Indiana Online Poker: Legal Status, Sweepstakes Options, and What’s Next

Indiana has a well‑established gambling market, including retail casinos and legalized sports betting, but the state does not currently have a regulated real‑money online poker market.

No poker sites are licensed to offer traditional cash‑game or tournament online poker to players in Indiana. While online sports betting is legal, online poker and online casino gaming have not been authorized under Indiana law.

That does not mean Indiana players have no online poker options. In states without regulated online poker, many players turn to sweepstakes poker platforms or free‑play poker sites. These options operate under different legal frameworks and do not function the same way as licensed real‑money poker rooms.

Sweepstakes poker sites allow players to participate in poker games using virtual currencies, with prizes that may be redeemed for cash or cash equivalents. Free‑play poker sites, by contrast, are designed for entertainment and practice only and do not involve prizes or wagering.

This guide explains the current legal status of online poker in Indiana, how sweepstakes poker works, what options are available to players today, and what would need to change for regulated online poker to launch in the state.

Is Online Poker Legal in Indiana?

No. Online poker is not currently legal in Indiana. The state has not authorized regulated real‑money online poker, and no poker sites are licensed to offer cash‑game or tournament poker to Indiana residents.

Indiana law permits retail casino gambling and online sports betting, but online poker and online casino gaming have not been included in the state’s gambling framework. As a result, traditional real‑money online poker sites cannot legally operate in Indiana.

That said, Indiana players may encounter online poker‑style alternatives that operate under different legal models. These include sweepstakes poker platforms and free‑play poker sites, which are not regulated as real‑money gambling and do not function the same way as traditional US online poker rooms.

The sections below explain how these alternatives work, what players should understand about their limitations, and how they differ from regulated online poker markets in other states.

How Sweepstakes Poker Works in Indiana

Because Indiana does not currently regulate real‑money online poker, sweepstakes poker has become a common alternative for players who want to play online and still have the possibility of winning cash‑redeemable prizes.

Sweepstakes poker sites do not operate as traditional gambling platforms. Instead, they use a promotional sweepstakes model that allows them to function in states like Indiana where regulated online poker is not legal.

What Is Sweepstakes Poker?

Sweepstakes poker sites allow players to play poker using virtual currencies rather than wagering real money directly. Players may win prizes that can be redeemed for cash or cash equivalents, depending on the platform.

There are two main types of sweepstakes poker platforms available to Indiana players: modern sweepstakes poker sites and subscription‑based sweepstakes poker sites.

Modern Sweepstakes Poker Platforms

Modern sweepstakes poker platforms are designed to resemble traditional online poker rooms. They often offer ring games, tournaments, and sit‑and‑go formats across popular poker variants.

Because prizes are awarded through a sweepstakes structure rather than direct wagering, these platforms are able to operate in Indiana even though regulated online poker is not permitted.

Subscription‑Based Sweepstakes Poker Platforms

Subscription‑based sweepstakes poker sites operate on a different model. Players pay a recurring fee to access scheduled poker tournaments, with prizes that may be redeemed for real money.

These platforms typically focus on tournament play only and do not offer cash games. The fixed subscription cost appeals to some players but limits flexibility compared to other formats.

How Sweepstakes Poker Differs From Regulated Online Poker

Sweepstakes poker is not the same as regulated real‑money online poker. There is no state licensing for poker operations, no poker‑specific regulatory oversight, and no guarantee of consistent liquidity or game availability.

Rules, prize redemption processes, and player protections can vary widely between platforms. For these reasons, sweepstakes poker should be viewed as an alternative option rather than a replacement for regulated online poker.

Sweepstakes Poker Options in Indiana

Indiana does not currently have a regulated real‑money online poker market. As a result, traditional licensed poker sites are not available to players in the state.

Some Indiana players instead choose to play on sweepstakes poker platforms, which operate under a different legal model than regulated gambling. These sites do not offer real‑money wagering in the traditional sense, but they do allow players to participate in poker games where prizes may be redeemed for cash or cash equivalents.

Sweepstakes poker is not the same as regulated online poker, and game availability, player pools, and prize redemption processes can vary between platforms. The sites below represent some of the sweepstakes poker options that are accessible to players in Indiana.

Clubs Poker

Clubs Poker operates using a modern sweepstakes poker model. Players purchase Gold Coins for free‑play games and typically receive sweepstakes coins as a reward. Sweepstakes coins are used to enter poker games where prizes may be redeemed for real money.

The platform offers a range of poker formats, including cash‑style games and tournaments across multiple variants. Clubs Poker places a strong emphasis on poker rather than casino‑style games and includes features commonly found in traditional online poker rooms.

Clubs Poker is a US‑based company and is available to players in Indiana under the sweepstakes model.

You can check out our interview with the Clubs Poker CEO below.

Read our full review of Clubs Poker »

Stake.us Poker

Stake.us Poker offers poker games as part of a broader sweepstakes gaming platform. Poker formats available to Indiana players include tournaments, ring games, and sit‑and‑go events, with a focus on No‑Limit Hold’em and Pot‑Limit Omaha.

As with other modern sweepstakes platforms, players purchase Gold Coins for free‑play use and receive sweepstakes coins that can be used in games offering cash‑redeemable prizes. Availability varies by state, and Indiana is among the states where Stake.us Poker can be accessed.

Read our full review of Stake.us Poker »

ClubWPT

ClubWPT uses a subscription‑based sweepstakes poker model. Players pay a recurring membership fee to access daily poker tournaments, with prizes that may be redeemed for real money.

ClubWPT focuses primarily on tournament play and does not offer real‑money cash games. Some tournaments award cash prizes, while others offer seats into live World Poker Tour events.

ClubWPT is operated by WPT Enterprises and has been active in the US sweepstakes poker space for many years.

Read our full review of ClubWPT »

ClubWPT Gold

ClubWPT Gold is a sweepstakes poker platform that places a strong emphasis on poker education and structured learning tools. While the platform promotes itself as training‑focused, it operates primarily under a sweepstakes model and allows players to compete for cash‑redeemable prizes rather than wagering real money directly.

Players use the platform’s sweepstakes currency to enter poker games and tournaments, with prizes that may be redeemed for cash or cash equivalents. Game formats and availability differ from regulated online poker sites and can vary by state.

ClubWPT Gold is operated by WPT Enterprises and exists alongside the company’s subscription‑based ClubWPT product, offering a different approach to sweepstakes poker that blends instruction with gameplay.

Read our full review of ClubWPT Gold »

Global Poker

Global Poker is a well‑established sweepstakes poker site that uses the modern sweepstakes coin model. Players purchase Gold Coins for free‑play games and typically receive sweepstakes coins, which are used to enter poker games offering cash‑redeemable prizes.

The platform offers both cash‑style games and large multi‑table tournaments, including recurring online tournament series. Global Poker has been operating since 2016 and is one of the more established sweepstakes poker platforms available to US players.

Read our full review of Global Poker »

Free‑Play Poker in Indiana

Free‑play poker is widely available in Indiana, but it is not a particularly effective way to learn how to play poker well. These platforms use play‑money chips and do not involve any real stakes, which significantly changes how players behave at the table.

Free‑play poker can be useful for learning the basic mechanics of the game. New players can become familiar with hand rankings, betting order, table positions, and the overall flow of a poker hand without risking money. For beginners, this can help remove some of the initial confusion around rules and terminology.

That said, free‑play poker does a poor job of teaching real poker strategy. Because there is no financial consequence to decisions, players tend to make unrealistic bets, chase weak hands, and ignore key concepts such as risk management and discipline. These habits do not translate well to environments where money or redeemable prizes are involved.

Popular free‑play poker platforms available to Indiana players include Zynga Poker, Replay Poker, and Governor of Poker, as well as poker games found on social media platforms. These sites are best viewed as casual practice tools rather than meaningful preparation for competitive online poker.

Players who want to understand how poker decisions change when stakes matter will generally learn more from sweepstakes poker platforms than from free‑play games alone.

Indiana Online Poker: What’s Next

There is currently no regulated real‑money online poker in Indiana, and no active legislation to legalize it. For online poker to launch in the state, lawmakers would need to pass enabling legislation establishing a regulatory framework for online gambling.

Indiana would also need to decide how online poker fits within its existing gambling laws. That process would likely include determining licensing rules, tax rates, consumer protections, and whether online poker should be treated separately from online casino gaming.

Until those steps occur, traditional real‑money online poker sites cannot legally operate in Indiana. This is why sweepstakes poker platforms and free‑play poker sites remain the primary online poker‑style options available to players in the state today.

Any future changes to Indiana’s online poker laws would require formal legislative action. This page will be updated if and when the legal status of online poker in Indiana changes.

Indiana Online Poker FAQ

Is online poker legal in Indiana?

No. Indiana does not currently have a regulated real‑money online poker market. The state has not authorized licensed poker sites to offer traditional cash‑game or tournament poker where players wager and withdraw money directly.

Indiana residents can access sweepstakes poker platforms and free‑play poker sites, which operate under different legal models and are not regulated as real‑money gambling.

Can I win real money playing online poker in Indiana?

Not through regulated online poker sites. Some sweepstakes poker platforms allow players to win prizes that may be redeemed for cash or cash equivalents, but these sites do not operate as licensed real‑money poker rooms.

Free‑play poker sites do not offer cash prizes and are intended for entertainment or practice only.

What is sweepstakes poker, and is it available in Indiana?

Sweepstakes poker uses a promotional model rather than direct wagering. Players typically purchase Gold Coins for free‑play games and receive sweepstakes coins as a bonus. Sweepstakes coins are used to enter poker games where prizes may be redeemed for cash.

This model is commonly used in states without regulated online poker, including Indiana. Sweepstakes poker does not function the same way as licensed real‑money online poker.

Are there online poker tournaments available in Indiana?

Yes. Sweepstakes poker platforms available in Indiana often offer tournaments alongside cash‑style games. Tournament schedules, prize structures, and formats vary by platform and are not regulated by the state.

Are subscription‑based poker sites available in Indiana?

Yes. Some poker platforms use a subscription‑based sweepstakes model. Players pay a recurring fee to access scheduled tournaments, with prizes that may be redeemed for cash. These platforms typically focus on tournament play rather than cash games.

What types of poker games are available online?

Sweepstakes poker platforms may offer common variants such as Texas Hold’em and Omaha, along with occasional mixed games and specialty tournament formats. Game availability varies by site and is generally more limited than in regulated online poker markets.

Can I play online cash games or ring games in Indiana?

Some sweepstakes poker platforms offer cash‑style games using sweepstakes coins. These games resemble traditional ring games but do not involve direct real‑money wagering and are not regulated as online gambling.

Can I play PokerStars, WSOP Online, or BetMGM Poker in Indiana?

No. PokerStars, WSOP Online, and BetMGM Poker do not operate in Indiana. These platforms are only available in states with regulated online poker markets.

Any site claiming to offer these operators to Indiana players is not legally licensed in the state.

Does Indiana have any form of online gambling?

Yes. Indiana has a regulated sports betting market. Online casino gaming and real‑money online poker are not currently legal, though sweepstakes poker and free‑play poker platforms are accessible.

Will Indiana legalize online poker soon?

There is no active legislation to legalize online poker in Indiana. Any future legalization would require formal legislative action to establish a regulatory framework. No timeline has been set.

Should I play on offshore online poker sites instead?

No. Offshore poker sites are not regulated in the United States and do not provide the same consumer protections as legal, state‑regulated gambling platforms.

Players who use offshore sites risk losing funds, having limited recourse in disputes, and exposing personal and financial information. US authorities have warned that players generally have no legal protections when using offshore gambling sites.