Indiana Sports Betting – Best IN Sportsbooks 2024
On May 8th 2019, Indiana sports betting was legalized. Governor Eric Holcomb signed House Bill 1015, paving the way for both retail and online sportsbooks to operate in the Hoosier State.
Three retail betting sites opened their doors on September 1st of the same year. But it was the Indiana Grand Casino which took the first legal wager in IN, placed by Governor Holcomb himself. A month later, the first online sportsbook operations began, with BetRivers and DraftKings accepting the first registrations.
On this page, we’ll talk much more about the history of betting in IN and its subsequent growth. But we’ll also share information about common betting types and promotions in the state, before explaining how you can get started. First though, let’s reveal our favorite Indiana sports betting sites.
Best Licensed Online Sports Betting Sites available in Indiana
Our team of industry experts scours the country for the latest online sportsbooks. They pick them apart, assessing everything from the betting lines and odds to the quality of customer support and the payment methods on offer.
In the table below, you’ll see our favorite online betting sites in IN.
Contents
If you only need to learn about one specific area of sports betting in Indiana, feel free to jump straight to that section. Please click on the links below to do so.
- Best Licensed Sports Betting Sites Indiana
- What is Online Sports Betting?
- Is Online Sports Betting Allowed in Indiana?
- Sports Betting Options in Indiana
- The Growth of Sports Betting in Indiana
- Why is Sports Betting So Popular in IN?
- Types of Bonus in Online Sports Betting
- Popular Sports to Bet On
- How to Sign up for Online Sports Betting in Indiana
- Sports Betting Payment Methods
- Responsible Gambling
- FAQ
What is Online Sports Betting?
Just as the name suggests, online sports betting involves placing a wager on a sporting event via the internet. That could be through a computer, tablet device or mobile phone, and it includes betting on all kinds of markets. The outcome of a game, the performance of a specific player or even a long term wager, such as the outright winner of a competition.
However, one thing that we will not be discussing in this article is Daily Fantasy Sports. That’s legal in Indiana too, and has been since 2016. But it’s a completely different form of gambling to online sports betting.
Is Online Sports Betting Allowed in Indiana?
Online sports betting is perfectly legal in the state of Indiana. BetRivers and DraftKings were the first sportsbooks to begin operations, opening up on October 3rd, 2019. By the middle of 2022, a total of 13 internet sportsbooks were off and running, with four more on the way.
It was the passing of House Bill 1015 into law five months prior that paved the way for legal sports betting in the Hoosier State. Retails operations commenced in September, with online sportsbooks opening a month later. It’s even possible to place online bets on college sports in IN, unlike many other US states.
Sports Betting Options in Indiana
In Indiana, sports betting sites offer dozens of different betting lines, including team and player props. Below, we’ll discuss some of the most popular ways to wager at sportsbooks in the state.
Moneyline
Betting on the winner of a game is the easiest and quickest way to get started. That explains, at least partly, why this particular market is so popular.
The moneyline odds simply represent the probability of either team emerging victorious. The lower the value of the odds, the greater the chance they’ll win.
Spread
Since some fixtures end up being a mismatch, it’s possible that the moneyline favorite has extremely low, unappealing odds. There’s little point betting on the underdog in this situation, no matter how attractive the potential returns.
As a result, bookmakers look to make the matchup a little fairer, by adding a points handicap to the weaker team. Now the favorite doesn’t just need to win the game, but they also need to cover the points spread.
Totals
Points totals are a popular sports betting market all around the world, not only in Indiana. The bookmaker will provide a hypothetical number and all you need to do is predict whether the real value will be higher or lower.
For example, it could be the total number of goals scored in a soccer match, or the number of three-pointers made by Buddy Hield. These markets are sometimes called “Over/Under” lines.
In-Play
In states like Indiana, where mobile and online sports betting is legal, in-play betting is massive. It used to be that all bets were off once a contest was underway. But now you’ll see hundreds of live betting opportunities even in the middle of a game.
Since everyone has a smartphone these days, as well as access to high speed internet, it’s even possible to stream games. Thanks to in-play betting, you can observe events in real time and place bets accordingly.
Futures
Long-term betting markets are popular with Hoosiers, due to the increased odds. It’s hard enough to predict what is going to happen a day or two in advance. So trying to figure out who will be Rookie of the Year, for example, can be a monumental task.
There are so many opportunities for the player to lose form, pick up an injury or become unsettled. The trade off for all the extra uncertainty with futures markets is that you’ll receive bigger odds.
Parlay
Another very popular way to try and pick up a bigger payoff is by parlaying your bets. Perhaps you’ve identified three football teams that you think will win this week. Yes, you could place three individual bets, but if you combined them into one, the returns would be multiplied.
The more picks in a parlay, the greater the potential rewards. But on the other hand, you’re also increasing the difficulty of succeeding.
Teasers
As it’s so hard to hit a winning parlay, US bookies came up with the teaser. This is a form of parlay, but it gives you a little more flexibility. You can tweak certain markets, such as adjusting the points spread line, for instance.
Because you can make it a little easier to win the bet, the potential returns are slightly smaller. But you’ll still end up with a sizable reward, plus the inevitable buzz that goes with winning a big bet.
The Growth of Sports Betting in Indiana
Since Governor Eric Holcomb struck the first legal sports bet at the Indiana Grand Casino, things have gone from strength to strength. The first month of operations saw a total handle of $35.2 million. But by the end of the year, those figures had ballooned, with December’s report showing sales of $161.8 million.
Just one year later, in December 2020, the total Indiana sports betting handle was an impressive $313.1 million. Records continued to fall, peaking in January 2022 with a monthly report of $500.1 million.
In May 2022, IN became only the fifth state to break the $8 billion barrier in terms of total handle. New Jersey leads the way, closely followed by Nevada, while Pennsylvania and Illinois are the third and fourth biggest performers. Considering the relative population of the Hoosier State, it’s an impressive feat to be reporting the fifth largest betting turnover in the USA.
Why is Sports Betting So Popular in IN?
One of the reasons behind the huge popularity of sports betting in Indiana is the local love affair with sports. But there are other factors too. Let’s take a look.
- Passion for sport. Indiana is home to several big teams and events.
- Betting is fun. Wagering adds an extra buzz whether your team wins or loses.
- Possible big wins. Parlays, futures and surprise results all promise potentially big payouts – and who doesn’t like money?
- Easily accessible sportsbooks. There are already more than a dozen legal betting sites, with more on the way.
1. Passion For Sport
People are spoiled for choice when it comes to successful sports teams in Indiana. And naturally, they want to show their support from time to time by placing a bet.
The Indianapolis Colts have two Superbowl championships under their belts. In basketball, the Pacers won three ABA championships in the 1970s, while the Indiana Fever regularly competes for honors in the WNBA. Then there are several minor league teams, not to mention the huge motor racing scene.
2. Betting Is Fun
Whenever you’re watching a game that doesn’t feature your own team, it might still be enjoyable, but it can lack a little edge. Placing a bet can help to pep things up a little, as the element of risk makes things more exciting.
Even if you’re already emotionally invested in the contest, a financial incentive really magnifies both the highs and the lows.
3. Possible Big Wins
We all love cash, right? It pays the bills, it buys us nice things and it gives us some control in our lives. The opportunity to turn a few bucks into a big score is a genuinely attractive prospect to many.
You don’t have to risk huge sums to win big though. Many bettors in Indiana like to place small stakes parlays containing several picks, almost like playing the lottery. But the rewards can be considerable if you’re a knowledgeable sports fanatic.
4. Easily Accessible Sportsbooks
By 2022, there were already 13 online sports betting sites in Indiana, plus 15 physical sportsbooks dotted across the state. With so many different options to choose from, it’s easier than ever to access the latest odds.
But not only that, the sports betting scene is so competitive that these bookmakers need to stand out. To do that, they’ll offer extremely rewarding welcome offers and loyalty bonuses. And at the end of the day, Indianans love a bargain just as much as the rest of us.
Types of Bonus in Online Sports Betting
In the next section of this article, we’re going to take a look at some of those promotions. All of the top betting brands in IN offer at least some of the following bonuses, if not all.
First Time Deposit Bonus
As we’ve already mentioned, there are plenty of choices when it comes to picking out an Indiana sports betting site. One of the main tactics these brands use to attract new business is a welcome offer, which often consists of a first deposit bonus.
A good example is that of BetRivers, who will enhance your initial deposit by 100%, up to a maximum of $250. So if you credited your account with $50, you’d receive an additional $50 in bonus funds.
Reload Bonus
To try and encourage bettors to come back, Indiana sports betting companies often supply reload offers. In other words, if you top up your empty wallet, you’ll receive a bonus.
These work in a similar manner to the welcome deposit offers, but they are usually slightly smaller. For example, your second deposit might be eligible for a match bonus worth 20% to 50%.
Free Bet
Wouldn’t it be great if you could place a bet and keep the profits when it wins, but with no initial outlay? Well, at many sportsbooks in the Hoosier State, you can do just that.
Check out FanDuel, for instance, who are issuing up to $150 worth of free bets to all new customers. Many other sportsbooks hand out free bets to loyal players, too!
Risk-Free Bet
It sounds similar, but a risk-free bet isn’t quite the same as a regular free bet. While the latter requires no real money spend, a risk-free bet is actually a cash wager. The difference though, is that if the bet were to lose, you’d receive a consolation prize.
The standard risk-free bet involves a refund worth 100% of the value of your bet. Though all betting sites handle these differently, so be sure to read the terms and conditions!
Refer A Friend
Friend referral bonuses are very common among Indiana sport betting sites. If you encourage your buddies to join the sportsbook too, you’ll receive some kind of compensation.
For instance, at Caesars Sportsbook IN, you can bag yourself a $100 free bet for every referral!
Odds Boost
Some bookmakers try to provide a bit of extra value to their loyal customers. One way they can do so is by increasing the odds or enhancing the profit of winning bets.
Unibet is a good example of an Indiana sports betting site that offers odds boosts, especially around big events. During Wimbledon in 2022 for instance, they were boosting profits on in-play tennis bets by 25%.
Loyalty Scheme
Most of the top online betting companies today offer some sort of loyalty program. They work just like an airline or casino rewards program, and the more you bet, the greater the benefits can be.
As you accrue points, you’ll ascend through the ranks. You can earn priority customer support, personalized limits and many other perks. But you may also trade those points in for treats such as free bets or deposit match bonuses.
Popular Sports to Bet On
Indiana hosts all kinds of sporting events and teams, so it’s understandable that the locals like to place bets from time to time. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is home to the world famous Indianapolis 500, but the Pacers (NBA) and Colts (NFL) are also extremely well supported.
Here are the most commonly played sports with bettors in IN.
- Basketball (NBA)
- Football (NFL)
- Motor sports
- Baseball (MLB)
- Ice Hockey (NHL)
- Soccer
- Golf
- Tennis
How to Sign up for Online Sports Betting in Indiana
Having read this far, you must be chomping at the bit to get started! Just follow the step-by-step guide below and you’ll be off and running in just a few minutes.
- To begin with, you’ll have to pick a sports betting site. We recommend that you choose from our list of trusted bookmakers, found at the top of this page.
- Next, you must complete the registration form. All properly licensed betting companies need to take some basic details in order to verify your identity.
- Depending on your chosen sportsbook, you may be asked to supply a promo code at the end of the registration process. Alternatively, you might be presented with a list of welcome bonuses upon submission. Either way, don’t forget to claim the offer!
- Now that your Indiana sports betting account is open, you’ll need to add some cash. Visit the cashier, select your favorite banking option and make the deposit.
- After making your first deposit, you’re all set! Browse through the many different betting lines and click on the odds to add picks to your betslip. Enter a stake, confirm the bet and cross your fingers!
Sports Betting Payment Methods
Many of the top Indiana sports betting sites offer the same types of payment method, because they are reliable, safe and convenient. The best bookmakers tend to offer a wider range of options and process your deposits and withdrawals with the minimum of fuss.
Below you’ll find some of the more popular banking options at betting sites in IN.
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Discover
- American Express
- Bank Transfers
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Paysafecard
- EcoPayz
- PayPal
- Cash deposits at retail locations
- Cryptocurrency
Responsible Gambling
Although gambling is nothing more than a fun hobby for the majority, a small percentage of people develop an addiction. If you live in Indiana and are struggling to control your sports betting activities, you can seek help from any of the following resources.
- Indiana Council on Problem Gambling. This invaluable resource was set up to assist problem gamblers and their families. Call 1-800-994-8448 or visit indianaproblemgambling.org for more information.
- Gamblers Anonymous. Since 1957, GA has run community support groups based on the Alcoholics Anonymous program. Find out more at gamblersanonymous.org.
- National Problem Gambling Helpline. Available 24/7 on 1-800-522-4700, this charity aids those suffering with gambling addiction across the whole of the United States. Head to ncpgambling.org for further details.
Useful Tools
Luckily, Indiana sports betting companies do understand that they have a social responsibility, which they take seriously. In addition to identity checks to spot vulnerable individuals, the best online bookmakers also offer various tools to help control your wagering. Here are some examples.
- Deposit Limit. You can configure an upper limit on the amount of money deposited to your account in a fixed timeframe.
- Reality Check. Set up reminders to alert you when you’ve been on the betting site for too long.
- Time Out. Impose a break for as long as you need, where access to your account will be automatically restricted.
- Self Exclusion. Request that the betting site bans you completely, with no further marketing materials and no access to your account. Attempts to re-register will be denied and every step taken to keep you from gambling.
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