Anti-iGaming Group Releases Study Saying Indiana Residents Against Online Casinos

In the world of online gambling, online casinos (also known as iGaming) have failed to gain as much traction in the US when it comes to expansion.

Just seven states have legalized online casinos, while online sports betting is legal in 32 different states and Washington D.C.

One state that has shown signs of online casino expansion is Indiana. A bi-partisan bill, HB1432, was introduced last year in the state House of Representatives that would see retail casinos in the state be allowed up to three online casino licenses. The bill didn’t make it out of the House despite passing through the House Public Policy Committee, but shows that there are realistic discussions happening on the matter.

However, those opposing online casinos in Indiana recently released a study claiming strong opposition from Indiana voters.

The study was conducted by Pantheon Insight, through funding from the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG). Their survey found that 67% of Indiana residents are opposed to online casino expansion “after learning about its real impacts.”

Survey Attempts to “Educate” Indiana Voters

The conducted survey included 502 registered Indiana voters. Pantheon Insight found that most voters don’t know what iGaming actually is, and once they were informed by the surveyor, they were firmly against it.

Prior to being provided any additional information, 65% of those surveyed said they were “not sure what iGaming was.” A total of 19% didn’t support iGaming prior to further questioning, while 15% were in support.

Those conducting the survey then told the voters the following:

“As you may know, legalizing iGaming, also known as iGambling, would allow 24-hour gambling access to slot machines and casino table games from wherever you are on your phone or mobile devices.”

Following that statement, Pantheon Insight said 58% of those polled said they opposed legalizing online casinos, while 35% supported it. According to the survey, opposition was broad across multiple categories of voters. That includes:

• 69% of seniors
• 66% of college-educated voters
• 63% of women
• 60% of voters, 18-34
• 59% of self-described conservatives
• 57% of independents

Pantheon Insight also noted that 64% of voters that live in counties with brick-and-mortar casinos were opposing online casino expansion.

Survey Highlights Some Positives, Shifts Back to Negatives

To try and provide a balanced perspective, Pantheon Insight also provided those surveyed with three statements that supported iGaming expansion. They were:

• Legalizing iGaming will provide Indiana with millions of dollars in revenue that can be used to improve education, rebuild our infrastructure, or help pay for Medicaid.
• Legalizing iGaming will make sure people who want to gamble are using vetted, fair games that are regulated by the state, providing a secure platform for users.
• Many Hoosiers are already using foreign, black market iGaming sites. By legalizing iGaming in Indiana, we can give Hoosiers tools to protect them from addiction and let them play safely at the same time.

Following these messages, 46% of those surveyed supported the idea of expansion, with 48% opposed.

The survey then went on to highlight other negative impacts, like economic and mental health impacts of gambling expansion. Pantheon Insight claims that following that information, 67% of those surveyed moved to opposing expansion.

Indiana Could Generate $500 Million in OC Tax Revenue

The 2025 bill to expand online gambling called for a tax ranging from 22%-30% on iGaming based on adjusted gross receipts from each licensed operator.

Currently states with top online casino tax revenue include Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Their tax rates are:

• New Jersey: 19.75%
• Michigan: 20-28%
• Pennsylvania: 54% on slots, 16% table games

The tax rate compares to what Michigan currently has. Michigan has a population of over 10 million, while Indiana is slightly under 7 million.

In 2024, Michigan generated over $620 million in tax revenue from online casino games. That number is going to be closer to $800 million in 2025.

If you take 70% of that based on population comparisons, Indiana could be looking at around $500-550 million in annual tax revenue from iGaming once fully established.