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 regarding what is legal to bet on in Indiana is by reviewing what is not since that list is much smaller. Residents of IN cannot wager on e-sports or any athlete 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 access an excellent selection of DFS products.

Online sports betting in The Hoosier State

In some states, it took years of fighting, negotiations, and countless bills to legalize sports betting. However, in Indiana, lawmakers 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 initially, the state’s governor, Eric Holcomb, passed HB 1015 on May 8th, 2019, legalizing retail and online betting.

Retail betting debuted 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 a dozen sports betting apps active in the state, but there are also 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 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, 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

• July 18, 2024: Indiana Fever rookie Catilin Clark set a WNBA record for most assists in a game with 19. She is currently (-1800) to win WNBA Rookie of the Year.

• June 24, 2024: Former Purdue Boilermakers big man Zach Edey was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. He is currently (+1200) to win Rookie of the Year.

• June 17, 2024: In their second meeting, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever took down Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. Clark is now (-1000) to win Rookie of the Year.

• June 10, 2024: Indiana Fever rookie standout Catilin Clark has been left off the US Women's National Team for the upcoming Olympics, causing heated debate in the sports world.

• June 4, 2024: With their win over East Carolina, the Evansville Purple Aces baseball team became the ninth #4 regional seed to win their regional since 1999. They are now (+480) to win their super-regional and (+12,000) to win the CWS title on FanDuel.

• May 27, 2024: The Indiana Pacers have been eliminated from the Eastern Conference Finals, as they were swept by the Boston Celtics.

• May 22, 2024: Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark has increased interest in WNBA betting. Caesars Sportsbook reported that their bet count on WNBA opening night was up 516% from last season.

• May 19, 2024: With a game seven victory, the Indiana Pacers have eliminated the New York Knicks from the playoffs and will be advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers are currently (+600) to win the Eastern Conference and (+2500) to win the NBA Finals.

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 June 2024:

1. FanDuel (Handle: $83.6m, Revenue: $11.7m)

2. DraftKings (Handle: $113.1m, Revenue: $9m)

3. BetMGM (Handle: $28.2m, Revenue: $3.5m)

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