Another month, another steady set of trends for Iowa and Indiana sports betting results with the Hawkeye State declining and the Hoosier State growing.
Indiana sports betting handle rose 5.6% in January over December to $170.8 million. That was driven by 11.6% online handle growth to $123.4 million. Online handle accounted for 72.2% of total handle in January, up from 68.3% in December.
Iowa, however, saw total handle decrease 2.1% to $58 million in January. Online handle grew 1.2% to $33.8 million, improving online handle share to 58.3% from 56.4% in December.
The clear difference is the availability of mobile in the state. Even though Indiana has just four mobile sportsbooks, it has two of the biggest brands in DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook. The state also allows mobile registration from anywhere within its borders.
Iowa sports betting, meanwhile, has neither of the two well-known brands. It also requires in-person registration at casinos, which has limited growth in Rhode Island as well.
Indiana sports betting revenue details
DraftKings Sportsbook again led the state with $66 million in handle or 38.6% of Indiana’s total for the month.
That’s actually down slightly from December’s $66.7 million, however. FanDuel Sportsbook, meanwhile, is making up ground with $49.5 million in handle, up 37.7% from December.
DraftKings had a bit of an advantage by launching a few weeks before FanDuel. It’s also partnered with a busier casino, Penn National‘s Ameristar East Chicago, which sits just 30 miles from downtown Chicago.
Other Indiana mobile sportsbooks sag
Indiana’s third-place mobile sportsbook, Rush Street’s BetRivers, saw handle fall 1.8% to $7.8 million.
Churchill Downs‘ BetAmerica, meanwhile, turned in a disappointing $89,622 in handle during its first full month of operations.
Those two will have to do something to pick up market share to stay competitive with DraftKings and FanDuel, as well as hold off new market entrants. BetMGM, BetIndiana and PointsBet are all pending launches in the state after receiving their licenses last month.
Iowa dominated by William Hill
William Hill, which provides sportsbooks to four casinos in the state, dominated online handle with $25.8 million, or 76.2% of online handle in January.
The second was Elite‘s online sportsbooks on the Bet.Works platform, which took $5.7 million in bets last month. Q Casino, using IGT‘s technology, ranked third with $913,557 in handle, while Catfish Bend partner PointsBet did $619,527 in handle.
Gaming Innovation Group, operating through Hard Rock Sioux City‘s license, did $289,063 in handle during its first full month.
Best sports betting days yet to come in Iowa
Iowa’s dipping handle and slow mobile acceptance could feel like a bad dream from the past this time next year.
The in-person registration requirement will disappear at the end of this year. That means full mobile activation will be available for the NFL Playoffs in 2021.
The addition of DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook should also boost the market whenever the two brands launch.
Another brand, Betfred, is likely launching mobile later this month. March Madness will be the first opportunity for Betfred to push the mobile app to Grand Falls casino patrons.