Online Sports Betting in
Indiana
Sports betting in Indiana is legal, both online and in-person
Online betting apps and websites in Indiana
Mobile and online sports wagering is available across the whole state of Indiana. Signing up for a new account fairly straightforward. For new bettors, click on the links below to get a sign-up bonus that you can use for your first bets:
- BetRivers
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- BetMGM
- PointsBet
- Caesars Sportsbook
- Unibet
- WynnBET
BetMGM launched in late February 2020 and PointsBet followed suit in early March 2020, adding to what is becoming a robust marketplace for online sports betting in Indiana.
Remote registration is allowed for these sites, but you will have to be located inside Indiana’s borders if you want to use them to bet real money on sports.
Best online sportsbooks in Indiana
While there are many online sportsbooks in Indiana, there are some that stick out. At USBettingReport, we used a few different factors when choosing the best online sportsbooks in Indiana. Among those factors were reliability, odds prices, total sports and betting markets available, customer service, live betting, bonuses, user interface, and other special features. With that in mind, we’ve picked out the seven best options for IN bettors.
DraftKings
DraftKings launched in Indiana on October 3rd, 2019, and has not looked back since. The sportsbook partnered with Ameristar Casino East Chicago in order to operate in the state and has used Kambi software to power its odds to this point. DraftKings is one of the most popular sportsbooks in the state as evidenced by Indiana’s sports betting revenue reports each month.
The reason for DraftKings’ success could be attributed to its brand awareness but the sportsbook itself backs up any assumptions. They offer boosted odds, flash bets, pool betting, live betting, a wide selection of bonuses as well as the largest sports menu of all sportsbooks in Indiana.
✔ U.S. licensed & regulated
✔ Bonus for new bettors
✔ Safe and secure
FanDuel
FanDuel launched just a few weeks after DraftKings on October 22nd, 2019. FanDuel actually has two casino partners in the Belterra Casino Resort and Blue Chip Casino. Their sportsbook is powered by IGT which is one of the dominant sports betting supplier brands in the industry.
FanDuel has similarly become one of the top 3 most popular online Indiana sportsbooks according to the numbers. FanDuel has gained this following by having some of the best bonuses among the competition and has even been known to payout bettors early. They also have some of the biggest lists of betting markets per game of any book.
✔ $1,000 Welcome Bonus
✔ NFL Odds Boosts
✔ Superb Mobile Apps
BetRivers
BetRivers was one of the first to launch in Indiana on October 3rd, 2019, and has only grown since then. BetRivers is partnered with the French Lick Resort. Like DraftKings, BetRivers also uses Kambi which is why sometimes they’ll have the same odds.
Make no mistake, BetRivers has its own feel and has some exclusive offerings. BetRivers offers one of the most attainable welcome bonuses in the entire industry and is worth downloading on that principle alone. They also offer live streaming for certain sporting events, making them a go-to spot for in-game wagering.
✔ $500 Welcome Bonus
✔ Reliable and Trustworthy
✔ Reduced Juice
BetMGM
BetMGM launched on February 25, 2020, through its partnership with Belterra Casino. Their tech is backed by GVC Holdings, now known as Entain Plc. BetMGM is also backed by MGM Resorts, one of the largest names in the gambling world.
BetMGM has slowly made a name for itself across the U.S. and that is much the same in Indiana. BetMGM has one of the slickest interfaces of all online sportsbooks, making it easy to find betting lines on Indiana sports teams like the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Hoosiers.
✔ $1,500 First Bet Offer
✔ Competitive odds
✔ Attentive customer support
PointsBet
PointsBet sportsbook launched on March 5, 2020, through a deal that PointsBet struck with Lawrenceburg Hollywood Casino. PointsBet uses its in-house software to offer sports bettors one of the most unique experiences on the market.
The biggest differentiator between PointsBet and other online sports betting sites in Indiana is that they offer points betting. This means you can bet on the over or under and if you pick right, your winnings multiply by the number of points you’re right by. Conversely, you could also lose in this multiplying way. The high stakes make it the most exciting way to bet on sports in Indiana.
✔ Up to $1,000 in Second Chance Bets
✔ Name-a-bet option
✔ Highly competitive odds
Bonuses, promotions, and rewards to claim in Indiana
Each legal sports betting website in Indiana has its own fair share of bonuses as a means to lure customers in but there are three that both sports betting novices and experts should look to claim.
- BetRivers $250 Deposit Bonus: With this deal, first-time users of the site will be matched 100% of their initial deposit for up to $250. This bonus money needs to be played through only once before you can withdraw it, making it the easiest bonus to turn into real cash.
- PointsBet $2000 Risk-Free Bets: When placing your first fixed odds bet at PointsBet, you can be reimbursed up to $500 in bonus money if your initial bet loses. That amount is tripled to $1500 in bonus funds if your first Points Betting wager loses. You’ll still have to bet the bonus funds before you get to withdraw them, but the fact that the amounts are so high really allows you to make gutsy bets without nearly as much risk.
Other Indiana sportsbook bonuses can be found at different times of the year, but these deals are the most consistent and serve sports fans of all types.
In-person sports betting is also available
Bettors can place single and multiway wagers at licensed casinos, racinos, and off-tracking betting parlors.
This means, in effect, that there are sportsbooks located in all 13 commercial gambling establishments in Indiana. So far, the casinos you can bet on sports in Indiana are as follows:
- Indiana Grand Casino in Shelbyville
- Ameristar Casino in East Chicago
- Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg
- Winners Circle in Downtown Indianapolis
- Winners Circle in Clarksville
- Winners Circle in New Haven
- Horseshoe Hammond Casino
- Bluechip Casino in Michigan City
- French Lick Casino in French Lick
- Belterra Casino in Florence
- Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson
- Tropicana Evansville Casino
- Caesars Southern Indiana Hotel & Casino
Sports betting options and age restrictions
The only restrictions in terms of what customers can bet on will be eSports and amateur events where the participants are under the age of 18. Additionally, there may be some restrictions on in-play betting.
The NCAA can submit a request to the Indiana Gaming Commission to ban in-play betting on certain events. If they do so ahead of time, and the IGC accepts that request, then you may be limited on your betting opportunities for that game.
What to know when betting on sports in Indiana
- Betting is for over-21s only. To bet on sports at Indiana’s best sportsbooks, you have to at least 21-years-old.
- There is no need for online bettors to register at a casino. In-person registration is not required for bettors who want to bet online or via an app. You will still need to provide proof that you are above the legal age to bet on sports.
- Betting apps are available in the App Store and on Google Play. To download apps head over to the Apple App Store or Google Play if you’re using an Android device. If they are not available on those platforms you can always download the app directly from the sportsbook’s website.
- Those associated with Purdue University cannot bet on the Purdue Boilermakers. You can only bet on the Purdue Boilermakers if you are above the age of 21 and not a student, faculty member, or administrator at the university. The rules against betting on Purdue were set by the university itself and not by lawmakers. There is a chance this rule can be challenged in court or be changed in the future.
Basketball is the most popular sports to bet on in Indiana
The different sports available at Indiana sportsbooks truly depend on the sportsbook you use. Some will include niche sports like volleyball and cricket while others won’t.
Those options are:
- Football
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Soccer
- Hockey
- Golf
- Boxing
- MMA
- Motorsports
- Tennis
While every other state wagers on football more than any other sport, the most popular sport to bet on in Indiana is basketball. This includes both college basketball and professional basketball.
Avoid offshore books and only bet on licensed Indiana sportsbooks
USBettingReport.com holds a license in the state of Indiana through USBR LLC, a company registered with the Indiana Gaming Commission since December 2019. The sportsbooks we review and list on our website are regulated by the Gaming Commission and we are not affiliated with any offshore betting websites. To ensure a safe and secure betting experience, always use licensed betting websites that follow local Indiana regulations.
How did Sports Betting become legal in Indiana?
The Indiana Gaming Commission is now in charge of approving sports betting licenses and regulates the industry in Indiana. But how did sports wagering come to be in the first place?
With the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) no longer a barrier to entry, Indiana became the tenth US state to regulate sports betting. Although it took slightly longer than the likes of New Jersey and Nevada, Hoosier country is now a hotbed for regulated bookmakers.
Just days after Montana became the first US state to legalize sports betting in 2019, Indiana jumped on the bandwagon. Having shown its intent to offer regulated sportsbooks since the close of 2018, the Hoosier State is now part of the ever-growing network of US betting hubs.
What’s interesting about the legislative shift is that it was almost inevitable. After the Legislature passed a sports betting bill on April 25, 2019, it was virtually a done deal. Although the bill was sent to Governor Eric Holcomb for review, it ultimately didn’t need his signature.
Publishing a statement hours after signing the bill, the Governor said new sports betting laws would allow Indiana to remain competitive with its neighbors and, in turn, bolster the local economy.
2018: Preparing for PASPA
Even before PASPA was struck down in May 2018, Indiana sports betting talks had already started. With many assuming intrastate sports betting would become a reality, an initial draft of HB1015 received its first reading in January.
As PASPA fell, amendments from both chambers saw the bill make its way through the legislative process. One of the major sticking points was the issue of mobile sports betting. Initially on the table, then taken off due to concerns over security, provisions for mobile betting eventually made it into the final copy of Indiana’s sports betting bill.
2019: Leading up to the launch in September
Following a period of inactivity during the first three months of 2019, the final version of the bill passed a Senate vote by a margin of 37-12 and a House vote by 59-36.
Governor Eric Holcomb finally gave his approval on May 8 and Indiana officially launched on September 1, 2019.
Three different casinos opened their sportsbooks that day. The very first bet was placed by Governor Holcomb at the Indiana Grand Casino in Shelbyville. Since then more and more gambling facilities in Indiana have begun to accept sports bets at their retail locations.
The first online sports betting apps in Indiana launched just one month after the first land-based sportsbooks opened. DraftKings Sportsbook and BetRivers were the initial online operators, but FanDuel Sportsbook joined the online marketplace only a couple of weeks afterward.
The future of Indiana sports betting
The future of Indiana sports betting is bright. There are still more sportsbooks looking to enter the market as well as lawmakers looking to expand the total betting markets available.
WynnBET most recently launched in Indiana in March of 2021, but other companies such as Bally’s Sportsbook, 888 Sportsbook, and others are actively searching for ways to acquire an Indiana sports betting license.