Indiana Online Gambling Launch Dates
Indiana was the 13th US state to offer legal online and in-person sports betting. Sports betting in Indiana became legal when Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a law passed by the legislature on May 8, 2019. The first Indiana sportsbooks opened in 2019, with the first mobile sports betting app going live on Oct. 3, 2019.
Top Online Betting Sites in Indiana
The executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission Sara Gonso Tait said the commission will handle the approval of all sports betting platforms, including both sports betting apps and brick-and-mortar operations. However, it is up to the casinos, racinos and off-track betting facilities to seek licenses to submit the information for the commission to review.
Indiana Sportsbooks Go-Live Dates
Sportsbook providers in Indiana have partnered with land-based casinos to offer sports betting. Here is a list of retail and online sportsbook partnerships and their launch dates:
| License Partner | Casino Partner | |
|---|---|---|
| Bally Bet | Bally’s Evansville | December 2021 |
| Barstool | Hollywood Lawrenceburg | May 2021 |
| BetMGM | Belterra Casino | February 2020 |
| BetRivers | French Lick Casino | October 2019 |
| Betway | Belterra Casino | May 2021 |
| DraftKings | Ameristar East East Chicago | October 2019 |
| FanDuel | Belterra Casino Blue Chip Casino |
October 2019 |
| Caesars | Bally’s Evansville | December 2021 |
| Caesars Southern Indiana | September 2019 | |
| Hoosier Park | September 2019 | |
| Horseshoe Hammond | September 2019 | |
| Indiana Grand Casino | September 2019 | |
| Winner's Circle Clarksville | September 2019 | |
| Winner's Circle New Haven | September 2019 | |
| PointsBet | Hollywood Lawrenceburg | March 2020 |
| theScore Bet | Ameristar East East Chicago | September 2020 |
| Unibet | Horseshoe Hammond | July 2020 |
| WynnBet | Rising Star Casino | April 2021 |
The Indiana Gaming Commission must ensure the following protocols are in order:
- The sportsbook licensing fee of $100,000 has been paid.
- Geolocation requirements are operational.
- Internal rules and regulations are in place.
- Operators are certified by the Indiana Testing Lab.
- Servers and data centers have been inspected.
- Self-restriction and voluntary exclusion programs are in place for problem gamblers.
BetRivers was the first online sportsbook to launch in Indiana and meet the IGC’s requirements. BetRivers mobile sports betting app went live on Oct. 3, 2019.
Indiana Sports Betting Rules
Besides complying with the technical requirements established by the IGC, each Indiana sportsbook must follow state gambling laws that require sports bettors to be 21 years or older to bet online.
It is illegal to bets on high school, youth and e-sports in Indiana. However, betting on college sports (including football) is legal in the state.
DFS in Indiana
Indiana was one of the first states to legalize daily fantasy sports, commonly known as DFS. It was then-Gov. Mike Pence signed DFS into law in 2016. The law went beyond legalizing DFS, too. It defined DFS as a non-gaming activity in Indiana.
Legalizing DFS did not have the desired effect on Indiana, however. The $50,000 licensing fee was too steep for small operators, clearing the path for the two largest DFS platforms in the US, DraftKings and FanDuel.
Indiana Online Lottery
Sports betting is legal in Indiana, but the online Indiana Lottery is not. The attempt to legalize online lotto in Indiana failed in 2022. Many other states already offer online lotto:
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- North Dakota
- North Carolina
- New Hampshire
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- Washington, DC
Don’t expect to buy those Powerball or Mega Millions tickets anytime soon. It could happen in 2023 but would have to be approved by the Indiana General Assembly.
Indiana Online Casino Gambling
Indiana online casino gambling has a ways to go before it makes its way to the Hoosier State. A new law legalizing online casinos would need to pass both Houses of the General Assembly and proceed to the governor for a signature. Casino games include table games, poker and online slots in Indiana.
Gambling Tax Rates and Licensing Fees
Indiana sportsbooks must pay an initial licensing fee of $100,000, with renewal fees of $50,000 payable annually. Sports betting in Indiana is taxed at the rate of 9.5% on adjusted gross revenue. A portion of that tax is allocated to addressing problem gambling.