Indiana Casinos

Indiana authorized riverboat casino gambling in 1993, joining the early wave of Midwest states that used the riverboat format as a politically viable way to bring casino gaming to land-locked states. The river requirement tied casinos to waterways — Lake Michigan on Indiana’s northwest border and the Ohio River along its southern edge — which shaped where the industry concentrated. Over time, most Indiana casinos received permission to move their gaming off the boats onto land, but their geographic clustering along those water corridors remained. Unlike Illinois, Indiana has maintained a more dispersed casino geography.

The result is a casino landscape defined by two distinct geographic zones: the Chicago metro area (Hammond, East Chicago, Michigan City) in the northwest, and a string of Ohio River properties (Lawrenceburg, Rising Sun, Vevay, Elizabeth, Evansville) in the south. Two Indianapolis-area racinos — Indiana Grand in Shelbyville and Hoosier Park in Anderson — serve the state capital market with horse racing and electronic gaming. Indiana’s only tribal facility, Four Winds South Bend, sits in the northern part of the state.

Indiana launched sports betting in September 2019 and became one of the more active mobile wagering markets in the Midwest.

The Chicago Metro Corridor: Hammond, East Chicago, Michigan City

The northwest Indiana casino cluster sits along Lake Michigan and Interstate 90, functioning as the accessible gaming destination for greater Chicago. The three main properties draw from Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs as well as the Indiana lakefront communities.

Northwest Indiana and Chicago metro casino properties

H

Horseshoe Casino

Hammond

Poker Room

A

Ameristar

East Chicago

B

Blue Chip Casino

Michigan City

24/7 · Poker Room

F

Four Winds South Bend

South Bend

24/7 · Poker Room

Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago in East Chicago is the second major Lake Michigan casino, operated by Boyd Gaming. The property includes hotel rooms, multiple restaurants, and a full gaming floor. Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa in Michigan City is the third Chicago-corridor option, located farther east along the lakefront — it serves the South Bend and Michigan City markets alongside Chicago visitors. Four Winds South Bend, operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, is Indiana’s primary tribal casino facility and sits in St. Joseph County serving the South Bend-Mishawaka metro area.

Southern Indiana and the Ohio River Properties

The Ohio River properties form the southern Indiana casino corridor, spread from the Cincinnati metro in the east to the Evansville metro in the west — each positioned to capture cross-river traffic from Kentucky, Ohio, and Illinois, where casino options in those markets have historically been limited or absent.

Southern Indiana and Ohio River casino properties

H

Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg

Lawrenceburg

24/7 · Poker Room

C

Caesars Southern Indiana

Elizabeth

24/7 · Poker Room

B

Belterra Casino and Resort

Vevay

F

French Lick Resort Casino

French Lick

24/7 · Poker Room

R

Rising Star Casino Resort

Rising Sun

24/7

T

Tropicana Evansville

Evansville

24/7 · Poker Room

Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg (formerly Argosy Casino) is the Cincinnati-area option, in Lawrenceburg about 25 miles west of downtown Cincinnati. It draws heavily from Cincinnati and the southern Ohio market. Caesars Southern Indiana in Elizabeth is the Louisville-area option, on the Indiana side of the Ohio River south of Louisville. The property includes hotel rooms and a full gaming floor. Belterra Casino Resort in Vevay is a smaller Ohio River resort midway between the Cincinnati and Louisville options. French Lick Resort Casino in French Lick stands apart from the river cluster — it is an historic resort casino in the Indiana hill country operating under a unique land-based license tied to the resort’s historic status. Rising Star Casino Resort in Rising Sun and Tropicana Evansville round out the Ohio River corridor.

Racinos: Indiana Grand and Hoosier Park

Indiana Grand Racing and Casino in Shelbyville and Hoosier Park Racing and Casino in Anderson are both in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, each anchored to active thoroughbred and standardbred horse racing. Both operate slot machines and electronic table game simulators under the Indiana Horse Racing Commission — a different license than the riverboat-era commercial casinos. Neither offers live dealer table games or poker rooms.

Indiana Grand is the larger of the two by gaming floor size and sits about 25 miles southeast of Indianapolis on I-74. Hoosier Park is approximately 35 miles northeast of Indianapolis in Madison County. Both run active live racing seasons and year-round simulcast programs.

Games on Indiana’s Casino Circuit

Indiana’s commercial casinos offer full Class III gaming: slot machines, video poker, and live table games. The Chicago-corridor properties (Horseshoe Hammond, Ameristar East Chicago) have the largest and most varied table game floors. Southern Indiana resorts carry full selections appropriate to their size. The racinos (Indiana Grand, Hoosier Park) are slots-and-electronic-games only. Poker rooms are active at Horseshoe Hammond, Hollywood Lawrenceburg, Caesars Southern Indiana, and several other commercial properties.

★ Editor-in-Chief · Casino Perspectives

Best Land-Based Casinos, By Visitor Profile

Samuel Okonkwo

Senior Editor, Land-Based Gaming Law

🌆 For Chicago-Area Visitor

Best casino accessible from Chicago

Horseshoe Hammond: First Exit, Biggest Floor

"For Chicago-area visitors, Horseshoe Hammond is the default — it is the first significant exit off I-90 east of the Illinois state line and has the largest gaming floor in Indiana. The drive from Chicago's south side or suburbs is 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. The poker room is one of the most active in the region. Ameristar East Chicago is a few miles farther and provides a hotel option if you want to stay overnight. Blue Chip in Michigan City is a viable alternative if you want to avoid the busy Hammond traffic and don't mind an extra 30 minutes of driving."

Samuel Okonkwo · Senior Editor, Land-Based Gaming Law

🎰 For Cincinnati-Area Visitor

Best casino from Cincinnati

Hollywood Lawrenceburg: 25 Miles West

"Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg is a 25-mile drive from downtown Cincinnati — closer than the Ohio commercial casinos in Columbus or Cleveland. It draws a large portion of its business from the Cincinnati metro and southern Ohio. The facility has been through several name changes (originally Argosy, then Hollywood) and has a full gaming floor with table games, slots, and poker. Ohio added its own casinos in 2012 (Jack Cincinnati Casino is directly in downtown Cincinnati), so the cross-river competition is more intense now. Still, Lawrenceburg and Jack Cincinnati serve slightly different market segments, and many Cincinnati gamblers visit both."

Samuel Okonkwo · Senior Editor, Land-Based Gaming Law

🐎 For Louisville-Area Visitor

Best casino from Louisville

Caesars Southern Indiana: Across the Bridge

"Caesars Southern Indiana in Elizabeth is the Louisville-area option, across the Ohio River from downtown Louisville. It is the most resort-complete Ohio River property in southern Indiana, with a hotel and full gaming floor. The drive from downtown Louisville is about 25 minutes. Kentucky has its own casino market emerging in recent years, but Indiana's Ohio River properties have served the Louisville market for decades. French Lick Resort Casino is worth a dedicated trip if you are interested in the historic resort experience — it is about an hour north of Louisville in the Indiana hill country and feels nothing like the river casinos."

Samuel Okonkwo · Senior Editor, Land-Based Gaming Law

🏁 For Indianapolis-Area Visitor

Best casino for Indianapolis residents

Indiana Grand or Hoosier Park for Slots; River Drive for Tables

"Indianapolis does not have a casino within the city limits. For residents who want quick access to gaming, the two racinos serve that function: Indiana Grand in Shelbyville (25 miles southeast on I-74) and Hoosier Park in Anderson (35 miles northeast). Both are convenient for slots, electronic table games, and horse racing. For live dealer table games or poker, the nearest option is a 90-minute drive to the Ohio River corridor (Lawrenceburg or Caesars Southern Indiana) or north to the Chicago metro properties. The racinos are practical for a weeknight slot session; for a full casino experience with live tables, plan a longer trip."

Samuel Okonkwo · Senior Editor, Land-Based Gaming Law

📊 For Sports Bettor

Best setup for Indiana sports betting

Mobile-First Since 2019 — One of the Midwest Leaders

"Indiana launched mobile sports betting in September 2019, one of the earliest full-mobile launches in the Midwest. The state developed into a high-volume mobile market — you can bet from anywhere in Indiana using licensed apps from major operators. Retail sportsbook windows operate at most commercial casinos. For many Indiana sports bettors, the mobile channel is the primary one — the casino retail windows are useful for on-property visits but are not necessary for placing wagers. The minimum age is 21 for sports betting, matching the casino minimum."

Samuel Okonkwo · Senior Editor, Land-Based Gaming Law

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Indiana Gambling Law and Regulation

The Indiana Gaming Commission regulates commercial casinos and the tribal facility. The Indiana Horse Racing Commission governs the two racinos. Indiana’s casino framework traces to the 1993 Riverboat Gambling Act; most properties have since transitioned to land-based structures under the original riverboat licenses.

Quick Visitor Reference

• Closest casino to Chicago: Horseshoe Hammond (~25 miles from the Loop)
• Closest casino to Cincinnati: Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg (~25 miles west)
• Closest casino to Louisville: Caesars Southern Indiana (~25 miles north across the Ohio River)
• Closest casino to Indianapolis: Indiana Grand Racino (25 miles SE) or Hoosier Park (35 miles NE) — slots only; live tables ~90 min away
• Best poker room: Horseshoe Hammond (largest, most consistent in the state)
• Historic resort option: French Lick Resort Casino (land-based, unique historic setting)
• Sports betting: Legal statewide since Sept 2019 — mobile and retail
• Minimum age: 21 at all casinos and racinos