State of Play in Indiana
Sports Betting in Indiana
Indiana introduced legal sports betting in late 2019. Both online and land-based sportsbooks are available in the state.
The Hoosier State also allows daily fantasy sports (DFS) sites to operate. Other online gambling verticals, like online casinos and poker, aren’t yet legal.
Sportsbooks in Indiana
Q&A
- Can I bet on college sports in Indiana? Yes, you can legally place a wager on collegiate sporting events in the state of Indiana, including betting on in-state teams. The betting rules for college events change from state to state, but Indiana allows betting on these events.
- Can I bet on sports online in Indiana? Absolutely, and Indiana was one of the first states to introduce legal sports betting after the repeal of PASPA. In-person sports betting officially opened in September 2019, and online sportsbooks came around shortly after that.
- Can I use FanDuel Sportsbook Indiana? Yes, the FanDuel Sportsbook has been available in the state of Indiana since October 2019. FanDuel has partnered with two casinos in Indiana, Blue Chip Casino, and Belterra Casino, in order to launch its online sportsbook. In the United States, FanDuel is the online market share leader.
- How do I get paid if I win? All of the payments will be made directly from the mobile app or the retail sportsbook where you won your money. There will be a list of deposit options to choose from at all of the sportsbooks, and you can simply choose the one that works the best for you.
- How do I make a complaint with a legal betting site in Indiana? The Indiana Gaming Commission is in charge of overseeing and regulating sports betting in the state, and this company monitors each site. If you have a complaint with a legal betting site, then you will want to reach out to the IGC after first checking with the customer support team.
Methodology
Indiana Sports Betting
The Indiana sports betting industry stands as a thriving Midwest market. You can download, deposit, place bets, and cash out from Indiana sports betting apps from anywhere within state borders.
Popular Teams In Indiana
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts of the NFL are the most popular professional sports team in the state. The Colts won the Super Bowl in 2007 and have spent the past two decades in playoff contention.
Indiana Pacers
Basketball is big in the state of Indiana, and the Pacers are extremely popular. The Pacers compete in the Central Division in the NBA, and they have experienced some periods of success. This franchise is still looking for its first-ever NBA title.
Indiana Fever
Since basketball is so big in the state of Indiana, the Fever are one of the most popular teams in the WNBA. The Fever won the league championship back in 2012, and last won the Eastern Conference in 2015.
Indy Eleven
Soccer is an extremely popular sport throughout the world, and the Indy Eleven are a professional soccer team in Indianapolis. The team plays home soccer games at Lucas Oil Stadium, which is the home of the Colts as well.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The University of Notre Dame is located in South Bend, and this college is popular throughout the state. Both men’s and women’s basketball are popular at Notre Dame, but football is easily the most popular sport. The Fighting Irish have 22 total national championships in college football.
Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana is right in the middle of Big Ten country, and there are two Big Ten teams in the state. The University of Indiana has a strong tradition in college basketball, but other sports have had success as well. Indiana University is located in Bloomington, IN.
Purdue Boilermakers
The other Big Ten Conference school in Indiana is Purdue University. Purdue is another school that is known for basketball, but it has a strong tradition in college football as well.
Indiana Legal Sportsbooks
Governor Eric Holcomb signed a sports betting bill into law in May 2019, making Indiana the 13th state with this industry. It didn’t take Indiana long at all to get sportsbooks up and running, as the first options were available in early September.
Holcomb actually placed the first legal bets in the state as he took the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers in a futures bet. Launching sports betting before the start of the 2019 NFL season was the goal, and three sportsbooks were able to cross the finish line.
Online sportsbooks first launched in October as it took the Indiana Gaming Commission a bit longer to approve those sports betting licenses. There are currently more than a dozen online sportsbooks available in the state of Indiana.
There could potentially be close to 40 online sportsbooks in the state, but the number likely won’t ever get close to that. A large number of sports betting licenses are still available, though, allowing this market to grow in the future.
Online Sportsbooks in Indiana
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings has a massive presence in the state of Indiana, and it was one of the first sportsbooks to launch on October 3, 2019. The Ameristar Casino East Chicago was chosen as the casino partner for the massive sports betting company.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook launched just three weeks after the first two options, officially going live on October 22, 2019. FanDuel partners with both the Belterra Casino and the Blue Chip Casino in Indiana.
BetRivers
The French Lick Resort formed a partnership with Rush Street Gaming, which allowed the BetRivers Sportsbook app to launch on October 3, 2019. BetRivers was one of two online sportsbooks that launched on the first day that mobile betting became available.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook made a big move in 2021 after agreeing to purchase William Hill. The Horseshoe Casino Hammond is the casino partner of Caesars Sportsbook, and this became a legal option on May 19, 2020.
Barstool Sportsbook
The Barstool Sportsbook is powered by Penn National Gaming, and this has become a big name in the U.S. sports betting industry. Barstool was able to go live in Indiana on May 18, 2021, after partnering with Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg.
PointsBet
PointsBet Sportsbook is a company that is founded in Australia, but it also has a U.S. headquarters built in Denver, Colorado. In order to gain a sports betting license in Indiana, PointsBet formed a partnership with Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg. Points betting is unique to PointsBet and helps set this sportsbook apart.
Bally Bet
Bally Bet is one of the newest online sports betting options in the state of Indiana, as it officially launched on December 16, 2021. Bally was able to enter the state of Indiana through a partnership with Bally’s Evansville Casino.
BetMGM
BetMGM is the online sports betting arm of MGM Resorts International, one of the leading gaming companies throughout the country. BetMGM launched in Indiana on February 27, 2020, after partnering with Belterra Casino.
Betway
Betway is an international sports betting company, but it has started to form a presence throughout the United States. After partnering with the Belterra Casino, Betway was able to officially go live on May 28, 2021.
Unibet
Unibet is another international company that has been able to form a partnership and launch in the state of Indiana. The Horseshoe Hammond Casino is the retail partner of Unibet Sportsbook, and this became a legal option on July 30, 2020.
WynnBET
WynnBet Sportsbook is a product of Wynn Resorts International, a company with a big presence in Nevada. The WynnBET Sportsbook app first launched on April 1, 2021, in the state of Indiana. WynnBET has a partnership with the Rising Star Casino Resort.
Best Indiana Online Sportsbooks
Indiana Retail Sportsbooks
- Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago: The Ameristar Casino Hotel is located in East Chicago, and it sits right on the shores of Lake Michigan. Penn National Gaming operates the casino that opened back in 1997.
- Belterra Casino: The Belterra Casino Resort is located in Florence, IN, and sits on the Ohio River. Gaming and Leisure Properties own the casino that opened on October 27, 2000, and Boyd Gaming operates the casino.
- Blue Chip Casino Hotel & Spa: The Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa is located in Michigan City, Indiana, and is operated by Boyd Gaming. The property opened on August 22, 1997. This is another property that is owned and operated by Boyd Gaming.
- French Lick Resort Casino: The French Lick Springs Hotel opened back in 1901, and the casino was added in November 2006. This property is located in French Lick, the town where Larry Bird grew up.
- Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino: Caesars Entertainment owns and operates Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing and Casino in Anderson, Indiana. This is a racino that was opened on September 1, 1994.
- Hollywood Casino & Hotel (Lawrenceburg): The Hollywood Casino and Hotel in Lawrenceburg is just across the street from the Ohio River. This casino officially opened in December 1996, and it is owned by Gaming & Leisure Properties.
- Horseshoe Hammond Casino: There are three Horseshoe Casino properties in Indiana, and one of them is located in Hammond, IN. Caesars Entertainment operates this riverboat casino.
- Horseshoe Southern Indiana Hotel & Casino: (Caesars Southern Indiana): This property was just renamed Caesars Southern Indiana, and it is located in Elizabeth, Indiana. This property has undergone a couple of different name changes, and it is operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
- Horseshoe Indianapolis Casino: The Horseshoe Casino in Indianapolis is not only a casino, but it has a horse racing track as well. This is another property that is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment, and it opened on March 13, 2009.
- Rising Star Casino: The Rising Star Casino is located in Rising Star, Indiana, and it is a riverboat casino. Full House Resorts owns and operates this casino, and it opened as the Rising Star Casino in 2011.
- Bally’s Evansville Casino & Hotel: Bally’s Casino is located in Evansville, IN, and is just across the street from the Ohio River. Bally’s initially opened in 1995, and it is operated by Bally’s Corporation.
The following three locations are all off-track betting facilities owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment. There will still be retail sports betting available on site, but these locations act more like sports bars than anything else.
- Winner’s Circle Clarksville (OTB)
- Winner’s Circle Downtown Indianapolis (OTB)
- Winner’s Circle New Haven (OTB)
Details of Indiana Sports Betting
The legal age to place a bet on a sporting event in the state of Indiana is 21 years of age, and that is the age to get into the casinos as well. Betting is restricted to within the state border, but non-residents can sign up for a sports betting account as well.
There was a big debate about wagering on college sports in Indiana, especially as this state is not home to many professional teams. College betting was ultimately approved by the state legislature, and betting on in-state college teams is legal as well.
Any company looking to offer sports betting in Indiana must first form a partnership with a retail casino. Each casino or off-track betting site can receive three online skins, which will allow them to seek out partnerships.
When the Indiana sports betting bill was signed, the language in the bill specifically restricted betting on esports events or any event featuring amateurs. Sports betting revenue in Indiana is taxed at a rate of 9.5%, which is lower than the national average.
How Do I Start Betting At Indiana Online Sportsbooks?
How to Register at an Online Sportsbook
The online sportsbooks in Indiana are also going to have a mobile betting app as well as an online site, and registering for a new account can be done at either place. You can sign up for a sports betting account from anywhere, but you will have to be logged in and inside of the state before making a bet.The mobile sports betting apps in Indiana can be found on the app store if you are using an Apple device. For Android apps, you will usually have to follow a link from the site to get the app installed on your device.
This is not a difficult process, and once you have the app, you will no longer have to visit the online site unless you want to.
Make Your Initial Deposit
Before you ever place a bet at a sportsbook in Indiana, you will have to fund your account in some way. Making a deposit is a very simple process, and it can be done in a matter of minutes.
The funds should be in your account almost immediately as well, although some options could cause a minor delay. You do have to have logged in before you make a deposit, but you don’t have to be in the state of Indiana to fund your account.
Here is a look at the different ways that you can fund a sportsbook account in the state of Indiana:
- Credit/Debit Card
- Online bank transfer
- ACH/Echeck
- PayPal
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Play+
- Cash at casino cage
BetChicago has a long list of promo codes that will help unlock new player bonuses as all of the online sportsbooks in Indiana.
Common Betting Options
Each sportsbook in Indiana has the power to offer different betting options, but some options will be found at all of the sites. Here are the most common betting options that you will see.
- Moneyline: Moneyline betting is the most basic form of wagering as all you have to do is make a pick on which team or individual will win a specific event. Odds and potential payouts will be different for each side of this wager.
- Spread Betting: Betting against the spread is a step up from moneyline betting because you have to pick the winner and also how big or small the final spread will be. This is a popular bet on basketball and football.
- Totals: Totals betting involves the total number of goals, points, or runs that are scored in a game, and the winning team does not matter. This bet will look different depending on the sport, but the overall bet remains the same.
- Parlays: A parlay is a combination wager that is made up of several smaller, individual bets. A parlay can be made up of many different betting options as well as bets from different sports.
- Futures: A futures bet does not focus on just one single event or game, and this bet is not decided until further down the road. A futures bet is usually made on which team will win a championship or on which player will win an award.
- Props: Prop betting used to be reserved for the Super Bowl, but you can now find prop betting options on most games or big events. Prop betting focuses on certain statistics or on specific events that take place in a game.
- Live Betting: Live betting has started to become extremely popular as you can now place a bet while a sporting event is live. There will be different betting options available with this type of bet, but they are usually the ones that are listed above.
Make a Withdrawal When You Win
Making a withdrawal from an online sportsbook is not a complicated process, and most of these processes will be initiated immediately. It can take a few days to get your money, depending on the withdrawal option that you choose.
Visiting a retail sportsbook to make a withdrawal is also an option in the state of Indiana. Here are some of the common withdrawal options you will find.
- PayPal: PayPal is now one of the top withdrawal options that you can find on an online sportsbook, and the money can be sent almost immediately. Linking a PayPal account with a sports betting account will allow for money to be sent quickly and easily.
- Play+ Prepaid Card: The Play+ Prepaid Card will be offered from some of the online sportsbooks, and this is another simple option. If you make a withdrawal request, then the money can be sent to the prepaid card quickly, and you can then use that card however you want.
- Online Bank Transfer: Money can be sent straight to your bank account, but you will have to provide the sportsbook with some information first. It can take 2-3 days for your money to arrive, and you have to check with your bank before making this request.
- Check By Mail: Receiving a check through the mail is still an option at a sportsbook, but it’s not usually one that is preferred. This is the withdrawal method that will take the longest, as it could take up to two weeks. Some online sportsbooks have removed this as an option.
- Cash at Casino Cage: As mentioned above, visiting a retail sportsbook is another option to get your money from a sportsbook. This money will be paid out to you instantly, and you can receive cash with this option.