Indiana moves forward on internet betting

Republican Representative Robert Cherry’s bid to legalise online horse race betting in Indiana – HB1270 – is making surprisingly good progress, reports the publication The Statehouse File.com.

The bill focuses exclusively on horse race betting, and there is apparently little prospect for a wider expansion into online casino or other sports betting.

Cherry claims that the intrastate authorisation for advanced deposit wagering was mistakenly deleted from the lawbooks several years ago when laws against gambling were tightened, and his bill makes the necessary “technical” adjustment.

Cherry also argues that thousands of Indiana residents already use the internet to gamble on horse races via third-party companies out of state, and that this means that Indiana race tracks are not getting a cut of the action that could be theirs if the state legitimised the practice.

HB 1270 not only legalizes the bets but requires the third-party companies to be licensed by the state and pay fees to Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs.

On Monday the state House passed the bill 81-15 without debate, prompting an incredulous Speaker Brian Bosma to comment: “Does everyone understand the content of the bill?”

The Statehouse File reports that thirty other states already authorise account wagering.

Cherry’s bill now progresses to the state Senate.