Indiana Sports Betting – Top Indiana Sportsbook Offers 2023
Indiana sports betting is legal and available both online and in person. Eleven online sports betting sites are available in the state, including FanDuel Sportsbook, BetRivers Sportsbook, BetMGM Sportsbook, and Caesars Sportsbook.
Best Indiana sports betting apps 2023
Contents
Daily Deals in Virginia
What’s happening in Indiana sports betting right now
- Sept. 27, 2023 — Indiana Sen. Jon Ford announced that he is resigning. Ford played a major role in the push for legal sports betting in the state, and has supported legal online casino gaming.
- Sept. 22, 2023 — Eight people are accused of illegally using a debit card to fund Indiana sports betting activity.
- Sept. 13, 2023 — Indiana sports betting handle rose to $238.1 million in August, up 16.8% from July.
- Aug. 14, 2023 — The state announces that Indiana sports betting handle fell to $203.7 million in July, a 9% decrease from June. July’s total was also a 1.4% dip year-over-year.
- Aug. 14, 2023 — WynnBET officially exits Indiana. There are now 11 legal online sports betting sites in the state.
- Aug. 11, 2023 — Days after announcing it was launching a new and improved app in some states, WynnBET announces it will cease operations as soon as possible in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, New Jersey, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
- Aug. 10, 2023 — WynnBET launches a new and improved sports betting app in six states, including Indiana. Existing WynnBET users can access the app with the same information they used previously.
Comparing top Indiana sportsbooks
With more than a dozen online sportsbooks active in Indiana and more potentially on the way, choosing an option (or multiple options) for your bets can seem daunting. Here’s a closer look and comparison of top Indiana sportsbook apps based on some notable features:
- Best sportsbook for betting variety: BetMGM. BetMGM has one of the most extensive lists of betting options available in Indiana. The app also received high marks for its betting interface and user experience in a 2021 independent study by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming.
- Best sportsbook welcome bonus: Caesars. Caesars is a major sportsbook and has a welcome bonus to prove it. You can get a bonus of up to $1,000 on Caesars if your first bet loses.
- Best sportsbook for usability: FanDuel. FanDuel may be the only top sportsbook whose primary attribute is how easy it is to use. Every aspect, from choosing your bet to managing open wagers and navigating the site itself, is intuitive.
- Best sportsbook for live betting: DraftKings. DraftKings features all the traditional options you’d expect for live betting, including the ability to cash out some bets early. In addition, it has live same-game parlays. Other perks include the number of markets available for live betting, statistical tools to make these bets during games, and promotions that boost live betting odds.
- Best sportsbook for iOS and Android users: DraftKings, FanDuel. Both DraftKings and FanDuel have equivalent high marks for their apps on Apple and Android devices. Eilers & Krejcik Gaming’s 2021 independent study gave both apps high marks for aesthetics and user experience.
1. Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook has plenty of sports on which you can wager and the experience to handle any bet you would like to place. The book also lets you take part in Caesars Rewards, one of the better loyalty programs in gambling. The only downside is that the app is a bit bland and doesn’t have much in the way of flashiness.
- App rating: 4.6 (iOS), 4.4 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A solid app with plenty of options for sports and types of bets.
- Best feature: Caesars Rewards
- Indiana bonus: $1,000 first bet on Caesars.
2. BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM Sportsbook stands out for its number of sports on which you can bet and for its “Edit My Bet” function, which provides greater flexibility than most other sites. At the same time, the biggest nitpick is that there are so many options. It can be a bit difficult to navigate.
- App rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.4 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Good choice of sports and open-wager flexibility.
- Best feature: Ability to edit your bet
- Indiana bonus: Up to $1,500
3. PointsBet Sportsbook
This Australian-based sportsbook has grown in popularity in the US in recent years. PointsBet’s distinctive feature is its signature wager method, PointsBetting. This feature upends the standard spread or total bet by determining your payout or loss depending on how much your bet is right or wrong. PointsBet also may offer players compensation in the case of unusual game results that it deems unfair.
- App store rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.7 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A change from the standard sportsbook betting format.
- Best feature: PointsBetting
- Indiana bonus: Get up to $1,000 in second chance bets.
4. BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers Sportsbook is part of Rush Street Gaming, a gambling company based in nearby Illinois. The book offers access to a popular tiered reward program called iRush Rewards. The more you play, the more bet credits, store credits and other perks you can receive. However, BetRivers could stand to refine its app, as some of the features are still a bit rudimentary.
- App rating: 3.1 (iOS), 3.1 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Plenty of sports and will trumpet big wins via a feed in the lobby.
- Best feature: iRush Rewards
- Indiana bonus: Up to $500
5. FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook is one of the top sportsbooks in Indiana thanks in no small part to its smooth navigation. The user experience exceeds that of almost any other sportsbook app. FanDuel also stands out for its same-game parlays. The one minor issue is the few areas where FanDuel’s navigation is a bit clunky — we probably wouldn’t notice if the rest of the app wasn’t so sleek.
- App rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.7 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Offers the smoothest “ride” of any Indiana sportsbook app.
- Best feature: App navigation
- Indiana bonus: $200
New sports betting apps in Indiana
Indiana is already well-equipped with sports betting apps. The debut of Bally Bet in December 2021 and Hard Rock Sportsbook in 2022 offset the closure of theScore Bet and MaximBet. The total number of Indiana sportsbooks has settled at 11, not including Bally Bet, which is temporarily unavailable while it adopts Kambi as its new platform provider.
- Tipico Sportsbook
- Fanatics Sportsbook
One casino in Indiana that will not be hosting a sportsbook app anytime soon is the lone tribal casino in the state, Four Winds South Bend. The tribe’s compact does not include provisions for online sports betting not on reservation lands, and it will take a renegotiation between the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the state before an app can launch on behalf of the tribe.
How to get started with the best Indiana sportsbook bonuses
By now, you probably know how to sign up at an online sportsbook in Indiana. Download the app, register for an account, make a deposit and start betting. This should take only a few minutes, and as long as you consider the welcome bonuses that are available for each site, you won’t miss out on anything.
Here are some of the best promotions for new players at Indiana sports betting apps and any codes needed to access them:
- Caesars promo code: Use the code LSR1000 for $1,000 first bet on Caesars.
- BetMGM bonus code: Use the code PLAYLSR for up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if you don’t win.
- PointsBet promo code: No code necessary. Get up to $1,000 in second chance bets.
- BetRivers affiliate code: Use the code LSRRIV to receive a second-chance bet for up to $500 if your first bet loses.
- FanDuel promo code: No code necessary. Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets.
As you wager, you’ll likely come across a few different types of sportsbook promotions. Although they may have different names, they are usually in one of these categories:
- Deposit bonuses: Sportsbooks match a portion of your deposit with additional bonus funds. The portion can be anywhere from a smaller percentage up to a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Odds boosts: An odds boost pumps the potential payout of certain bets in favor of the bettor in order to generate interest in wagering. The boost is usually somewhere between 15% and 35%. Odds boosts often have their own tab, possibly separate from the main promotions page.
- First bet bonuses: You’ll first have to place a wager that meets the sportsbook’s conditions. If you win, then you just collect the profit from your win, with no bonus. If you lose, however, the site will issue you site credits or a bonus bet equivalent to a percentage of your lost bet.
10 quick facts about Indiana sports betting
- Sports betting became legal in Indiana when the governor signed HB 1015 in May 2019.
- The first sportsbook in the state opened its doors in September 2019.
- Online sports betting began a month later in October 2019.
- Any online sportsbook in Indiana must have a partnership with an in-state casino.
- Only people over the age of 21 can legally wager on sports in Indiana.
- You must be inside state lines to wager, but you do not have to be a resident.
- Indiana does not allow betting on esports or betting on athletes who are younger than 18.
- The Indiana Gaming Commission limits live betting to be available at its discretion only.
- Bets on in-state college teams and NCAA games that take place in Indiana are legal.
- Indiana sports bettors wagered more than $1 billion in the first year of legal wagering, and the industry has booked more than $5 billion in bets in its lifetime.
What to expect at a legal Indiana sports betting site
All of the sportsbooks that this page lists as legal in Indiana are licensed and operate under state regulations. The Indiana Gaming Commission handles oversight, and it has strict requirements for each sportsbook and its business operations. In particular, each book has to satisfy high standards with regard to account protection and fairness. Additionally, the IGC maintains control over permitted sources of data for sportsbooks.
All of this is to say that betting online in Indiana happens with safety and security measures in place. There is no in-person registration requirement in the state, and the sportsbook apps themselves are easy to use and available anywhere there’s an internet connection.
Indiana sports betting law and regulations
Sports betting became legal in Indiana by virtue of 2019’s HB 1015. The law made both online and retail sportsbooks possible at the state’s casinos, racetracks and off-track betting locations.
Online sportsbooks must be partnered with a casino in the state. Here are a couple of additional tidbits about the law:
- The annual license fee for a sportsbook is $50,000.
- The tax rate for both retail and online betting is 9.5%.
- Live betting is at the discretion of the Indiana Gaming Commission. Likewise, for sports data, the IGC maintains a high degree of control.
New casino locations in the state will be able to join the sports betting industry. That means the Terre Haute casino will likely bring both online and live sportsbook options when it opens.
Full list of legal sports betting apps in Indiana
For now, these are the 11 active online sportsbooks in the Hoosier State as of 2023:
- Bally Bet (temporarily paused operations)
- Barstool Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- BetRivers
- Betway
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- PointsBet Sportsbook
- Unibet
- Hard Rock Bet
- SBK Sportsbook
Popular sports to bet on in Indiana
Indiana is home to several major professional sports teams and quite a few college ones, too. As such, local games are some of the most popular betting options at Indiana sportsbooks. Here are the main local teams in Indiana:
- NFL — Indianapolis Colts
- NBA — Indiana Pacers
- NCAA — Indiana Hoosiers
- NCAA — Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- NCAA — Purdue Boilermakers
In addition to these teams’ events, Indiana is also home to the most famous motorsport race in the US, the Indianapolis 500. There are, of course, plenty of ways to bet on this event in Indiana, too.
Entertainment bets are limited in Indiana, so you cannot bet on elections or the weather. However, the IGC allows bets on the Academy Awards, making it one of the few states with legal sports betting to do so.
Indiana sports betting history
Indiana’s journey from legalization to launch was rather short, with just four months separating the state’s sports betting law’s passage from the first legal bet. The driving force behind the quick turnaround was the usual suspect: the NFL betting season. Although online books missed the opening kickoff by about a month, retail books were ready for business when the first snap occurred.
Indiana sports betting is big business. People have wagered more than $5 billion in the state so far. Here’s a brief history of Indiana sports betting since 2019.
2019: Indiana legalizes sports betting in both retail and online formats in May. The state then embarks on one of the shortest law-to-launch periods in US history, with the first book opening its doors in September. One month later, DraftKings and BetRivers become the first online sportsbooks in Indiana. A few weeks later, FanDuel joins them. BetAmerica manages to become the fourth online book in the state hours before the end of 2019.
2020: Five more online sportsbooks become available in Indiana, including notable brands like BetMGM, Caesars and PointsBet. Almost every retail location in the state eligible for a sportsbook has one by the end of the year. Meanwhile, the state’s two major pro sports teams enter into promotional deals. The Colts reach terms with DraftKings and PointsBet, while the Pacers become partners with PointsBet and Caesars.
2021: Four more online sportsbooks launch in Indiana during 2021, including Bally Bet, Betway and WynnBET. The end of the year finishes in a flourish, with each of the final three months setting a new record for handle. Overall, Indiana sports bettors place nearly $4 billion in wagers over the course of the second full year of service, roughly $2 billion more than they did in 2020. The Indiana sports betting market has already surpassed the $5 billion mark for handle in its short lifetime.
2022: The year begins uneventfully for Indiana sports betting. However, by June, things start to change with the announcement from theScore Bet that it will pull out of US markets (including Indiana) in July. Even so, Indiana sportsbooks report $256 million in bets in June, a 4% increase from the same month in 2021. Additionally, Ohio announces that legal sports betting will launch in that state on Jan. 1, 2023; soon Indiana will be surrounded by states where sports betting is legal.
Indiana sports betting FAQ
Is sports betting legal in Indiana?
Yes. Legal sports betting launched in Indiana in September 2019, in time for betting on the NFL and college football season. Online sports betting began in October.
Where can I bet on sports in Indiana?
Indiana permits sportsbooks to operate at casinos, racetracks and off-track betting locations in the state. Here are the active sportsbook locations in Indiana:
- Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago
- Belterra Casino Resort
- Blue Chip Casino Hotel & Spa
- French Lick Resort Casino
- Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino
- Hollywood Casino & Hotel Lawrenceburg
- Horseshoe Hammond Casino
- Horseshoe Southern Indiana Hotel & Casino
- Horseshoe Indianapolis
- Rising Star Casino Resort
- Bally’s Evansville Casino & Hotel
- Winner’s Circle Clarksville (OTB)
- Winner’s Circle Downtown Indianapolis (OTB)
- Winner’s Circle New Haven (OTB)
Is Bovada legal in Indiana?
No. Bovada is not legal in Indiana. All Indiana sportsbooks are legal, licensed and affiliated with casinos in the state. Bovada is housed outside of the United States and does not abide by the laws and business standards prescribed by the Indiana Gaming Commission or, for that matter, the United States. Playing at an offshore site like Bovada carries extra risks. Legal Indiana sportsbooks offer more security and peace of mind.
How old do I have to be to bet on sports in Indiana?
You must be 21 or older to bet at any of the sportsbooks in the state, online or in person.
Is horse betting legal in Indiana?
Yes. There are two live horse racing venues in the state, Horseshoe Indianapolis and Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Caesars owns both facilities and also operates the three off-track betting locations in the state. In addition to these venues, advance deposit wagering websites like TVG also accept wagers. The Indiana Racing Commission maintains a list of the sites that have approval to take your bets through your mobile device or computer.
Can I play daily fantasy sports contests in Indiana?
Yes. In fact, Indiana was one of the first states to legalize DFS play by passing legislation approving it.
Who oversees sports betting in Indiana?
The Indiana Gaming Commission assumes primary responsibility for regulating sports betting throughout the state.
Can I bet on sports in Indiana if I am from Chicago?
Yes, but you have to travel to Indiana to do so. You can download an app and deposit while in Chicago, or wait until you are in Indiana. But once you are within the state’s borders, you may place wagers. Of course, you can also legally bet on sports online in Illinois.
List of Indiana state resources
If you want more information about various elements of Indiana sports betting, consult some of the resources below.
- Indiana Gaming Commission — State regulatory agency over Indiana sports betting.
- Indiana General Assembly — Lawmaking body of Indiana.
- Indiana Council on Problem Gambling — Primary resource for problem gamblers and their loved ones in Indiana.
- Voluntary exclusion program — Allows players to bar themselves from Indiana gambling locations.
- Indianapolis Star — Indianapolis’ main newspaper and best source of Indiana-related news.
- The Journal Gazette — Fort Wayne newspaper with information about Indiana.