Indiana Sports Betting

After the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, Indiana was one of the first states to explore legalizing sports wagering. Following several unsuccessful attempts to bring sports betting to Indiana, one of which incorporated the integrity fee, lawmakers approved sports wagering legislation in 2019. In September 2019, Indiana joined the likes of New Jersey and Pennsylvania by launching legal and regulated sports wagering. 

Is it legal to bet on sports in Indiana?

Yes, land-based and online sports wagering is legal, and live in the Hoosier State. In May 2019, Indiana’s Governor, Eric Holcomb, signed a piece of legislation into law that would legalize sports wagering in the state of Indiana. This made Indiana the tenth state to legalize sports wagering after the repeal of PASPA. 

With the passage of the bill, HB 1015, land-based and state-wide mobile sports betting was legalized and like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia, residents can sign up with online bookies remotely. The bill set a tax rate of 9.5% on adjusted gross revenue, with a portion of tax revenue being allocated to combating problem gambling. Sport betting licenses cost $100,000 and will need to be renewed on an annual basis for $50,000. Under the state’s sports betting laws, licensed casinos can partner with up to three brands for online sports betting.

Indiana’s sports betting market launched on 1 September 2019, with the opening of three land-based sportsbooks in the state. These casinos included Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago, Hollywood Casino & Hotel Lawrenceburg and Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. A month later in October, the first wave of online sportsbooks arrived in the state with the launch of DraftKings Sportsbook and Rush Street Interactive’s online sports betting platform.

What sports can I bet on in Indiana?

Sportsbooks in Indiana take bets on a variety of sports including football, basketball, hockey, baseball, soccer, NASCAR, boxing and UFC. Residents can bet on major leagues such as the MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL, as well as collegiate leagues such as the NCAA football and basketball contests. 

However, under state law, sportsbooks are prohibited from taking bets on esports events or sporting events that feature amateur athletes that are younger than 18.

Where can I bet on sports in Indiana?

Residents and visitors in the Hoosier State can place sports wagers in person at a land-based casino sportsbook, or online via one of the state’s licensed sports betting sites or mobiles apps. Currently, more than 10 land-based casinos offer legal and regulated sports betting while a handful of online sportsbooks offer online sports betting. Here are some of the online sports betting brands you can expect to find in the state of Indiana:

More sportsbooks are expected to launch online operations in the coming months such as William Hill, Caesars and Fox Bet.

Indiana sports betting revenue

Indiana launched its legal sports betting market in September 2019 with a handful of land-based casino sportsbooks. Mobile and online wagering apps were then launched a month later.

Sports betting in Indiana is subject to a 9.5% tax on gross gaming revenue.

Complete state reports can be viewed on the Indiana Gaming Commission’s site.

Last updated on 11th January 2021

What else can I bet on in Indiana?

Indiana is home to 14 different casinos, including a mixture of land-based and river-based establishments, and Indiana’s first tribal casino opened in January 2018. Patrons can engage in a variety of slot games and casino games across all of the venues, these games include:

•    Craps
•    Blackjack
•    Roulette
•    Baccarat
•    Pai Gow Poker
•    Let It Ride
•    Caribbean Stud Poker
•    Ultimate Texas Hold’em
•    Mississippi Stud
•    Big Six Wheel

These are the physical casinos currently operating in the Hoosier State:

On top of casino gaming, Indiana also offers a state lottery called the Hoosier Lottery. There is a variety of lottery games available, and tickets for the state lottery can only be purchased at participating retailers. Visitors and residents can also bet on fantasy sports games horse racing and greyhound racing events in Indiana.

Online gambling in Indiana

Online gambling is illegal in Indiana, with the exception of some activities. Visitors and residents can place sports wagers online, participate in daily fantasy sports games, bet on horse racing events and games of skill, such as backgammon. Other forms of online gambling such as casino gambling are illegal in Indiana.  However, with the launch of online sports betting, there is a small chance the state may expand its online gambling options.

Are offshore gambling sites legal in Indiana?

As Indiana’s state law prohibits online gambling, offshore gambling sites are illegal in the state. Indiana law classifies online gambling as a class B misdemeanor, punishable with a maximum prison sentence of 180 days and a $1000 fine. Unlawful bookmaking operations are also classed as a class D felony and carry much heavier punishments such as six months to three years in prison.

We’d recommend steering clear of offshore gambling sites, their lack of a license means they aren’t subject to strict regulatory standards that ensure security and player protection. You also have no way of finding out who is handling the money you deposit into an unregulated online account.

You can spot offshore gambling and sports betting sites by looking at the website’s domain name. Domains ending in .EU or .AG do not hold a license to operate in Indiana and should therefore be avoided at all costs.

Is it safe to bet on sports in Indiana?

The state of Indiana already had strict policies and regulations in place for all gambling activity in the state and the sorts betting regulations are no different. Indiana’s sports betting regulatory policies are comprehensive and strict to ensure the activity is fair and safe. However, to make sure gambling remains fun, it’s important to gamble responsibly and avoid betting more than you can afford to. If you have any concerns that you or a loved one may be experiencing problems with gambling, you can contact the Indiana Council On Problem Gambling which has a number of resources available to help you.

You can contact the Indiana Council on Problem Gambling via:

Telephone: 317.632.1364

Toll Free: 866.699.4274

Fax: 317.632.1434

You can also contact the Indiana gambling helpline via:

Indiana Gambling Helpline: 800.994.8448

National Gambling Helpline: 800.522.4700

ICPG Toll Free: 866.699.4274

Who regulates gambling in Indiana?

Gambling operations in Indiana are regulated by the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC), which is responsible for licensing and regulating riverboat gambling in the state, ensuring all operations comply with state laws. When it comes to horse racing in Indiana, the Indiana Horse Racing Commission is responsible for monitoring the activity.

You can contact the Indiana Gaming Commission via:

Phone: (317) 233-0046

Fax: (317) 233-0047

You can also send them an email using the online form on the Commission’s website.

How old do I have to be to gamble in Indiana?

Indiana law states that the legal gambling age for lottery games, pari-mutuel wagering, and charity gambling is 18. However, players must be at least 21 years old to partake in casino gambling.

The journey to legal and regulated sports betting in Indiana

Whilst Indiana sports betting is yet to be legalized, we will provide updates as the situation develops.

1851 – The Indiana Constitution that was signed in 1851 banned lotteries, but this was interpreted by legislators as a total ban on all gambling activity.

1988 – On 8 November, a voter referendum approved an amendment to the constitution, lifting the ban on lottery games. The amendment received 62% of the votes. Almost immediately after the referendum, the mayor of Gary, Thomas Barnes, introduced the prospect of opening high-rise casino resorts in an attempt to benefit the city’s economy.

1989 – On 3 May, Indiana’s General Assembly ratified the Lottery Act. The following week the state governor signed the Lottery Act into law and the state’s lottery commission was established in June. Fast forward to October, the state lottery began selling instant scratch-off games. The Indiana General Assembly rejected a bill that would allow casino operations to be carried out in Gary.

Although the bill was rejected, a non-binding voter referendum was held which saw 60% of voters vote in favor of the Gary casino bill. This result had no bearing on the law and the state government did not act upon its results.

1990 – A second attempt to expand gambling in Indiana was made, with gambling companies from Nevada and Atlantic City in New Jersey supporting the lobbying efforts. Efforts were unsuccessful and did not make it past the Senate.

1991 – Charlie Brown, a state representative from Gary introduced another bill. This time the bill contained expanded gambling provisions which would authorize riverboat casinos to operate on the Ohio River and for a casino to be built in the French Lick resort area. This bill made it past the House but was rejected by a Senate committee.

1992 – Brown put forth another casino bill for Gary but did not receive much support from lawmakers. Legislators in the south of Indiana introduced a bill that would allow riverboat casinos to operate on the Ohio River. The bill passed the house and, with support from lawmakers in Gary, was expanded to allow riverboat casinos on Lake Michigan. Once again, the bill was shot down by the Senate.

Congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) prohibiting sports betting across US states. Four states were made exempt from the law: Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana. These states had legal sports betting regulations in place.

1993 – Brown reintroduced his bill that would allow land-based casinos in French Lick and Gary and riverboat casinos to operate on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. This time Brown’s bill had the support of entrepreneur Dean White, but it was rejected by the Senate once again.

In June, the Assembly held a special session to discuss the operation of casino establishments. With the expectation that casinos could generate at least $100m in taxes a year, the decision was made to allow five casinos on the shore of Lake Michigan, five on the Ohio River and one near French Lick on the Patoka Lake.

On 1 July 1993, the Indiana Riverboat Gaming Act was passed.

1994 – On 1 September, the Hoosier Park horse racing track opened its doors and begin hosting horse racing events and taking bets on these events.

1995 – The first of the riverboat casinos opened and off-track betting establishments began to open across the state, operated by Churchill Downs.

2002 – On 6 December, the Indiana Downs horse racing track in Shelbyville opened its doors for business as the second horse racing venue in the state.

2007 – Indiana legislators passed a piece of legislation that allowed slot machines to be installed at both of the state’s horse racing tracks.

2015 – An amendment was made to the state legislation, allowing riverboat casinos to expand land-based operations in a bid to remain competitive with land-based casinos in neighboring states.

2018 – In January, state representative Alan Morrison introduced a sports betting bill that included an integrity fee that would be allocated to the major sports leagues. This was the only piece of sports betting legislation in the country to feature an integrity fee.

On 14 May, the Court reached a decision. In a 7 – 2 vote it was agreed that one of the clauses in PASPA violated the Tenth Amendment, as it commandeered power from states to regulate their own gambling industries. This paved the way for all US states to decide whether or not to legalize sports betting. In the weeks after the repeal of PASPA a number of US sportsbooks begin to launch across the country.

The day after the repeal of PASPA, Morrison made attempts to drum up support for the sports betting bill.

In October, state lawmakers held a sports betting hearing to discuss the viability of sports betting in Indiana. The state lawmakers decided that they need more information in order to make an informed decision on the legalization of sports betting.

2019 – At the start of January, Senator Jon Ford filed a bill that sought to authorize sports betting in the state of Indiana. This bill titled SB 439, suggests a tax rate of 6.75% and would permit wagering on college sports. Shortly after the introduction of Ford’s bill, representative Alan Morrison introduced a companion bill, titled HB 1363. This time Morrison’s bill did not allocate an integrity fee. HB 1363 went an extra step ahead of Ford’s bill and, if successful, will authorize mobile sports betting and wagering on college sports.

In May, HB 1015, a bill that would legalize online and mobile sports wagering was signed into law by Governor Eric Holcomb. Land-based sports betting went live in September 2019, followed by online and mobile betting in October.

Want to keep up to date with Indiana sports betting legislation? You can count on Compare.bet to bring you the latest.