Sports betting has landed in the Hoosier State, kicking off on September 1, 2019 when Governor Eric Holcomb placed bets on the Colts and Pacers to win their respective league championships. This was made possible when Holcomb signed the states sports gambling bill into law back in May 2019.
Just a month later, the first online sportsbooks went live. BetRivers and DraftKings began taking bets online, followed just a few weeks later on October 22, 2019 by FanDuel online sportsbook.
More online sportsbooks are heading to Indiana as the state has issued 14 temporary certificates to the states casinos and racetracks and 6 vendor licenses to sportsbook technology providers. Be sure to check back with SharpSide for updates as news and launch date announcements become available.
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Indiana Sportsbooks Information
Indiana sports betting operators are to pay an initial fee of $100,000 to obtain a license. After that, it’s a $50,000 annual renewal fee to offer services to Indiana sports bettors. There is a 9.5% tax rate with 3.3% directed to help those with gambling problems.
As you likely gathered from the above introduction, mobile and online sportsbooks are able to partner with land-based casinos to offering sports betting in the state. As mentioned, BetRivers is partnered with French Lick Resort Casino, DraftKings is partnered with Ameristar Casino, and FanDuel is partnered with Blue Chip Casino and Belterra Casino. With each Indiana casino allowed to have up to three contracts with varying online sportsbooks, there is plenty of opportunity for others to get involved in the space. We expect more mobile and online sportsbooks to become available in Indiana soon.
| Indiana Online Sportsbook | License Partner | Launch Date |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Ameristar Casino | Oct. 3, 2019 |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | French Lick Resort Casino | Oct. 3, 2019 |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Blue Chip Casino, Belterra Casino | Oct. 22, 2019 |
| Caesars | Caesars Entertainment | TBA |
| FOX Bet | Penn National (projected) | TBA |
| Penn Sports Interactive | Penn National | TBA |
| PointsBet | Penn National (projected) | TBA |
| Smarkets | Rising Star Casino Resort | TBA |
| theScore | TBA | TBA |
| William Hill | Tropicana Evansville | TBA |
Live Online Sportsbooks in Indiana
BetRivers
BetRivers is owned and operated by Rush Street interactive who is partnered with Kambi for their sports betting data, have online sportsbooks live in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. BetRivers has partnered with French Lick Resort Casino in order to offer online sports betting in Indiana. BetRivers was the first to launch in Indiana on October 3, 2019.
BetRivers is offering a $250 1x match bonus when using our exclusive SharpSide promo code link.
DraftKings
DraftKings, the daily fantasy sports juggernaut, was the first online sportsbook to go live(outside of Nevada) in the US when they launched in New Jersey back in 2018. DraftKings has a national deal with Caesars, who owns Ameristar Casino, which allows DraftKings to offer online sports betting in Indiana. DraftKings online sportsbook went live on October 3, 2019, the same day as BetRivers.
Use our exclusive DraftKings Indiana online sportsbook link for the best available bonus.
FanDuel
FanDuel is dominating the PA and NJ online sportsbook markets, and is a favorite to do the same here in Indiana. FanDuel has a deal with Boyd Gaming who owns Blue Chip Casino and Belterra Casino Resort giving FanDuel a green light in the Hoosier State.
FanDuel went live on October 22, 2019, becoming the third in the state. FanDuel is offering a one time $500 Risk-Free bet when you sign up using our exclusive link, where if your first bet loses, FanDuel will refund that bet 100% up to $500 in 1x site credit.
Online Sportsbooks Coming Soon to Indiana
PointsBet
The Australian sportsbook, who is online in New Jersey and operates a live sportsbook in Iowa(soon to online as well) offers standard sports betting and a unique high-risk, high-reward betting system based on how close the bettor’s prediction is to the final outcome. PointsBet will be able to offer online sports betting through a deal with Penn National.
PointsBet in New Jersey offers two $500 Risk-Free bets, and we expect a similar promotion when they go live in Indiana.
William Hill
William Hill, the world’s oldest bookmaker, who first opened their doors in 1934 in London England, went online in New Jersey in September 2018. Now they have their eyes set on Indiana and plan to expand through a partnership with Tropicana Evansville.
Caesars Interactive
Caesars owns several properties in Indiana and is fully operational in New Jersey. The International Casino group could see multiple skins and retail sportsbooks in the Hoosier state as the budding industry continues to mature.
FOX Bet
The result of a massive deal between international online gambling giant The Stars Group and sports media superstar FOX Sports, FOX Bet is already live in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and looking to expand its footprint throughout the US. FOX Bet also has a deal with Penn National in order to use an available skin to market their online sportsbook.
In PA and NJ, FOX Bet is offering $20 free to play with just for signing up and $100 first deposit match. We believe the same offer will be available in Indiana when they go live.
BetIndiana
BetIndiana, your hometown sportsbook, is owned and operated by USA Sports Gaming which is a sports betting focused company focused on establishing retail and online sportsbooks. BetIndiana prides themselves on being a Midwest based company and being connected to their local markets. BetIndiana will have an online sportsbook and a retail sportsbook at the Mejestic Hard Rock Gary.
Other Online Sportsbooks
Other books that are looking to join in on sports betting in Indiana include theScore (partnership TBD), Smarkets (Rising Star Casino Resort) and Penn Sports Interactive(Penn National).
How Can You Place a Sports Bet in Indiana?
Sports bettors can place a wager in Indiana in person at a retail sportsbook or via a mobile sportsbook. Both require the bettor to be at least 21 years of age and within state boundaries. Of course, if you’re placing a bet at a retail sportsbook, you’re going to need to physically go to the sportsbook and place the bet.
If you’re interested in placing a wager online, you simply need to be within state boundaries to do so. Under state regulations, Indiana’s mobile sportsbooks use geolocation technology to determine if a sports bettor is within state lines in order to be eligible to make a wager.
Bettors can sign up for an online account on the website or on the associated mobile app. In Indiana, bettors can sign up for an online sports betting account at a brick-and-mortar location but doing so may forfeit the generous sign up bonuses. This is certainly good news for Indiana sports bettors. In order to register for a mobile or online sports betting account, bettors will need form of payment, driver’s license or other state-issued identification, and date of birth. Have these materials and information handy when registering.
Path to Legal Sports Betting in Indiana
Here is a brief summary of Indiana’s path to legal sports betting:
- PASPA is deemed unconstitutional in May 2018, leaving the decision up to individual states to legalize sports betting.
- Early discussions begin in February 2019 about a massive gaming expansion bill that was primarily focused on relocating riverboat casinos, but also included sports betting.
- The first standalone sports betting bill, SB439, was proposed but failed to get out of committee. Despite its failure, SB439 showed progress.
- After much debate and countless amendments, the House Ways and Means Committee voted 17-6 for SB552 on April 9, 2019 to be sent to the State House for discussion and eventual vote.
- A repackaged offering of SB552 is now called bill H 1015 passes by a wide margin in both the Senate and House.
- Gov. Eric Holcomb signs the bill into law, making Indiana the 10th state to legalize sports betting.
- The Governor places the first legal sports bet in Indiana on September 1, 2019 on the Colts to win the Super Bowl, Pacers to win the NBA Championship and the Indiana WNBA team to win that night. He did not win that bet.
- DraftKings and BetRivers online sportsbooks take their first bets on October 3, 2019.
Indiana’s History in Gambling
In 1988, Indiana voters approved lifting a ban on gambling that dates back to 1851. The Indiana constitution had language that banned lotteries but did not expressly name casino style gambling. Despite not particularly name casino games, it was interpreted as such and required a vote to change the rules. Indiana voters approved the push for casinos by a 60% margin and Indiana acquired 350 acres of land for casinos to start building properties.
The first riverboat casino opened in 1993, soon followed by 9 others open their doors in the early 1990s. The first land based casino opened in 2004 in French Lick, Indiana. Further expansion continued in 2007 when the “Racino Law” passed which allowed for the states racetracks to add 2000 slot machines at their tracks.
The casino industry in Indiana is booming and has one Native American casino, two land-based casinos, two racinos and nine riverboat casinos. This gives Indiana gamblers 13 options and shows true promise for a very busy sports betting industry to bloom.
Indiana Sports Betting FAQs
Is sports betting legal in Indiana?
Yes, sports betting became legal in Indiana in September 2019. Both retail and mobile/online sports betting is available, with online sports betting launching in October 2019.
When did sports betting become legal in Indiana?
The first retail brick-and-mortar sportsbooks began accepting bets on September 1, 2019. Mobile and online sportsbooks launched in October 2019.
Where can I place a sports bet in Indiana?
You can place an in-person sports bet in Indiana at one of the state’s brick-and-mortar casinos, racetracks, and off-track betting parlors. Indiana has 13 casinos/racinos. Mobile and online sports betting became available in October 2019 and the current operators are BetRivers, DraftKings, and FanDuel.
How old does a bettor have to be in Indiana?
In order to place a legal sports bet in Indiana, the bettor must be at least 21 years of age.
Do I have to be in Indiana to place a sports bet online?
Yes, state regulations require that bettor are physically located within Indiana state boundaries in order to place a sports bet. Indiana’s mobile and sportsbooks use geolocation technology to determine if a sports bettor is within state lines in order to be eligible to make a wager.
What sports can I bet on?
Bettors can wager on all professional and collegiate sports.
What types of bets can I make at Indiana online sportsbooks?
There is a wide array of betting options in Indiana, including but not limited to:
Moneyline – Betting on a certain team to win at varying odds depending on who is the favorite and who is the underdog.
Spread- A spread bet uses a handicap to make the odds as even as possible. The favorite must win by a certain amount of points or the underdog can lose by a certain amount of points. For example, if the Colts are -5.5, they must win by 6 or more points for the bet to be a winner.
Over/Under – An Over/Under bet, aka a Totals bet is betting on the total amount of points scored by both teams in a certain match. If the total is set in the Pacers game at 205.5 and the total amount of points scored by both the Pacers and their opponent is 206 or more, the Over bet would win.
Prop Betting – Props can vary widely but are basically betting on specific outcomes in a sporting event. For example, you can place a wager for LeBron James to have a triple double, or for Jacoby Brissett to throw 2 passing TDs in a game.
Parlays – A parlay is when you combine 2 or more bets into one bet and increase the odds over if you just bet them separately. A parlay is an all or nothing bet, meaning if one leg of your parlay loses, the whole bet loses.
Futures – A futures bet is one placed on an outcome that will be settled further down the road. The money is bet on the current odds and is locked in until the final outcome is settled. Future bets are usually placed on eventual Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Champions or Stanley Cup winners early or even before the season begins.
Teasers – Teasers are parlays where bettors use alternate, more favorable lines at somewhat reduced odds.
Indiana Sports Betting Laws and Regulations
– HB 1015 signed into law in May 2019
– Mobile and online sports betting available
– Retail sports betting launch date of September 1, 2019
– Mobile and online sports betting launch date of October 3, 2019
– $100,000 initial fee for operators
– $50,000 annual renewal fee for operators
– 9.5% tax rate
– 3.3% of tax revenue dedicated to helping problem gamblers
– In-person registration not required for mobile and online sports betting