Live-Dealer Table Games Begin at Two Indiana Racinos
By Kelsey McCarson @kelsey_mccarson
Two Indiana cacinos offered live-dealer table games for the very first time on January 1 in what amounted to a New Years Day celebration for casino gamblers in the Hoosier State.
According to an Associated Press report, Harrah's Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville both thought having live dealers at table games would help draw more gamblers to the area than before.
Both casinos, near Indianapolis, previously limit to electronic games only since opening back in 2008.
But the state's massive gambling expansion law that was signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb in May 2019 allows for those two casinos to offer live-dealer table games starting in 2020. So, the racinos stood ready on New Year's Day with a brand-new assortment of table games which includes blackjack, craps, and roulette with live dealers handling the action for all of them.
Indiana Gamblers Celebrate New Year and New Law in Style
In total, there were 71 live-dealer table games in Indiana to start the year.
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino offered 43, with 28 more over at Harrah's Hoosier Park according to MyNetworkTV affiliate WNDY in Indianapolis.
Perhaps most important, casino patrons at both locations seem thrilled with the experience. In fact, Indiana gamblers showed up in droves to get in on the action, with more than a handful offering rave reviews about the newly available betting experience.
"I think it's beautiful," said one bettor. "I think it's nice and it's really exciting! It's really exciting to see something like this that I've never seen in life before."
"There's a bunch of people out here," said another. "Everybody looks excited to play. I think it's great!"
Comments came from both experienced and new gamblers alike.
"I'm going to learn...and hopefully not lose too much, but we'll see!" said one novice bettor.
"Yeah, it has that Vegas feel to it," said another who had played the same kinds of table games in other states but never in Indiana until the first day of the new year brought into focus the new casino scene in Indiana.
Indiana's Casino Growth Continues
Indiana's casino growth should continue into this year and beyond, and that's exactly what lawmakers intended after the much-debated casino law was finally agreed upon and enacted last year.
"By modernizing our laws, this legislation will spur positive economic growth for our state and for an industry that employs over 11,000 Hoosiers. Additionally, it will bring in new revenue and create hundreds of new jobs – both permanent and in construction," said Holcomb after signing the bill last year according to the IndyStar.
In addition to the new table games with live-dealers that became available on Wednesday near Indianapolis, other operators also have big plans in the state. Spetacel Entertainment is readying itself by bringing a Hard Rock-branded casino to the Terre Haute area near Indiana's western border with Illinois.
Additionally, the Glory of Rome riverboat based in Elizabeth, Indiana, moved operations to a land-based facility just across the street in an effort to also modernize its facility and attract more customers.
With live-dealing casino games, new inland casinos and legal sports betting, Indiana seems poised for a huge year.
Check out popular games available at PA Online Casinos
Kelsey McCarson
@kelsey_mccarson
Kelsey McCarson, a veteran sports journalist who also covers boxing and MMA, writes about gambling and online casino news for TopUSCasinos.com.