Sports betting in Indiana

Hoosier State sportsbooks follow Indianapolis 500 lead and race off to opening day at a blindingly quick clip

Moving at warp speed, 13 of the 15 casino, racino, and OTB operators that sought licenses from the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) have already opened brick-and-mortar sportsbooks just one month past the Sept. 1 opening day for legal sports wagering in the Hoosier State. We take a look at what is in store for one of the latest US states to legalize gambling – Indiana.

Indiana’s online sportsbooks have been right behind, nipping at retail’s heels all the way.

DraftKings managed to sneak in relatively unannounced to steal some of French Lick Casino Resort’s thunder, launching its mobile app the same day Rush Street Interactive went live with its iconic BetRivers online brand on Oct. 3, the first day online sportsbooks could be legally launched in Indiana.

How quickly other mobile platforms will debut behind the first two is unknown. This is partly because each licensed operator is allowed up to three mobile apps, or skins, and partly because they’re all moving so fast, blink and you’ll miss one – or several.

Location, location, location

A report from IGC estimates that online wagering may account for up to 66 percent of the state’s handle within a few years, although that number may be a bit on the low side. New Jersey’s online handle accounts for 85 percent of its wagers and Pennsylvania isn’t far behind.

Regardless, Indiana has the potential to become one of the largest sports betting markets in the country due to the number of metropolitan areas in states without legal sports betting that surround the Midwestern state.

Illinois is moving slowly on its sports betting bill. Penn National Gaming’s Ameristar Casino is located a little more than half an hour from Chicago, the home of too-many-to-count professional sports teams.

Wagers on collegiate events are legal in Indiana. Kentucky sits on the Hoosier State’s southern border and both the University of Kentucky and Louisville are expected to compete for the national football title this year.

On Indiana’s eastern border lies Ohio, also a state that is moving slowly in its bid to capitalize on the nascent U.S. legal sports betting market. And also home to a large number of fan-favorite professional and college teams. Another popular brand and sportsbook launched in the state in 2020, no other than the huge US gambling brand – BetMGM.

Also likely to be popular with out-of-state visitors, Tropicana Evansville, home of William Hill’s 143rd U.S. sportsbook, is located on the Ohio River in southwestern Indiana near several large cities in states that have not yet legalized sports betting, including Nashville, Louisville, and St. Louis.

Through a blockbuster deal with Penn National, four top-grossing mobile online sportsbooks are guaranteed the right to launch skins in Indiana, including The Stars Group and Fox Bet, PointsBet, and theScore. DraftKings in Indiana, part of the same deal, has already launched.

Bettors are automatic winners with Indiana’s unrivaled potential for competition among operators that will likely lead to competitive lines, welcome bonuses, and other promotions.

Unlike other states, individuals do not need to register at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook before opening an account on a mobile app. Bettors just need to be physically located in the state when placing bets.

Indiana Retail Casinos

*Majestic Star Casino Gary has applied for a license but expects to launch an online sportsbook only.

**Rising Star Casino Resort has partnered with Churchill Downs to run retail and online BetAmerica sportsbooks.

Projected Indiana Online Sportsbooks

Indiana sports betting basics

Gov. Eric Holcomb signed HB 1015 into law May 8, 2019, legalizing sports betting in the Hoosier State, and placed the first legal sports wager at the Indiana Grand Casino in Shelbyville on Sept. 1.

What sports can I bet on?

A long list of sporting events can be wagered on in the Hoosier State, including professional and college sporting events, despite blocking efforts by the NCAA.

It’s easier to list what you can’t bet on. No betting on esports and amateur sporting events involving athletes under the age of 18 and no in-play prop bets on NCAA events are allowed.

Otherwise, pretty much anything else goes. For more information, check out the Gamble Indiana website for the latest news and Sportsbooks available in the state.

What kind of bets can I make?

Individual operators will have different offerings, but all are likely to offer the following or risk losing bettors to the competitors:

• Moneyline
• Totals (over-unders)
• Spreads
• Parlays
• Teasers
• Round Robins
• Props
• Futures
• Live in-play

Who can place bets?

Bettors must be at least 21 years of age and physically located inside state lines. Location will be strictly geofenced, but just ask New York City residents how difficult it is to pop across the Hudson River by car, train, and even bicycle to use New Jersey’s mobile apps.

What banking options are available?

Any form of currency people are already accustomed to using in e-commerce will likely be accepted on sports betting apps. It might not be a good idea to request your winnings in Bitcoin, but given the number of competitors in the state, it couldn’t hurt to ask.

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