Indiana online lottery legalization progresses
This year’s bill drops proposals for online casino legalization introduced at the beginning of 2025, with House Public Policy Committee approval sealed
Indiana’s latest bill to legalize online lottery has advanced to the House floor after a vote by House Public Policy Committee members.
On Tuesday, January 6, members voted 9-3 in favor of the HB 1078, which would allow the State Lottery Commission to offer online draw and online instant games.
Unlike in the bill proposed 12 months ago, HB 1078 does not include online casino gaming, which remains prohibited in the Hoosier State.
If the bill is approved, the minimum age for ilottery players would be 18, digital lottery couriers would be banned, and an online lottery voluntary exclusion program would be set up.
A clause in the bill stipulates that lottery games perceived to imitate casino-style games would not be permitted, and that the Commission would have the ultimate say on what titles would be authorized.
As well as advocating for the legalization of online casino, last year’s bill proposed the introduction of a fund which would redistribute ilottery revenue among participating retailers – two features absent from the 2026 version.
“While most of us in this room support that [dual] concept, we’ve tried that before and it didn’t work, so we’re trying something different to take a smaller bite at the apple,” said the Committee chair and sponsor Ethan Manning at a hearing on January 6.
Other members, including representatives Steve Bartell and Cory Criswell, argued that both online lottery and casino should go live concurrently.
Last month, Indiana legislators put forward a bill proposing the banning of dual-currency sweepstakes in the state, following similar moves in Maine, New York, and California.
Alongside Indiana, the states of Illinois, Maryland, New York, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts all introduced bills attempting to legalize igaming at the start of 2025.