People living in Indiana, affectionately known as the Hoosier State, have been lucky enough to enjoy online sports betting in Indiana since the legalization of sports betting in 2019. Despite the significant interest in sports betting nationwide, it hasn’t taken the top spot in Indiana’s gambling preferences.
The lottery continues to reign as the most played gambling option in the state. According to the latest findings from Indiana University’s Prevention Insights, slot machines follow closely behind as the second favorite among players.1 .
This research aimed to shed light on the gambling habits of adults throughout Indiana. It was supported by the Indiana University School of Public Health Bloomington with implementation by Prevention Insights.
To gather data, the researchers utilized a method that involved sending out 5,400 surveys to various households selected by Indiana University’s Center for Survey Research. Only the member of the household having the most recent birthday could participate in the survey.
Researchers thought this approach would reflect the demographics of the adult population spread across the ten planning regions of the state. The goal of Prevention Insights was to determine the gambling games preferred by residents in 2022. We are summarizing their observations and the implications for Indiana's gambling industry moving forward.
Understanding the Top Gambling Games in Indiana
Lottery games dominate the gambling landscape in Indiana. The investigation achieved a response rate of 19.1% with 855 completed surveys, revealing that 66.1% of respondents participated in any lottery game over the past year.
This statistic means that approximately two-thirds of the respondents played a lottery game recently. No other form of gambling rivaled the excitement generated by the substantial prizes offered through lottery tickets.
The convenience of purchasing lottery tickets at gas stations and convenience stores ensures that a wide audience has access to these games. The chance to win big with a minimal investment draws many gamblers in.
Besides the lottery, casino gaming holds a strong position as Indiana’s second most popular gambling activity. It's estimated that 55.3% of the residents frequented casinos in search of entertainment. Specifically, slot machines were particularly popular among Indiana gamblers.
Approximately 16% of participants reported engaging with slot machines in the year preceding the survey, which outstrips the popularity of all other casino games.
It's important to note that this measurement did not account for online slot machines, which were categorized separately in the survey and received rather impressive results.
With 37.1% of participants reporting they gambled online, the future prospects for the online betting market in Indiana seem bright. online casinos in Indiana Access Exclusive Winning Sports Betting Insights for Free
Indiana Residents Are Gambling More Than the National Average
| TYPE OF GAMBLING | POPULATION ESTIMATE | PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE |
|---|---|---|
| Any Gambling | 4,281,628 | 89.3% |
| Lottery | 3,286,556 | 66.1% |
| Casino | 2,314,620 | 55.3% |
| Any Online Gaming | 1,457,744 | 37.1% |
| Sports Betting | 901,137 | 18.6% |
| Other Gambling | 3,640,281 | 72.8% |
A major insight from the research is that Indiana residents engage in gambling activities more frequently than the national average.
In the U.S., about 88% of Americans were reported to have gambled in the previous year, while the estimate for Hoosier residents soared to 89.3% in 2022.
As the popularity of online gambling grows, these figures in Indiana are likely to continue their upward trend. There's an increasing number of younger individuals participating in online betting, likely pushing future statistics higher.
Mary Lay, the operations director at Prevention Insights and the Indiana Problem Gambling Awareness Program, pointed out, “As gambling options have expanded over time, including the latest rise of sports betting, nearly anyone can now gamble using a device they carry in their pocket: their mobile phone.
Lottery games clearly topped the survey results from last year in Indiana. However, it is anticipated that in the next twenty years, we will see a gradual shift toward2 ”.
and online casino games taking the lead as the preferred gambling options in the state. online sports betting From a numerical standpoint, the data suggests that this transition is likely to occur. As older demographics decrease their gambling activities, younger gamblers are poised to seize a significant portion of the market. They are less inclined to play lottery games compared to previous generations.
Gambling Preferences Across Major Cities in Indiana
We have established that slots and the lottery are the leading gambling games within Indiana. However, how does their popularity compare among different cities in the state?
Utilizing Google Trends, we've analyzed search terms over the past year to gain some insights. The gambling activities and terms we considered include slots, lottery, blackjack, casinos, and sports betting.
Discover the results of our analysis below:
Evansville has emerged as the city showing the highest interest in slot machines in Indiana. Notably, this city outpaces other regional competitors like Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio, in its enthusiasm for slots.
Slots
Google Trends data indicates that major cities within Indiana show lower levels of interest in lottery-related searches compared to cities in surrounding regions. Notably, Louisville has generated the highest online interest in lottery searches among metropolitan areas in neighboring states and Indiana.3 .
| CITY | INTEREST (0-100) |
|---|---|
| Evansville | 100 |
| Terre Haute | 87 |
| South Bend | 69 |
| Indianapolis | 50 |
| Ft. Wayne | 48 |
Lottery
This could imply that individuals who participate in lottery games in Indiana might not be inclined to seek online resources as much as other groups of gamblers. Despite a strong presence of lottery players in the state, their interest in the lottery as reflected in Google searches does not match.4 .
The people of Indiana have a passion for blackjack. Our findings reveal that among metropolitan cities in the vicinity, Indiana boasts the top three cities with the highest Google search interest in blackjack—namely South Bend, Ft. Wayne, and Lafayette, surpassing even Chicago, Illinois.
| CITY | INTEREST (0-100) |
|---|---|
| South Bend | 54 |
| Evansville | 53 |
| Ft. Wayne | 43 |
| Indianapolis | 38 |
| Terre Haute | 32 |
Blackjack
In addition, residents of Indiana are eager to research casinos online. The Hoosier State ranks fourth in the overall number of 'casinos' keyword searches conducted across Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. Evansville, which shows the most interest in slots, also leads in casino searches.5 .
| CITY | INTEREST (0-100) |
|---|---|
| South Bend | 100 |
| Ft. Wayne | 92 |
| Lafayette | 86 |
| Indianapolis | 81 |
| Terre Haute | 80 |
Casinos
Cincinnati and Louisville rank highly for online sports betting searches, capturing the top two spots in the region. Nevertheless, Indiana is showing considerable interest too.6 .
| CITY | INTEREST (0-100) |
|---|---|
| Evansville | 100 |
| Terre Haute | 97 |
| South Bend | 96 |
| Ft. Wayne | 95 |
| Indianapolis | 70 |
Sports Betting
Lafayette, home to Purdue University, tops the list for sports betting interest in Indiana. Younger demographics are particularly drawn to sports betting, aligning well with these insights.
The Indiana gambling survey provided extensive information about who is placing bets and on what. It identified that younger individuals are more likely to gamble online compared to their older peers.7 .
| CITY | INTEREST (0-100) |
|---|---|
| Lafayette | 43 |
| Indianapolis | 42 |
| South Bend | 40 |
| Ft. Wayne | 39 |
| Terre Haute | 35 |
Future Gambling Trends In Indiana
In the 18-34 age range, estimates suggest that 49.1% engage in online gambling, while 40.5% from the 34-54 age group participate in online casinos. This sharply declines to only 20.3% for those aged 55 and older.
Similar trends were observed in sports betting across Indiana. Among the first two age groups, 18.3% and 27.4% are reported to place sports bets, whereas only 9.9% from the 55 and older bracket are estimated to partake in sports wagering.
What can we deduce from this analysis? It’s likely that online gambling and sports betting will gain a more substantial share in the future as younger bettors step into the 55+ category in Indiana.
Which Online Casino Is the Best Choice for Gambling in Indiana?
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Insights on Adult Gambling Patterns in Indiana 2022 Prevention Insights – Indiana Council on Problem Gambling, Inc. Retrieved From “
89% of Adults in Indiana Have Engaged in Gambling in the Past Year Retrieved From “
Sources
Lottery – Explore Google Trends. Retrieved From “ https://ipgap.indiana.edu/documents/2022_Adult_Gambling_Behaviors_in_Indiana.pdf?utm_source=miragenews&utm_medium=miragenews&utm_campaign=news ”
Blackjack – Explore Google Trends. Retrieved From “ https://ipgap.indiana.edu/documents/2022_Adult_Gambling_Behaviors_in_Indiana-Summary.pdf “
Casinos – Explore Google Trends. Retrieved From “ https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?geo=US-IN&q=slots&hl=en ”
Casinos – Explore Google Trends. Retrieved From “ https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?geo=US-IN&q=lottery&hl=en ”
Sports Betting – Explore Google Trends. Retrieved From “ https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?geo=US-IN&q=%2Fm%2F019d6&hl=en ”
Kyle Eve has been the Editor-in-Chief of The Sports Geek since 2012, offering insightful commentary for millions of readers. After making his first sports wager on his 18th birthday, he dedicated his adult life to mastering the betting game. He has reported on some of the most significant sporting events globally, including the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, and the Kentucky Derby. Kyle resides in Windsor, Ontario. https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?geo=US-IN&q=casinos&hl=ens ”
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