Indiana Sports Betting

In 2019, Indiana lawmakers passed a bill that legalized sports betting in the Hoosier State, allowing both brick-and-mortar sports wagering lounges and Indiana online sportsbooks. Governor Eric Holcomb signed the bill, HB 1015, on May 8 of that year, making Indiana the 10th state in the U.S. to legalize sports betting.

Coinciding with the start of football season, the first brick-and-mortar sportsbook in Indiana was opened in September 2019, and then the first two online sites, DraftKings Sportsbook and BetRivers, came in October 2019.

Best Legal IN Sportsbooks

1

BetMGM Sportsbook

Get up to a $1,100 Deposit Match!

4

• Promo Code: USBMATCH
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T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.

2

FanDuel Sportsbook

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4.3

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3

PointsBet Sportsbook

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4.4

• Unique High-Upside Format
• Exciting Welcome Bonus
• Creative Promos Every Night

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4

Caesars Sportsbook

First $1250 on Caesars

4.3

• Promo Code: BETSFULL
• Same Game Parlay Leader
• 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

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T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.

5

WynnBET Sportsbook

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4

• Promo Code: XUSB
• High-quality mobile app
• Competitive odds

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T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.

6

BetRivers Sportsbook

$500 Match

4.1

• Generous 1X Playthrough Bonus
• Unmatched Loyalty Program
• Excellent Teaser Pricing

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T&Cs Apply

Only 1x Wager Applies

7

Unibet Sportsbook

$500 Risk-Free Bet

3.5

• Build Your Own Parlay Boost
• PayPal, Visa, ACH Banking
• Play on iOS or Android

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T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.

Indiana online sportsbooks: The books

An impressive 12 sportsbooks are live online in Indiana. Let’s go over them in a little more detail.

FanDuel

• Launch date – October 3rd, 2019
• Tech partners – IGT, Paddy Power Betfair
• Casino Partner – Betfair Casino

FanDuel was one of the first to enter Indiana, and the timing was on point as it opened right around the start of the NFL season.

The brand has been long-time associated with daily fantasy sports, but it jumped on the chance to enter the mainstream sports betting options when the opportunity arose. Since then, it’s widely regarded as one of the biggest and best within the industry.

One of the most interesting things about FanDuel is that they’ve been open about tapping into players from neighboring states, and in particular, those in Chicago, Illinois.

BetRivers

• Launch date – October 3rd, 2019
• Tech partners – Rush Street Interactive
• Casino Partner – French Lick Casino

BetRivers was another of the opening day sportsbooks for Indiana sports betting. The company has been a strong addition so far. With internal operations from Rush Street Interactive, it comes with a vast range of bets, all of which are accessible on their mobile betting apps.

A standout for us is their range of promotions and, in particular, their VIP program. Not only is it one of few sportsbooks to offer this, but even as a standalone product, it’s one of the best that we’ve tested.

DraftKings

• Launch date – October 26rd, 2019
• Tech partners – Kambi
• Casino Partner – Ameristar Casino

DraftKings is another brand that have benefited from creating a popular daily fantasy sports platform to now shifting focus to online betting. Its integration with the Kambi software has been a huge asset, and between them, have been able to create a unique, but not yet perfect platform. DraftKings is not afraid to take risks and try out new features like its “Flash Bet” or Pools. The brand is best known for the range of sports and markets (props and futures) that it offers and solid promotions.

PointsBet

• Launch date – March 5, 2020
• Tech partner – PointsBet
• Casino Partner – Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg

Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg has teamed up with Australian bookmaker PointsBet to give you one of the most exciting online sportsbooks in the US market. PointsBet has an unrivaled promotional schedule that has you covered for almost every betting market including odds boosts, betting insurance, and the crowd booster promo where the line moves in your favor as more people join in on the action.

PointsBet has all your standard bets such as moneyline, spreads, totals, parlays and more, but what makes them so intriguing is their innovative PointsBetting wagers, which can only be described as a spread bet on steroids. The short explanation is that bets are placed on totals or props, and profits (or losses) are on a sliding scale based on how right (or wrong) you are about your spread or total wager.

Caesars Sportsbook

• Launch date – May 19, 2020
• Tech partners – Scientific Games
• Casino Partner – Horseshoe Casino Hammond

One of the most respected gambling brands in the world bring their online sportsbook to Indiana via their Horseshoe Casino in Hammond. Caesars first opened their online sportsbook in New Jersey and have since opened up in several other states after replacing the William Hill brand, which was purchased by the company in 2020. Caesars Sportsbook is well designed, easy to use, very responsive, decent lines and backed by one of the biggest names in gambling.

BetMGM

• Launch date – February 25, 2020
• Tech partners — GVC
• Casino Partner – Belterra Casino

Boyd Gaming, who handles casino operations at Belterra Casino, has teamed up with Roar Digital to bring BetMGM Online Sportsbook to Indiana. BetMGM has been live in New Jersey since August 2018 and was among the first to launch in Colorado in May 2020. It is also in several additional states as it continues to grow and expand.

BetMGM is a solid option for both beginners and veteran bettors alike, with an easy to use interface, plenty of banking options to get your money quickly and safely on and off the site and a large variety of betting options. BetMGM’s selection of prop bets is unmatched in the industry and have been able to offer hundreds of prop wagers on almost every NFL and NBA game.

TwinSpires

• Launch date – December 30, 2019
• Tech partners — SB Tech
• Casino Partner – Rising Star Casino

TwinSpires is a growing sportsbook owned by horse racing conglomerate Churchill Downs, Inc. Formerly known in Indiana as BetAmerica, TwinSpires offers a similar product to its predecessor, including interesting promotions, competitive lines, tons of available bets, and a very good user experience.

theScore Bet

• Launch date – September 17, 2020
• Tech partner – Bet.Works
• Casino partner – Ameristar East Chicago

theScore is a popular Canadian sports media company that is seeking to expand here in the States. By launching theScore Bet in select states, including Colorado and Indiana, the company is hoping to expand on its extensive sports media empire into sports betting. Early returns are promising; the mobile app is intuitive and easy to use.

Unibet

• Launch date – July 30, 2020
• Tech partner – Unibet
• Casino partner –  Caesars Horseshoe Hammond

Unibet is another global sports betting company trying to make it big in America. It is popular in Europe and elsewhere and has some success catching on here in the States. Unibet has continued its steady growth in Indiana as it plans further expansion. The company offers an excellent product that is easy to use and offers an above-average betting experience. Unibet is definitely worth trying out if you’re looking for a new sportsbook or shopping for the best lines.

Barstool Sportsbook

• Launch date – May 18, 2021
• Tech partner – Kambi
• Casino partner – Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg

Barstool has brought its successful brand of bro humor to the sports betting world, partnering with Penn National Gaming to create Barstool Sportsbook. The sportsbook has done very well in the states where it is live, due in no small part to the personalities of Barstool Sports, who integrate sports betting into their social media personas. Barstool will remain a major brand in Indiana for some time to come.

WynnBET

• Launch date – March 25, 2021
• Tech partner – Scientific Games
• Casino partner – Rising Star Casino

Wynn hotels are known for quality and luxury. Can a sportsbook be luxurious? Probably not, but WynnBET is trying hard to impart its luxury experience to the online sportsbook world. WynnBET is a solid product, but it frankly doesn’t stand out among the crowded marketplace. What does stand out, however, is its new connection to the outstanding Wynn Rewards loyalty program. Earning Wynn Rewards points is a great reason to give WynnBET a shot.

Betway

• Launch date – May 28, 2021
• Tech partner – Betway
• Casino partner – Belterra Casino Resort

Last on our list but not in the sportsbook world is Betway, an Australian sportsbook trying like so many others to make it here in America. Betway began in Colorado and made Indiana its second stop, going live in the state in May 2021. The company is off to a slow start here in the States, but it offers a solid product and many interesting betting options, so it is worth checking out when line shopping during the 2021 NFL season.

Land-based sportsbooks

Indiana has over a dozen sportsbook lounges of varying shapes and TV screen numbers to enjoy.  All of these locations have one up and operating:

Casinos and OTBs, Pubs

Most of the OTBs in the state have been rebranded as Caesars Sportsbooks. This consolidation was not unexpected, as independent operators are becoming fewer and fewer in most states.

Racino

The only racino in that list is Hoosier Park. This is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment and is a popular spot local spot. It does include a functional racetrack, although racing is limited there these days.

More coming soon

Indiana’s law actually allows each of the 15 casinos, OTBs or racetracks to use up to three “skins” or online betting brands, meaning theoretically there could be up to 45 legal sportsbooks to choose from in the state. The market can’t sustain that many, but the point is there will be options, and more entering as the state sports betting industry grows and matures.

One alternative is the only tribal casino in the state, which is the Four Winds Casino South Bend. It opened its doors in 2018 and is currently a Class II gaming establishment, which means that it can only run electronic games. However, it does mean that, if it were to apply, it could offer sports betting both online and mobile.

Getting started at Indiana online sports betting sites

Licensed sportsbook in Indiana are regulated by the Indiana Gaming Commission, and must adhere to rules certain standards. There are several things you need to be aware of before you place an online wager.

Age limit

Legal betting in Indiana means that you need to be aged 21 years or over to sign up and and place bets. You will need to verify your age with a driver’s license or valid identification before you’re able to get access to creating an account at a sportsbook.

Location

When you play online or via any betting app, you will need to use a geolocation plugin to verify your location, on both legal sports betting apps or on web-based platforms. You only need to be within state borders to place a bet — you don’t have to live in Indiana. Indiana has drawn lots of sports bettors from nearby Kentucky.

You can sign up for an account and even deposit money living out of state. But, you need to be located in Indiana to place a real money wager.

Other restrictions

There is no betting on amateur contests involving athletes under the age of 18, no wagering on eSports is permitted either, and casino employees may not open accounts at or associated with their place of work.

Registering

The registration process is about as straightforward as you can hope and is likely going to take just a few minutes to sign up. There are a couple of points that we want to make.

The first one is that you will need to include the last four digits of your Social Security Number. This is standard procedure for sportsbooks, and it’s how Indiana sports betting sites can verify both your ID and your age.

It’s worth noting that the sportsbooks in IN are not permitted to keep your SSN on file, nor will they ask for the full number. The check is made as you sign up and then discarded with once those checks have been completed.

Another point that we must stress is to make sure you use a valid home address and email address. Your home address will be needed to verify your account, and your email address will be required to activate your account.

Aside from that, sign up processes are prompt, and they are relatively painless. Most sportsbooks will have you betting for real money within just a few minutes.

Depositing and withdrawing

Banking methods for Indiana sports betting are broad and convenient. Below we have listed some of the key payment methods that you can access in Indiana:

• Credit/debit cards
• PayPal
• PayNearMe
• Online banking
• Casino cage (at the casino with which the online sportsbook is partnered)

Even though credit and debit cards are available methods for depositing, few sportsbooks allow you to withdraw back to them. Also, you will find that lots of the mainstream banks still refuse to accept to process payments to gambling products, meaning they are limited, to say the least.

One of the most accessible for players will be PayPal. Deposits and withdrawals are accepted, and processing times are usually about as short as you will find.

However, you can only bank in Indiana with PayPal if you use your PayPal balance. You cannot use a card or bank that is linked to PayPal for a direct deposit.

Laws and regulations

The conversation about legal sports betting in Indiana actually began well before the  federal ban known as PASPA was struck down in May 2018. After lobbying and negotiating the bill HB 1015 got passed in the 11though hour in 2019, and the state pretty quickly created a regulatory framework that works well for both the authorities and the residents.

The regulations apply a 9.5% tax on the operators gross sports betting revenue. This is on the lower end nationally, making a friendlier environment for the operators and bettors alike. This is going to entice a wide range of sportsbooks and brands to the state, creating what should eventually be an area of high competition.

On top of the tax rates, sportsbooks also have to make two essential payments. The first is a $100,000 fee for a vendor license. The second is a recurring fee of $50,000 that is made annually to retain this license. Again, much lower than in other states.

As we have outlined already, there will be no betting allowed on any eSports games or games that include athletes under the age of 18.

History of sports betting in Indiana

Legal gambling within the state of Indiana dates back to 1851. At the time, the Indiana Constitution had banned all forms of gambling and lotteries.

It stayed like this for a long time, and it wasn’t until 1988 when things changed. The legislature voted that the ban would be lifted in an attempt to boost the economy that, at the time, was struggling.

The state approved the new bill, and legislation was changed to allow land-based gambling products, such as casinos. However, the influx of casinos was a slow one, and even though the state had been able to acquire both land and a site, it wasn’t until 1993 that it really started to take off.

This came in the form of riverboat casinos, with 10 of these sites popping up within the early nineties. In fact, they still make up a majority of the casinos that are in Indiana today.

The removal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May 2018 opened doors for legal sports betting to enter the state. As a result, the bill H1015 was created and then presented in February 2018.

One of the areas that the bill was challenged throughout the process was that of mobile betting. Initially, it was included, then removed, but finally making an appearance as it was submitted for its final brief.

There were two votes with the state. The first passed the Senate 37 to 12, and then the second passed the house, 59 to 36. Both were in favor of approving sports betting, along with online and mobile options.

As the bill was passed in April 2019, it then took about four months for Indiana Gaming Commission to work out the rules.  A further month or so following that saw the launch of FanDuel and BetRivers, much to the excitement of residents within Indiana.

The future of online gambling in Indiana looks bright, and the betting handle keeps growing and growing, and is likely to reach into the $200 million/month range. The number of locations that are allowing sportsbooks to use their license will likely increase, as will the number of brands that obtain these licenses.