Indiana Legal Sports Betting

You probably don’t consider Indiana a big “sports state” in the same way as say, Massachusetts or New York, but maybe you should. Indiana has some deep-rooted history with sports. There’s the legendary Indiana Hoosiers basketball program, a pinnacle racing event in the Indianapolis 500, and a historic Colts franchise. All this has cultivated some of the most loyal fans across multiple sports. Fans who are probably now bettors thanks to a shift in culture.

Indiana was among the earliest adopters of sports betting, legalizing it in 2019. With their strong sports history, it’s zero surprise the market took off right away and continues its ascent today. On this page, we break down the red-hot Indiana betting market from point A to Z — everything you need to know about wagering in Indiana is packed in here so stick with us!

Is Sports Betting Legal In Indiana?

It’s been legal actually. Get this, Indiana signed legal betting into law in May of 2019 before it launched a few months thereafter. It was one of the first states in the Midwest to get on the bandwagon. Today? Most of them have followed suit so credit to Indiana for getting to the party early.

Starting early has been a godsend to Indiana, which has a top-10 betting market in the United States right now. They’ve also attracted a healthy amount of competition. By our count, there’s almost a dozen betting apps to choose from inside the Hoosier State. Question is, which one is best for bettors? That question amid at the heart of the next questions on this page.

International Online Sportsbooks Available In Indiana

While sports betting is legal in Indiana, bettors should know that certain wagers remain off-limits at state-regulated sportsbooks. The Hoosier State offers a robust legal betting market, but some popular bet types are only available through international sportsbooks. Indiana's legal books are prohibited from offering bets on political events and may have restrictions on in-state college teams. Other niche markets like entertainment props or esoteric sports are often unavailable through regulated operators.

For those interested in these types of bets, international sportsbooks provide a wider array of options. These offshore sites accept wagers on political events, a full range of college sports without restrictions, and numerous specialty markets not found at legal Indiana books. By expanding your options to include these international sportsbooks, you can access a truly comprehensive range of betting markets.

While using offshore sportsbooks comes with some risks, the sites we promote have been thoroughly vetted for safety and reliability. Our team has personally used these platforms for years, ensuring prompt payouts and fair treatment of customers. We only recommend trusted operators with long track records of integrity in the online betting space, allowing you to bet on your terms while still benefiting from secure and dependable service.

Legal Online Sportsbooks Available In Indiana

Indiana legalized sports betting in 2019, establishing a fully legal and robust market for residents and visitors. Both online and in-person betting are permitted at licensed sportsbooks, with numerous operators offering their services within the state. This means individuals can place bets from their computers or mobile devices anywhere within Indiana's borders, as well as at physical locations.

The state's sports betting landscape is competitive and user-friendly, featuring a wide range of betting options across various sports. Major sportsbooks operate legally in Indiana, providing a diverse array of wagering opportunities. This accessibility, combined with the state's regulatory framework, ensures a safe and fair betting environment for all participants in the Hoosier State.

Here’s a quick list of sportsbooks that are licensed to operate in the state by the Indiana Gaming Commission:

Indiana Online Sportsbook Comparison

With a double-digit amount of betting apps available in Indiana, choosing the right one (or two) can be challenging. But hey, that’s why we’re here. Below we’ve highlighted our favorite Indiana sportsbooks based on specific categories — bonuses, betting options, and so on. Here is our top picks:

Best sportsbook for bonuses: Promotional bonuses are usually in flux. That’s why it’s hard to pick a sportsbook here because the answer changes from time to time. However, Fanatics is in the mix enough that they warrant our selection. They entered the market later, which means they’ve spent big on promotions to stand out. As we write this, they’re offering as much as $1000 in bonus bets to new players.

Best sportsbook for betting options: Here’s the thing: most betting apps provide similar betting options and odds. Yet FanDuel manages to stand out from the back due to its frequent “boosted odds” promotions. These offers tweak the betting lines in favor of the bettor, providing better payouts at better value. These savings and larger payouts can make a real difference in the long run, hence why FanDuel gets the nod here.

Best sportsbook for live betting: DraftKings has the upper hand here. When live betting, their odds update almost instantly thanks to an AI engine that’s powering the system on the backend. Live betting can be a laggy experience on some apps, but not DraftKings. And here’s the kicker: DraftKings recently acquired Simplebet, a micro-betting technology provider, which is sure to boost their live betting feature even further.

Best sportsbook for rewards: If you’re in Indiana, it’s hard to overlook Caesars Rewards. Not only does this program give players the opportunity to redeem cashback to their account, but it also doles out awards for its physical casino. Being as they own several casinos throughout Indiana, this is no small perk. Caesars Rewards can be flipped into free hotels, dining, and other real-life goodies that competing rewards programs simply can’t offer without a physical location like Caesars.

Best sportsbook for user experience: FanDuel is number one in market share, not just in Indiana, but nationwide. There’s got to be a good reason for that, right?!? Probably because the app delivers a smooth and seamless experience that stands out from the rest. Everything from finding bets to placing them is straightforward and fast. Errors and lag are just really hard to come by when swiping around the app. Bettors can count on it day in, day out.

Indiana Quick Facts

What You Can’t Bet on in Indiana?

Indiana is pretty flexible with its sports betting market, however, there’s a few areas it doesn’t bend. Here’s a few things you won’t be able to find at Indiana betting apps:

College player props: Like many states, Indiana bans betting on individual player props for college athletes. Everything else in college is allowed, just not this markets on specific players.

Online casino: While Indiana has in-person casinos, online casino gaming (iGaming) is still not legal in the state. You’ll need to visit a physical casino if you want to play slots, table games, poker, and so on.

Non-sports events: There will be zero betting on anything that isn’t a real sporting event. This disqualifies fun markets like who’ll win the presidency, award shows, and heck, even scripted WWE matches.

The good news is if you’re Indiana, you could always use an offshore sportsbook to bet the above markets without worry. Offshore sites aren’t as restricted as licensed apps, and can offer much more betting markets and payment options because of it.

Who Can Legally Bet in Indiana?

Let’s shift gears to what Indiana does allow. This list of things is far greater than the don’t category, and includes the following;

Legal age: You must be 21 years old to legally place sports bets in Indiana. This is the standard for most states in the U.S., so no surprise here.

Mobile betting: Indiana fully supports mobile betting, meaning you can wager from anywhere in the state without needing to step into a physical sportsbook.

Retail sportsbooks: While online betting is convenient, Indiana also offers retail sportsbooks at many of its casinos and racetracks. It’s a great way to enjoy the social aspect of betting, especially during big games.

Remote registration: Signing up to bet is simple in Indiana. You can register for an online betting account entirely from your phone or computer — no need to visit a physical location. The process takes just a few short minutes.

Taxable winnings: Any money earned from gambling is expected to be reported in year-end taxes. It’ll count as taxable income — and be prone to both state and federal income tax. Whomp whomp whomp.

Latest Indiana Betting News

Jun 25, 2024 10:49 AM

WNBA Star Caitlin Clark Already Having Major Impact on Indiana Sports Betting

May 23, 2024 06:31 AM

Indiana Online Sportsbook Closes Its Doors for Good

Jun 8, 2023 07:28 PM

Indianapolis Colts Waive Multiple Players Amid NFL Betting Allegations

Dec 12, 2024 05:33 AM

Details of 2025 Missouri Sports Betting Launch are Starting to Trickle Out

Indiana Sportsbooks and Casinos

In the state of Indiana, there are over a dozen riverboats, land-based, and tribal gambling venues with permission to offer legal sports betting. Moreover, many of these venues partner with prominent online sportsbook brands, allowing them to provide their products within the casinos.

Among the first sportsbooks to open their doors in Indiana were the Ameristar Casino Resort, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, Winner’s Circle Indianapolis, and Horseshoe Hammond Casino.

Here's some casino options throughout the state:

Key Venues

• Ameristar Casino Resort East Chicago is partnered with DraftKings Sportsbook, and located in the casino pavilion, near the sports bar. They offer all professional and collegiate sports on five sports betting terminals and 12 sports betting kiosks.
• Belterra Casino Resort is partnered with FanDuel Sportsbook and is located in Florence, Indiana. Their FanDuel sportsbook offering includes five betting windows, ten self-service kiosks, big-screen televisions, and a video wall for viewing the games or matches. You are able to bet on all professional and collegiate sports.
• Blue Chip Casino is also partnered with FanDuel Sportsbook and is located in Michigan City, Indiana. Their sportsbook offers five betting windows, 22 big-screen televisions, and 2 sports tickers.
• French Lick Resort Casino is partnered with Rush Street Interactive and is located in French Lick, Indiana. Sports bettors can wager on any professional sports, including the NFL, soccer, and even bowling. There are three betting windows to place a wager, or you can head to one of eight self-service kiosks. Online betting is also available by downloading the BetRivers app.

Caesars Venues

• Caesars Entertainment manages Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Horseshoe Hammond Casino, Horseshoe Southern Indiana Hotel & Casino, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, and Winner’s Circle Clarksville, Indianapolis and New Haven and they are serviced by Caesars Sportsbook, of course.

Other Venues

• Rising Star Casino Resort is partnered with BetAmerica and Wynn Resorts and is located in Rising Sun, Indiana. Sports bettors can play online at BetAmerica and receive a bonus of $25 in free betting dollars when they sign up for the online sportsbook option.
• Tropicana Evansville Casino is partnered with William Hill and offers a selection of professional sports to place wagers on. They offer a William Hill rewards card when you sign up at the sportsbook in the casino, and you can place your bets at the betting counter or the William Hill Kiosks.

Indiana Sports Betting Timeline

After the landmark Supreme Court decision regarding PASPA, Nevada's monopoly on sports betting was struck down as illegal. Shortly thereafter, Indiana became the tenth state to regulate sports betting. With this, the Hoosier state joined many others at the forefront of legal sports betting in the US.

Early Legalization in 2019

In April of 2019, the legislature sent the bill to Governor Eric Holcomb, who was eager to sign it, aiming to maintain Indiana's competitiveness. Notably, discussions had been underway before the Supreme Court decision, making the bill's passage remarkably smooth and rapid.

Debate Over Mobile Betting

While the bill's approval was virtually assured, a key point of contention revolved around the inclusion of mobile betting. Despite the  security measures required, mobile betting ultimately found its place in the final version that received approval from the Indiana government.

Following extensive legislative negotiations, the Governor signed the bill in May 2019. Remarkably, Indiana's official sports betting launch occurred just a few months later, on September 1, 2019, signifying an impressively swift turnaround.

2020 and Implementation

Immediately casinos began accepting sports bets. One month later, DraftKings and BetRivers officially opened up for business in the Hoosier State. They became the first online sportsbooks to open after the regulation of the industry. More and more sportsbooks followed soon thereafter.

How To Bet On Sports In Indiana

Indiana is a sports-loving state, and it offers a wide variety of betting opportunities across many sports. Just about every sport you can think of is available for wagering. That said, certain sports attract the most action. Here’s a look at the top betting markets in Indiana:

How To Bet On Football In Indiana

In Indiana, football reigns supreme. Then again, this goes the entire country. Bettors and sportsbooks are never busier than they are from September to December when football is in full swing. This is a time of the year where it’s better be sure you’re betting budget can keep peace with the weekend betting opportunities. Just don’t burn out by December because February’s Super Bowl is the blow-off event to end all betting events.

How To Bet On Basketball In Indiana

Basketball holds a special place in Indiana's heart, often referred to as a basketball state. This passion goes for both NBA and NCAA hoops too so you better believe Indiana betting apps keep sportsbooks well-stocked with hoop wagers. March Madness, in particular, is one of the top-2 betting events of the entire year. Matter of fact, Indiana typically hosts a few rounds of it. This is a betting attraction you simply can’t afford to miss out on.

How To Bet On Baseball In Indiana

If you’re looking for a sport with the most betting opportunities, baseball is your best bet. Major League Baseball offers a staggering 162 regular-season games per team, plus the excitement of the playoffs. And unlike other sports that might have longer gaps between games, baseball’s daily nature keeps the betting market fresh. Theres simply no other sport that comes remotely close to baseball in this regard.

How To Bet On Fighting In Indiana

Combat sports are a growing market in Indiana with UFC, boxing, Bellator, PFL, and more available to bet on. There’s a fight card virtually every weekend, however, casual bettors only seem to know about it if there’s a big star competing (e.g. Canelo Alvarez, Tyson Fury, Jon Jones, or Conor McGregor). Yes, betting big fights are special, but this sport is open for the taking to bettors who can uncover the value in undercard bouts. There’s so much hidden opportunity lying for bettors who are well-studied to the game and matchups.

Betting on Indiana Teams

Indiana bettors are naturally going to gravitate toward their home teams. Whether you're watching a game or keeping an eye on the standings, why not have a little extra skin in the game? Here’s how betting on Indiana’s pro and college teams breaks down:

Betting on Indiana NFL Team

The Indianapolis Colts are a staple in the state’s sports scene. While the team has gone through some ups and downs since its Super Bowl-winning days with Peyton Manning, the Colts still draw massive betting attention. Sportsbooks in the state are well aware of this and keep every Colts matchup loaded with all the usual bets — moneyline, spread, over/under, props, and so on. You won’t miss any betting action when it comes to the Colts, that’s for sure.

Betting on Indiana NBA Team

The Indiana Pacers have long been central to Indiana’s love of basketball. That remains the case especially today when the franchise appears to be on the up and up with budding superstar, Tyrese Haliburton. One thing we’ll say about Indiana Pacers, make sure to give live betting a crack. The NBA’s high-scoring and momentum-shifting nature make it prime for in-play betting.

Betting on Indiana College Teams

College sports are enormous in Indiana — and we mean enormous. When it comes to football, almost no program comes close to the prestige of Notre Dame. It’s a brand truly like no other. Then again, similair things could be said about the Indiana Hoosiers basketball program even though they haven’t had as much success as in-state programs like Butler and Purdue as of late. Either way, there’s ample opportunity to wager local D1 teams during both football and basketball season.

Indiana Betting Revenue Statistics

Despite sports betting being live for about five years now, the state is still showing year-over-year growth. Take June 2024, for example, a usually slow month in the world of sports betting. The Indiana Gaming Commission reported $298.2 million was wagered throughout the Summer month. This figure represents a 33.1% increase from June 2023. Seeing 33% growth after five years is impressive. Really impressive.

Don’t be surprised if Indiana is smashing its all-time betting handle records during the 2024 NFL season when betting interest is most up. The record was set in December 2023 and we anticipate it falling in October, when there’s a full month of NFL in action.

Other Types of Betting in Indiana

Sports betting isn’t the only game in town. Retail casino betting is also a big thing in Indiana, for one. The state is home to several commercial casinos, riverboat casinos, and racinos These are spread across the state too so they’re not hard to get to no matter where you live. Slots, table games, or poker, all of it is on the table at these casinos.

Additionally, horse racing betting is a big part of Indiana’s gambling scene. Indiana is home to two racetracks — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino and Indiana Grand Racing & Casino — where you can bet on live races or simulcast events from other racetracks around the country. Bets can also be had online.

Lastly, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is also legal in Indiana. Matter of fact, Indiana was one of the early adopters of DFS regulation, and this was before it legalized sports betting too.

Burt there’s one more option for betting in-state: the Hoosier Lottery (yes, this is what they actually call it). It’s your standard lottery stuff here, featuring scratch-off tickets, daily draw games, and multi-state lotteries like Powerball and Mega Millions.

Sports Betting Rules in Each State

Looking to place bets outside of Indiana? We’ve got you covered with detailed guides. Pick a state, and you’ll find a detailed breakdown of its sports betting laws so you can bet confidently and within the law, no matter where you are. Here’s our directory:

Responsible Gaming in Indiana

Sports betting in Indiana can be an exciting and enjoyable way to enhance your connection with your favorite teams or events. However, it’s crucial to stay mindful of your gambling habits to ensure that betting remains a fun activity and doesn’t lead to financial or emotional stress.

When the losses start to pile up, it’s tempting to chase them in hopes of getting back to even. However, chasing losses or wagering more than you can afford are clear signs that it may be time to step back. Recognizing these signs early can prevent further issues down the road.

Pushing pause in betting can often be the best way to course correct per se. However, if you have a hard time taking a break and just can’t get your brain off betting, then you might have some deeper issues at play. We don’t want to speculate too much, but it might be worth getting external counseling at that point. The good thing is Indiana has no shortage of help. Here’s some resources worth checking out:

Indiana Problem Gambling Help Line (call 1-800-9-WITH-IT)

A 24/7 confidential helpline offering support for individuals dealing with problem gambling. Whether you’re seeking immediate assistance or referrals to counseling services, this resource is invaluable for maintaining control.

Indiana Council on Problem Gambling (http://www.indianaproblemgambling.org/)

This organization provides education, support, and outreach to those struggling with gambling addiction. It offers resources like self-assessment tools, treatment referrals, and community programs aimed at promoting responsible gaming across the state.

Indiana Family and Social Services (https://www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/addiction-services/problem-gambling/)

Official resources for Indianans struggling with problem gambling.

National resources are available too, such as these:

Gamble Aware (https://www.gambleaware.org/)

A non-profit organization providing resources and support for individuals struggling with gambling addiction.

International Center for Responsible Gaming (https://www.icrg.org/)

The International Center for Responsible Gaming (CRG) is a research institution dedicated to promoting safe gambling practices and addressing gambling-related issues.

24/7 Gambling Support Line (https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/about-the-national-problem-gambling-helpline/)

A round-the-clock helpline offering immediate assistance and guidance for those experiencing gambling-related problems.