Like The Football Calendar, Sports Betting Numbers Slowed In December

The growth of Indiana’s handle by 61% from October to November 2019 was significant and tough to surpass, let alone replicate. Although there was some expansion in the sports betting figures for December, it was not nearly as substantial.

The combined revenue from all online and retail sportsbooks in Indiana exceeded $161.8 million, marking approximately a nine percent month-over-month increase. The reason for this reduced growth rate is straightforward.

The sports betting figures for December require some explanation.

The slowing down of growth in the final month of 2019 largely relates to sports betting, which is dependent on consumer interest in the games available. Across the US, football stands as the most popular sport for placing bets.

Regrettably, Indiana’s legal sportsbooks faced a challenge as the sports teams within and around the state experienced less than optimal seasons. The relevant NFL teams – Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, and Indianapolis Colts – all missed out on the playoffs. In fact, each team was out of playoff contention even before the regular season came to an end.

The college team also experienced diminishing returns. Despite the Notre Dame Fighting Irish securing 10 victories, a large number of their competitors had underperforming seasons. The view that Notre Dame’s schedule was not challenging enough resulted in the Irish being placed in a lower-tier bowl game.

Purdue failed to reach the bowl season, and Indiana also didn’t achieve top-tier success. This resulted in fans losing interest and reducing their betting activities.

The evidence for this can be found in the numbers published by the Indiana Gaming Commission. The handle on football games increased by a mere $2 million between November and December.

Despite the launch of a new online sportsbook in the state, the online share remained stagnant. This wasn’t merely about the total handle and football bets, as the decrease in growth extended beyond that.

Online sportsbooks have not yet taken over in the Hoosier State.

Examining the broader perspective of handle and revenue at each sportsbook in Indiana provides a more comprehensive narrative. Here is the complete breakdown:

Casino	Handle	Retail Sports Betting Handle	Mobile Sports Betting Handle	Revenue*	Taxes (9.5%)
Total	$147.27 million	$51.07 million	$96.21 million	$9.29 million	$883,361
Ameristar (DraftKings)	$72.07 million	$7.99 million	$64.08 million	$4.32 million	$410,048
Belterra	$920,344	$920,344	N/A	$88,024	$8,362
Blue Chip (FanDuel)	$28.19 million	$4.47 million	$23.73 million	$1.98 million	$188,170
Caesars Southern Indiana	$1.41 million	$1.41 million	N/A	$84,310	$8,009
French Lick Resort (BetRivers)	$9.63 million	$1.24 million	$8.39 million	$487,429	$46,306
Harrah’s Hoosier Park**	$6.97 million	$6.97 million	N/A	$463,958	$44,076
Hollywood Lawrenceburg	$8.78 million	$8.78 million	N/A	$861,360	$81,829
Horseshoe Hammond	$12.96 million	$12.96 million	N/A	$671,826	$63,823
Indiana Grand***	$4.19 million	$4.19 million	N/A	$199,083	$18,913
Tropicana Evansville	$2.01 million	$2.01 million	N/A	$125,452	$11,918
Rising Star	$110,300	$110,300	N/A	$20,076	$1,907

In November, online sportsbooks in Indiana were responsible for approximately 65.3% of the state’s handle. The same sportsbooks accounted for 64.2% of the handle last month.

In states where online betting is at a similar stage, online bookmakers represent a minimum of 80% of the total. Indiana, with only four sports betting apps, falls significantly below this percentage. Given that the online sportsbook growth is stagnant month-to-month, Indiana is not expected to reach this benchmark in the near future.

Football significantly contributes to the downturns and stagnation experienced in December.

This is also due to the disappointment with the local football teams, as evidenced by the numbers for the Hollywood Lawrenceburg Casino.

Despite lacking a mobile component, Hollywood managed to achieve the second-highest total in retail book wagers in the state last month. In fact, Lawrenceburg almost outdid French Lick Casino, which does have an online sportsbook partner.

This can be simplified as: Lawrenceburg’s closeness to the larger Cincinnati area explains this. The Ohio State Buckeyes’ success, not just in securing the Big 10 conference title but also in qualifying for the College Football Playoff, probably influenced Ohioans to travel there to place their bets.

The disappointing local outcomes on the football field are accountable for the sluggish performance in December, but they can also pave the way for a more promising future in the Hoosier State. Irrespective of fan loyalties, events like the NFL playoffs and the College Football Playoff championship game usually attract a large pool of bettors.

The sports betting industry in Indiana experienced a slowdown in its growth in December. However, this was not due to an inferior product online or in the casinos. Rather, it was due to the inferior performance of the football teams compared to their competitors.