Online sports betting in Indiana

Table of contents

It’s boom time for online sports betting in Indiana. Since the state authorized sportsbook gambling in 2019, licensed platforms have flocked to the market. So, read on and learn about how to get the best value betting experiences for your dollar.

Yes. Indiana legalized sports betting in May 2019. The state’s established land-based casinos began offering the first IN sportsbooks in August of that year. The first internet operators, BetRivers and DraftKings, went online on October 3, 2019.

Best online sports betting sites in Indiana

Today, there are many online gambling platforms in Indiana operating legally. With so many options, it can be hard to choose. So we’ve picked out some of the best on the market.

  • PointsBet Indiana: Australian-based PointsBook was the sixth sportsbook to open for business in Alabama when it got its license in March 2020. Prior to that, it entered the gaming market in the state via a partnership with Penn National, owner of the Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg. PointsBook is unusual in that it offers PointsBetting, a spread betting option. This is available on a wide range of sports, with the website offering markets on all the big leagues and top events. For betting action on the move, the PointsBet app is one of the best-regarded in the country. It’s available on Android and iOS.
  • BetRivers Indiana: When Indiana legalized sports betting, BetRivers was one of the first platforms to get licensed and start taking bets in partnership with French Lick Casino. Since then, it’s consolidated its status as a trusted market leader. Highlights include a wide range of football markets, with special attention to the Colts and the states college teams, the Hoosiers, the Fighting Irish, and the Boilermakers. In addition, there are sign-up bonuses in Indiana worth up to $500 as a second chance bet and a fully-fledged app for your Android or iOS device.
  • FanDuel Indiana: Originally, FanDuel got its start as a pioneer of Daily Fantasy Sports. That blazed the trail that led to the legalization of sports betting in Indiana. Later, the team moved into traditional sportsbook wagering. In September 2019, in partnership with the Blue Chip Casino, it opened its first sportsbook in the state. FanDuel is noted for its sign-up offer, which will refund up to $1,000 in site credits if your initial bet loses. It also has a string of tempting odds boosts every day, and features various insurance bonuses to help out if your parlay or moneyline comes up just short. FanDuel’s app supports iOS and Android devices.
  • DraftKings Indiana: Another sportsbook that grew out of DFS gaming is DraftKings Indiana. It was quick off the mark when Indiana legalized sports betting, joining BetRivers as the first on the market back in 2019. Today it operates in partnership with Ameristar Casino. The DraftKings online sportsbook offers new customers a $50 free bet plus a 20% bonus on their first deposit (bonus capped at $1,000). In addition, it was the first online bookmaker to offer flash bets, a super-fast take on live betting. This allows customers to go play-by-play and wager on the outcome of the next pitch of a ball game or the next point of a tennis match.
  • BetMGM Indiana: After partnering with Belterra Casino, BetMGM went online in Indiana in February 2020. The site scores highly for its sign-up offer, and gets good reviews for its bettor-focused promos. These include a weekly reward for customers who bet more than $50 during the previous week. However, there are also some criticisms. In particular, users note that the site and its accompanying app are noticeably slower than several competitors.
  • Caesars Indiana: Caesars got into the Indiana market with racetracks and casinos at Hoosiers Park and Indiana Grand. Since then, the world-famous casino brand expanded its connections in the state when it became the Colts’ premier sports betting partner and the only official casino partner of the NFL team. The online sportsbook launched in May 2020 is a full part of the Caesars loyalty program. That means every bet you place, win or lose, adds to your tally of loyalty points. Customers can convert these into cash to withdraw or add to the bet roll. On top of a generous sign-up bonus and an elegantly crafted app, it adds up to a tempting offer.
  • Unibet Indiana: Partnered with the Caesars-owned Horseshoe Hammond Casino, Unibet went online in Indiana in September 2021. With a full range of betting on all sports, it’s a valuable addition to the state’s gambling platforms. Check out the sign-up offer, which offers a risk-free bet of up to $100 for starters. After that, you’ll find regular ‘super boost’ odds on selected events, a weekly live boost, and a weekly bonus on any winning parlay. The Unibet app offers a couple of handy extras, including alerts when your bets settle and reminders when your teams are in action.

Creating a sports betting account in Indiana

Now you’ve had a look at some of Indiana’s best sports betting apps, it’s time to think about signing up. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a sports betting account.

  1. Choose a betting site that meets your needs from our list of Indiana betting sites. Features to consider include the size of the sign-up promo, the range of markets on your favorite sport, and the odds’ competitiveness. Also, check out user reviews to track any common complaints about the sites you are considering.
  2. Create an account with your personal details. Most sites lead you through this to make it as easy as possible. Normally, you’ll need to provide an email address and phone number, create a secure password and complete the KYC verification process. The last part involves submitting photos of your ID and proof of address.
  3. Choose your preferred payment method. For convenience, many users favor bank cards. However, most sportsbooks can also handle transactions from various e-payment systems. Just remember that you will normally have to withdraw funds to the same account from which you make your first deposit.
  4. Make a real-money deposit. Again, most IN casinos make this as easy as possible. When you are logged into your account, there is a clearly marked button saying something like ‘cashier’, ‘deposit’, or ‘account balance’. Clicking on that will start the deposit process for your chosen payment method.
  5. Place your bets online. And now the fun begins. Choose the market you’re interested in, click on the odds you like, and nominate your stake. Good luck!

Daily Fantasy Sports is not only legal but it has also been permitted for longer than regular sports betting in Indiana. The state was the second in the U.S. to allow DFS games back in 2016.

Daily Fantasy Sports games (DFS) are a fast-paced variant of the fantasy model. As in the traditional version, players have a virtual budget with which to select a roster of players. The real-life performance of your selected athletes translates into fantasy points, and the top-scoring teams win prizes.

Traditional fantasy sports could run for a full season. DFS condenses this into a gameday. There are contests based on most major leagues, so it is possible to play almost every day. The two pioneers of DFS games, FanDuel and DraftKings, later moved into sportsbook betting after Indiana authorized gambling on sports in 2019.

Indiana’s sporting scene is dominated by the Indy 500. Traditionally held over Memorial Day weekend, the legendary race is one of the motorsport classics. Notably, it attracts plenty of business to sportsbooks in Indiana and far beyond.

But that’s just the start. Today, we can place a wager on almost any sport, although the state has yet to approve eSports betting. For bettors in the USA, these are some of the most popular markets.

  • Baseball: There’s a good reason why we call baseball ‘America’s pastime’. The MLB season shapes the nation’s sporting landscape from spring to late fall. And that includes the country’s betting landscape. Although Indiana does not have a major league team, the Chicago Cubs in neighboring Illinois get plenty of support from the north of the state. Ohio’s Cincinnati Reds are also popular to the southeast, based on stats from the Vividseats ticket hub.
  • Football: With its crunching physicality and stunning athleticism, top-class football makes a fantastic spectacle. Off the field, the fan culture and tailgate parties make the sport an integral part of life in the USA. Since 1984, the Colts have represented Indianapolis in the NFL. They brought Super Bowl glory to the state in 2006 and regularly thrill the crowds at the 67,000-capacity Lucas Oil Stadium. That venue also hosts the Big 10 Championship Game in college football, where UI’s Hoosiers are a big draw across the state.
  • Soccer: Games like the FIFA World Cup Final or the UEFA Champions League Final draw global audiences of billions, making soccer the world’s most popular team sport. Closer to home, excitement is building as the USA prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup. And Indiana boasts its own bona fide soccer star in DaMarcus Beasley. The Fort Wayne native is the only player to represent Team USA at four World Cups from 2002 to 2014.
  • Basketball: The NBA’s stars are among the highest-paid athletes on the planet, a testament to basketball’s soaring popularity in recent years. The boom in shooting hoops dates back to the early 1980s when the Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson rivalry was taking shape and continued ever since. Bird, an Indiana native, is still something of a sporting hero in his home state, and later in his career, he coached the Indianapolis Pacers in the NBA. Meanwhile, betting on basketball in Indiana is likely to get a further boost in the build-up to 2026, when the Lucas Oil Stadium is slated to stage the prestigious NCAA final four weekends. Local favorites Indiana Hoosiers are rated as an up-and-coming team; it would be a fantastic occasion if they added to their five national championships in their home state.
  • Hockey: The fastest team sport on Earth, hockey has grown from humble roots on the frozen ponds of Canada to enjoy a global reach. The NHL attracts the most skilled players from Europe to make a truly global, glittering competition that culminates in the battle for the Stanley Cup. Indiana does not have a big hockey tradition of its own. However, that doesn’t stop the Chicago Blackhawks, one of the NHL’s Original Six, from attracting plenty of support across the state.

Tips when betting on sports in Indiana

Sports betting can be a lot of fun. A small wager is a great way to add excitement to any game. However, it can be an expensive habit. That’s why we’ve got some top tips to help you make the most of your betting.

  • Only bet on sports you have good knowledge of: Sounds obvious, right? If you follow a team or a sport, chances are you already have plenty of useful data to help you find value bets. That’s got to be better than poring over the stats for a league you’ve never heard of.
  • Take advantage of bonus offers: Gambling platforms always need new customers. To attract them, they offer promotions. It might be a deposit match or free bets after you stake a certain amount with them. Maybe you’ll get your stake refunded if your first wager loses. Either way, it is worth stocking up on bonuses to help you enjoy more bets for your buck.
  • Build up a stable bankroll: Going all in is always tempting, especially when you think you’re backing a sure thing. However, the beauty of sport is its unpredictability. On any given day, any team can beat any other, and even the most legendary franchises don’t win every time. It makes much more sense to bet little and often, limiting your stake to perhaps 5% of your pot. That way, you won’t be wiped out by one freak result, and you can steadily build your bankroll.
  • Make sure to be aware of the rules for bonuses and betting: Everybody loves free offers. However, gambling platforms are not in business to give away money. Promos and bonuses come with strings attached, so always check the fine print before committing your cash. If an offer seems too good to be true, chances are there’s a catch.

Common payment methods at sports betting sites in Indiana

With so many different payment options available at sportsbooks, customers sometimes need a little heads-up about what’s on offer. Here’s a quick guide to the most popular ways of depositing and withdrawing funds.

  • Venmo: Set up in 2009, Venmo is a mobile payment service. It started as a simple way for groups to split bills on a night out, with users transferring funds via a mobile phone app. Since then, it has grown into a payment method accepted widely across the USA. In 2012, PayPal took over Venmo. The app added a physical credit card, backed by MasterCard, to its range in 2018. Venmo has 60 million users but has also been criticized for compromising customer privacy.
  • Play+: Pre-paid payment service Play+ is one of the biggest and most convenient ways to wager online. Most of the leading U.S. sportsbooks accept Play+ transactions, enabling customers to deposit and withdraw funds quickly and safely. Specially designed for bettors, Play+ enables you to load up your account and transfer funds to your sportsbook or casino of choice. Later, you can cash out any winnings to the same Play+ account and spend them at your leisure.
  • MasterCard: For more than half a century, MasterCard has been one of the best-known names in finance. Its services are available in more than 200 countries, and it is widely accepted by gambling platforms in Indiana. The advantages of using a MasterCard credit card to gamble include quick and easy payments and withdrawals and high levels of security. However, look out for transaction fees and remember that funds deposited via a card will incur interest if you don’t pay them off fast.
  • Trustly: Trustly has grown into an open banking behemoth from small beginnings in Stockholm, Sweden. Its card-free, app-free model allows more than 525 million users worldwide to transfer funds directly from their bank accounts. Trustly has tailored services for gaming sites, making it an ever more popular option for online sportsbooks to handle transactions. And its convenience is a hit with customers as well.
  • Skrill: Since 2001, Skrill’s e-wallet has been a market leader. In 2019, it was named Best Digital Wallet by Juniper Research. To use it, set up an account, link it to your bank or credit card, and transfer funds. That money can then be paid directly to online gaming sites and retailers in more than 120 countries – including the USA. It’s a quick and easy way of getting money into your sportsbook account. However, users should be alert to Skrill’s fees, which include a $5.50 basic charge for every withdrawal.
  • VISA: Accepted almost everywhere, Visa credit and debit cards are the most popular way of funding sportsbook accounts in the USA. Customers love the convenience and reliability of using a familiar payment system — often one connected right to their bank account. The only potential drawbacks are transaction fees and, in some cases, relatively slow payment times when withdrawing funds.

Notable dates in the history of Indiana sports betting

For more than 130 years, betting was illegal throughout Indiana. Here’s a timeline to show how all that changed.

  • 1851: An amendment to the state constitution bans lotteries. State courts interpret this as a ban on any form of gambling.
  • 1988: Voters back an amendment to permit a state lottery. The first Hoosier lottery tickets go on sale within a year.
  • 1989: A loophole in the lottery amendment enables betting on horse racing.
  • 1992: The federal PASPA legislation is passed, effectively making sports betting illegal in most of the USA.
  • 1993: After several abortive attempts, the state congress legalizes11 riverboat casinos.
  • 1994: Indiana opens its first racetrack. Another follows in 2002.
  • 1995: Aztar’s Casino in Evansville is the first to open in the state.
  • 2005: Indiana outlaws online gambling of any kind.
  • 2007: New laws permit Indiana’s racetracks to convert to ‘racinos’.
  • 2016: Indiana becomes only the second U.S. state to permit Daily Fantasy Sports contests for money.
  • 2018: A verdict in a lawsuit clears two DFS operators from infringing the property rights of NCAA players. It also prompted a partial repeal of Indiana’s ban on internet gambling.
  • 2018: SCOTUS repeals PASPA, paving the way for states to legalize sportsbooks.
  • 2019: Indiana allows sports betting. The first retail sportsbooks open in August. BetRivers and DraftKings are the first licensed online sports betting platforms, launching on October 3.

Retail sports betting locations in Indiana

Indiana has two racetracks where you can back your horse and then watch it run. In addition, the following casinos offer sportsbook action, card tables, and roulette wheels.

  • Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino: This is where it all began. Back in 1994, Hoosiers Park was Indiana’s first legal raceway offering on-site betting. Later, it partnered with Caesars to add a land-based casino to the harness racing schedule. Today the ‘racino’ has over 2,000 of the latest slots and a wealth of other casino games at the heart of its entertainment complex. Address: 4500 Dan Patch Cir, Anderson, IN.
  • Hollywood Casino & Hotel Lawrenceburg: The Hollywood casino promises an authentic Vegas-style experience right here in Indiana. Originally named the Argosy Casino, it was purchased by Penn Entertainment and rebranded. In 2009, Penn launched a bigger riverboat with 4,400 gaming positions and a World Poker Tour poker room. Sports fans will love the Barstool Sportsbook and restaurant, where you can bet, dine, and watch the big game. Address: 777 Hollywood Blvd, Lawrenceburg, IN.
  • Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago: Another Penn Entertainment riverboat, the Ameristar has an a56,000 square foot casino space with over 1,700 slots, video games, and 45 gaming tables. It opened at Indiana Harbor, Lake Michigan, in 1997 as the Showboat Mardi Gras Casino, taking its current name in 2008. Address: 777 Ameristar Blvd, East Chicago, IN.
  • Belterra Casino Resort. One of five riverboat casinos licensed for business on the Ohio river in Indiana, the Belterra opened its doors in October 2000. Today, operated by Boyd Gaming, it boasts over 900 games at the heart of a hotel and leisure complex near the town of Florence, IN. Address: 777 Belterra Drive, Florence, IN.
  • Blue Chip Casino Hotel & Spa: Boyd Gaming’s second Indiana offering has been running since 1997 when it became one of the first riverboat casinos on Lake Michigan. Today, the Blue Chip is the tallest building in Michigan City, and its vast 65,000 square feet of gaming space is among the biggest in the state. Away from the tables, the hotel boasts its own spa. Address: 777 Blue Chip Drive, Michigan City, IN.
  • French Lick Resort Casino: Once best known as Larry Bird’s hometown, today, the French Lick resort puts this place on the map. With 700+ slots, over 25 live dealer tables, and self-serve sports betting kiosks, this has everything a gamer could want. Address: 8670 West State Road 56, French Lick, IN.
  • Horseshoe Indianapolis: This one is another ‘racino’, combining the excitement of horse racing with the thrills of the casino. Another Caesars casino, Horseshoe, is the closest retail gambling destination to Indianapolis. Opened as Indiana Downs racecourse in 2002, it added the Indiana Live casino seven years later. The huge gaming hall features 92 tables and 1,600 slots. Address: 4300 N Michigan Road, Shelbyville, IN.
  • Rising Star Casino Resort: When it opened in 1996, the Rising Star was one of the first riverboat casinos in the state. Rising Sun’s small Ohio River community gambled on the prosperity that a casino could bring, and the play paid off. Since opening as the Grand Victoria, the casino has expanded to include two hotel complexes. Full House Resorts bought the site in 2011, rebranded it, and continued to make it one of the hottest spots in the Hoosier State. Address: 777 Rising Star Blvd, Rising Sun, IN.
  • Bally’s Evansville Casino & Hotel: When this place opened as Aztar’s Casino back in 1995, it was Indiana’s first casino. At that time, it was a riverboat, but in 2017 it moved on-shore. Today, Bally’s promises a relaxed casino experience with a single-level 45,000-square-foot gaming level that offers more than 1,000 slots and 30+ table games. Sports betting is handled by William Hill. Address: 421 NW Riverside Drive, Evansville, IN.
  • Horseshoe Hammond Casino: With the biggest choice of slots in Chicagoland, the Horseshoe Hammond promises plenty of gaming action. In addition, this Caesars-owned casino has 100+ gaming tables, and the sports lounge features a wall of 85-inch LED televisions screening the best live action from around the world while you wager. Address: 777 Casino Center Drive, Hammond, IN.
  • Horseshoe Southern Indiana Hotel & Casino: Caesars’ other casino complex in the state is in southern Indiana, just outside Elizabeth. Renovated in 2019, it benefits from a slots hall with 1,900 machines and table games to suit all tastes and budgets. Sportsbook bettors can book a Fancave for the big game, offering you and your friends TV coverage of all the action. In addition, there is also a plus an Xbox, priority betting access, and a fan-friendly food and drink menu. Address: 11999 Casino Center Drive, Elizabeth, IN.

FAQ

How old do I need to be to bet on sports betting sites in IN?

Indiana's legal sports betting age is 21. This is the same for DFS and casinos. However, poker, horse betting, lotteries, and bingo are all permitted from the age of 18.

Is it legal to bet on horse races in IN?

Yes. Pari-mutuel, or horse racing betting, has been legal in Indiana since 1989. Today, IN has two active racetracks at Hoosier Park and Indiana Grand, where punters regularly flock to to make their bets.

Is it safe to place bets on Indiana sports betting sites?

Yes, if you use a licensed site. In order to offer online betting services, websites have to comply with Indiana's regulatory requirements. Among other things, these guarantee fair dealing and offer some protections for customers in the event of a dispute.