Play the WSOP Circuit at top Indiana poker rooms or enjoy your favorite Hold’em and Omaha cash games. Our guide will show you where to find the best live poker options in The Hoosier State.
Of Indiana’s 10 or so B&M casinos, only four or five have operational cardrooms. But what Indiana lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for in quality.
In 2018, the doors of the Four Winds South Bend Casino, a tribal casino located in Indiana, were opened to the public. This casino is owned and operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, a recognized tribe in the United States.
In the few years since its opening, the Four Winds South Bend Casino poker room has established a reputation for its cash game offerings. With 12 tables, the room is spacious enough to accommodate a reasonable number of players without feeling crowded.
There is a big emphasis on Hold’em cash games at Four Winds Casino. Tables are busy at the $1/$2 NLHE limits, but $3/$6 Limit Hold’em also attracts plenty of players. Mid-staked $1/$2 Pot Limit Omaha is also spread for casual players.
Being a tribal casino, Four Winds South Bend holds a unique charm. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, who own the casino, have infused elements of their culture into the establishment, creating a distinctive atmosphere.
In addition, you can sign up for the W Club email letter to receive promotions in your inbox. While there isn’t a dedicated player rewards program, you can get new offers throughout the week, including free meal vouchers.
Caesars Entertainment operates several excellent casinos in Indiana, and Horseshoe Casino in Hammond might be one of the best. Nestled next to the Sixth Street Bar, the Hammond Poker Room is open 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. most days of the week. The best news: Horseshoe Casino Hammond has the largest cardroom in Indiana with 34 tables.
The variety of games currently spread in this cardroom is designed to cater to a wide range of poker enthusiasts. For those who prefer No Limit Hold’em, two options are available: a $1/$3 game with a buy-in range of $100 to $300, and a $2/$5 game where the buy-in ranges from $200 to $1,000.
If Pot Limit Omaha is more to your liking, you can join a $1-$2 game with a buy-in ranging from $100 to $500.
The Caesars Rewards program is the in-house loyalty scheme. There are a range of perks that you can claim, including free meals and comped rooms with local hotel partners.
For VIP players, Benny’s Room offers an exclusive high-limit area. This secluded section of the cardroom provides an elevated gaming experience.
Horseshoe Casino Indianapolis is our second recommendation from the Caesars Entertainment stable of properties. Owned by Caesars and operating 24/7, the WSOP Poker Room is a hub of activity for local poker enthusiasts. With a bounty of tables and a variety of games, it offers endless opportunities for both seasoned players and novices alike.
High Hand Payouts, a unique feature of this poker room, ups the ante. If you can craft the best 5-card poker hand during the qualifying time, you’re rewarded with a prize. It’s not just about winning the pot anymore; it’s about creating the most superior hand.
Adding to the thrill is the Bounty Board. This challenge offers a tantalizing prospect: be the first player to make any hand, quads or higher, and you’ll win a prize.
The stakes are high, but the potential rewards are even higher. And if no one claims the prize? It rolls over, increasing the bounty for the next game.
As you immerse yourself in the games, you’ll begin to appreciate the perks of the Caesars Rewards program. This loyalty scheme adds an extra layer of excitement to your gaming experience. As you play, you earn points that can be redeemed for a host of benefits.
Southern Indiana also gets its own Caesars-branded casino with a poker room. Like Indianapolis and Hammond, this Elizabeth casino has a branded WSOP Poker Room that spreads cash games, tournaments, and the exclusive WSOP Circuit.
There is room for 16 tables in this Indiana poker room. The poker room offers a variety of cash games, with stakes to suit every budget. The most popular offerings include Texas Hold’em and Omaha, both of which attract a diverse range of players.
The games are well-organized, with the staff maintaining a tight ship, ensuring fair play and a smooth experience.
The WSOP Circuit event, a highlight on the poker calendar, is held here annually. It’s during this time that the poker room truly comes alive. The atmosphere is electric, with players from across the country converging to test their skills and vie for the coveted title.
The poker room at Caesars isn’t without its flaws, however. Customer reviews cite poor table service and a cardroom that can become really crowded at weekends. However, the presence of the WSOP Circuit makes Caesars an Indiana poker room you should make a beeline for.
And let’s not forget the Caesars Rewards program. You can earn loyalty points every time you play for real money at the casino. Plus, you can redeem points across all Caesars properties in Indiana and across the United States.
You’ll find Indiana poker rooms spread across casinos, racinos, and riverboat casinos. Not all casino-resorts offer live poker options, however.
| Cardroom Name | Address | City | Phone Number |
| Horseshoe Casino Indianapolis | 4300 N. Michigan Rd, Shelbyville, IN 46176 | Shelbyville | 1-877-386-4463 |
| Horseshoe Casino Hammond | 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond, IN 46320 | Hammond | 1-219-473-7000 |
| Four Winds Casino South Bend | 3000 Prairie Ave, South Bend, IN 46614 | South Bend | 1-866-494-6371 |
| Caesars Southern Indiana | 11999 Casino Center Dr. SE, Elizabeth, IN 47117 | Elizabeth | 1-866-676-7463 |
All Indiana poker rooms can accommodate over 15 tables quite easily. Big crowds come on weekends for the cash games, but look out for large events, such as the WSOPC.
| Cardroom Name | Games Offered | Number of Tables | Major Events |
| Horseshoe Casino Indianapolis | Hold’em, Omaha, 7-Card Stud, High Hand Jackpot, Bounty Board | 20+ | WSOP Circuit |
| Horseshoe Casino Hammond | $1/$3 NLHE, $2/$5 NLHE, $1/$2 PLO | 30+ | WSOP Circuit |
| Four Winds Casino South Bend | $1/$2 NLHE, $3/$6 Limit Hold’em, $1/$2 PLO | 12 | n/a |
| Caesars Southern Indiana | NLHE, 7-Card Stud, Bad Beat Jackpot | 16 | WSOP Circuit |
Some Indiana poker rooms come attached with hotels. However, Caesars Southern Indiana is the only casino to have both live poker options and a hotel.
| Casino Name | Number of Rooms |
| Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago | 288+ |
| Blue Chip Casino Hotel & Spa | 486+ |
| Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg | 295+ |
| Four Winds Casino South Bend | 400+ |
| Rising Star Casino Resort | 294+ |
| Bally’s Evansville | 300+ |
| Majestic Star Casino | 125+ |
| Caesars Southern Indiana | 500+ |
Indiana has an established poker industry stretching back to the early 1990s. Riverboat casinos offering table games, poker, and slots were legalized in 1993. The law was expanded in 2015 to allow Indiana casinos on land as well.
Some of America’s largest casino operators now run properties on Indiana soil. These include Hard Rock, Hollywood Casino (Penn National Gaming), Harrah’s, and Horseshoe (both Caesars Entertainment).
There is also one tribal casino in Indiana run by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. The casino runs a small poker room under the terms of its state gaming compact with the Indiana Gaming Commission.
Want to see how Indiana compares to other places in the country? Check out our guide to US gaming laws.
Under IN gaming laws, you can play live poker in Indiana at licensed casinos and riverboat casinos. Tournaments and cash games are offered across the board, but most tourneys are scheduled during large events, such as the WSOP-C.
Remember that the minimum age for gaming is 21 in Indiana. Anyone playing Indiana cash games or tournaments may be asked for a photographic ID when they enter the casino.
Hold’em games are popular across all Indiana cardrooms. Limit Hold’em has set betting limits for pre-flop and post-flop rounds. No Limit Hold’em, however, is used in tournaments and $1/$2 cash games and up.
Omaha is the four-card variant of Texas Hold’em that you play with four hole cards, not two (as in Hold’em). Omaha is normally played in cash games only, but the WSOP-C includes one or two PLO tournaments.
7-Card Stud is available as a cash game at Horseshoe Casino Indianapolis. It’s an old-school poker variant where you must make a 5-card poker hand from seven available cards.
You can play cash games and tournaments at many Indiana casinos.
Cash games offer flexibility to players. The blinds never increase, and you can leave a table whenever you like. Cardrooms in Indiana usually spread Hold’em and Omaha, but the bigger poker rooms have 7-Card Stud too. Limit, Pot Limit, and No Limit are readily available.
Tournament schedules aren’t as large in Indiana as they are in more populous states like Nevada. However, you can usually play at least a few Indiana poker tournaments a week at the largest cardrooms.
The WSOP-C sometimes includes a bounty tournament. Each player has a bounty on their head, meaning you win a cash prize for every opponent you eliminate. The game starts like a standard tournament, but when you knock a player out, you receive their bounty. Your goal is to accumulate as many bounties as possible.
The WSOP Circuit is the baby brother of the World Series of Poker in Nevada. The circuit means that smaller casinos around the US can host events. Some of the Indiana poker rooms have hosted WSOP-C series in the past.
The circuit offers a wide range of tournaments, including No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud, with buy-ins ranging from low to high stakes, making it accessible to all. The guaranteed prizepool on the WSOP-C Main Event is usually set at $1m.
Nearly all Indiana live poker casinos run a rewards scheme for players. Programs let you earn loyalty points as you play, turning your love for the game into tangible rewards.
Every time you take a seat at one of the poker tables, you’re not just playing for the pot – you’re also earning Reward Credits. Simply present your reward card to the dealer or cash desk staff member. Your card will be swiped, and you start earning points immediately. The more you play, the more Reward Credits you earn.
The rate at which you earn these credits can vary, but rest assured that every hand you play is contributing to your rewards balance. Your Reward Credits can be redeemed for a variety of perks. These range from dining and entertainment to shopping and hotel stays.
In addition, some cardrooms offer jackpots for cash game players. The Bad Beat Jackpot awards a prize to anyone losing with quads or better.
Other promotions at Indiana poker rooms:
There is a sizeable tribal presence in the Indiana poker room scene. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians have control over one of the best places to play live poker in Indiana: Four Winds South Bend.
However, the Seminole Tribe and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians also have a stake in two major commercial casinos: the Hard Rock Casino and Caesars Southern Indiana, respectively.
Indiana’s online gambling laws were dictated by the Wire Act for years. However, you can access lots of online poker rooms quite easily from Indiana soil. Check out our guides to online gaming and poker in IN:
Indiana has produced one or two of America’s most successful poker players:
The state of Indiana classes gambling wins like personal income. You may be liable for tax on any poker winnings you make in the casino.
Currently, personal income in IN is taxed at 3.23%, so this may be deducted if you win big in an Indiana poker room tournament. The federal government also takes a chunk – 24% – of any wins over $1,200. You will be presented with a Form W-2G detailing your win.
It’s important to keep all of your W-2Gs over the tax year so that you can provide complete information on your return. The IRS may ask for a more detailed breakdown after you submit your tax return.
Indiana doesn’t have a regulated online poker industry at the moment. However, you may be liable for income tax on online winnings if you are a professional player residing in Indiana. We have a detailed guide to online gaming taxes that you can read.
Yes. Poker is one of the permitted games at licensed B&M casinos in Indiana. You can play cash games and tournaments for real money, provided you are 21 or over. Online poker is not regulated yet in Indiana, but offshore poker sites do accept players from the state.
There are 4–5 cardrooms for cash game players and tournament fans. Most of Indiana’s 10+ casinos don’t have a poker room.
No. The legacy of UIGEA means that most online poker is forbidden in Indiana. While online poker isn’t regulated in Indiana, it doesn’t mean you can’t play tournaments or Sit ‘n Gos. There are plenty of offshore poker sites that cater to tournament and mixed games players.
You must be 21 or over to play Hold’em or Omaha in an Indiana poker room. Age restrictions are strictly observed, and you may be asked to provide some form of photo ID when you enter the casino.
Smart-casual is the main dress code at casinos and cardrooms in Indiana. Sandals and bare chests will usually mean a quick ejection from the gaming floor. Some VIP areas may also require you to wear a shirt.
One or two Indiana poker rooms operate 24 hours a day. Most Caesars casinos have cardrooms that are open from 9 a.m. until late. You can play cash games as soon as the cardroom opens.
No. Casinos operated by Caesars Entertainment have a turn to host WSOP-C tournaments and series. These include Horseshoe Casino Hammond and Caesars Southern Indiana.
The Indiana Gaming Commission is responsible for regulating commercial casinos and cardrooms in the state. It also oversees the tribal compact made with the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and their Four Winds casino. Discover a full list of US gaming agencies and commissions in our directory.
Home games for profit may be classed as a misdemeanor in Indiana. However, social games for charity are legal under Indiana’s charitable gambling regulations.
Yes, you may be liable to pay tax on large poker wins in Indiana. There’s a 3.32% personal income tax that may be applied to your winnings. This is on top of the 24% federal tax applied to large gambling profits. Ensure you complete all W-2G forms whenever you are presented with one by the casino.
Yes. You should always gamble responsibly when you play poker in Indiana. However, when gambling gets out of hand, there is support available. You can call the Indiana Problem Gambling Referral Line at 1-800-994-8448, or find the live chat portal on the government website.
Yes. John Cynn is probably the most successful Indiana pro with winnings over $10m. Legendary World Poker Tour host Mike Sexton is possibly the most famous player from the state, however.
Yes. Indiana poker rooms impose a rake on all cash game pots that are large enough. Rake is normally calculated as 5% of the pot, up to a maximum of $5–$10. You will also have to pay a fee on almost all tournament buy-ins.
No. In general, freerolls are not available at Indiana live poker rooms. You may qualify for a free-to-enter tournament if you are a VIP customer at the casino.
Absolutely. Most Indiana live poker cardrooms issue player cards. You can fill your card with points by paying rake and tournament entry fees. You then redeem your points for money or exchange them for benefits like reduced room rates.
Yes. Terre Haute Casino Resort is set to open in Indiana in 2024. The $240m project is being built by Churchill Downs Incorporated, and it will feature a casino, hotel, and live poker room.
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