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Hoosier Lottery officials don’t say much about online games ban

By Brandon Smith, IPB News | Published on in Economy, Entertainment, Government, Politics
Hoosier Lottery officials aren’t saying much about the General Assembly blocking the lottery from offering online games. (Brandon Smith/IPB News)

Hoosier Lottery officials aren’t saying much about the General Assembly blocking the lottery from offering online games.

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette uncovered the lottery’s exploration of online gaming in the middle of the 2022 legislative session. Lawmakers responded quickly, creating language that blocks such a move without legislative approval.

READ MORE: Indiana lawmakers halt online lottery expansion

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At a lottery commission meeting the day after the governor signed that ban into law in HEA 1260, Executive director Sarah Taylor wouldn’t say much.

“We’re definitely going to evaluate everything that’s happened and prepare, through our annual process with the business plan, next steps,” Taylor said.

Taylor deflected any further questions to a statement from the lottery. It said its exploration of online games was driven by “changes in consumer behavior.” And the statement said the lottery will continue to “research innovations in the industry … with the tools available to us.”

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.