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Indiana Online Sports Betting – Indiana Online Sportsbooks 2024

by JD McNamara (jmcnamara) Last Updated 2024-07-15T14:20:23

Indiana sports betting kicked off on Sunday, September 1, 2019. That day, Gov. Eric Holcomb placed bets on the Colts and Pacers to win 2020 championships, and on Indiana’s WNBA team to win their game that night (he lost this bet). Holcomb signed the Hoosier state’s sports gambling bill into law on May 8, 2019.

On October 3, 2019, BetRivers and DraftKings went live, giving bettors their first two Indiana mobile sports betting apps. On October 22, 2019, FanDuel became the third active Indiana online sportsbook, and many more have followed in the months since.

Earlier, in the summer of 2019, the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) began taking applications and issued temporary Certificates of Authority to casinos and temporary vendor licenses to sportsbook technology providers. The approval of temporary emergency sports betting regulations on August 28 is what opened the door for sportsbooks to launch before the first NFL game of the 2019 season.

For Indiana bettors, retail sportsbooks, racetracks, and off-track betting parlors, as well as mobile sportsbook apps, are all now open for business. It’s a fantastic time to be a sports fan in Indiana. If you’re a college hoops bettor, check out our designated page for March Madness betting odds.

Indiana Mobile and Online Sportsbooks

Indiana has almost a dozen casinos that could, as a result of the agreed-upon sports betting legislation and regulations, have up to three online sportsbook skins each. Add in racinos and off-track betting parlors, and there’s a candy counter of Indiana sports betting promo offers for the taking. Thus far in the U.S. online sports betting market, only a handful of states have this much license flexibility and the sheer number online sportsbook options, including New Jersey and Colorado.

Operators wanting to establish sportsbooks in Indiana must pay an initial fee of $100,000 for a license and $50,000 annually after that for the privilege to serve Indiana sports fans and bettors. The law sets a 9.5 percent tax rate on sports bets, with 3.3 percent going to help those with gambling problems and the remainder feeding the state’s general fund. Cha-ching.

Many Indiana sportsbooks are already live with plenty more on the way. Here’s a complete list of active operators and announced partnerships in the state:

Active Indiana Online Sportsbooks

Many Indiana online sportsbooks are already live with plenty more on the way. Here’s a complete list of active operators and announced partnerships in the state:

Registering for an Indiana sports betting site is straightforward and legal, ensuring a secure betting environment for all users.

Fanatics Indiana

Fanatics is expanding its reach, taking over from the now closed PointsBet IN and making Indiana the 14th official state where the sportsbook and casino operates. Click here to take advantage of their generous welcome offer with any opportunity to take home some bonus bets in the form of FanCash.

BetRivers Indiana

No stranger to the sports wagering space, Rush Street Interactive, in partnership with Kambi, has mobile betting sites up in New Jersey and Pennsylvania via the Play SugarHouse and BetRivers brands. On October 3, 2019, Rush Street went live with Indiana online sports betting, launching BetRivers Indiana online sportsbook.

Use our BetRivers Indiana promo code for the best available bonus offer!

DraftKings Sportsbook Indiana

In 2018, the daily fantasy sports superstar became the first online sportsbook to offer betting outside Nevada, setting up shop in New Jersey. On October 3, 2019, DraftKings launched its Indiana online sportsbook, joining Rush Street’s BetRivers brand as the first to market.

Use our DraftKings Indiana online sportsbook promo code for the best available bonus.

BetMGM Sportsbook Indiana

MGM Entertainment is one of the most recognizable brands in casino/sports gaming around the world, and BetMGM is their official online betting platform. It’s available in many states, including New Jersey, West Virginia, Nevada, Colorado, and Indiana. BetMGM has had tremendous success thus far in Indiana, consistently reporting revenues in the top three of all the operators in the state. Look for BetMGM to be a top brand in Indiana and elsewhere for some time to come.

Use our BetMGM online sportsbook promo code to receive the best possible bonus offer.

ESPN BET Indiana

The highly anticipated ESPN BET has arrived and it’s officially live in Indiana and 16 other states. ESPN BET has partnered with PENN Entertainment to produce a new online sportsbook along with embedding gambling insights into their ESPN produced content. ESPN BET aims to enhance the overall sports gambling experience by combining live scores, news and betting all in one application.

Unibet Indiana

One of the world’s oldest online bookmakers has arrived in Indiana. After decades of serving bettors around the world, IN bettors finally have access to Unibet online sportsbook. Betting is available now through both a computer browser and via mobile apps (iOS and Android).

Unibet has agreed to a partnership with Caesars Entertainment and will operate in the state in conjunction with the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN.

Caesars Sportsbook Indiana

Caesars has multiple properties in Indiana and opened its William Hill online sportsbook back in October 2020. In August 2021, Caesars, which owns the William Hill brand, announced a major realignment, phasing out the William Hill nationwide and replacing it with the new and improved Caesars Sportsbook online sportsbook. If you haven’t checked out the new Caesars Sportsbook, you should. It is a quality product.

Betway Indiana

Betway brought its popular worldwide sportsbook to Indiana in May 2021. It is a well-designed sportsbook filled with all the wagering opportunities a bettor could ask for. Betway is just beginning its American journey toward overtaking the market leaders, so look for the company to offer competitive promotions and odds boosts as it attempts to gain market share in Indiana.

Bally Bet Indiana

Bally Corporation owns casinos in many states, including Indiana, where it bought a casino in Evansville now named Bally’s Evansville. Bally Bet is the casino company’s online sportsbook, and it has been opening up in several states, including Colorado, Arizona, and Indiana. Illinois and Ohio are on the way. Bally Bet is a solid sportsbook worth checking out, particularly for those who enjoy gambling at the Bally’s retail casino.

SBK Sportsbook Indiana

Smarkets is a UK-based betting exchange that is ready to crack the U.S. market. It has agreed to a partnership with Full House Resorts for operations in both Colorado and Indiana, using the SBK Sportsbook brand. SBK may not be well-known in America, but it is popular around the world and offers an appealing sportsbook product.

Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook Indiana

Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook launched in Indiana just days before the start of the 2022 NFL season, at the time its sixth state of operation.

bet365 Sportsbook Indiana

bet365 became the 13th sportsbook to launch in Indiana when it opened up shop on January 30, 2024. We are excited to see bet365 finally expand to additional states after only being available in New Jersey for many years. It’s a great sportsbook that is sure to become a popular option in Indiana.

Betr Sportsbook Indiana (coming soon)

Betr Sportsbook, the new-ish offshoot of the popular Betr DFS site, already has a license to operate in Indiana, but it has yet to launch in the state. We expect the nascent sportsbook to arrive in Indiana sometime before the 2024 NFL season.

FanDuel Sportsbook Indiana

FanDuel is already a market leader in online sports wagering, especially in New Jersey, where it’s the industry’s revenue king. As part of a multi-layered deal last year, Boyd Gaming bought Belterra Casino Resort in Indiana. Two months later, Boyd Gaming, which also owns Blue Chip, partnered with FanDuel. This is good news for Boyd Gaming and Blue Chip, because FanDuel has consistently been at or near the top of the revenue charts since going live in Indiana on October 22, 2019.

Indiana Mobile Betting: Who Can Bet and How?

To place bets in Indiana, online or in person, you must be 21 years of age or older. Legal online sports betting is available, and you do not need to be an Indiana resident, but you must be within state lines to place a bet online. Sportsbooks are required to use geolocation technology to comply with that requirement.

Bets can be placed on professional and collegiate sports, including American, European, and other international contests. Forget about wagering on high school, youth, or e-sports – that’s a big no.

You can register to bet completely on the internet. In-person registration at casinos is available but not required in Indiana.

Remote Registration for Indiana Mobile Sportsbooks

For years, those running brick-and-mortar sports gambling operations feared mobile betting would lead to their demise. That prompted many state legislatures or gaming commissions to insist that bettors who wanted to gamble online or on mobile devices had to visit a casino and register for the privilege.

That keeps foot traffic in casinos, and maybe bettors drop a few bets while inside. On the flip side, many bettors think the practice of having to register in a casino is arcane.

Nevada was the first state to offer mobile sports wagering, where bettors were first required to set up an account in person at a land-based casino. In February, the Nevada Gaming Control Board dismissed remote mobile account setup.

New Jersey, on the other hand, was the first state to allow online registration for mobile sports betting. Officials have concluded that well over 80% of all wagers in NJ were online or mobile bets. Some reports even have that number at close to 95%.

For Indiana mobile sports wagering, bettors will have a choice between registering online or in person at a casino. Prospective Indiana online sports bettors will need to provide a form of payment and a driver’s license or state-issued ID with their date of birth.

Pennsylvania also allows remote registration. Iowa didn’t have remote registration until 2021. Illinois sportsbooks still require in-person registration, which is beyond frustrating because no casinos are anywhere near Chicago, which is where most of the people live. It varies from state to state, so if you’ve got legal betting where you live, check your state requirements.

Indiana Sports Betting Regulations

Here are some of the most important regulations for legal sports betting in Indiana, as laid out and approved by an IGC panel on August 28, 2019:

Indiana Sports Betting FAQ

Below, we’ve compiled most of the most frequently asked questions in regards to Indiana sports betting.

Is sports betting legal in Indiana?

Yes – Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the bill for retail, mobile and online sports betting into law on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.

Where can I place a legal sports bet in Indiana?

In any of the state’s many casinos or racinos. Bettors can also place a wager anywhere they can find an internet connection via an Indiana mobile sports betting app.

Which sports can I bet on?

All professional and collegiate sports, including American, European, and other international markets. 

When did sports betting in Indiana go live?

The first retail books opened their tellers in September 2019. Mobile wagering went live in October 2019.

What types of bets will I be able to make?

There are a wide array of bet options in Indiana, including:

Moneyline – The odds a bettor lays on a straight bet. For example, a -150 moneyline indicates a bettor must lay $15 for every $10 they’d win when the bet comes through. If the moneyline is +140 on the game, the bettor wins $14 for every $10 they wager.

Spread – A point spread is used by oddsmakers to attempt to level the playing field from a betting perspective. The favorite is assigned a spread it must overcome (-5, for example) while the underdog is given points (+5, for example). In order to win point spread wagers, bettors must “cover the spread.”

If a bettor takes the Buffalo Bills -5, the Bills must win by 6 or more in order for the bet to cash. If a bettor takes the Miami Dolphins +5, the Dolphins must either win outright, tie, or lose by 4 points or less in order for the bet to cash. When a team wins or loses by the exact spread, the bet is considered a push.

Over/Under – The over/under line, or “Total”, sees oddsmakers set a line on the total number of points scored by both teams in a given game. If the total is set at 51, the final score must combine for more than 51 points for an over bet to win, and fewer than 51 points for an under bet to win. A final score of exactly 51 points would result in a push.

Additional bet types

Prop Betting – Prop bets are lines for specific outcomes on specific events within a game. Prop bets can vary anywhere between players, teams or even prop bets on the flip of a coin before the start of a game. Props can be for a single game or for the entire season.

For example, there could be a prop bet on Lamar Jackson’s rushing yards in a given game. If the line is 67.5 rushing yards, he would need to rush for 68 or more yards for the over on the prop bet to cash, and 67 or less for the under to come through.

Parlays – A parlay refers to a bettor taking a series of two or more individual bets (of any type) and combining them to create odds higher than each event on its own. Every individual bet chosen for the parlay must win in order for the parlay to cash.

Futures – A futures bet is a line set on an event that’ll take place sometime in the distant future. The money is wagered on a current line at which point a bettor’s money is locked into that line for a period of time. Futures bets are often placed on a team to win the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Championship or Stanley Cup, among other various betting markets. Futures can also be played on season long win or point totals, division winners and end-of-season awards.

Teasers – Teasers are parlays in which bettors can move or “tease” the point spread on whichever side they wish, albeit at reduced odds. For example, in the NFL, you could elect to do a two-team six-point teaser, in which you move two -7 point favorites to -1 point favorites at -120 odds.

Indiana offers a wide variety of sports betting markets, including unique offerings and different bet types across various online sportsbooks.

How Legal Indiana Mobile Betting Came To Pass

Here is a brief snapshot of Indiana’s legislative landscape and how sports wagering was ultimately ushered in:

Indiana’s Gambling History

Way back in 1851, the Indiana Constitution had language that banned lotteries. Although it didn’t expressly name casino-style gambling, the ban did also pertain to gambling of any kind. In 1988, Indiana voters approved lifting the ban which led the mayor of Gary, Indiana pushing to add a casino to his struggling city. The Indiana General Assembly left it again up to the voters, which approved the Gary casino by a 60% margin. The city acquired 350 acres of land to be used for casino properties, and thus began Indiana’s casino industry.

After many years of debates, the first riverboat casino opened in 1993, and we saw 10 riverboat casinos built in the early 1990s. But it wasn’t until 2004 that the first land-based casino was built in French Lick, Indiana. In 2007, the “Racino Law” was passed which allowed the state’s racetracks to install up to 2,000 slot machines at their tracks.

The casino industry has expanded through the years, and we now have one Native American casino, two land-based casinos, two racinos, and nine riverboat casinos. Across the board, these 13 gambling establishments welcome sports betting and are excited to provide online sports betting to Indiana.

Daily Fantasy Sports in Indiana

Daily fantasy sports, also known as DFS, is different than traditional online sports betting. DFS is a type of online gaming where users compete against other users by submitting daily lineups of players. There are DFS games in all major sports such as football, basketball, baseball, and hockey, among others.

Indiana is one of the many states where DFS is legal – to learn more, check out our best DFS sites to sign up for today!

Social Sportsbooks in Indiana

Although online sportsbooks are legal in Indiana, users who are new to sports betting and want to learn more about the nuances of the trade before betting an actual stake should consider signing up for social sportsbooks.

Social sportsbooks have the look and feel of an online sportsbook; however, you do not need to bet any real money to use them! This is a great way to try out certain bet strategies or different bet types you aren’t comfortable putting any of your hard-earned money on just yet. Some of the top social sportsbooks include Fliff, Thrillzz, and Rebet Social Sportsbook.

Indiana Mobile Betting Outlook

Indiana offers a fantastic mobile sports betting opportunity. Because of the ability for casinos to contract up to three skins for online sports betting each, Indiana is well-positioned to rival other big markets as a state with the most online sportsbooks. Not to put a damper on other, smaller states, but the more Indiana online sportsbooks there are, the better it is for everyone involved. Everybody is happy: the state, casinos, online sportsbook operators and, most importantly, you – the Indiana online sports bettor.

The growth and competitiveness of Indiana sports betting sites have significantly contributed to the state’s thriving betting market.

(Top Photo: Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports)

About the Author

jmcnamara
JD McNamara (jmcnamara)

JD McNamara is an iGaming industry veteran. He is a poker player, DFSer and sports bettor who is a huge fan of the Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs.