In Indiana, two pro-gambling legislators, state Senator Jon Ford and state Rep. Ethan Manning, won re-election on November 8. Both ran unopposed. Their wins mean online gambling legislation is sure to be reintroduced when the legislature convenes in January.
In fact, Ford, who is also the chairman of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS), led the drive to legalize sports betting, and proposed online gambling measures twice before, just to see the bills fell short both times.
Earlier this year, Ford asked Manning to propose his online gambling bill in the House, where he believed it would have a better chance of passing. Ford still could decide to send his legislation through the Senate. Meanwhile, Ford and Manning have had time to educate and lobby their colleagues to build support for online gambling.
Still, the legislation faces several obstacles, including the opposition of House Public Policy Committee Chairman Ben Smaltz, who also was re-elected. In 2019, Smaltz removed online wagering from the bill sponsored by Ford, who put online betting back into the bill when it reached the Senate.
Earlier this year, Ford’s online casinos measure died in Smaltz’s committee. The situation could repeat itself this year, observers said, and other roadblocks could appear to stall or kill online gambling legislation.
