Indiana Sports Betting
Indiana was quick to pass sports betting legislation after the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) in 2018. With each US state allowed to pass its own sports betting regulations, Indiana legalized betting in May 2019. The first IN retail sportsbooks were launched in September 2019. Online sports betting went live soon after, in October 2019.
There are currently 13 online sportsbooks and dozens of retail sportsbooks available in the state. The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) regulates sports betting, and all online sportsbooks must partner with a land-based casino to obtain a license.
Some of the biggest sportsbook operators in the US have launched in Indiana, which has helped IN establish itself as one of the biggest sports betting markets in the US. Indiana’s betting handle is bigger than other US states with larger populations, like Michigan and Tennessee.
| Regulator | Launch date | Tax rate | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) | September 1, 2019 | 9.50% | In-person or online |
Read our complete guide to sports betting in Indiana to learn about how to bet legally online and in-person in the state. We also include details on the latest legislation and popular sports and events for betting.
Sports Betting Operators in Indiana
There are 13 online sportsbooks in Indiana licensed by the IGC, including major operators like FanDuel, Caesars, and BetMGM. Along with the biggest brands, there are European betting sites that are newer to the US market, like Betway, Unibet, and SBK Sportsbook.
Every sportsbook needs to partner with a land-based casino to launch in IN, and every casino can partner with three online sportsbooks. This means almost 40 betting sites can go live in Indiana.
| Name | Operator | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| Bally Bet | Bally Corp | December 16, 2021 |
| Barstool Sportsbook | Penn National Gaming | May 18, 2021 |
| BetMGM Sportsbook | Entain | February 27, 2020 |
| BetRivers | Rush Street Interactive | October 3, 2019 |
| Betway | Super Group | May 28, 2021 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Caesars Entertainment | May 19, 2020 |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | DraftKings Inc | October 3, 2019 |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Flutter Entertainment | October 22, 2019 |
| Hard Rock Sportsbook | Seminole Tribe | September 6, 2022 |
| PointsBet | PointsBet | March 5, 2022 |
| SBK Sportsbook | Smarkets | March 10, 2022 |
| Unibet | Kindred Group | September 23, 2021 |
| WynnBET Sportsbook | Wynn Resorts | April 1, 2021 |
Best Sportsbooks Apps and Bonuses in Indiana
The Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) platform powered by DraftKings was live for years before the operator brought its online sportsbook to Indiana. The sportsbook was one of the first to go live in IN, launching on the opening day of online sports betting on October 3, 2019. DraftKings got its license from the IGC through a partnership with Ameristar Casino.
To attract Indiana bettors, DraftKings signed a partnership with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers in February 2020. You’ll find the sportsbook’s branding around the team’s home Gainbridge Fieldhouse and during the team’s post-game show.
Retail sportsbooks launched in Indiana on September 1, 2019, with the FanDuel land-based sportsbook opening its doors on the same day. The operator was also the third online sportsbook to go live in the state on October 22, 2019.
FanDuel received its license from the IGC through a partnership with Belterra Casino, where the brand operates a retail sportsbook. This features five betting windows, a huge video wall, and 14 other TV displays, 13 self-service betting kiosks, and a sports ticker. The sportsbook has a similar retail venue at the Blue Chip Casino.
FanDuel has also signed deals to be the DFS partner of sports teams in Indiana. In 2015, the sportsbook signed a multi-year agreement with the Indiana Pacers, which included branding at the team’s home, Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The brand also signed a deal with the Indianapolis Colts in the same year.
In September 2022, FanDuel signed a deal with the WNBA, so you’ll see FanDuel branding at the Indiana Fever games.
After forming a partnership with Belterra Casino, BetMGM received its license from the IGC to launch in Indiana. The sportsbook became the fourth betting site operating in IN when it launched in February 2020.
BetMGM has tried to win over local bettors by signing former Indiana Pacers player and ABC sports analyst Jalen Rose as a brand ambassador. Rose previously played in Indiana for six years, helping the franchise reach its first NBA Finals in 2000.
Caesars Sportsbook, owned by Caesars Entertainment, launched in Indiana in May 2020. The IGC licenses the sportsbook through a partnership with the Horseshoe Hammond Casino, which Caesar Entertainment operates.
As part of the deal, Caesars opened a sportsbook at the Horseshoe Hammond Casino in September 2020, one of the first retail sportsbooks to go live in Indiana. The 5,300-square-foot site offers LED video walls, a dozen 85-inch televisions, and deluxe lounge chairs and couches.
Along with the Horseshoe Hammond Casino, there are several other retail Caesars Sportsbooks in Indiana. You’ll find these betting locations at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Indiana Grand, and three Winner’s Circle sites in Clarksville, Indianapolis, and New Haven. Harrah’s Hoosier Park is home to a famous standardbred horse racing track and hosts the Dan Patch Stakes.
However, Caesars’ ties to Indiana don’t stop with its properties, as the sportsbook is partnered with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Australian sportsbook PointsBet entered the Indiana market in March 2020 after signing an agreement with Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg in July 2019. PointsBet also agreed to a multi-year partnership with the Indiana Pacers in August 2020. This agreement sees PointsBet branding displayed across the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Indiana became the third US state to license Unibet, with the sportsbook launching through a partnership with the Horseshoe Hammond Casino. The launch of Unibet was due in the summer of 2021, but it was delayed to ensure the betting site was ready. Unibet finally became available in September 2021.
Owned by Rush Street Interactive, the digital arm of Rush Steet Gaming, BetRivers was the first online sportsbook to launch in Indiana on October 3, 2019. It received its license through a partnership with French Lick Casino and now operates a retail sportsbook there with eight self-service kiosks.
In April 2021, BetRivers signed a multi-year agreement to become the official sports betting partner of Indy Eleven, Indianapolis’ USL team.
TVG is a pari-mutuel horse racing betting site operated by Flutter Entertainment, one of the biggest companies in the world. TVG is linked with another Flutter Entertainment product in Indiana, FanDuel, so you can use your FanDuel account to bet on TVG.
TVG offers markets on races from Indiana’s top race tracks like Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs. These include races like the Dan Patch Stakes and Indiana Derby.
Indiana Legislation Timeline
March 24, 2016: Former Governor Mike Pence signs SB 339, legalizing DFS contests in Indiana. The IGC is given oversight of DFS operators.
May 14, 2018: The US Supreme Court overturns PASPA, returning the power to legalize sports betting to individual states.
February 4, 2019: The state’s first sports betting bill, HB 1015, passes the Indiana House of Representatives. This intends to legalize retail and online sports betting.
March 27, 2019: Senator Mark Messmer and Senator J.D. Ford introduce SB 552, which removes online sports betting from the House’s HB 1015.
April 24, 2019: Lawmakers compromise on online sports betting and allow it to be included in the legislation. This allows HB 1054 to pass the House 59-36 and 37-12 in the Senate.
May 8, 2019: Governor Eric Holcomb signs HB 1015, legalizing online and retail sports betting in IN. Online sportsbooks must be partnered with a licensed gambling location like a casino or racetrack to launch.
September 1, 2019: Retail sportsbooks launch as the Indiana Grand Casino, Ameristar Casino, and Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg take the first bets. Gov. Holcomb places the first legal wager in Indiana, betting on the Colts and the Pacers to win the NFL and NBA.
October 3, 2019: Online sportsbooks launch in IN, with BetRivers and DraftKings going live.
December 6, 2021: Bally Bet Sportsbook launches in the state, bringing the number of sportsbooks live in Indiana to 11.
February 11, 2022: The IGC reports that Indiana sportsbooks hit a record betting handle in January 2022 of nearly $500 million.
Sports Betting in Indiana
You can bet using online sportsbooks anywhere in Indiana or at retail sportsbooks in brick-and-mortar casinos. Read our overview of the rules and regulations you need to follow in Indiana.
Is online sports betting legal in Indiana?
Online sports betting is legal in Indiana after Gov. Holcomb signed HB 1015 in May 2019. The first online sportsbooks went live in October 2019, and there are 13 sportsbooks you can use. You must be within Indiana’s borders to bet and enable your geolocation services to prove you are playing in a legal area.
What sports can you bet on in IN?
You can bet on a wide range of professional sports in Indiana, including major leagues featuring local teams like the NFL and NBA. In addition, you’ll find other popular events like golf competitions, tennis tournaments, and European soccer available with most sportsbooks.
You can bet on any team in NCAA Division I in Indiana, but the IGC does not allow sportsbooks to offer player prop bets. This is to protect young athletes from the pressure caused by sports betting.
Who can bet on sports in IN?
To bet on sports in Indiana, you must be over 21. You do not have to be a state resident but must be inside state lines while you bet. However, some people are prohibited from betting in Indiana, including anyone in the state’s self-exclusion program or with a criminal record.
Anyone involved in professional or college sports, whether as a player or employee, cannot place bets. This extends to anyone working for a league creating rules for professional or college sports, like the NFL or NCAA. In addition, employees of companies that provide sports betting, like sportsbooks and casinos with sportsbook partnerships, are banned from betting.
Official League Data usage in Indiana
The largest provider of official league data in the US is Genius Sports, which has formed partnerships with several sportsbooks in Indiana. This means when you use sportsbooks like DraftKings and WynnBET in Indiana, you will get the latest official statistics for your pre-game and in-play betting.
Indiana Sports Betting Handle
The best way to gauge a state’s interest in sports betting is its sports betting handle. A betting handle tells you how much was bet over a period of time. Indiana has become one of the biggest betting states in the US, and was the fifth US state to pass an $8 billion total betting handle in May 2022.
| Month | Handle |
|---|---|
| September 2019 | $35,215,416 |
| October 2019 | $91,697,393 |
| November 2019 | $147,276,912 |
| December 2019 | $161,808,924 |
| January 2020 | $171,049,250 |
| February 2020 | $187,186,221 |
| March 2020 | $74,818,802 |
| April 2020 | $26,304,128 |
| May 2020 | $37,334,940 |
| June 2020 | $29,783,580 |
| July 2020 | $70,876,622 |
| August 2020 | $169,018,238 |
| September 2020 | $207,450,106 |
| October 2020 | $230,932,251 |
| November 2020 | $251,403,994 |
| December 2020 | $313,112,474 |
| January 2021 | $348,244,676 |
| February 2021 | $273,893,073 |
| March 2021 | $316,717,762 |
| April 2021 | $236,403,308 |
| May 2021 | $254,445,226 |
| June 2021 | $246,321,671 |
| July 2021 | $194,492,669 |
| August 2021 | $215,636,824 |
| September 2021 | $355,425,184 |
| October 2021 | $461,131,242 |
| November 2021 | $463,684,739 |
| December 2021 | $463,015,613 |
| January 2022 | $500,138,648 |
| February 2022 | $409,109,104 |
| March 2022 | $476,802,783 |
| April 2022 | $360,023,255 |
| May 2022 | $308,385,687 |
| June 2022 | $256,307,260 |
| July 2022 | $206,627,688 |
| August 2022 | $237,990,176 |
| September 2022 | $382,507,090 |
Indiana Sports Teams
There are three major sports teams in Indiana: the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, and the WNBA’s Indiana Fever. While these teams have only brought two championships back to Indiana, that doesn’t stop thousands of sports fans from getting behind these franchises every week.
The Indianapolis Colts were founded in Baltimore in 1953 by Carroll Rosenbloom after he purchased the Dayton Triangles and moved the team to Baltimore. The team was very successful in its early years, winning three NFL Championships in 1958, 1959, and 1968. Following the NFL-AFL Merger, the Colts claimed a Super Bowl in 1970. However, the team struggled after this and moved to Indianapolis in 1984.
Since the relocation, the team has made two trips to the Super Bowl, in 2007 and 2010. The Colts claimed victory in the 2007 game over the Chicago Bears, with Hall of Famer Peyton Manning at quarterback. Along with these Super Bowl victories, the Colts have also won seven conference championships and 16 divisional titles.
As a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), the Indiana Pacers were formed in the first year of the league in 1967. The Pacers were one of four teams that jumped to the NBA from the ABA, with the Pacers winning three championships and three divisional titles before moving.
In the NBA, the team plays in the Eastern Conference Central Division, with home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Previously, the franchise played at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum from 1967 to 1974 and at Market Square Arena from 1974 to 1999.
The Pacers haven’t been able to replicate its ABA success in the NBA and have yet to win an NBA Championship. However, it has won six divisional titles since the merger and one conference championship in 2000.
Founded in 2000 by the owner of the Indiana Pacers, Herb Simon, the Indiana Fever joined the WNBA as an expansion franchise. The team plays in the Eastern Conference and shares a stadium with the Pacers, Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Fever have qualified for the WNBA Finals 13 times since joining the league.
The Fever won the state’s first professional basketball championship since the Pacers won the ABA in 1973 by beating the Minnesota Lynx in the 2012 WNBA Finals. This wasn’t the team’s first attempt to win the WNBA Finals, with its last trip in 2009 ending in a loss to the Phoenix Mercury. Along with one WNBA Championship, the Fever has won three conference titles.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish is the collegiate athletic program of the University of Notre Dame near South Bend, Indiana. The school sponsors twenty-three NCAA-sanctioned sports.
Its program is in NCAA Division I, primarily a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) but also a member of the Big Ten Conference for Ice Hockey. Its most prominent athletics program is its football team, an independent Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) member. It is one of only 16 universities that play Division I FBS football and Division I Ice Hockey.
Its football team is one of the most storied in college football history, claiming eleven national championships, winning over 900 games, recruiting seven Heisman Trophy winners, and the most consensus All-American selections of any school.
Its last national championship was won in 1988 under legendary coach Lou Holtz, winning the title after ending Miami’s 36-game regular season winning streak. Recently the program has been less successful, with its last national championship game coming in 2012 when the team lost against Alabama.
In addition to its football side, the school has won two pre-Helms Trophy national men’s basketball championships and two women’s basketball championships.
Athletics programs from the University of Indiana are known as the Indiana Hoosiers. The school sponsors twenty NCAA-sanctioned sports, with nine men’s and eleven women’s teams competing. It is a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Hoosiers’ most prominent programs are its basketball and football teams.
Its men’s basketball team won five national championships in 1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, and 1987. Its 1976 team is regarded as one of the best and was the last team to complete an undefeated NCAA basketball season. It has made the eighth-highest number of trips to the Final Four and forty overall appearances in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the sixth-most in history.
In contrast to its basketball program, Indiana has had less success in college football, making just 13 bowl games in 120 years of play. Despite this, the team has improved in recent years and has reached the postseason five times since 2007. The team has a 3-10 record in bowl games.
Intercollegiate teams from Purdue University in West Lafayette, known as the Boilermakers, compete at the NCAA Division I level as part of the Big Ten Conference. The school sponsors eighteen NCAA-sanctioned sports. The school is most famous for its football and basketball programs.
Its football program claimed one national championship in 1931 in a split decision with USC and Pittsburgh. The Boilermakers have also won twelve conference championships, five outright and seven shared. Eight of these titles are in the Big Ten, whereas the rest were part of the Indiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association. In 2022, the team won its first divisional title, winning the Big Ten West. Purdue has also competed in twenty bowl games with an 11-9 record.
Its basketball team has appeared in the NCAA Tournament thirty-three times and claimed a pre-Helms Trophy national championship in 1932. The Boilermakers were runners-up in 1969, finished in third place in 1980, and made the Elite Eight on five occasions. It has also won more Big Ten basketball championships than any other program.
Ball State University, from Muncie, IN, has several intercollegiate athletics teams known as Ball State Cardinals or BSU. The teams compete in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
Its football team was established in 1924 and has won six conference championships, most recently in 2020. It has appeared in seven postseason bowl games. In 2020, after 96 years, it finally won its first bowl game, beating San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl.
Its basketball team began in 1920 and has been a MAC men’s basketball powerhouse. Ball State has made the NCAA Tournament seven times, reaching the Sweet Sixteen in 1990, when eventual national champions, UNLV, defeated the Cardinals.
The Butler Bulldogs are the varsity teams of Butler University in Indianapolis. The team is an NCAA Division I school that competes primarily in the Big East.
Its most prominent program is its basketball team. Butler Bulldogs compete in the Big East basketball conference and have qualified for the NCAA Tournament on sixteen occasions. The team reached the final four of the NCAA tournament in 2010 and 2011, becoming the smallest school to compete for a national championship. The team also claimed a national championship in 1927, but the NCAA does not recognize this.
Indiana Sporting Events
Alongside its professional teams, Indiana has a proud history of sporting events that are famous worldwide. As the home of open-wheel racing in the US and hosting the spectacular Indianapolis Motor Speedway, there is plenty of racing in IN. In addition, there are loads of other events like college sports and huge professional fights.
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500 is an open-wheel car racing event held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is part of the IndyCar Series and traditionally held on Memorial Day weekend in May. The race, which was inaugurated in 1911, is considered part of the Triple Crown of Motorsport, along with the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix. It is often referred to as ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’
A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr, Rick Mears, and Helio Castroneves are the most successful drivers, winning the title four times each. The event is steeped in tradition, including the presentation of a bottle of milk to each year’s winner. In addition, the crowd sings the chorus of “Back Home Again in Indiana”, the unofficial state song of Indiana, before the race. Around 300,000 spectators attend each year.
Big 10 Football Championship Game
The Big 10 Football Championship game is a yearly college football event held at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, between the winners of the Big 10 Football Western & Eastern Divisions. The winner is awarded the Big 10 title and usually holds an automatic berth to the Rose Bowl game unless it is selected for the College Football Playoffs.
The event was inaugurated in 2011, when the Big Ten expanded to 12 teams, allowing the competition to host a championship game. The Ohio State University Buckeyes is the most successful team, appearing six times and winning five championships.
UFC Fight Night
The UFC is the biggest MMA competition globally, and Indiana has hosted two of its main events at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. On September 25, 2010, IN hosted UFC 119, which saw Frank Mir defeat Mirko Cro Cop and Ryan Bader defeat Antônio Rogério Nogueira in front of a crowd of 15,811. This was the first UFC-numbered event ever to be held in Indiana.
In August 2013, Indiana hosted UFC Fight Night 27, which featured a headline bout between UFC Interim Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit and WEC Welterweight Champion Martin Kampmann. Condit defeated Kampmann in just 54 seconds by total knock-out in front of 6,417 spectators.
Indiana Land-Based Sportsbooks
Retail sports betting was the first type of legal wagering available in Indiana, going live a month before online sports betting. All online sportsbooks have to partner with a land-based casino to launch in IN, which means there are plenty of retail sportsbooks in the state.
While online sports betting is more convenient, retail sportsbooks offer you a great experience in the company of loads of other sports fans. You can watch games live on big screens, enjoy food and drinks from bars and restaurants, and enjoy comfy seating while betting. We’ve listed all the retail sports betting locations in the Hoosier State below.
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Barstool Sportsbook | Ameristar Casino East Chicago |
| Barstool Sportsbook | Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | French Lick Resort Casino |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Caesars Southern Indiana |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Harrah's Hoosier Park |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Horseshoe Casino Hammond |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Horseshoe Shelby |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Winner's Circle OTB |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Winner's Circle Pub, Grille, and OTB |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Winner's Circle Brew, Pub, and OTB |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Belterra Casino Resort |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Blue Chip Casino |
| Hard Rock Sportsbook | Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana |
| William Hill | Bally's Evansville |
Indiana Responsible Gambling
The IGC operates a voluntary exclusion program which allows players in Indiana to self-exclude from gambling. This will prevent players from playing at online and retail sportsbooks. To sign up for this program, you must complete a form at the IGC office in Indianapolis, any casino, or with a designated problem gambling treatment provider. No matter where you complete the form, there must be a gaming agent or an IGC designee present.
You can exclude yourself for one year, five years, or for life. This list is confidential, but you will need to have your photograph taken when you sign up to join. To request removal from the self-exclusion list, you must complete a Request for Removal form, which you can submit at the IGC office in Indianapolis, a casino, or by mail.
In addition, sportsbooks regulated by the IGC often provide responsible gambling help, including tools like deposit and time limits. Online sportsbooks also guide players to helpful third-party organizations, like the National Center for Responsible Gaming.
FAQs
Yes, sports betting is legal in Indiana. Retail sportsbook launched for the beginning of the NFL and college football season in September 2019, while online betting followed a month later in October. If you are over 21, you can sign up with a sportsbook and bet anywhere in the state.
There are loads of great sports betting bonuses you can redeem at Indiana sportsbooks, including free bets, risk-free bets, and deposit match offers. Many of the top sportsbooks, like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetRivers, and Caesars, offer betting bonuses to new customers. You can redeem these promos by signing up and following the promotion’s instructions.
Any sports betting site licensed by the IGC is very safe for Indiana bettors to use. The IGC has strict restrictions on sports betting sites to ensure player safety, including background checks on sportsbook owners and testing security methods. The IGC guarantees fair odds and payouts if you use a licensed sportsbook.
Yes, you can play Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) in Indiana. Lawmakers in the state legalized these games in March 2016, so you can use DFS platforms anywhere in the state. Major DFS brands like FanDuel and DraftKings are available, and you can play games on the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL.
Almost all gambling winnings are subject to Indiana’s personal income tax rate of 3.23%. You’ll have to pay this and any federal taxes payable on your sports betting winnings. Most sportsbooks will send you a W-2G report, which you can use to report your winnings and withholdings to the State of Indiana and the IRS.
The Indiana Gaming Commission regulates all sports betting in Indiana. This regulatory body creates the rules which sportsbooks must follow on what sports and markets are available for betting. The Commission also ensures every betting site licensed to operate in IN is safe, checking the security measures and financial safety of each sportsbook.
Yes, DraftKings is licensed by the IGC and legal in Indiana. You can use the brand’s online sportsbook anywhere in the state if you enable your geolocation services. You can also access its other gambling platforms, like its DFS games, with a sports betting account.
Yes, you can use FanDuel in Indiana to place online sports bets. You can also visit the brand’s two retail sportsbooks at the Blue Chip Casino and Belterra Casino Resort. You must be over 21 and within Indiana’s state lines to use FanDuel Sportsbook.
BetMGM is legal in Indiana with a license from the IGC, which it received through a partnership with Belterra Casino. One of BetMGM’s brand ambassadors, Jalen Rose, played for the Indiana Pacers for years and helped the team reach an NBA Finals.