Signed by Governor Eric Holcomb

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that authorizes sports betting.

Highlights:

• Defines “e-sports” as a single-player or multiplayer video game played competitively, typically by professional gamers (Sec. 1).

• Defines “sports wagering” as wagering conducted under IC 4-38 on athletic and sporting events involving human competitors, not including pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing or wagering on e-sports (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that amounts received from sports wagering conducted by a licensee or operating agent under IC 4-38 are not to be included in adjusted gross receipts (Sec. 4).

• Expands the definition for “riverboat”, in which lawful gambling is authorized, to include (Sec. 5):

• A self-propelled excursion boat located in a county contiguous to Lake Michigan or the Ohio river;

• A casino operated in Gary; and

• A casino operated in Vigo County.

• Defines “undue economic concentration” as a person’s actual or potential domination of casino gambling in Indiana sufficient to (Sec. 7):

• Substantially impeding or suppressing competition among licensed owners and an operating agent;

• Adversely impacting the economic stability of the casino industry in Indiana; or

• Negatively impacting tourism, economic development, benefits to local communities, and state and local revenues.

• Expands the considerations the commission must take into account in deciding to grant an owner’s license, to include the impact of any undue economic concentration of the ownership or control of a gaming license (Sec. 12).

• Specifies that the Vigo County election board will hold a special election to determine whether inland casino gambling will be permitted in the county, which will determine whether or not inland casino gambling will be legalized (Sec. 17).

• Requires the licensed owner of a riverboat operating in Vigo County to pay to the city of Evansville (Sec. 7):

• $1.2 million in the first year of operations;

• $900,000 in the second  year of operations; and

• $600,000 in the third year of operations.

• Specifies that sports wagering is not classified under “gambling game” (Sec. 36).

• Specifies that the commission will authorize wagering on table games at each licensee’s gambling game facility starting January 1, 2020 (Sec. 37).

• Authorizes the commission to regulate and administer sports wagering conducted by a certificate holder or vendor (Sec. 38).

• Specifies that the “commission” refers to the Indiana gaming commission (Sec. 38).

• Authorizes an individual holding a certificate of authority to conduct sports wagering starting September 1, 2019 (Sec. 38).

• Prohibits anyone under 21 years of age from being present in an area where sports wagering is being conducted (Sec. 38).

• Prohibits a certificate holder or vendor from accepting wagers on (Sec. 38):

• E-sports;

• High school and other amateur youth sporting events; or

• An unapproved sporting event.

• Establishes a monthly 9.5 percent sports wagering tax for the adjusted gross receipts received from authorized sports wagering (Sec. 38).

• Authorizes the commission to suspend or revoke the certificate of authority of a certificate holder that does not submit the payment or the tax return form within the required time (Sec. 38).

• Requires the bureau to provide information to a certificate holder concerning individuals who are delinquent in child support (Sec. 38).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that authorizes sports betting.

Highlights:

• Defines “e-sports” as a single-player or multiplayer video game played competitively, typically by professional gamers (Sec. 1).

• Defines “sports wagering” as wagering conducted under IC 4-38 on athletic and sporting events involving human competitors, not including pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing or wagering on e-sports (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that amounts received from sports wagering conducted by a licensee or operating agent under IC 4-38 are not to be included in adjusted gross receipts (Sec. 4).

• Expands the definition for “riverboat”, in which lawful gambling is authorized, to include (Sec. 5):

• A self-propelled excursion boat located in a county contiguous to Lake Michigan or the Ohio river;

• A casino operated in Gary; and

• A casino operated in Vigo County.

• Defines “undue economic concentration” as a person’s actual or potential domination of casino gambling in Indiana sufficient to (Sec. 7):

• Substantially impeding or suppressing competition among licensed owners and an operating agent;

• Adversely impacting the economic stability of the casino industry in Indiana; or

• Negatively impacting tourism, economic development, benefits to local communities, and state and local revenues.

• Expands the considerations the commission must take into account in deciding to grant an owner’s license, to include the impact of any undue economic concentration of the ownership or control of a gaming license (Sec. 12).

• Specifies that the Vigo County election board will hold a special election to determine whether inland casino gambling will be permitted in the county, which will determine whether or not inland casino gambling will be legalized (Sec. 17).

• Requires the licensed owner of a riverboat operating in Vigo County to pay to the city of Evansville (Sec. 7):

• $1.2 million in the first year of operations;

• $900,000 in the second  year of operations; and

• $600,000 in the third year of operations.

• Specifies that sports wagering is not classified under “gambling game” (Sec. 36).

• Specifies that the commission will authorize wagering on table games at each licensee’s gambling game facility starting January 1, 2020 (Sec. 37).

• Authorizes the commission to regulate and administer sports wagering conducted by a certificate holder or vendor (Sec. 38).

• Specifies that the “commission” refers to the Indiana gaming commission (Sec. 38).

• Authorizes an individual holding a certificate of authority to conduct sports wagering starting September 1, 2019 (Sec. 38).

• Prohibits anyone under 21 years of age from being present in an area where sports wagering is being conducted (Sec. 38).

• Prohibits a certificate holder or vendor from accepting wagers on (Sec. 38):

• E-sports;

• High school and other amateur youth sporting events; or

• An unapproved sporting event.

• Establishes a monthly 9.5 percent sports wagering tax for the adjusted gross receipts received from authorized sports wagering (Sec. 38).

• Authorizes the commission to suspend or revoke the certificate of authority of a certificate holder that does not submit the payment or the tax return form within the required time (Sec. 38).

• Requires the bureau to provide information to a certificate holder concerning individuals who are delinquent in child support (Sec. 38).

Full Bill Text