Indiana

When you think of rich sports history and tradition, Indiana comes to mind, so it is only right that it has one of the most well-rounded sports betting scenes in the country. The Hoosier State has offered residents a strong selection of retail and mobile betting options since 2019.

The best place to start when it comes to what is legal to bet on in Indiana is by going over what is not legal since that list is much smaller. Residents of IN cannot wager on e-sports or any athlete who is under 18 years of age.

While you can’t specifically bet on any athlete under 18, bettors in the state can wager on in-state colleges and NCAA events, which is not allowed in most places. In addition to free reign to bet on professional and collegiate sports, residents can also wager on horse racing, and have they have access to a nice selection of DFS products.

Online sports betting in The Hoosier State

In some states, it took years of fighting, negotiations, and countless bills to get sports betting legalized. However, in Indiana, lawmakers actually presented a sports betting bill prior to PASPA being overturned by the Supreme Court, as they were anticipating how they would vote. While there was some initial pushback in Indiana at first, the state’s governor, Eric Holcomb, passed HB 1015 on May 8th, 2019, legalizing both retail and online betting.

Retail betting made its debut in September of that year, and mobile betting, not far behind, launched in October. With the Hoosier State wasting no time after PASPA was overturned to get sports betting into the hands of their residents, they have consistently pulled in big-time numbers in terms of tax revenue.

Since every online sportsbook needs to partner with a retail shop in IN, there are currently a dozen active mobile betting apps available in the state, and that number could potentially grow over time.

Not only are there a dozen sports betting apps active in the state, but there are 12 of the biggest betting apps on the market. These apps include BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, and BetRivers. Additionally, the state has opened its doors to some of the newest betting products, including Fanatics Sportsbook and ESPN Bet.

One of the biggest draws of Indiana and its vast sports betting market is the fact that many sportsbooks offer some really high-end promotions for both new and existing customers. This makes it easy and beneficial for customers to create multiple betting accounts, which is something we always recommend if it is an option.

All legal IN sports betting apps in 2024 (from newest to oldest):

Sports betting & gambling legislation in IN

There are a few rules that all bettors must abide by when they are trying to place a wager in the Hoosier State. For starters, the legal gambling age is 21 years old, so while you do not have to be a resident of IN to place a wager inside the state lines, you must at least be of age.

Remote registration is an option when using one of the dozen mobile betting apps available. If a bettor is looking to place a live wager but cannot, that is because the Indiana Gaming Commission can restrain in-play betting whenever it pleases. When it comes to taxes, all bettors in the state are subject to a 3.23% tax rate on their winnings, which is quite low compared to other states with legalized gambling and sports betting.

The Indiana Gaming Commission regulates the rules and regulations for bettors and all 12 mobile books, as it oversees all gambling activity in the state. This commission does not take its job lightly, either, so as long as customers are using regulated and licensed shops in the state, they are in good hands.

The only other real change that could eventually come to the state’s gambling legislation is the discussion of whether online casinos and online poker should be legalized in the state. As of right now, there have not been any recent discussions about the matter.

Most recent updates from the IN sports betting scene

• May 14, 2024: Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever opened the 2024 WNBA season with a 92-71 loss to the Connecticut Sun. Clark, to have over 22.5 points, was the most bet player prop of the day, but she should only finish with 20.

• May 2, 2024: The Indiana Pacers have eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks from the NBA Playoffs by securing a 4-2 series win at home. Indiana is now (+1200) to win the Eastern Conference and (+4600) to win the NBA Finals.

• April 29, 2024: With their first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Laiatu Latu. Following the draft, he was given the second-best odds to win Defensive Rookie of the Year at (+650).

• February 27, 2024: Fanatics Sportsbook is officially a member of the Indiana sports betting market, as they have officially taken over for PointsBet in the Hoosier state.

• February 15, 2024: Betr Sportsbook has been approved by the Indiana Gaming Commission to receive a mobile vendor license.

• January 9, 2024: Terre Haute Casino Resort has been given an official opening date of April 5, 2024.

• November 29, 2023: Kindred Group announces its exit from the US market, including Indiana, by the first half of 2024. This move means Unibet Sportsbook will become unavailable in Indiana and other states such as Arizona, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio during 2024.

• November 10, 2023: Bally Bet has been given clearance to relaunch in Indiana.

In-person sports betting sites and locations

The state’s casinos, race tracks, and off-track betting facilities all became eligible for retail sports betting when HB 1015 was passed in May 2019. Indiana already had plenty of casinos and race tracks in operation prior to PASPA being overturned, but this opened the door for these older casinos to partner with the new faces of sports betting, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and more.

As of right now, there are 13 retail locations across IN, but that number is expected to grow in 2024. The Terre Haute Casino Resort is finally expected to open its doors at some point in the year after months of investigations regarding a corruption scandal, as well as some issues with construction permits.

Sports betting in neighboring states

Indiana is part of a solid group of Midwest states that offer sports betting legally. If IN residents needed to travel locally, there is a good chance they would be able to continue to place legal sports wagers, as Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio all have at least some form of gambling.

For more information on these surrounding states' gambling legislations, you can click on their name in the list down below.

Sports betting revenue impact on Indiana's economy

With over a dozen mobile sportsbooks available in the state, along with plenty of retail options, Indiana has consistently produced big numbers for sports betting handle and revenue.

Regarding licensing for sportsbooks and retailers, Indiana has plenty to go around. All mobile sportsbooks are required to partner with a casino in the state, and the annual license fee for these operators is $50,000. These operators are subject to a 9.5% tax rate for both online and retail betting, and that is one of the lowest rates amongst states with legalized sports betting.

Even with the lower tax rate, Indiana's tax coffers still make solid money from sports betting monthly. Additionally, in 2023 alone, IN did not have a month where it finished with less than $200 million in handle and just one month where it made less than $20 million in revenue. These are very impressive metrics when you consider that Indiana is the 17th largest state in terms of population.

Top 3 sportsbooks in the state in April 2024:

1. FanDuel (Handle: $128.8m, Revenue: $15.8m)

2. DraftKings (Handle: $144.2m, Revenue: $13.1m)

3. BetMGM (Handle: $31.1m, Revenue: $3.6m)

Indiana sports betting record months:

• Sports betting handle: November 2023 ($513,672,424)

• Revenue: December 2023 ($54,603,323)

• Tax income: January 2024 ($5,079,594)

IN sports betting revenue in 2024