Indiana will make another attempt at legalizing online casinos, also known as iGaming, in 2023.
Indiana has an already successful gaming market as the state earned $700 million in taxes from its 12 casinos in the recent fiscal year, according to a report from the Indiana Gaming Commission.
President and CEO of the Casino Association of Indiana Matt Bell said that iGaming could be huge for the industry, expanding the marketing and driving up revenue.
While there are concerns about the impact iGaming could have on gambling addiction, Bell said that many people already have access to illegal, offshore iGaming sites and, with legalization, there are ways that it can be monitored responsibly.
“Online offers incredible opportunities some of which don’t exist today at brick-and-mortar casinos,” Bell said. “You know it’s very difficult to know how much a player is wagering in a brick-and-mortar casino as they move from table to table, game to game, or casino to casino.”
LISTEN TO: Will iGaming come to Indiana in 2023?
Senior Research Director for the International Center for Responsible Gaming Christine Reilly said more research needs to be done to find the safest and most effective ways to help treat gambling addiction before it becomes more easily accessible.
“Colleges and universities have to step up and be better about recognizing that gambling disorder is a mental health problem, that students may be at more risk for it, and there are a lot of things they can do to help,” said Reilly.
Six to nine percent of young people and young adults experience gambling problems, at a much higher rate than adults according to a report from the National Center for Responsible Gaming.
