Indiana Sports Betting Online

• Indiana Online Sports Betting @ BetRivers Sportsbook - The Best Indiana Sportsbook Experience! Live Betting & Live Streaming - Claim your bonus for SPORTS BETTING in Indiana!
• Online Sports Betting Right now, there are 10 active online sportsbooks in Indiana. The Hoosier State is home to DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, BetAmerica, BetMGM, PointsBet, Caesars, Unibet, theScore Bet, and William Hill, which is the latest addition. These sites give Indiana.

Indiana online sports betting recently became a reality, ushering in a new era of legal sports betting in the Hoosier State.

Under Indiana sports betting law, each licensee may partner with third-party service providers to operate up to three online sportsbooks. In this manner, experienced providers such as.

Governor Eric Holcomb signed off onIndiana House Bill 1015, which put the legislation in place for Indiana to introduce legal retail and online sports betting.

With a long history of retail casino gaming, Indiana’s foray into legal sports betting represents an expansion of the state’s gambling industry.

Indiana’s first retail sportsbooks launched in September 2019. Online sports betting platforms soon followed in October. With the introduction of those products, Indiana joined the growing number of US states withlegalized sports betting.

So far, it’s been a success, with Indiana seeing monthly revenue of just over $19 million from sports betting in both October and November 2020.

The Best Indiana Online Sportsbooks

Here are some of the best online sports betting sites in Indiana, with top bonus offers:

• FanDuel Sportsbook >>Claim a $1000 risk free bet
• BetMGM Sportsbook >>Claim a $500 risk free bet
• BetRivers Sportsbook >>Claim 100% deposit match bonus up to $250
• PointsBet Sportsbook >>Claim up to $1,500 in risk free bets– use bonus code BIGBONUS
• DraftKings Sportsbook >>Claim 20% deposit match bonus up to $1000

All Indiana Online Sports Betting Sites

DraftKings Indiana Sportsbook

DraftKings Sportsbook’s October 2019 launch in Indiana made the platform one of the first to go live in the state. The debut made Indiana the fifth state in which DraftKings Sportsbook operates in the US.

The platform operates as a license partner to Ameristar Casino Resort, and in collaboration with Penn National Gaming. DraftKings Sportsbook owns the distinction of top revenue-earning legal online sportsbook in the state.

FanDuel Indiana Sportsbook

FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook are the two top-earning brands in the US legal online sports betting market. That pattern holds in Indiana as well. The FanDuel Sportsbook Indiana platform is second only to DraftKings in revenues in the Hoosier State.

With the Indiana site launching in October 2019, FanDuel Sportsbook added a fourth state to its list of US operations. Blue Chip Casino acts as the retail license partner for FanDuel Sportsbook.

BetMGM Indiana

BetMGM became the fifth mobile sportsbook to launch in Indiana when it debuted in February 2020. The platform is licensed to Belterra Casino.

The BetMGM brand operates on Roar Digital software. This is a collaboration between MGM Resorts and GVC Holdings. BetMGM expanded into a fourth US state when the Indiana platform launched.

New Jersey, Nevada, and West Virginia also host the BetMGM legal online sports betting platform.

BetRivers Indiana

Rush Street Interactive’s BetRivers brand expanded into its third state with the October 2019 launch of its Indiana platform. BetRivers Sportsbook was the first legal mobile sports betting site to go live in the Hoosier State.

BetRivers Sportsbook is named after the Rivers Casino brand. The BetRivers Indiana platform, however, operates under the license of French Lick Resort Casino.

PointsBet

With its March 2020 debut, PointBet became the sixth legal mobile sports wagering platform to open for business in Indiana. The Australian-owned company’s Indiana debut was one of several on the list of expected launches in the US for PointsBet in 2020.

Licensed to Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, the platform offers a wealth of traditional betting markets to Indiana bettors. It also offers the unique PointsBet wagering system to state residents. In August 2020, Points Bet and NBC Sports announced a 5-year partnership that could see the Australian company spread its influence further and quicker in the US.

PointsBet is also rolling out some tremendous sportsbook bonus offers, giving new bettors a variety of options for testing out their app in the US. The best of the offers includes up to $1,500 in two risk free bets. Check out our PointsBet review for more details.

BetAmerica

Sneaking into the field of legal online sportsbooks just before the end of the year, BetAmerica Sportsbook launched in Indiana in December 2019.

Owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated, the BetAmerica online gaming brand continued its US expansion with the Indiana launch. Rising Star Casino is the retail casino licensing BetAmerica in Indiana.

Unibet Sportsbook

Kindred Group’s Unibet brand joined the Indiana fray on July 31, 2020. The sportsbook operates under the Horseshoe Hammond license. Horseshoe Hammond is a Caesars-owned property.

Unibet’s launch brought the number of online sports betting sites in Indiana to seven.

TheScore Bet

Canadian sports media company Score Media continues to expand into the US legal sports betting market with its brand, titled theScore Bet. The platform went live in Indiana on September 17, 2020.

TheScore combines its analysis and insights with a betting platform in a unique mix of sports and betting content. The company is partnered with Penn National Gaming for an Indiana sports betting license.

Caesars Online Indiana

The Caesars Sportsbook launched in 2020 under the license offered by their retail casino in Southern Indiana. The sportsbook app is co-branded under the Caesars and William Hill brand names.

Caesars Southern Indiana is a casino backed by the Caesars brand name and reputation. They launched a retail sportsbook location in December 2019. Due to a recentmergerbetween Caesars and William Hill, the retail sportsbook is now branded asWilliam Hill.

Initially, Tropicana Casino Evansville announced a partnership with William Hill. In the end, Caesars also owns the Tropicana brand so it’s all one big happy family for these brands in Indiana.

Check out our Guide To Online Sports Betting In The US.

Online Sportsbooks Coming Soon To Indiana

BetIndiana

BetIndiana will eventually join the list of legal online sportsbooks available in Indiana. USA Sports Gaming operates the BetIndiana brand. The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) already awarded BetIndiana an online sports betting license.

BetIndiana will eventually operate as a license partner to the planned Hard Rock Casino in Gary, Indiana.

SBK Online Sportsbook

SBK Online Sportsbook is coming to Indiana, possibly sometime in 2020. The SBK brand will launch in Indiana as a product of a partnership between Full House Resorts and UK-based sports betting brand Smarkets. The mobile sports betting app will operate under the Rising Star Casino license.

FOX Bet

The Stars Group and FOX Sports are the partners behind the FOX Bet brand. FOX Bet is already live with online sportsbooks and casinos in various US states, and an Indiana platform is likely to go live soon. FOX Bet Indiana could operate a license partner of Penn National Gaming.

Bonuses At Indiana Online Sports Betting Sites

Indiana betting sites offer a variety of sports betting bonus and promo offers, from deposit-match bonuses to risk-free bets. In addition to new player bonus offers, often sports betting sites offer game-specific promotions as well.

Deposit Match Bonuses

Widely offered by online gambling platforms, deposit match bonuses award bonus money that matches a certain percentage of a deposit. Deposit match bonuses are available at various legal online sportsbooks in Indiana.

BetRivers Sportsbook offers a 100% match bonus on first deposits, up to $250. This means that upon an initial deposit of up to $250 on the platform, BetRivers matches with up to $250 in bonus funds.

Deposit match bonuses usually require a certain amount of playthrough, or dollars wagered, to unlock the bonus. At many online gaming sites, the playthrough requirement is 25x or more. For example, a $250 match bonus with a 25x playthrough would require a total of $6,250 wagered ($250*25) to unlock the full bonus.

The BetRivers deposit match bonus is as player-friendly as it gets. It only requires 1x playthrough.

Risk-Free Bet Bonuses

Some sportsbooks offer a risk-free bet upon first deposit. This bonus refunds the first bet a player makes on a site if it results in a loss.

Indiana legal online sportsbooks offering risk-free bet bonuses include BetMGM. The BetMGM offer includes a risk-free bet of up to $500.

For example, if a player signs up at BetMGM, deposits, and makes a $500 bet, BetMGM will refund that $500 if the bet is a loss. The $500 is the max amount for a refund, and the refund matches the amount made on the first bet.

Free No-Deposit Bonuses

The easiest way to get money into an account on a legal online sportsbook in Indiana is via free sign-up bonuses.

These bonuses are typically more common at online casinos, but occasionally you can find one at an online sportsbook. The way they work is simple: just sign up and the sportsbook will give you a bonus in your account. Usually, it ranges from $10 to $30, and some sportsbooks require you to play a certain amount before you can claim the bonus.

Sports Betting Online In Indiana

Sports To Bet On In Indiana

Betting On US Professional Sports In Indiana

Just about every professional sports league in the US is represented in the betting markets at Indiana’s legal online sportsbooks.

Major League Baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA, and NHL, are all on the menu for Indiana bettors. Moneyline and point spread betting is available on virtually the entire schedule in all four major US sports. This includes the regular season, as well as postseason contests.

Indiana Pacers And Indianapolis Colts

Indiana is home to the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts and the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. Bettors in the state can wager on both of these teams without restrictions.

Other ways to bet on the four major US leagues include parlays, futures betting, and prop bets. Prop bets on the 2020 NFL Draft reached an all-time high in US markets, with bettors placing wagers on draft order and numerous other aspects of the draft.

Indy 500 And Other Sports

Indiana hosts the annual Indianapolis 500, the biggest IndyCar Series event in the US. The IndyCar Series and NASCAR are both available to Indiana bettors.

Major League Soccer, golf, and tennis are also available for betting at Indiana legal online sportsbooks. Betting markets for UFC, other MMA promotions, and boxing are on the menu as well.

Betting On College Sports In Indiana

Indiana’s state-regulated online sportsbooks offer a variety of college sports betting markets. Some US states restrict betting on in-state college athletics teams and contests. New Jersey, for example, limits betting on in-state collegiate sports. No such restrictions apply in Indiana.

The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) permits betting on numerous college sports. The IGC only restricts certain kinds of live in-game betting on college contests.

Point spread, moneyline, and parlay betting are available to Indiana players for nearly every major contest in college football and college basketball. This includes the College Football Playoff and college football bowl season.

Notre Dame, Purdue, And Indiana University

The NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament, aka March Madness, is one of the most popular sports betting events on the calendar. Indiana bettors can wager on all games from the March Madness bracket, including those involving Indiana college programs.

Indiana’s rich tradition of college athletics goes back more than a century. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish college football program is arguably the most recognizable in the US.

Located in South Bend, Indiana, Notre Dame college football is just one of many high-profile college athletics programs in the state.

College basketball teams like the Indiana Hoosiers and Purdue Boilermakers perennially contend for postseason play and conference championships. Indiana’s passionate college sports fan base has access to betting markets involving all of the state’s big-name programs.

Online Sports Betting Indiana Draftkings

College hockey, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, and track and field are all permitted for wagering by the IGC.

International Sports Betting In Indiana

While betting on domestic sports offers plenty of opportunities for Indiana players, legal online sportsbooks in the state also offer access to many international sports betting markets.

From major international sports leagues to some of the more obscure sporting events, Indiana bettors can find almost endless ways to wager on contests around the globe.

International Soccer Leagues

The world’s most popular sport, soccer, powers some of the most-watched sports leagues in the world. Top-tier leagues like the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, and Spanish La Liga produce games that are some of the most popular events for wagering in the world.

Indiana bettors have access to all of these leagues at state-regulated online sportsbooks. Extensive options for betting on smaller leagues are available as well.

Other International Sports

Soccer is just one of many ways Indiana bettors can get in on overseas sports action. Major leagues in rugby, cricket, basketball, and baseball all present plenty of contests for wagering.

The world’s biggest cycling event, the Tour de France, is on the menu for Indiana bettors as well. Tennis majors like the French Open, Australian Open, and Wimbledon, as well as international golf events, find a place on the board at Indiana’s online sports betting sites.

Niche sports, like darts, table tennis, and a host of others, round out the international betting options available in Indiana.

Is Esports Betting Legal In Indiana?

Video games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, and Starcraft 2 have become “sports leagues” of their own over the past decade. The esports industry is powered by the popularity of these games.

Betting markets surrounding these esports staples have occasionally appeared on the boards of legal sportsbooks in Nevada and New Jersey. In Indiana, however, esports betting is illegal.

While the stance on esports betting is undefined in some US states, Indiana law explicitly dictates that esports betting is prohibited.

What Else Can I Bet On In Indiana?

The IGC permits betting on many forms of sports in Indiana. The list of sports betting markets allowed at the state’s legal sportsbooks can be found here. The list includes various sports from Aussie Rules Football to table tennis.

Are Indiana’s Online Sportsbooks Available As Mobile Apps?

Most of Indiana’s legal online sports betting platforms are available as mobile apps for both Apple iOS and Android devices. Many of the state’s mobile sportsbooks can also be accessed from a desktop, with no download.

Indiana could host as many as 15 or more online sports betting brands when the industry reaches full maturity. Just about all of Indiana’s legal online sportsbooks will likely be accessible in both mobile app and desktop form.

Indiana Mobile Sports Betting Apps For iOS Devices

DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM, and PointsBet are among the platforms offered as downloadable apps for iOS devices.

These apps can be found in the App Store on iOS devices and downloaded for free. While most of these apps can be downloaded from anywhere in the US, bettors must be located within Indiana borders to place bets.

Indiana’s legal sports betting apps use geolocation technology that prevents bettors from playing from outside of the state.

Indiana Mobile Sports Betting Apps For Android Devices

All of the aforementioned legal sports betting platforms, as well as BetRivers Sportsbook, are available as mobile apps for Android devices as well. There’s one extra hurdle, though, when downloading Indiana sports betting apps for Android devices.

Android users must download the apps directly from an online sportsbook’s website. The Google Play Store does not allow for the download of real-money gambling apps.

Using A Desktop To Bet At Indiana’s Online Sportsbooks

Virtually all of Indiana’s state-regulated mobile sportsbooks can be accessed on a desktop computer, with no app download required. Bettors can register for an account, deposit, and place bets directly from the websites of Indiana’s online sportsbooks.

Playing on a desktop doesn’t offer the same portability as a mobile app, but is the quickest and easiest way to get started at one of the state’s regulated sports betting platforms.

What Is Indiana’s Biggest Online Sportsbook?

DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook sit atop the list of top revenue-earning brands in the legal US sports betting industry. Not surprisingly, these brands emerged as the leaders in the Indiana mobile sports betting market soon after the October 2019 launch.

Both platforms offer a wide array of domestic and international sports betting markets for Indiana players. The name recognition of the brands set up both FanDuel and DraftKings as potential market leaders in the emerging US sports betting industry for years to come.

DraftKings Sportsbook In Indiana

DraftKings Sportsbooktops the list as Indiana’s highest-earning mobile sportsbook. Licensed to Ameristar Casino, DraftKings Sportsbook offers an intuitive, modern interface. It is simple to navigate on both mobile devices and on a desktop. In November 2020, DraftKings Indiana earned just over $7 million in revenue. DraftKings is set to earn about $50 million in revenue in Indiana alone in 2020.

New players can earn up to $1,000 in bonuses after signing up at DraftKings Sportsbook. This total includes a 20% deposit match bonus up to $1000 in bonus money.

FanDuel Sportsbook In Indiana

FanDuel Sportsbookoperates under the license of Blue Chip Casino. Launching just a couple of weeks after DraftKings Sportsbook, the platform brings in a significant portion of Indiana’s overall online sports betting revenue. During November 2020, FanDuel Indiana earned just under $8 million in revenue, representing an 8% increase month over month.

New Indiana bettors can claim up to$1000 in risk free bets at FanDuel Indiana.

How Do I Create An Account At An Indiana Online Sportsbook?

Getting started on Indiana’s legal online sports wagering platforms is easy. The registration process takes just a few steps. For example, signing up for a BetRivers Sportsbook account requires the following steps:

• Go to the BetRivers Indiana homepage. From there, Android users can download the BetRivers Sportsbook app. All players can also register and bet on a desktop right from the website. iOS users can get the BetRivers app directly from Apple’s App Store.
• Click “Join Now,” and fill out fields for a screen name, password, and valid email address.
• Upon verification of email, the new account is ready for action. Navigate to the cashier to make a deposit.
• Additional identification and age verification are needed to make a deposit.
• Using geolocation technology, BetRivers Sportsbook will only allow bets to be made from inside Indiana borders.

This example for the BetRivers sportsbook app in Indiana is pretty much the same for other sports betting apps in the state.

Legal Online Sportsbooks Versus Illegal Online Sportsbooks

The number of legal mobile sportsbooks operating in Indiana could reach 15 or more when the industry reaches full maturity in the Hoosier State.

Indiana bettors can enjoy multiple betting platforms. With the ease of betting from anywhere in the state, research and line shopping can be accomplished with ease.

Indiana Sportsbook Regulators

The state’s land-based casinos own all of the Indiana online sports betting platforms. The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC), a government agency, regulates the casino industry in the state and the online sportsbooks. The IGC ensures fairness of games, player safety, and legal operations from the state’s casinos.

Players can place bets at Indiana’s legal online sportsbooks with the safeguards of IGC regulation in place. Betting on a mobile sports wagering site is just as safe as placing a bet at the sportsbook of a land-based casino.

Offshore Gambling Sites And The Consequences

Offshore gambling sites operating in the US are illegal. All legal online sportsbooks in Indiana display the Indiana Gaming Commission seal. Any online gambling site in Indiana not bearing the IGC seal is illegally operating in Indiana.

The legal consequences of playing on an illegal gambling site in Indiana are particularly foreboding. Indiana law explicitly outlaws online gambling at grey market or offshore sites, subjecting players on those sites to possible criminal prosecution.

Indiana Online Sports Betting FAQs

The legal minimum age for casino gambling in Indiana is 21. This age applies to any form of gambling inside a land-based casino, as well as betting on a legal online sportsbook.

To deposit and withdraw from a legal mobile sports betting site, players must provide identification showing that they’re at least 21.

Yes. DraftKings Sportsbook launched in Indiana in October 2019. This made Indiana the fifth state in which DraftKings Sportsbook went live. The platform is licensed to Ameristar Casino.

The DraftKings Sportsbook homepage displays a map of all states in which the platform legally operates. The site can be accessed by Indiana player via iOS app, Android app, or directly through a desktop computer.

Yes. FanDuel Sportsbook is licensed under the Blue Chip Casino internet gaming license. The platform went live in October 2019 in Indiana.

FanDuel Sportsbook operates legally in several US states. To bet on the Indiana version of the platform, players must be located within Indiana borders. FanDuel Sportsbook is available as a mobile app, as well as on a desktop.

No. Indiana’s casinos generally don’t offer credit for play on the state’s legal online sportsbooks. Apart from free, no-deposit bonuses, the only way to bet is by depositing funds at a mobile sports betting site.

However, you can earn bonus money from special offers such as deposit match bonuses and risk-free bet promotions.

Yes. Betting on college sports is legal in Indiana. Unlike a few other US states, Indiana allows college sports betting with no restrictions on in-state teams and contests.

As such, Indiana bettors have full access to betting markets that include games involving Notre Dame, Indiana University, and Purdue. In-state contests between non-Indiana teams are also open for wagering.

No. New players can register for an account on a legal online sportsbook from anywhere within Indiana’s borders. Players must be able to provide proof of identity and age to deposit and withdraw from their accounts.

It is possible to open an online sportsbook account by visiting the casino cage of the retail property that operates a given online sportsbook.

Yes. Indiana’s land-based casinos own and operate all state-regulated mobile sports betting platforms in the state. The Indiana Gaming Commission, a government agency, regulates all retail casinos and online sports betting platforms.

Betting on Indiana’s legal mobile sportsbooks comes with the same level of safety as gaming at a legal land-based casino in Indiana.

Players can access numerous methods of deposit and withdrawal options. This includes ACH/eCheck, prepaid debit cards, PayPal, PayNearMe, and credit/debit card.

Some of these methods are more accepted and reliable than others. Use credit cards with caution when depositing. The issuing bank might view the deposit as a cash advance and charge fees accordingly.

The Indiana Gaming Commission. The IGC, a government agency, oversees and regulates Indiana’s legal casino industry.

The IGC regulates all casino gaming conducted at a legal Indiana casino. The agency also regulates all sports betting, at retail sportsbooks or regulated mobile platforms.

Retail casinos. The state’s land-based casinos own and operate all legal online sports betting platforms. This is sometimes in collaboration with technology partners like DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook.

Retail sportsbooks started to operate at casinos across the state in September 2019. Online sports betting apps started to launch in October 2019.

Yes. Indiana’s online sports betting platforms have the same high-level encryption used by major banking and retail shopping institutions.

Indiana gaming sites have a vested interest in protecting customer information. Players can also utilize extra layers of protection, such astwo-step authentication for login.

Welcome to INBetting.com, the premier site for information about Indiana sports betting. You can find all the latest in news, updates, and reviews to aid your next bet.

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There will always be something new to discover, and we want you to have a leg up on fellow sports bettors.

How sports betting works in Indiana

Indiana is officially a sports betting state. In September 2019, the Hoosier State joined the growing fraternity of states to offer legal wagering on sports to its inhabitants. The law which legalized sports betting, H 1015, provided that licensed casino properties could open online versions of their sportsbooks.

In October 2019, Indiana online betting apps launched. Now there are 10 different apps to choose from, with even more on the way.

How online sports betting works in Indiana

Online sports betting is a relatively new experience for many US sports bettors. However, Americans are quickly discovering the advantages of playing online over traipsing to the nearest retail book.

Advantages of online sports betting

• Convenience: Obviously, the ability to bet sports from anywhere in the state is a valuable feature for online sports bettors. Instead of having to negotiate location and traffic concerns, sports bettors can wager from the comfort of their own homes, coffee shops, or a favorite sports bar. For the many states surrounding Indiana that don’t have sports betting, being able to drive over the state line and bet is a huge perk.
• Flexibility: Alongside its convenience, online sports betting offers increased flexibility over retail operations. Technological superiority allows online sportsbooks to offer dozens of wagers on every single game. Some online books even allow their players to propose their own wagers. It’s just not possible to do the same thing at many retail sportsbooks.
• Promotions: Online sportsbooks often have promotional offers that cannot be found in retail sportsbooks. These offers usually promise some extra cash or prizes in return for playing on a particular sportsbook.

How to signup to an Indiana online sportsbook

In order to get started with an Indiana online sportsbook, a player must first proceed through the registration process. Though the process varies a bit from book to book, they all usually end up in the same place and with the same information.

The homepage of the site will come with a prominent link to sign up. A simple click will take the player through the site’s registration wizard.

Most registrations break into a couple of pages of data entry. The data that each sportsbook wants will usually consist of the following:

• Name – common name is usually fine, but occasionally, a book asks for legal

• Address

• Telephone number

• Email address

• Social Security number – either the entire number or the last four digits

• Username
• Password

The registration process may also ask the player to ask and answer some security questions. These prompts usually involve mildly personal questions, such as a mother’s maiden name or the name of a first pet.

The answers given serve as an extra layer of protection and password recovery. However, just to be safe, make sure to use an uncommon password with special characters and symbols.

Before submitting a registration, make sure to check for any sign-up bonuses and/or bonus codes available. We at INBetting will keep you up to date, but make sure to check back so as not to miss out on free money or other offers.

Indiana online sports betting quick questions

Can I bet on sports in Indiana?

Yes. There are several sportsbooks active in the Hoosier State right now. The online sportsbooks live in Indiana are:

Missouri Sports Betting Online

• DraftKings
• FanDuel
• BetMGM
• BetRivers
• PointsBet
• BetAmerica
• Caesars
• Unibet
• theScore Bet
• William Hill

Is it legal?

Yes. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed H 1015 into law in May 2019, making sports betting legal in Indiana.

Can I bet on my phone?

Yes, there are numerous sports betting apps available for download or both Android and iOS/iPhone.

Can I bet on sports when I am outside of Indiana?

No. It is against both state and federal law to place a wager from outside state lines. Every online sportsbook employs geolocation software to verify each player’s location. If you cannot prove that you are physically inside Indiana, you will not be able to wager.

How Indiana legalized online sports betting

Indiana’s venture into the online sports betting world came as a slight surprise. Obviously, the state is not hostile to gaming, with 14 casinos operating inside the state.

Still, the Hoosier State mostly appeared from nowhere to legalize sports betting in May 2019. Gov. Holcomb received H 1015 from the Indiana legislature and signed it on May 8, 2020, the last day of eligibility to do so.

Indiana’s journey was only marked by one major point of contention. State Rep. Bill Smaltz, a powerful committee chairman, strenuously objected to online sports betting’s inclusion in the bill.

His concerns stemmed from a belief that online sports betting suffers from a lack of adequate consumer protections. His influence managed to strip the provision out of the law, albeit briefly. A conference committee later reversed the decision. So, the law passed to the governor with online sports betting.

As is the case with most gaming activities in the state, the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) is responsible for overseeing online sportsbooks in the state. Each licensed casino property in Indiana could apply for a license to operate an online sportsbook. All 14 did when the licensing process opened up.

Licenses cost $100,000, and require a $50,000 annual renewal. The state also taxes 9.5% of adjusted gross revenues from sports betting.

The new law permits wagering on most sports. However, bets on esports or amateur athletes under 18 are not allowed.

The IGC is also going to maintain a strong grip on live betting offerings at Indiana online sportsbooks. The commission will also monitor and restrict data sources as it deems fit.

How to choose an online sportsbook in Indiana

In terms of which site to trust, the choice boils down to how transparently the site operates.

The IGC oversees all regulated sites in Indiana. That should be reason enough to avoid offshore sportsbooks, which do not have a regulatory body watching over the industry to ensure everything is on the up and up.

Furthermore, at regulated Indiana betting sites, it should be easy for players to contact site personnel and resolve issues. A site should have people on call around the clock to handle problems as they arise, even if they are minor and easy to fix.

Sites should also have a wide variety of deposit and withdrawal methods. There should be plenty of information about how the site does business.

Finally, any site worth the time will have resources available to help problem gamblers with their addiction. Restricting or canceling one’s account should be possible with very little effort.

Generally speaking, a legit online sports betting site is as safe as any other online merchant. Though it is wise to verify, they are as trustworthy as they need to be. Anything less is a deathblow to the business, anyway.

Indiana sportsbooks vs. apps

Any discussion of online sportsbooks will include mentions of both online sportsbooks and apps. Those unfamiliar with the topic may wonder about the differences between the two.

Online sportsbooks typically refer to browser-based sportsbooks you can access on your desktop or laptop. While you may be able to look at a sportsbook’s website on your phone, you need to download the sports betting app in order to actually wager. That is because the app needs to credibly verify your location to confirm you are betting within the sate.

So, it is quite common for an online sportsbook to release three separate versions of its software. There will be a browser-based version that anyone can access as well as dedicated versions for Android and iOS devices.

It is sometimes possible that one version might be more or less robust than its counterparts. There may be sports or bet types offered that do not appear elsewhere.

However, by and large, there is no risk playing on either an online sportsbook or app. All things equal, they are the same.

Online sports betting promotions

As we mentioned earlier, one of the main advantages of online sports betting over retail sports betting is the prevalence of bonus opportunities and promotions. Online sportsbooks understand that competition is much fiercer in the virtual space since competitors are only a few button presses away.

So, books offer bonuses to entice players to give their sites a try. A healthy bonus structure can also be key to retaining existing clients.

Types of online sportsbook bonuses

Attracting new customers is an ongoing process for online sportsbooks. There are several types of bonuses that online sportsbooks use to aid this process.

• No-deposit bonuses: One of the most common types of bonuses that new players can use is the no-deposit bonus. These bonuses are found money. The sportsbook pledges to award a certain amount of cash to any player who signs up. These offers vary from site to site, both in dollar amount and in restriction. In some cases, the app is literally giving away free money that can be withdrawn immediately.
• Loyalty Rewards: The main reason why sportsbooks are less likely to have rewards programs is the very nature of sports betting. Like poker, sportsbooks derive their income in an ancillary manner to the action of sports betting, rather than directly from it. Ideally, a sportsbook can balance out its bets on either side of the action for a particular contest. Then, it takes its profit from the vig it charges all the bettors.
• Free bets: A free bet is something of a misnomer. This type of bonus yields a free wager for the player. However, it’s not free because it usually doesn’t come without some sort of exchange. Most of the time, an online sportsbook will award a free bet as compensation for losing a specific wager. So, free bets are equivalent in value to whatever losing bet preceded them. They’re more like a buy one, get one promotion than strictly a free bet.
• Deposit bonus: Another common type of bonus is the deposit bonus. This type of bonus, which is sometimes called a match bonus, commits the online sportsbook to match a certain percentage of a player’s deposit in their account. This match percentage varies wildly, going from a 10% match all the way to a dollar-for-dollar scenario. First deposits tend to be subject to more lucrative bonuses, with hundreds of dollars in bonus money possible.

One last thing to remember is that some deposit bonuses need a promotional code in order to activate. Make sure to check the promotional ad and copy the code into the appropriate box when making a deposit.

Cash out options at Indiana sportsbooks

Cash out options are not bonuses in the strictest sense. However, they are becoming more prevalent in US online sportsbooks due to the flexibility that they provide the bettors.

A cash out option is a dynamic button that appears at the bottom of some bet slips. The button displays an ever-changing amount of money.

What the button represents is an opportunity for the player to close out his or her open bet. Instead of waiting until the end of the game, the player can settle the bet for the displayed amount.

Obviously, the sportsbook wants to close the bet at a lower payout amount, if possible. So, its motivation is fairly clear.

However, a player may consider a cash out option if he or she wants to guard against any kind of miracle losses. Sports are unpredictable, and the loss of some profit potential for a sure thing may be enticing to some bettors.

What to look for in a bonus

Online sportsbooks will invariably attempt to lure new players with their bonuses. The smart ones will always have some sort of promo running in order to keep the existing players happy, too.

In terms of which site to choose, though, the best thing to do is read the fine print. The question with any bonus should be related to how much time and effort is required to redeem the offer fully.

So, before signing up for any bonus, check the terms and conditions. If none exist or are easily found, it’s probably not a good place to play.

Pay special attention to the playthrough requirement and the time it takes to redeem the bonus. Try to get a sense about whether that much play is possible before time expires, and whether the exertion will cause personal problems with family and commitments.

Calculating the expected value of a bonus

If you’d like to analyze bonuses even deeper, read on. It is possible to determine whether a bonus is a good investment of money based only on its playthrough requirement.

Consider the following scenario:

A player wishes to deposit into an online sportsbook. He notices that the casino is offering a 100% match up to $500.

He also sees that the playthrough requirement is 20 times the bonus amount. So, were he to exercise the option fully, he would have to wager $10,000 ($500 x 20) in order to release the funds.

Now, a typical spread or totals bet has a house advantage of around 4.54%. So, over the course of that $10,000 wagering, the player could expect to lose $454.

Since the bonus amount is worth $500, the expected value of the bonus is actually $46. So, in this case, it would make sense to redeem the bonus (assuming that there’s enough time).

Now, consider this scenario:

Think about what happens, however, if the playthrough requirement is now 25 times the bonus amount. Now, assuming that he loses the same 4.54% of his playthrough requirement, he actually loses $567.50.

The maximum bonus amount never changed, it’s still $500. So, in fact, a 25x playthrough requirement would actually be a losing proposition.

Funding your account

Playing on online sportsbooks requires having money online. Thankfully, the process of getting money into an online sportsbook account is relatively painless.

Once a player has an account with the online sportsbook, a deposit could be a matter of seconds away. A simple click to the cashier, an appropriate selection among the choices of deposit options, and the entry of credit card information can be all it takes to get started.

However, players without credit cards need not despair. Most online sportsbooks feature a host of deposit options. Some of those options include:

• Credit/debit cards
• Visa
• Mastercard
• Electronic check (ACH)
• Electronic wallet
• PayPal
• NETELLER
• Skrill
• Prepaid card
• Play+
• Bank transfer
• Online bill pay
• Wire transfer
• PayNearMe
• Cash
• Transactions are possible through the partner’s cage or cashier onsite
• Check
• Cashier’s check
• Money order

Withdrawing money from an online sportsbook is almost as easy as depositing. However, most sportsbooks do not offer as many withdrawal options as deposit options. Furthermore, the sportsbook itself will often designate its preferred method of withdrawal.

Depositing FAQ

Is depositing money in an online sportsbook safe?

Assuming that the sportsbook is legal and licensed in Indiana, yes. The Indiana Gaming Commission oversees the entire industry, and has resources available in case of any disputes.

Is making a deposit secure?

Yes. It is in the interest of both the online sportsbook and the IGC to ensure that there are appropriate measures in place to combat hacking and other cybercrime.

Can I deposit any amount that I want?

Every online sportsbook will limit the amounts available for deposit. These limits will exist for both daily and monthly timeframes. However, most players can get their limits changed if they communicate with the personnel at the sportsbook.

Can I deposit from out of state?

Yes. Most online sportsbooks will allow you to make deposits from outside the state lines.

However, you will not be able to wager on anything until you are physically within Indiana. Sportsbooks use verification software to ensure that players are in compliance on this issue.

How long does it take to deposit?

In most cases, depositing only takes a minute or two. However, the sportsbook will have to verify your method of deposit before anything can proceed. If there are issues with the method you choose, it could cause unnecessary delays.

How long does it take for my withdrawal to reach me?

It depends on the method. Some sportsbooks can make a withdrawal happen quite quickly if it’s an e-check or an e-wallet.

However, many sportsbooks prefer to send deposits to the player’s mailing address in the form of a check. In those cases, a wait of a week or two is not unusual.

Can I withdraw anytime I want?

Generally, yes. However, if there are any holds on money you’ve deposited, then those funds will not be eligible for withdrawal.

Sports/Indiana teams you can bet on

Most major sports are available for wagering in Indiana. Both professional and collegiate events can accept a bet in the Hoosier State.

The only significant exceptions to this rule are for esports and amateur athletes under 18. Indiana law does not permit esport betting, and sportsbooks have to leave the kids alone.

Here is a partial list of sports that player might see at Indiana online sportsbooks:

• Australian-rules football
• Baseball
• NBA
• NCAA basketball
• Cricket
• Darts
• Fighting
• Boxing
• Mixed martial arts
• NFL
• NCAA football
• Golf
• Hockey
• Rugby
• Soccer
• Tennis

The only professional football team in Indiana is the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. The guys in blue and white have an exceptionally-strong hold over the northern part of the state.

The Chicago Bears also garner a lot of Hoosier attention. Chicago’s proximity to Indiana guarantees that Chicago sports teams will always be adopted by Indiana residents. The same goes for the Cincinnati Bengals.

In the southern part of the state, Indiana’s tastes run a bit differently. People are much more interested in the Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball team than a football game. You could argue Indiana is the absolute heart of college basketball in the US.

Live/In-play betting

Live betting is quickly becoming a staple of online sports betting in the US. Also called in-play wagering, live betting revolves around wagering options that occur during the course of a match or game in progress.

Almost by definition, live betting options are proposition bets. They settle according to partial game results or due to factors ancillary to the game’s outcome.

In-game wagering allows a sportsbook to expand from the typical five to ten options for betting on each contest. Instead, it is now possible to offer dozens of wagers on a single game.

Typically, live betting falls into one of three categories of events. The first type of live wager poses a question about the outcome of a certain game period. So, a bet might be about the score at the end of the first quarter, or which team will “win” the first half.

Another type of live bet pertains to the possibility that a player or team will achieve a certain milestone during the game. So, an Indiana online sportsbook might ask whether T.Y. Hilton will reach 100 receiving yards or whether Jacoby Brissett will throw three touchdown passes.

IN sports betting starter kit

Of course, many people in Indiana will be completely new to sports betting, much less the online version of it. That’s fine. With just a bit of study, anyone can have fun placing a few bucks on their favorite team.

Sports betting comes with an array of betting types that may seem confusing at first. Here are the most common types of betting that new bettors may encounter:

• Point spreads
• Moneylines
• Totals (over/under)
• Futures
• Propositions
• Parlays
• Teasers
• Pleasers
• Round robins

Tips and tricks for new sports bettors

With any new endeavor, there is a learning curve. Fortunately, many have blazed the trail before and have shared their knowledge.

Things to do that will improve results:

• Pick one game as your primary area of expertise. Don’t try to be a jack of all trades.
• Learn the chosen game inside and out. Focus not only on which teams are good, but also on why they are good.
• Determine which statistics strongly correlate with various bets. For instance, the pace of play in a game can provide big clues about the outcome of totals bets, because faster games tend to score more points.
• Use online resources effectively. Find a good win probability calculator and/or other ways to crunch the numbers.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Don’t follow the crowd or pundits. Even though both groups may be correct, sports are renowned for the unpredictability. Besides, a heavy favorite is unlikely to pay out very much.
• Don’t chase losses. The sting of one lost bet is always less than the sting of two bets gone. Losing the first bet can also affect one’s judgment and mindset – in poker, players refer to this condition as “going on tilt.” Don’t go on tilt.
• Try to avoid betting longshots. Most of the time, they’re longshots for a reason. Even though they have a chance of an outsized payout, the oddsmakers know that the chance is quite low.
• Bet smart. Don’t put money at risk that you cannot afford to lose. Don’t play if you’re under the influence.

Most of all, try to remember that sports betting is supposed to be fun. So, if it’s not, then something is off.

Sports betting glossary

Like many things, sports betting comes with its own set of terms and lingo. Here is a handy guide so that there’s no more confusion.

• Futures: A type of wager on an end-of-season or cumulative event. Common futures bets are straight-odds wagers on teams to win championships or players to win annual awards.
• In-game wagering: Proposition wagers that take place during the course of a game. They tend to involve either the results of a given time period within the game, or statistical milestones that players or teams may achieve during the contest.
• Leg: A portion of a parlay. Every leg in a parlay must be correct in order for the parlay to pay out.
• Line: A shorthand term for the point spread
• Live betting: Another term for in-game betting.
• Moneyline: A type of wager in which players receive designated payouts for correctly predicting the eventual winner of a contest.
• Moving the line: A sportsbook moves the line when it adjusts the point spread on a particular contest. As wagers come in, sportsbooks try to balance the action on each side of the bet. An imbalance on wagers creates an unfavorable situation for the book, so the oddsmakers will change the line in order to encourage more wagering on the weaker side of the bet.
• Parlays: A parlay bet is a combination bet in which the player wagers on the likelihood of two events occurring. Each event, known as a leg, must win in order to pay out. The increased risk associated with parlays is countered by their increased payouts.
• Pleaser: A type of parlay in which the sportsbook adjusts the line in its own favor, but the payout is increased.
• Point spread: A sportsbook’s estimated margin of victory for a game or match. Players bet whether the favorite will exceed the margin, or the underdog will lose by fewer points or win outright.
• Propositions: Wagers on events peripheral to the outcome of the game at hand. Propositions, or “prop bets,” are often the type of wager involved in a dare, where one party is challenged to complete an unusual task. Almost every live bet is a prop bet.
• Round robin: A group of parlays combined into a single bet. Unlike its constituent parts, it is not necessary for every part of a round robin to win in order to pay out.
• Teaser: A type of parlay in which the sportsbook adjusts the line in the bettors’ favor, but the payout is reduced.
• Totals: A sports bet based upon the total combined amount of points or goals scored by both teams in a match. The sportsbook estimates the total (the over/under), and players wager whether the actual total will be above or below the estimate.