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With the newly regulated online sportsbooks, many people are asking when casino games will be coming online in Indiana.

Racino Blackjack In Indiana. Racinos are horse racing tracks that also have casinos. These casinos don’t currently offer live dealer table games. Guests can currently play E-Table blackjack games at Harrah’s Hoosier Park and Indiana Grand. Video blackjack games are available to guests 24 hours a day. Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, Shelbyville, IN. 76,938 likes 679 talking about this 184,867 were here. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing at racetracks and 21 or older to gamble at. Blackjack It is played with one or more decks of 52 cards. The objective of the game is to beat the dealer in one of the following ways: Get 21 points on the player's first two cards (called a 'blackjack' or 'natural'), without a dealer blackjack; Reach a final score higher than the dealer without exceeding 21; or Let the dealer draw additional cards until his or her hand exceeds 21.

While there are currently no bills expanding the reach of online gambling beyond sports, many commentators see it as only being a matter of time.

There are online casino options for Indiana players. These sites use the existing sweepstakes gaming laws to offer slots, table games and video poker.

This page covers all you need to know about live and online casino gambling in Indiana.

Firstly, you’ll find out about the current legal landscape, plus changes in the setup of live casinos. After that, we examine sweepstakes casino options in detail. Finally, we explore regulated casinos in other states, showing what a regulated online casino market would look like in the HoosierState.

Top Sweepstakes Casinos

Are Online Casinos Legal in Indiana?

News about bill H 1015 has been hard to miss recently; the IndianaSenate recently approved the bill and it only needs the signature of Gov. Eric Holcomb to become law.

This bill allows for online sports betting and follows the overturning of the PASPA act, which prevented states from offering sports betting for many years. NewJersey and Pennsylvania are already offering sports betting, and Indiana will be the first Midwestern state to get on board.

Bill H 1015 also introduces some notable changes to the live casino setup. Table games will expand, it permits movement of one of the riverboat casinos in Gary, IN, and offers a license for a brand-new casino.

Unfortunately, this is as far as the bill goes.

The bill provides no provisions for the licensing and regulation of either online casinos or online poker rooms; however, this does not rule out the eventual adoption of either of these. That will require another piece of legislation. The success of online casinos in other states (and the resulting tax boost) is a factor that could speed up a second bill.

Existing statues covering online casino gambling for Indiana.

In most states, the legislation covering online casino gambling is on statutes which predate the internet. Indiana is different, with wording in a 2006amendment specifically covering websites.

While there have been prosecutions of participants in underground gambling rings historically, no individual has been indicted for enjoying real-money online casino gambling to date.

Looking at the Indiana statutes, gambling has a vague, though seemingly catch-all definition:

‘“Gambling” means risking money or other property for gain, contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, or the operation of a gambling device’ (from section 35-45-5-1).

This would specifically exclude casino gambling (chance), though it is broad enough to cover sports betting and poker, which both include an element of skill.

There are caveats for charity gambling events, and licenses for 10 riverboat casinos and two racetrack casinos. The sole tribalcasino in Indiana, which opened in 2007, operates under a compact.

Live Casinos in Indiana

There have been legal casinos in Indiana for decades.

In recent years, there has been a gradual expansion from the initial five licenses to 10 boats and two racetracks. Originally, riverboat casinos were only licensed to offer gambling while on the move.

If and when online casino licensing happens, the live venues will have first rights to the online licenses. In NJ and PA, casinos have teamed up with global players to provide locally branded online casinos and using global brands.

Indiana hosts nine riverboat casinos, two racetracks and one tribal casino. Here’s an overview:

• Ameristar Casino: This riverboat is docked at IndianaHarbor on Lake Michigan in EastChicago. It has undergone several brand changes, previously known as Resorts, Harrah’s and Showboat Mardi Gras.
• Belterra Casino: This riverboat is on the Ohio River close to Florence, IN. BoydGaming owns it. In an unfortunate event, the original boat sank after a collision just before opening and had to be replaced.
• Blue Chip Casino: This riverboat casino is in Michigan City, IN. It hosts a 1,200-seat event center in addition to the casino that welcomes musicians and comedians.
• Four Winds South Bend Casino: This is Indiana’s only tribal casino, which is operated by the Pokagon Tribe, a 5,000-strong tribe that became federally recognized in 1997.
• French Lick Casino: This was Indiana’s first “dryland” casino. It opened in 2006 between the towns of WestBaden and French Lick. The site includes resort spas, hotels and stables.
• Hollywood Casino: Located in Lawrenceburg, IN, this huge riverboat casino covers the Cincinnati area. Penn National Gaming operates this casino.
• Hoosier Park: This racetrack casino is in Anderson, IN. Caesars Entertainment owns it. Harness racing is popular here, and an entertainment complex hosts prominent name musicians.
• Horseshoe Southern Indiana: This riverboat casino is on the Ohio River. While its official Indiana address is the town of Elizabeth, it is conveniently located opposite Louisville, Ky.
• Horseshoe Hammond: A second casino with the horseshoe name is in Hammond (East Chicago), IN. This four-level gaming venue has entertainment and dining options as well as more than 3,000 slots and table games.
• Indiana Grand: This venue is a racetrack, located close to Indianapolis. Caesars Entertainment owns and operates it. As well as casino, entertainment and dining options, you can enjoy thoroughbred racing here.
• Majestic Star I and II: Located in Gary on Lake Michigan, these twin riverboat casinos are owned by Majestic Star Holdings. Majestic Star II was once known as the TrumpCasino.
• Rising Star Casino: This riverboat was once known as the GrandVictoria, and is located in RisingSun, IN. There are two hotel towers and an entertainment pavilion here.
• Tropicana Casino: This is Indiana’s second “dryland” venue, located in Evansville. This is a combination of casino, hotel and entertainment complex.

Online Casino Options for Indiana Players

While we wait for future legislation, there are already sweepstakes casinos welcoming players Indiana. These are ChumbaCasino and LuckyLandSlots. They are legal options, and welcome players from across the country (except for Washingtonstate).

These casinos stay legal by using sweepstakes gaming laws. When you spin a slot, deal a hand of blackjack or hit “draw” on video poker, you will effectively be entering a fast sweepstakes contest. You can’t play these games directly for dollars, though you can undoubtedly win some big cash prizes.

These sites use “sweepscash,” which can be exchanged to dollars that can be withdrawn to your bank account.

You get Sweeps Coins for free in several ways:

Register an account at Chumba Casino and get $2 in free Sweeps Coins.

Send a letter to a registered address for either Chumba Casino or LuckyLand Slots. They will credit your account with additional Sweeps Coins.

Buy “gold coins” or “gold chips.” These are the play-money currency at these online casinos. When you make a purchase, you get some free Sweeps Coins (often double the value via bonuses).

Enter social media contests via Facebook or Twitter.

You’ll find both casinos are easy to use. The Sweeps Coins system is a creative workaround that keeps these casinos legal.

You can buy chips with your credit card or with Skrill. Both casinos have an impressive collection of slots. Many of these are “heavily influenced” by popular games you’ll find in live Indiana casinos.

Gray Market Casinos: A Dangerous Option

You might see offshore casinos offering real-money gambling. These casinos claim to be legal in their jurisdiction (usually the Caribbean Island). While some brands have been operating for several years, the lack of oversight should be a red flag.

If you have a dispute with an offshore casino, or it merely disappears (along with player balances), then you have no recourse. Relying on deposit methods like Bitcoin and prepaid credit cards ensures that it is the player taking all the risk and not the casino.

Real Money Casino Games in Indiana

So far, the specifics of games you can choose from have been skimmed over. We flesh out what you can find at the legal online (sweepstakes) casinos in Indiana and many of the popular games at legal state casinos.

First, there are five broad categories of games to cover. Each of these has its subtypes.

Online slots: Just like in live casinos, this is the most popular and numerous type of casino game. They range some simple, three-reel games to complex, movie-themed titles with life-changing progressivejackpots. Look out for entertaining bonus rounds and wild symbols with special behavior.

Table games: Expect to see table games at Indiana casinos. Options include every game you can play over the green felt: blackjack, roulette, craps and casino poker variants.

Videopoker: From jacks or better on bar-top consoles to today’s complex “Double Double Bonus Poker” or multi-hand games, video poker is a low-edge alternative to other gambling options.

Kenoandbingo: As themes and computer graphics become more advanced, the gap between keno and slots gets smaller. You can even find “Slingo” titles, which involve the best of both keno and real-money bingo. If you prefer a more traditional keno format, this is available at many online casinos, too.

Noveltygames: While this is a catch-all for anything at an online casino that does not fit into the categories above, innovation makes these games worth checking out. You’ll find scratch-its, fun games based on TV game shows and even virtual betting available online.

Online Casino Bonus Deals

Both Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots already offer casino bonuses for Indiana-based players.

These are small, though do give you a great way to check out the games with some free Sweeps Coins. If you win, could be cashing out a lump sum.

The free, upfront cash style offer is popular in other states. We hope when online casino regulation comes to Indiana that similar bonuses will be available.

These promotions give players a small amount of bonus cash simply for registering an account. There are some terms and conditions in place to prevent casino bonus abuse.

You’ll need to wager the bonus cash before it becomes withdrawable, and ID verification will be required. By taking the risk away, yet still offering chances to hit the jackpot or big line-hit, these deals are a great way to check out the different casinos.

Depositbonuses are the most common way to offer new players extra cash.

These match your first deposit, often at 100% of a specified amount. For example, a casino might offer a 100% match of up to $250 for new players, which means you get twice the amount to gamble with — in this case, $500 instead of $250. Wageringrequirements (that can be weighted by game) will usually apply.

This offering is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to casino bonuses. Most online sites have loyaltyschemes.

These programs are sometimes in tiers, offering more benefits the longer you play. Casinos sometimes tie loyalty schemes to live casinos. Look out for free spins bonuses, reloads, slot or blackjack tournament entries, happy hour promotions, and one-off and seasonal offers.

Speculation: How does a regulated online casino market in Indiana look?

The newly regulated online sports betting market is a significant policy change for Indiana, which has left many people hopeful that online casinos and poker rooms will soon follow.

With no new bills announced, the period between the sports betting apps going live and the next legislative session will be necessary.

Based on NJ and PA online casino activity, how future casino gambling could look in Indiana can be seen. Regulated states have given jurisdiction for licensing to their gaming control boards. For example, in New Jersey, the Division of Gambling Enforcement covers licensing and regulates areas like responsiblegambling policy and game fairness.

In the current regulated states, each online casino has to partner with an existing brick-and-mortar venue. Some live casinos have multiple licenses, most branded a casino on their own name, while some have partnered with international giants like Bwin.Party, The Stars Group or ScientificGames to develop a platform.

Some good news for IN residents comes via the bonus offers at these casinos.

With competition for new players being fierce, there are multiple opportunities to pick up free cash, deposit bonuses and many other incentives. In the early days after “go live,” you’ll have the chance to take maximum advantage of the casino marketing budgets.

The final significant difference for a state-regulated casino is the vast choice of games.

At LuckyLand and Chumba Casino, you can choose from 50 or more slot titles. Regulated casinos sometimes have 10x this number. You’ll be able to enjoy online versions of live casino favorites, plus new games from some of the biggest slot studios from around the world. Add to this a choice of table games, including many livedealer options.

Wrapping up: Online casino gambling in Indiana

Sports betting online is about to go live, and many hope that casino games will follow soon after. Bill H 1015 does not include casino gaming, so this will need to be via another act. The success of similar regulation in other states might well be a catalyst for this legislation.

In the meantime, Hoosier State residents have options for legal online casino play: sweepstakes casinos. They are legal, working with existing sweepstakes laws. Instead of buying chips directly, you buy “gold coins” or gold chips” (play-money tokens) and get Sweeps Coins for free. There are some big jackpots and entertaining games to check out. If you win, you can exchange your Sweeps Coins for dollars and cash out.

Looking at other states, you’ll see a thriving casino setup. This includes a fantastic choice of games and some generous marketing offers. These give us clues as to how a regulated online casino in Indiana would look, and many casino players will say, “Bring it on.”

While there are many casino card games, blackjack is the most popular.

Wherever casino table games are permitted, you’ll find a selection of blackjack tables. You’ll find small variations in the rules on splitting, doubling and more. Also, there are different side bets available, many with the potential for big jackpot prizes.

This guide discusses the types of blackjack currently available at online casinos.

We also discuss available games at sweepstakes casinos and preview the types of blackjack that will be available in Indiana in the event of future casino regulation.

Top Sweepstakes Blackjack

With sports betting coming online in Indiana soon, many commentators believe that casino gaming, including slots and blackjack, will follow.

First, we cover playing real-money blackjack. The key topics include house edge, rules and optimizing your playing strategy.

After that, we cover the many variations of blackjack you can find online. Live dealer online blackjack, and how to enjoy playing online for free.

How to play blackjack for real money

A big attraction of blackjack is the low house edge.

If you play the correct strategy, many variations have a house edge of 2% or less. Compared to slots, US roulette and other table games, this is very low.

That “if” is crucial.

To enjoy gambling without giving extra money to the house, you can’t make many mistakes. Those can vary from expensive errors (hitting a five against a dealer six), though to more subtle incorrect plays.

Before you play any blackjack game, you need to know the basicstrategy of when to hit, stand, double and surrender.

The next step is to find the strategy for the specific mix of the game’s rules.

How to lower the house edge in blackjack

While small things — like being able to double after a split — affect the house edge of real-money blackjack games, there are some significant factors.

Here are the basics of what to look for, whether you play live or online:

• Fewer decks: You can play blackjack with one deck or with up to eight decks. As a rule of thumb, you’ll find the house edge gets lower with the fewest decks.
• Blackjack pays 3:2: If you see a game where blackjack pays 6:5, you’ll pay more to the casino over the long run.
• Dealer stands/hits on soft 17: Games, where the dealer stands on soft 17 (ace + six), have a lower house edge than games where the dealer hits.
• Side games: These certainly add excitement to a real-money blackjack session, keep in mind that side games are also expensive. For some games, the house edge can be up to 10% of your bets.
• Surrender option: The ability to “fold” a bad hand (e.g., a 15 against a dealer picture card), is a positive, reducing the casino house edge.

Can you play blackjack online in Indiana?

While the slow move toward a more open online gambling environment begins, there is a legal option for playing blackjack online and winning real cash prizes.

This option is via sweepstakescasinos, which use state laws that permit sweepstakes contests. These contests include casino games, e.g., slots and blackjack.

Sweepstakes casinos legally accept players in Indiana, allowing them to play blackjack using a virtual currency called “sweepscash.”

ChumbaCasino is a popular sweepstakes casino; here is how it works:

• You register an account at www.ChumbaCasino.com.
• You receive “gold coins” (for entertainment only) and “Sweeps Coins” (that you can later exchange for US dollars).
• You play blackjack. Each game you play counts as a sweepstakes contest, though you’ll experience the game as a regular blackjack table.
• If you win, you can cash out by exchanging your Sweeps Coins for US dollars.
• If you don’t, you can get more Sweeps Coins by purchasing packages of gold coins. Chumba will give you “free” Sweeps Coins to go with it.

This casino is legal, and regular bank card payments are accepted.

Live blackjack games in Indiana

You can choose from 13 live casinos in Indiana, including the tworacetracks and the Indiancasino in SouthBend.

Depending on the casino, you’ll find blackjack in both live dealer and electronic blackjack machines (where you’ll play against a virtual dealer on a big screen).

The Indiana bill H 1015 was signed into law on May 8 and includes a provision for the expansion of the number of table games in land-based Indiana casinos. There is also an additionalland-based casino license. Both of these factors (as well as the potential for future online legislation), you should see more blackjack options.

Variations of blackjack

Most Indiana blackjack lovers will know the standard USrules, though that is one of two types of blackjack. The other uses Europeanrules.

In European blackjack, the dealer does not “peek” when he or she shows an ace or picture card. That means you won’t know if the dealer gets a blackjack before you decide how to play, which changes the strategy a little.

While the games are almost the same in terms of house edge, the US version moves faster. And you won’t have to wait around those times the dealer hits 21.

This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to blackjack variations.

Three significant ways the games are different involve the rules, side bets and what we call “exoticvariations.” You will find each, in turn, below.

Variations in rules

Here are some of the ways you’ll find that real-money blackjack games adapt to the rules:

• US or European: The difference is whether the dealer peeks or doesn’t peek, as we described above.
• Surrender: Some games give you the option to discard bad hands for half of your bet, others do not.
• Dealer hit or stand on soft 17: Look for the games where the dealer stands as these have better player odds.
• Splitting: This determines whether identical cards of the same ranked cards can be split. Also, it determines how many splits are permitted, whether you can split aces (or more than one additional card if you do split an ace).
• Doubling: European-rules blackjack only allows doubling down on nine through 11 totals; US-rules blackjack usually allows this for all counts. Look for variations that prevent you from doubling after a split.

Remember, these rules need to be combined with the number of decks in play to find the optimal strategy for each variation.

Variations in side bets

Most casinos have side bets along with the main blackjack games. These offer big payouts for certain combinations (even jackpots in some cases).

While side bets often have a significant edge in favor of the casino, they do add excitement. Blackjack is a lower variance game, which giving side bets an appeal in terms of a potential windfall.

The most popular side bet is “perfectpairs,” which pays prizes if you get a pair in your hand. These can be bigger when your pair is made of cards of the same color or suit.

Other variations work on 7s. If you get 21 with three 7s of the same suit, you could be looking at a huge prize.

Exotic blackjack games

There is a long list of casino games that have been created around the concept of blackjack without being the same. Some of these have developed into popular games in their own right, while others are niche games which are only found at online casinos.

Here are some of the most popular:

• Spanish blackjack: In this game, the 10s are removed from the deck. This might seem like a subtle variation, although it changes the strategy quite a bit.
• Blackjackswitch: In this variant, you are dealt two hands. You can switch the up-card between the two, optimizing your hands. There are other rules that claw back some of the advantages, though the extra strategy adds some appeal.
• Free bet blackjack: This live casino game is where you can double down or split with a free bet from the casino in some situations. Again, the rules claw this back (dealer pushes on 22, for example).
• Pontoon: This variation has different terms like “stick” and “twist,” though uses the 21 concept. You get bonus payments for making a five card 21 in this game.
• Multi-hand blackjack: Online, you can find tables that allow you to play two to three hands against the same dealer cards, which adds to the excitement.

Playing live dealer blackjack online

In the past, online blackjack games meant playing against computer software. Outcomes of hands were controlled by random number generator software.

In states that have regulated online casinos, live dealer blackjack games have proven to be extremely popular. If Indiana goes ahead with legal online casinos, live dealer blackjack games should be available, too.

These games work via remote studios inside the major casinos. These are equipped with cameras and audio equipment so you can see and hear the action in real time. A dealer cuts the decks (that is automatically shuffled) and deals the cards.

As a player, you get to bet online. Each table has seven seats, and you can choose your stake, add side bets and decide whether to hit, stand or double depending on what you see.

There are pros and cons to live dealer games.

The biggest benefits include the social aspect. You can chat with the dealers and the players at the table. Also, you can see the cards being shuffled and dealt, which removes any doubt about the casino’s shuffle being fair.

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A minor disadvantage of live dealer blackjack to be aware of is timingout. If you don’t act in time, you will stand, whatever your count.

Another con is that the minimumstakes are often higher for live dealer games, though this depends on the individual casinos. Depending on how fast the other players are, you can sometimes find the going to be a little slow, too.

With live dealer games taking off hugely compared to the software titles, it is safe to say that the benefitsoutweigh the drawbacks.

Blackjack is not the only game you will find at live dealer online casinos. You can also enjoy roulette, casino poker games and baccarat.

How to play blackjack online for free in Indiana

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Blackjack is a casino game where it can pay to practice because making mistakes compared to the right strategy can cost your money over the long run.

Another important reason to play online blackjack for free is to take advantage of free bonus offers at online casinos. Unfortunately, Chumba Casino is the only sweepstakes casino offering free money ($2 in Sweeps Coins) in Indiana at the moment.

Indiana Grand Casino Shelbyville Indiana Blackjack

If and when regulation for Indiana online gambling does arrive, you can expect big marketing budgets competing for your business with free cash offers.

Wrapping up: Blackjack games in Indiana

Until recently the only options for blackjack in Indiana required traveling to a riverboat casino or racetrack. While blackjack is always entertaining, it is not always convenient.

With sportsbooks coming online in Indiana, commentators hope state-regulated online casinos will follow. Based on the action in other regulated states, this will bring a significantchoice of software-based blackjack games and live dealer options.

Until then, you can enjoy blackjack via sweepstakes casinos. These use “Sweeps Coins” to allow for legal slot play and blackjack play in many states, including Indiana. You can exchange Sweeps Coins into dollars.

Blackjack is a game where knowing the perfectstrategy is a big advantage. This not only allows you to pay the lowest house edge, but it also gives you knowledge of how to find the bestgames, whether in a live casino or online.