Indiana Sports Betting: Legal IN Sportsbooks, Apps & Offshore Sites

Yes. Sports betting is legal in Indiana both online and at retail sportsbooks. Gov. Eric Holcomb signed House Bill 1015 into law on May 8, 2019. The first retail sportsbooks opened on Sept. 1, 2019, and online and mobile betting followed on Oct. 3, 2019, when BetRivers and DraftKings launched. The Indiana Gaming Commission oversees all sports wagering and enforces strict licensing and consumer protection standards.

To bet legally, you must be 21 or older and physically located in Indiana, which sportsbooks confirm through geolocation technology. You do not have to be an Indiana resident, and you may register and fund an account from anywhere, but you must have both feet inside state lines to place a wager. Indiana prohibits wagering on esports, on amateur events involving athletes under 18, and on non-sporting events such as elections and award shows. College betting is allowed but limited to NCAA Division I, and in-play player prop bets on college athletes are banned.

Mobile is how Indiana bets. Roughly 97 percent of the state’s entire handle is placed on phones and tablets, not at retail counters, which makes the quality of the app the single most important factor for most bettors. Every licensed Indiana online sportsbook offers a free app on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, and each app is regulated by the Indiana Gaming Commission with the same standards for consumer protection, responsible gaming tools and transparent odds.

One of Indiana’s biggest advantages is remote registration. You do not have to visit a casino in person to verify your account. Anyone 21 or older can download an app, create an account, deposit and place a bet from anywhere inside state lines. When choosing an app, the things that separate the best from the rest are app-store rating and stability, depth of betting markets, live-betting speed, banking options and payout speed, and the quality of the rewards program.

Live betting, also called in-play or in-game betting, lets you wager on a game after it has started, with odds that update in real time as the action unfolds. It is one of the fastest-growing parts of the Indiana market, and every major licensed app supports it. Instead of locking in your bet before kickoff, you can react to what you are watching, a slow start, an injury, a momentum swing, and bet the moment the number looks right.

What You Can Bet Live

Indiana sportsbooks offer a deep live menu. During a game you can typically bet the updated moneyline, spread and total, plus a rotating set of in-game props and microbets such as the result of the next drive, the next team to score, or whether the next possession ends in a point. bet365 and DraftKings are particularly well regarded for live betting, with DraftKings’ Flash Bets feature offering rapid wagers down to granular moments, including individual points in a tennis match.

Cash Out

Most Indiana apps also offer cash out, which lets you settle a bet before the event ends for a value the book offers based on the current situation. You can use it to lock in a guaranteed profit before a lead slips away, or to take a smaller loss and get part of your stake back when a wager is going against you. Cash out is available on many, but not all, pre-game and live markets.

The College Live-Betting Restriction

One Indiana rule matters specifically for live betting. While you may bet on NCAA Division I games, the Indiana Gaming Commission prohibits in-play proposition wagers on individual college athletes. You can place live bets on the game itself, such as the live spread or total, but you cannot place live player props on a college athlete. The IGC also retains discretion to limit in-play betting on specific events when integrity is a concern.

Offshore sportsbooks are online betting sites based outside the United States that accept Indiana players but operate without any state license or oversight. These sites are not legal or regulated in Indiana. They are not licensed by the Indiana Gaming Commission, and they are not partnered with an in-state casino as Indiana law requires.

The Risks of Using Offshore Sites

Because offshore sportsbooks fall outside the Indiana Gaming Commission’s authority, bettors who use them give up the protections that come with the regulated market. The risks include no state consumer protections and no formal dispute resolution if a problem arises; no guarantee that deposited funds or winnings are safe, with a history of payout delays or denials at some sites; no regulated standards for odds fairness, data integrity or responsible gaming; personal and financial information that is not protected by state oversight; no legal recourse within Indiana if money or an account is lost; and no access to Indiana’s self-exclusion programs or problem-gambling safeguards. Legal, IGC-licensed sportsbooks offer the same sports and bet types with state-backed security, which is why they remain the recommended choice for Hoosier bettors.

Hard Rock Sportsbook at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana

Located in Gary at 5400 W. 29th Ave., this is the newest and one of the most popular in-person sportsbooks in the state. Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana opened in May 2021 and quickly became Indiana’s top-earning casino. The sportsbook features multiple betting windows, eight self-service kiosks available around the clock, a wall of LED screens and full Hard Rock Cafe food and drink service. The minimum bet is 5 dollars.

Caesars Sportsbook at Horseshoe Hammond

Horseshoe Hammond sits on Lake Michigan just minutes from Chicago and is one of the largest casinos in the state. The on-site Caesars Sportsbook ties into the Caesars Rewards program, and the property houses one of the biggest poker rooms in the Midwest alongside live music, comedy and boxing. Address: 777 Casino Center Dr., Hammond.

Caesars Sportsbook at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Formerly Indiana Grand, this Shelbyville racino combines Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing with a full casino floor and a Caesars Sportsbook. It is the closest major retail book to Indianapolis and a central-Indiana hub for bettors. Address: 4300 N. Michigan Rd., Shelbyville.

The Sportsbook at Bally’s Evansville

Bally’s Evansville, formerly Tropicana Evansville, sits on the Ohio River in southwestern Indiana. It houses the retail sportsbook tied to the Bally Bet brand, a high-limit room, two hotel towers and riverfront amenities, serving as the main in-person betting option for the southern part of the state. Address: 421 NW Riverside Dr., Evansville.

Terre Haute Casino Resort Sportsbook

Terre Haute Casino Resort is Indiana’s newest casino, opened in April 2024 as a 290 million dollar development from Churchill Downs Inc. The property features 1,000 slot machines, 36 table games, a luxury hotel and a modern sportsbook, extending legal in-person betting into west-central Indiana.

The competitive Indiana market has produced a steady stream of welcome bonuses. Most fall into three categories. With bonus bet (or second chance) offers, you wager your own money and, if your first bet loses, you receive a refund up to a set amount as a bonus bet. With deposit match offers, the sportsbook matches part or all of your first deposit with bonus funds subject to a playthrough or rollover requirement, which can range from as low as 1x to 25x or higher; the lower the requirement, the better. With first bet match offers, the book matches your first wager with a bonus bet of equal size up to a maximum.

Indiana regulations require licensed operators to describe these offers accurately. A bonus cannot be called free if the customer must risk or lose their own money to use it, and an offer cannot be labeled risk free if the customer must incur a loss to withdraw winnings. Operators also may not restrict customers from withdrawing their own funds or winnings from bets placed with their own money.

A key difference: with a legal Indiana book, the IGC regulates how bonuses are described and protects your underlying funds. With an offshore site, no state authority oversees the terms, and there is no recourse if a bonus or balance is disputed. Always read the full terms, including minimum odds, eligible markets, maximum bet limits and expiration windows, which are often as short as seven days.

Depositing at Indiana Sportsbooks

Funding an Indiana sportsbook account is fast and, in most cases, instant. Licensed operators support a wide range of deposit methods so bettors can choose what fits them best. Minimum deposits are usually 5 to 10 dollars depending on the book and the method.

Withdrawing Your Winnings in Indiana

Cashing out winnings is just as straightforward, and Indiana’s leading apps are known for quick payouts, often within 24 hours once a withdrawal is approved. The fastest and most reliable approach is usually to withdraw back to the same method you used to deposit, since that satisfies anti-fraud and know-your-customer rules. Common withdrawal options include:

A few practical notes. The first withdrawal at any sportsbook can take longer because of identity verification; have a photo ID and proof of address ready to speed it up. Some methods you can deposit with, such as certain credit cards, cannot be used to withdraw, which is why pairing a bank transfer or PayPal with your account is wise. And remember that only your own funds and winnings can be withdrawn; bonus bets themselves are not cashable, though the profit they generate is.

Indiana approves wagering on roughly 19 sports and offers all the standard bet types: straight bets, point spreads, moneylines, totals, parlays, props, teasers, futures and round robins, plus live betting and cash out. The Indiana Gaming Commission maintains a catalog of approved leagues and events; operators may offer any of them but are not required to, and they may petition the IGC to add new events. Approved categories include the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA, MLS and NCAA Division I, plus auto racing (F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, MotoGP), golf, tennis, boxing, MMA, soccer leagues worldwide, cricket, rugby, darts, cycling, the Olympics and even select special events such as the Academy Awards.

Esports

Wagering on esports is illegal in Indiana. State law (IC 4-38-5-4) specifically prohibits bets on competitive video gaming. Legalizing it would require new action from the legislature.

Youth and Amateur Events

You cannot bet on any event involving athletes under 18. This rule keeps high school sports and other youth competitions entirely off the board, protecting minors from betting influence.

College Player Props (In-Play)

College betting is legal, but limited to NCAA Division I, and in-play proposition wagers on individual college athletes are prohibited. You can bet a college game’s spread, moneyline or total, including live, but not a live prop tied to a specific college player. Pre-game college player props are also restricted under IGC directives.

Elections, Politics and Entertainment Outcomes

Indiana sportsbooks cannot take wagers on non-sporting events such as political elections or, in most cases, entertainment contests. Unlike some international markets, Indiana keeps the menu focused on athletic competition, with only narrow, IGC-approved exceptions such as certain award-show specials.

Events the IGC Flags for Integrity

If a sports governing body or the NCAA believes an event has been fixed or manipulated, or otherwise shows good cause, it can ask the IGC to prohibit wagering on that event. The IGC can also create a temporary betting dead zone using geofencing technology and retains discretion to limit in-play markets.

Indianapolis Colts (NFL)

The Colts are the state’s only NFL franchise and its most popular betting team. NFL wagering is the single biggest market in Indiana, and bettors load up on the Colts every week, from game spreads and moneylines to season-long futures on the AFC South and the Super Bowl.

Indiana Pacers (NBA)

The Pacers drive heavy NBA action, especially during deep playoff runs. Their run to the NBA Finals generated record basketball betting volume in the state, and futures, game lines and player props on Indiana’s NBA team are perennial favorites.

Indiana Fever (WNBA)

The Fever have become one of the most bet WNBA teams in the country since drafting Caitlin Clark, whose arrival fueled unprecedented WNBA betting volume statewide. bet365 is the team’s official sportsbook partner, and Fever games draw strong moneyline, spread and MVP-futures action.

Indiana Hoosiers and Purdue Boilermakers (College)

College sports are central to Indiana’s identity. Indiana University and Purdue both draw major betting interest in football and basketball, with the Hoosiers’ recent football rise adding to it. Remember the rules: Division I only, no in-play college player props, and Purdue bars anyone affiliated with the university from betting on the Boilermakers.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (College)

One of the most recognizable programs in all of college sports, Notre Dame draws national and in-state betting attention, particularly in football.

Auto Racing

Indiana’s motorsports heritage runs deep. The Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway make IndyCar and NASCAR popular betting markets, especially during May’s racing calendar.

Indiana has grown into one of the most consistent sports betting markets in the country. After the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban, Indiana moved quickly and has posted billions in annual handle ever since. The state cleared 1 billion dollars in handle in its first full year, topped 4 billion dollars in a year for the first time in 2023, and surpassed 10 billion dollars in lifetime wagers in November 2022.

In 2025, Indiana bettors wagered more than 5.7 billion dollars, with November setting the state’s all-time monthly records at roughly 641 million dollars in handle, about 69 million dollars in gross gaming revenue and 6.56 million dollars in state taxes. Throughout the year Indiana consistently ranked among the top handful of U.S. markets, often placing fifth nationally in monthly handle and second in the Midwest behind only Illinois.

The mix of what Hoosiers bet is distinctive. Parlays are the single most popular bet type, regularly accounting for more than a third of all wagers, a far higher share than mature markets such as New Jersey. Football leads the seasonal calendar, basketball surges during the NBA and NCAA seasons, and roughly 97 percent of all wagering happens on mobile devices. The Indiana Gaming Commission publishes detailed monthly reports on handle, gross gaming revenue, hold percentage and tax collections, making Indiana one of the most transparent betting markets in the nation.

Governing Law

Sports wagering is governed by House Enrolled Act 1015 of 2019, codified at IC 4-38, with additional rules issued by the Indiana Gaming Commission. The law established the licensing framework, set the tax rate and named the IGC as regulator. The full bill is available through the Indiana General Assembly, and the IGC publishes its current rules and directives on its Sports Wagering Division page.

Licensing and Operators

Casinos, racinos and off-track betting facilities may apply for sports wagering certificates. The initial license fee is 100,000 dollars, with a 50,000 dollar annual renewal. Each property may operate up to three online skins plus its retail book, and every online sportsbook must partner with an in-state casino or racino. Applicants must hold a 500,000 dollar cash reserve, partner with an integrity-monitoring provider, and submit their wagering systems to an independent testing lab for certification. Operators undergo background checks through public hearings and a full investigation every three years.

Who Is Prohibited From Betting

State law (IC 4-38-9-3) bars wagering by anyone under 21; by sports betting licensees, vendors and their directors, officers, employees and household relatives; by athletes, officials, coaches and team or league employees betting on their own sports, along with their household relatives; by anyone convicted of a sports-betting-related offense; and by non-individual entities. The IGC also bars anyone on the exclusion list, anyone who has self-excluded, and anyone whose participation could undermine the integrity of an event.

Official Resources

How Operators Are Taxed

Indiana taxes sportsbooks at 9.5 percent of adjusted gross revenue, which is the money operators keep after paying out winning bets. It is one of the lowest rates in the country, and it is the same for both online and retail wagering. A low operator tax tends to benefit bettors, because it leaves room for sharper odds, better promotions and a larger field of competing books. Tax revenue flows mainly to the state’s general fund, supporting education, prisons, health care and state parks, with a portion earmarked for problem-gambling programs.

How Your Winnings Are Taxed

Your own betting winnings are taxable income at both the federal and Indiana state level, separate from the tax operators pay. Indiana applies its flat state income tax to gambling winnings, and the IRS treats winnings as income as well. Sportsbooks may issue a Form W-2G and withhold taxes on certain large or high-odds payouts, and you are responsible for reporting winnings on your returns. You can request a win/loss statement from your sportsbook to help with record-keeping. This is general information, not tax advice; consult a tax professional about your specific situation.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Indiana legalized daily fantasy sports in March 2016 when Gov. Mike Pence signed SB 339, making the state the second to regulate DFS. Operators must be licensed, pay annual fees and follow conduct standards. FanDuel, DraftKings, Underdog and others operate in the state.

Horse Racing Betting

Pari-mutuel horse racing betting is legal and regulated by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. The state’s two major tracks, Horseshoe Indianapolis and Harrah’s Hoosier Park, host live racing for Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds and Quarter Horses most months of the year, and licensed advance-deposit wagering platforms such as TwinSpires accept online bets.

Online Casinos, Poker and Lottery

Online casino gaming (iGaming) is not yet legal in Indiana; bills to legalize it have repeatedly stalled. Online poker is not legal. Online lottery ticket sales are not yet authorized, though officials have studied the option. In early 2026, Indiana banned sweepstakes casinos through HB 1052.