Indiana Gambling Law: What’s Legal

Indiana is home to four land-based commercial casinos, one tribal casino, six riverboats, and two racinos. It also has mobile and retail sports betting. The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) oversees all of these activities, with the exception of the tribal casino.

Most other forms of gambling in the Hoosier State are banned by state statute, but there are a few exceptions. According to Indiana Code 35-45-5, those exceptions include:

1. The Hoosier Lottery
2. Riverboat casinos
3. Parimutuel wagering on horse races
4. Charity gaming
5. Slot machines at racetracks
6. Type II gaming — aka raffles, pull tabs, punchboards, or tip board games approved by the IGC

Sports betting has been available to Hoosiers since September 2019. Indiana is also home to three tribal casinos, but only one — Four Winds Casino South Bend, which is owned and operated by the federally recognized Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians — operates as a tribal casino under federal law. The other two casinos operate as commercial casinos with oversight by the IGC.

Sweepstakes and social casinos are also legal in Indiana, but they aren’t regulated by the IGC.

Poker a Game of Chance, Not Skill, in Indiana

Indiana considers poker to be a game of chance, not skill.

According to the state’s illegal gambling statute, “a card game or an electronic version of a card game is a game of chance and may not be considered a bona fide contest of skill.”

Indiana regulators add that “games like poker and euchre are considered gambling if played for money.”

All of which means that poker games, even those at people’s private homes, are illegal in Indiana. The Hoosier State also doesn’t have regulated cardrooms like California or Florida, or private poker clubs like Texas.

Instead, Indiana gave the state’s licensed land-based casinos, riverboats, and racinos — plus the one tribal casino within its borders — express permission to offer live poker. Charitable organizations like the Elks Club, the Lions Club, Shriners International, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), are also allowed to offer live poker to Hoosiers.

The state categorizes unlawful gambling as a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

Poker in Indiana Today

Where Live Poker is Played in Indiana

Live in-person poker is available all over the state, including at three riverboats and a land-based commercial casino in Northwest Indiana, part of the Chicago area. Another three riverboats and two land-based casinos along the Ohio River in the southern part of the state also offer poker, as do two racinos in the central part of the state, near the state capital of Indianapolis.

Organizations like the Elks Club, Lions Club, Shriners International and the VFW are also allowed to offer poker to benefit charity.

The following is a list of the most popular options for playing live poker in Indiana:

* Includes other table games like blackjack and baccarat.

Major Tournament Series Run in Indiana

Hoosiers also have access to some of the most prestigious poker tournaments in the US. Case in point, the famous World Series of Poker (WSOP) holds events at Caesars Southern Indiana and Horseshoe Casino Hammond.

Most of the action at the upcoming WSOP Circuit Event are No Limit Hold’em, but Omaha 8 and Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) events are also available.

Horseshoe Casino Hammond has weekly tournaments, all No Limit Hold’em (NLH), on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Meanwhile, Horseshoe Casino Indianapolis offers High Hands games on Mondays and Wednesdays, and NLH action for the other five days of the week.

Caesars owns WSOP, Horseshoe Casino Hammond, and Horseshoe Casino Indianapolis, but it does not own Caesars Southern Indiana — there, Caesars agreed to lease its name to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which operates the casino.

Poker Through Sweepstakes

Poker players looking for live action away from the casinos and other gaming properties can also participate in a sweepstakes event, which are often held at taverns and restaurants.

Under the sweepstakes model, play is not considered gambling if it’s conducted for a legitimate purpose and allow some (or all) of the participants to play for free.

One popular example are WPT League (WPTL) North America Poker Tournaments, which has separate regions for Northern, Central, and Southern Indiana. Tournament action is available to WPTL members with no buy-in.

Poker in this format must follow strict rules. Gambling and side bets of any kind are prohibited and no money is ever allowed on the poker table.

Multi-State Poker in Indiana

Indiana has live poker, but online poker is not available — yet. Efforts to legalize online poker and casino gaming fell short during the 2021, 2022, and 2023 legislative sessions, and a corruption scandal involving a former lawmaker likely derailed any chance at expanded iGaming in 2024.

Nevertheless, industry watchers still expect a launch of Indiana online poker in the next few years. The most recent proposal also called for the state to a multi-state gaming compact to support online poker. The Hoosier State would likely sign the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), which includes Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, and West Virginia.

Poker in Indiana FAQ

Is poker legal in Indiana?

Yes, live in-person poker is available at many venues all over Indiana. Land-based commercial casinos, racetracks, racinos, and a tribal casino each offer poker, as do several charitable organizations like the Elks Club, Lions Club, and VFW. Poker games in private homes are illegal because the state classifies poker as a game of chance, not skill, and any play for money is considered gambling. Therefore, only entities licensed for gaming with the state, plus charities, can offer poker.

Does Indiana have registered cardrooms for poker?

No, there are no registered cardrooms in the Hoosier State. The registered cardroom model is used to ensure live poker’s compliance with anti-gambling laws in California and Florida, but not Indiana.

Are there private poker clubs in Indiana?

Indiana doesn’t have private poker clubs, either. That model is used in Texas, where private poker clubs charge a membership fee in order to avoid violating state law.

Can I host my own private poker event at home?

Only if you feel like getting in trouble for violating the state’s ban on gambling — and that’s a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. Indiana considers poker to be a game of chance, not skill. And if you’re playing for money, that is considered gambling by the state. In a nutshell: Poker in private homes is illegal.

What poker variants can be found in Indiana?

Indiana’s poker providers have given Hoosiers plenty of variants to choose from. While No Limit Texas Hold’em (NLH) is by far the most popular, other variants include:

Are there cash games or tournaments?

Yes, most of the poker venues in Indiana offer cash games and have tournaments. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Series holds events at Horseshoe Casino Hammond and Caesars Southern Indiana.

Is online poker legal in Indiana?

No, real money online poker is not available in Indiana. Supporters of expanded iGaming in the Indiana General Assembly tried to pass bills to legalize online poker (and casino gaming) in 2021, 2022, and 2023.