Everything You Need To Know About Indiana Sports Betting

• Indiana sports betting was signed into law by IN Governor Eric Holcomb on May 8, 2019.
• There are now four land-based sportsbooks in Indiana currently accepting bets, with four more scheduled to launch in the coming days.
• Mobile and online sports betting in Indiana is also legal, though none of the state-licensed sportsbooks have applied for that option.

INDIANAPOLIS – As many in the state know, sports betting in Indiana is now active and growing. On Sunday, three separate casinos opened the first sportsbooks in Indiana and Tuesday marks the launch of the first sports betting facility in the capital city of the Hoosier State, Indianapolis.

Legal sports betting was signed into law on May 8, 2019, when IN Governor Eric Holcomb signed a large gambling expansion bill into law. Indiana became one of the first states in 2019 to accept the activity, and Governor Holcomb was the first to place a sports bet.

“Sports wagering is now legal in Indiana, and I was excited to be the first Hoosier to place a bet,” tweeted Governor Holcomb.

Governor Holcomb placed a bet on the NFL, NBA, and WNBA and tweeted that any winnings to come from the bets would be given to the Indiana Canine Assist Network.

However, other Hoosiers may be wondering where exactly they can find Indiana sportsbooks, what types of wagers they can place, and what the money generated from the activity is actually going towards. All of those answers can be found below.

Where Can I Place A Sports Bet In Indiana?

Sports betting licenses in Indiana have been awarded to almost every one of the state’s casinos, however, the Indiana Gaming Commission has only authorized launch dates at eight retail sportsbooks.

The three that launched on September 1, include the Indiana Grand Casino in Shelbyville, the Ameristar Casino in East Chicago, and the Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg. Winner’s Circle in Downtown Indianapolis also started accepting sports wagers on September 3, 2019.

The following casinos are set to open sports gambling operations in the coming days: Horseshoe Hammond Casino on September 4, the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City on September 5, French Lick Casino in French Lick on September 6, 2019, and Belterra Casino in Florence on September 9.

Other notable casinos that plan to open a sportsbook in Indiana include Horseshoe Southern in Elizabeth, Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson, Rising Star Casino in Rising Star, Tropicana Evansville Casino, and Winner’s Circle locations in Clarksville and New Haven.

An official launch date has not been set for those casinos.

Is Online Sports Betting In Indiana Legal?

A launch date for sports betting apps in Indiana is also still unclear. While mobile betting became legal on September 1, no state-licensed gaming facility has applied to offer it.

Online sports wagering sites will have to be tethered to physical establishments, similar to how mobile sports betting works in New Jersey. Once those gaming facilities begin to offer mobile sports betting in Indiana, the apps and websites will be available anywhere in the state.

You will be able to register to use those mobile platforms no matter where you are located in Indiana. They will require a bit of person information and will offer the same odds and wagering types as you would find in a retail sportsbook.

What Types Of Sports Bets Can I Make In Indiana?

All of the wagering types that were once exclusive to Nevada are now available in Indiana. Traditional sports bets such as moneylines, spreads, over/unders, futures, props, parlays, and more are available at any Indiana sportsbook.

The types of sports you can bet on are also just as expansive. You can place a sports bet on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, auto racing, boxing, tennis, etc.

What may surprise sports bettors in the Hoosier State is the fact that collegiate sports betting, including bets made on teams in Indiana, are available for the taking. The NCAA has long opposed gambling on sports and is based in Indianapolis.

However, the only power the NCAA has in this case is that they can ask the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) to ban wagers on certain events. They have to submit that request in advance and it is up to the IGC if they want to grant them that request.

Live betting, or in-game wagering, is also available for both the current retail IN sportsbooks and for the upcoming mobile sports wagering apps. The only bets that are outright prohibited are those made on eSports and high school events. A full list of sporting events that are legal in Indiana can be found here.

What Taxes Are Associated With Indiana Sports Betting?

There are costs associated with the offering the activity on both the operator side and the sports bettor side.

According to IN HB 1015 Indiana sports betting operators in the state will have to pay an initial license fee of $100,000 and an annual renewal fee of $50,000.

A tax rate of 9.5% has been set for any adjusted gross revenue that Indiana sportsbooks generate. Of that percentage, 3.3% will go towards gambling addiction services while the rest will go into the state’s general fund.

As for the sports bettor, you must report your sports wagering winnings at the time you file your taxes. This works just the same as when you have to report your casino earnings or any other gambling income.

News tags: Ameristar Casino | Eric Holcomb | Hollywood Casino | IN HB 1015 | Indiana | Indiana Gaming Commission | Indiana Grand Casino | Indianapolis | Winner’s Circle