Is Sports Betting Legal In Indiana
Yes, retail and online sports betting is legal and regulated in Indiana thanks to Governor Eric Holcomb’s May 8, 2019 signing House Bill 1015. Indiana lawmakers showed the kind of decisiveness and vision that would make Colts’ running back Jonathan Taylor proud by acting quickly and legalizing sports betting a year after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision that allowed it.
Unlike their Illinois neighbors to the west who have to bet on college sports in person, Indiana sports bettors have no restrictions to worry about when betting on NCAA sports. Hoosiers will be happy to hear that betting on the next Indianapolis Colts pick in the NFL Draft is also allowed.
Indiana Quick Facts
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Launch Date: September, 2019 -
ImageLegal Betting Age: 21 years old
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ImageOnline Sports Betting: Yes
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ImageOnline Casino Sites: No
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ImageOnline Poker Sites: No
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ImageBest Available Sportsbook: FanDuel
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ImageRegulatory Body: Indiana Gaming Commission
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ImageLegal online sportsbooks: 12
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ImageCollege Sports Betting: Yes
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ImagePolitical or entertainment betting: No
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ImageHigh School sports Betting: No
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ImageEsports betting: No
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ImageNFL Draft: Yes
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ImageRemote registration: Yes
Timeline of Betting Legislation & Latest News
Indiana wasted little time legalizing sports betting after the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way by striking down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018. One year later in May of 2019, sports betting legalization was signed into law and sportsbooks opened for business in early September just in time for the Indianapolis Colts’ 2019 season.
Additional Indiana Legal Betting Path Details
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May 14, 2018
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), paving the way for individual states to legalize sports betting.
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Jan. 3, 2019
House Bill 1015 (HB 1015) introduced in the Indiana General Assembly. The bill would legalize both retail and online sports betting in Indiana.
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April 24, 2019
HB 1015 approved in the house by a vote of 78-15 and in the senate by a vote of 37-12.
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May 8, 2019
Governor Eric Holcomb signed HB 1015 into law, officially legalizing sports betting.
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Sept. 1, 2019
The first retail sportsbooks open in Indiana with the opening of Hollywood Casino, Indiana Grand, and Ameristar East Chicago.
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Oct. 3, 2019
Online sports betting is born in Indiana after BetRivers launched its mobile sportsbook app.
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Feb. 21, 2023
HB 1536, a bill to legalize online casino gaming fails to pass through a house committee.
How to start betting in Indiana
Sports betting in Indiana is easy thanks to remote registration which allows bettors to register for a sportsbook and deposit money into their account whether you’re enjoying yourself in Broad Ripple or on the couch. If you’re over 21-years-old and in Indiana, simply download your favorite sports betting app on a smartphone, deposit money, verify your identity, and begin betting instantly.
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Select a Sportsbook
First, decide which sportsbook you want to use and download that sports betting app on your phone. Some sportsbooks will allow you to get started from their website on a computer as well. With the help of this article, make sure the app you’ve chosen is regulated in your state.
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Create Account
Click the button on your sportsbooks’s app that says “signup” or “get started,” while you’re inside state lines, to begin creating an account. You’ll be required to fill in some personal information and verify your identity.
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Deposit
To fund the account, select the payment option you prefer. Each sportsbook has different options for deposits, but common options include: Credit/debit card, bank transfers, PayPal, etc. Remember to keep an eye out for any fees that might be associated with the deposit.
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Choose your bet and bet size
There are a variety of wagering options within each sportsbook. If you’re just getting started, moneylines are the most straight-forward bet and allow bettors to wager on who will win an event. Point spreads, over/unders, parlays, player props and futures bets are also popular choices.
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Place a wager
Every sportsbook runs independently from each other so they each may offer different point spreads or odds on the same wager. Before placing your wager, try shopping around at other betting apps to get the best price. Once you’ve found odds you like, type in your wager amount and submit your wager. If your wager wins, your winnings and your original bet will be deposited back into your account shortly after the event you bet on finishes.
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Withdraw funds
Each online sportsbook has different methods and processes for cashing out money if you’re successful betting. It’s normal for withdrawals to take longer than deposits, but the money is typically received within a couple days.
Home Field Advantage
For a state with 6.8 million residents, Indiana packs a serious punch when it comes to sports betting. Indiana’s love affair with sports is represented in two of the most iconic sports films of all-time: Rudy and Hoosiers. While professional sports teams in Indianapolis have passionate followings, the Hoosier State is absolutely crazy for college basketball, and it’s a hub for major events—Indianapolis gets the Final Four every five years, the Super Bowl came to town in 2012, and of course the annual Indy 500.
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ImageNFL – Indianapolis Colts: The Colts were something of a laughingstock when they moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984, making the playoffs in just one of their first 11 seasons. But thanks to great quarterbacks like Jim Harbaugh, Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck, the Colts made the playoffs 16 times in 19 seasons between 1995 and 2014, winning one Super Bowl in the process. Even in leaner times, the expectations are high. Meanwhile no league attracts sports betting action like the NFL, making the Colts a wagering staple in Indiana.
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ImageNBA – Indiana Pacers: The Pacers are among the NBA’s more underrated franchises, making the playoffs with regularity since joining the league in 1976, and reaching at least the Eastern Conference Finals eight times. No, they don’t have an NBA title. Yes, the glory years with Reggie Miller were long ago. But the Pacers are always competitive, they always have a passionate fan base, and they always play a key role in providing markets for sports bettors.
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ImageWNBA – Indiana Fever: While WNBA teams aren’t usually popular bets, the addition of the sensation Caitlin Clark in the league has changed that. Since joining the Fever, Clark’s presence has increased television ratings and sportsbook handles. Indiana sports fans love to bet over on Clark’s player props.
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ImageNCAA – Indiana Hoosiers: Did we mention that Indiana loves its college basketball? That’s especially true when it comes to the Hoosiers, even though it’s been a while since IU contended for the national crown. Since the 2011-2012 season, IU has only recorded one year under .500, but since the 2015-2016 season, the Hoosiers haven’t gotten past the 2nd round of the March Madness tournament.
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ImageNCAA – Purdue Boilermakers: Although Purdue’s men’s basketball team has never won a National Championship, it’s had some dominant seasons including last year when the Boilermakers went 34-5, but lost to UConn in the National Championship game. The Boilermakers lost standout Zach Edey to the NBA draft, but bettors have grown accustomed to them consistently having winning seasons despite losing talent.
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ImageNCAA – Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Notre Dame is better known as a football school, but it's women’s basketball team has two National Titles (2001 & 2018) under its belt and has played in 6 National Championship games since 2011. On the gridiron, the Fighting Irish haven’t had more than four losses in a season since 2016. Notre Dame has produced some of the NFL’s best players of all-time including Joe Montana, Paul Hornung, Jerome Bettis, and Tim Brown.
USA Betting News
Information about finding gambling disorder treatment providers in Indiana can be found at the Indiana Gambling Commission’s (IGC) website (https://www.in.gov/igc/problemgamblinghelp/). The IGC also created a section of its website labeled “Eligibility for Free Treatment” which currently says “coming soon.” The IGC also offers a confidential problem gambling hotline (1-800-9–WITH-IT), a self assessment, and several other problem gambling resources. It’s also worth noting that every casino in Indiana allows players to voluntarily self exclude, which means they can ban themselves from that casino for a year or a lifetime.