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Indiana lawmakers halt online lottery expansion

By Brandon Smith, IPB News | Published on in Economy, Entertainment, Government, Politics
Some lawmakers indicated they’re willing to discuss allowing the lottery to move into online games in the 2023 session. (Brandon Smith/IPB News)

The Hoosier Lottery won’t be adding online games anytime soon.

Lawmakers added new language to state law that stops expansion into iLottery without their authorization.

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette broke the news halfway through session that the lottery was deep into plans to add online games.

Many legislators weren’t pleased. And so they weighed in, legislatively, in HB 1260, as Rep. Dan Leonard (R-Huntington) explained.

“The General Assembly would have control over and oversight over expansion of gaming,” Leonard said.

READ MORE: Some of the 2022 legislative session’s biggest issues defined by Republicans vs. Republicans

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The measure doesn’t stop the lottery from offering a free promotional or interactive game online.

But they can’t offer online scratch-off games, anything through a video terminal, or any online casino-style games.

Some lawmakers indicated they’re willing to discuss allowing the lottery to move into online games next session.

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