Indiana Sports Betting: Pro Tips from Insiders

Indiana Sports Betting: Is It Legal, How To Choose a Sportsbook

Good news, sports fans – Indiana sports betting has been alive and kicking since the state legalized sports betting in 2019! Now that the state has overcome that particular hurdle for you, the next step is for you to overcome an even bigger hurdle: That of choosing a sportsbook that’s right for you.

Because I love sports betting as much as you do, I’ve done my homework when it comes to Indiana sports betting for you. I’ve located the best sportsbooks and chosen them according to things like the welcome bonus, the sports variety, the user interface, and the payouts.

This article is going to give you a rundown of the best online sportsbooks. But because I’m sure you’ve got many other questions now that Indiana has legalized sports betting, I’ll also be taking a look at how online betting works in Indiana, the things you need to be aware of. I’ll end by answering the most common questions.

Ready? Let’s make a start.

5 Of The Best Online Sportsbooks In Indiana

RANK SPORTBOOK FEATURES PLAY
1

DraftKings Sportsbook

  • $1,000 worth of free bets when you make your first deposit
  • Was the first-ever online sportsbook in Indiana
  • Lots of player props
  • Live betting available
  • Sleek app
2

BetMGM

  • $500 worth of free bets when you make your first deposit
  • Fast withdrawals
  • A huge amount of markets and lines
  • Lots of ongoing promotions including Money Monday Club
3

BetRivers

  • $250 worth of free bets when you first signup
  • Excellent loyalty program
  • Good teaser prices
  • Lots of odd boosts specials
4

FanDuel

  • $500 worth of free bets when you create your account
  • 16+ sports
  • Fast payouts
  • Generous and reliable early cash-out feature available on specific lines
5

PointsBet

  • $200 worth of free bets when making your first deposit
  • Easy to navigate website and app
  • Multiple banking options
  • Superb customer support
  • Build your bets

 

How Online Sports Betting Works In Indiana

Indiana Sports Betting Launch: How It Happened

Online sports betting hasn’t always been legal in Indiana. Indeed, the good folk of Indiana has had to wait a long time before they can wager on real sporting events!

Indiana sports betting was officially “launched” in September 2019. On that day, three casinos began taking sports bets immediately. In contrast, sports betting truly got into full swing a few days later when a handful of new sportsbooks – including DraftKings – were officially launched.

At first, only retail sites could take bets, but mobile sports wagering soon followed and was officially legalized on October 3rd, 2019.

How To Bet On Sports In Indiana: Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you’re free to bet on sports finally, you probably want to know how this all works.

Fortunately, betting on sports is really easy. The first thing you need to do is pick an online betting site (see above for the best online sportsbooks in Indiana).

Then, you need to register an account (while grabbing the welcome bonus).

Once your account is up and running, take a look at the available sports and bets. Which ones tickle your fancy? If a bet looks juicy to you, take a closer look at the odds to see if there’s any value here. Shorter odds indicate that an event is likely to happen (such as the Lakers beating the Bulls outright), while longer indicates that an event is unlikely to happen.

Once you’re satisfied by the bet and the odds, it’s time to choose a stake and place a wager. Your stake is the amount of money you wish to bet. All you need to do next is confirm the bet and watch the results come in.

Which Indiana Casinos Have Online Sportsbooks?

There’s often more to an Indiana sportsbook than just sports. In fact, the best Indiana sportsbooks also have casinos. Here are my top picks:

   FanDuel 

FanDuel has a terrific welcome offer that lets you play in the casino for the first 24 hours without risking any of your own money. The deal is that if you lose up to $200 during those first 24 hours, FanDuel will refund your account.

FanDuel’s sportsbook is integrated into its casino. However, you will notice that when you click the “casino” tab, you’re taking to the BetFair casino site. This is because the same company owns both sites. The casino is crammed with all the popular table games, including blackjack, roulette and craps, and there are huge jackpots to be won each day.

   DraftKings

DraftKings is both a sportsbook and a casino. The casino arm of the site has a sophisticated layout, with grey dominating the background. It gives the site a classy look and feels. DraftKings casino satisfies both sports fans and casino players with crossover games, such as DraftKings Basketball Blackjack and DraftKings Baseball Blackjack.

They have a good selection of live dealer games, including Three Card Poker, and there are hundreds of slots to choose from, as well as daily slot bonuses.

   BetRivers

BetRivers has a whole section dedicated to casino games. It doesn’t look as classy as some sites, but there are hundreds of games available. You can tweak the search filters to find the type of game you want – categories include table and card games, slots, video poker, blackjack, and more – and the minimum bet is clearly highlighted below the thumbnail for each game.

Live support is available 24/7.

   BetMGM

BetMGM’s casino is ideal if you’re into your live dealer games. The likes of roulette and live blackjack are available 11 am – 3 am every day of the week, and the site is home to the biggest online jackpot in Indiana (it’s currently at over $3,000,000 at the time of writing).

Indiana Online Sports Betting Partnerships

It’s normal for a casino to partner up with existing operators to help them launch a sportsbook. This means that many of the best sportsbooks in Indiana were casinos first, and a sportsbook second.

There are a number of huge gambling companies looking to get in on the action in Indiana. As of the time of writing, here are the known Indiana online sports betting partnerships:

  • Blue Chip Casino (FanDuel Sportsbook)
  • Belterra Casino Resort (FanDuel Sportsbook)
  • Ameristar Casino Resort (DraftKings Sportsbook)
  • Winner’s Circle New Haven (Scientific Games)
  • Winner’s Circle Indianapolis (Scientific Games)
  • Winner’s Circle Clarksville (Scientific Games)
  • Tropicana Evansville Casino (William Hill)
  • Rising Star Casino Resort (BetAmerica)
  • Indiana Grand Racing and Casino (Scientific Games)
  • Horseshoe Southern Indiana Hotel and Casino (Scientific Games)
  • Horseshoe Hammond Casino (Scientific Games)
  • Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg (Kambi)
  • Harrah’s Hoosier Park (Scientific Games)
  • French Lick Resort Casino (Rush Street Interactive)

What Can You Bet On Right Now In Indiana?

The exact sports you can bet on is depending on the sportsbook you sign up to. For example, while all sportsbooks offer lines for the most popular sports, such as football and basketball, others have more niche offerings, such as handball and volleyball, while others don’t.

However, all you need to know at this point is that it’s legal to bet on any sport that is offered by an Indiana sportsbook. You can also bet on politics and entertainment, such as reality TV shows if the sportsbook offers lines.

Here are some of the sports you can bet on right now in Indiana:

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • College basketball
  • College football
  • Cricket
  • Cycling
  • Darts
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Handball
  • Hockey
  • MMA
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Table tennis
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball

What Bets Are Available At Indiana Online Sportsbooks?

As a sports fan and bettor, you’ll need to get familiar with the types of bets that are available at Indiana sportsbooks if you’re to enjoy success.

The most common bet is the straight bet, which is when you either bet on the favorites or the underdogs. If you bet on the favorites, you’re giving up the points on the spread. If you bet on the underdogs, you’re getting the points on the spread.

Other bets that are available include total line bets. For this type of bet, the sportsbook will set a number for the final score of a particular game. For example, if the Lakers are playing the Bucks in the NBA, the sportsbook might set the number at 195. This is a combination of what both teams are projected to score.

You as the bettor can then bet on whether you think the total number of points will be over 195 or under.

Another bet currently available is the money line bet. This is similar to the straight bet in that you pick a team or an individual to win a particular match outright. The difference is that it comes without the point spread.

Parlay bets are also available. For this type of bet, you group together 2 or more picks into a single bet. Each time you add another pick, the betting odds are adjusted. The more picks you choose, the bigger the payout will be.

A parlay bet can be a lot of fun, but it also means you’re waiting on more than one bet to come through. For example, if just one pick doesn’t come through, all picks are lost.

Taking Advantages of Bonuses and Rewards

As we’ll see below, Indiana sports betting sites are subject to lower taxes than most other states. This gives sportsbooks greater scope to be more generous with their bonuses and loyalty schemes.

It also means you as the bettor should take advantage of this. Here are some of the best bonuses and rewards schemes I’ve found at Indiana sportsbooks:

  • No deposit bonus :

A lot of the best sportsbooks give you a free, no-risk bet when you create an account. You don’t need to make an initial deposit to trigger this welcome bonus.

  • Matched first deposit bonus :

When you make your first deposit at a betting site, you’ll be treated to a matched bonus. Most sites offer a 100% match bonus, and the size of the offer typically varies between $100 and $1000. Make sure to read the wagering requirements before grabbing this bet.

  • Promotions :

Online sportsbooks offer multiple promotions that increase your overall enjoyment. These include free slots spins, enhanced lines, free bets, and overtime insurance.

  • Loyalty programs :

The top sites ensure you keep coming back for more by rewarding you with a loyalty program. The more bets you place, the more points you’ll accrue. Over time, these points can be redeemed in exchange for free bets.

Indiana Sports Betting Laws

Before sports betting was legalized in Indiana, the only legal gambling option was the state lottery. As of 2019, though, sports betting laws were rubber-stamped by Gov. Holcomb, who signed a bill that gave casinos to go ahead and open sportsbooks.

Indiana sports betting laws are similar to other states, but there are some crucial differences:

  • You must be aged 21 years or older to place a bet.
  • The Indiana Gaming Commission can set limits on live betting.
  • The tax on gross revenue stands at just 9.5%, which is lower than most other states. This means Indiana bettors are able to take advantage of more attractive bonuses

Indiana Sports Betting FAQ: Your Questions Answered

Sports betting has been legal in Indiana since September 2019 as per the rules set out by the Indiana gaming commission.

You can place bets at a brick and mortar bookmaker in your local town, or you can sign up to an Indiana sports betting site, such as FanDuel. The sportsbook you sign up to must be legal in Indiana.

You must be at least 21 years old to legally bet in Indiana.

Yes, provided you’re placing the bet with a reputable, fully-licensed betting site, such as DraftKings. All the sites mentioned in this guide, moreover, are fully licensed by the Indiana gaming commission.

You can bet online anywhere in the world where it’s legal to bet. If you’re sports betting in Indiana, you can be either a visitor or a full-time resident.

Mobile sports betting in Indiana has been available since October 2019.

Final Words On Indiana Sports Betting: What Should You Do Next?

Sports betting in Indiana is now 100% legal. The next step is for you to pick a sports betting site you like the look of, before creating an account and grabbing the welcome bonus. Then, it’s time to start having some fun. Good luck!

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