Indiana Sports Betting Online
The best Indiana sportsbooks offer a safe and legal sports betting experience for customers 21 or older. The first mobile Indiana sportsbooks launched in 2019 and many more have come on board since. On this page, readers will find a full list of legal betting apps, retail sportsbooks at casinos, and other information needed to bet online in Indiana.
- Best Online Betting Sites
- Indiana Mobile Sports Betting
- Indiana Sports Books
- Legal Sports Betting Indiana
- Missouri Sports Betting Online
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Where to Bet On Sports in Indiana
- Mobile Sportsbooks in Indiana
- BetMGM
Casinos, racetracks and off-track betting parlors (OTBs) have been approved to open retail and online sportsbooks if licensed by the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC). Most such facilities have wisely chosen to take advantage of the opportunity and now hold sports betting licenses.
The state has approved the construction of twelve sportsbooks at casinos and three at OTB locations. Additionally, each approved license holder may operate up to three individual mobile sportsbooks (also known as “skins”).
This page will provide a continuously-updated list of Indiana sportsbooks along with other information such as launch dates, operating hours and so on as it becomes known. We’ll start with a list of online sportsbooks and follow that with a look at each retail sportsbook.
Mobile Sportsbooks in Indiana
Update: Mobile sports betting is now live in Indiana. DraftKings and BetRivers were approved to go live on October 3rd, 2019 and now offer online betting across the state. FanDuel followed suit less than a month later and BetAmerica came online in the final days of 2019. BetMGM and PointsBet joined the party in early 2020.
Under Indiana sports betting law, each licensee may partner with third-party service providers to operate up to three online sportsbooks. In this manner, experienced providers such as DraftKings and FanDuel may partner with land-based sportsbooks for access to the Indiana market.
The law in Indiana encouraged many applicants, giving bettors no shortage of choice. Reasonable license fees ($100K) and a 9.5% tax rate make Indiana an attractive market for sports betting operators.
The IGC oversees mobile betting in Indiana and has issued licenses to numerous sportsbook apps to date. Most of the big names in online betting are either already active in Indiana or will be soon. With each licensee allowed to operate up to three skins, there will be no shortage of slots for experienced providers to enter the Indiana betting market.
DraftKings Indiana
- Website: www.draftkings.com
- IGC Status: Approved; now offering mobile betting in Indiana
- Partnered with: Ameristar East Chicago
DraftKings is partnered with Ameristar East Chicago to offer online betting in Indiana. After receiving a license from the Indiana Gaming Commission and approval to launch mobile betting, DraftKings Sportsbook went live in October 2019.
Now, DraftKings offers a full menu of mobile betting to Hoosier State residents and visitors. This includes standard pre-game wagers, in-play betting and special promotions for mobile and desktop users alike.
DraftKings will likely emerge as one of the dominant mobile betting apps in Indiana given its massive success in New Jersey. Additionally, DraftKings will benefit from name recognition and an established userbase due to its previous operations as one of the country’s two leading daily fantasy sites.
BetRivers Indiana
- Website: www.betrivers.com
- IGC Status: Approved; now offering mobile betting in Indiana
- Partnered with: French Lick Resort
Rush Street Interactive holds a sports wagering license in Indiana and has been approved to work in partnership with French Lick Resort. BetRivers Indiana launched mobile betting in Indiana in October 2019 on the same day DraftKings went live.
Parent company Rush Street Gaming operates a small chain of casinos across Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York in addition to running mobile betting sites under the BetRivers.com banner through its online-focused subsidiary Rush Street Interactive.
FanDuel Sportsbook Indiana
- Website: www.fanduel.com
- IGC Status: Approved; live in Indiana as of 22 October 2019
- Partnered with: Blue Chip Casino and Belterra Casino Resort
FanDuel parent company Betfair Interactive US was granted a sports wagering vendor license on August 8th of 2019 and received the green light to begin mobile betting two months later.
Just like DraftKings, FanDuel benefits from name recognition and a database of fantasy sports customers it can leverage to get a quick start in Indiana. Over in New Jersey, FanDuel has taken the lead as the most popular online sportsbook in terms of revenue and will be looking to do the same in Indiana.
FanDuel’s partnerships with Blue Chip Casino and Belterra Resort derive from a larger agreement FanDuel reached with Boyd Gaming in 2018. Under that agreement, the two companies have a deal in place to partner on sports betting in states where Boyd Gaming operates casinos when favorable legislation is enacted.
BetMGM
- Website: in.betmgm.com
- IGC Status: Approved; live in Indiana as of February 2020
- Partnered with: Belterra Casino Resort
BetMGM Sportsbook launched mobile betting in February 2020. In Indiana, the BetMGM license is issued to parent company Roar Digital, which was formed as a partnership between MGM Resorts International and international gaming operator GVC Holdings.
BetMGM features a slick mobile betting app and extensive coverage of sports – both in the US and abroad. Regular boosted odds promotions, cash back offers and “get more when your team scores” promos should make BetMGM an attractive option for bonus-oriented bettors.
PointsBet Indiana
- Website: https://pointsbet.com
- IGC Status: Approved; Live as of 5 March 2020
- Partnered with: Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
Australian firm PointsBet first came to the US by way of New Jersey and offers a unique type of sports betting not yet offered anywhere else. In addition to offering standard sports wagers, PointsBet also allows users to place bets that offer variable payouts based on the accuracy of the prediction.
For example, consider a point total wager on an NBA game. If you were to place a PointsBet wager on this market, you would choose not only the over or under but also choose an amount to wager per point.
Imagine placing a wager of $1 per point on the over for a game in which the total is 205 points. If you’re right, you’ll be paid $1 for every point the final score goes over 205. If the final total ends up being 220 points, you would be paid $15.
Of course, this can also go against you. Get it wrong and you’ll be losing $1 for every point under 205 that the actual total ends up being. To continue our example, imagine the actual total ends up being 190 points. In that case, you would lose $15.
The Indiana Gaming Commission issued a sports betting license to PointsBet in January 2020 and the sportsbook launched two months later.
BetAmerica Indiana
- Website: www.betamerica.com
- IGC Status: Approved; live in Indiana since December 2019
- Partnered with: Rising Star Casino
BetAmerica and parent company Churchill Downs have a partnership in place with Rising Star Casino to launch a retail sportsbook and mobile betting in Indiana. A launch date of December 30th was established by the IGC and BetAmerica went live on that date as scheduled.
Caesars Indiana
- Website: in.caesarsonline.com
- IGC Status: Approved; live in Indiana since May 2020
- Partnered with: Horseshoe Hammond and Caesars Southern Indiana
Best Online Betting Sites
Caesars Interactive serves as the online betting subdivision of Caesars Entertainment and launched statewide mobile betting in May 2020.
Bettors located in Indiana can visit in.caesarsonline.com to bet online from any desktop or mobile device or get the official app for iOS or Android. All new customers qualify for a sizable welcome bonus along with ongoing promos for regular users.
Barstool Sportsbook
- Website: https://barstoolsportsbook.com
- Mobile launch date: TBA
- IGC Status: Approved
- Partnered with: Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg & Ameristar East Chicago
Barstool Sportsbook operates as a partnership between Barstool Sports and Penn Sports Interactive. In December 2020, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg and Ameristar East Chicago rebranded their in-house sportsbooks under the Barstool Banner. The Barstool Sportsbook mobile app will launch soon to offer statewide betting.
William Hill Indiana
- Website: www.williamhill.com
- Mobile launch date: October 2020
- IGC Status: Approved
- Partnered with: Tropicana Evansville
The IGC granted William Hill a sports betting vendor license to provide technology and ongoing assistance to Tropicana Evansville. The retail sportsbook opened in September 2019 and the mobile betting app debuted a little over one year later.
William Hill a strong contender in Indiana with significant experience both online and in-person. In addition to its many years in the international market, William Hill operates 100+ sportsbooks in Nevada, Iowa, West Virginia, New Jersey and elsewhere.
BetIndiana
- Website: www.betindiana.com
- Mobile launch date: TBA
- IGC Status: Approved
- Partnered with: Majestic Star Casino
BetIndiana announced plans to offer online and mobile betting in Indiana with a press release issued in October 2019. Details are limited at this time, but the BetIndiana was approved as a sports wagering vendor in January 2020 and has a partnership agreement in place with Majestic Star Casino (soon to become Hard Rock Casino).
Unibet Indiana
- Website: www.unibet.com
- IGC Status: Approved; live in Indiana as of July 2020
- Partnered with: Horseshoe Hammond
Unibet struck a deal with Caesars Entertainment in February 2020 to partner on sports betting in certain states, including Indiana. Under the agreement, Unibet is partnered with Caesar’s Horseshoe Hammond to offer mobile betting in Indiana.
theScore
- Website: www.thescore.bet
- IGC Status: Approved; launched September 2020
- Partnered with: Ameristar East Chicago
Media-company-turned-sportsbook-operator theScore secured Indiana market access in partnership with Penn National.
We have had a chance to see what theScore.bet looks like in action since its launch in Indiana and it looks like a capable betting site. The list of sports covered is somewhat limited, but all the key US sports are in play here with pre-game and in-play betting on offer.
theScore also provides nice crossover functionality between its popular media app and the sportsbook app, offering the ability to place wagers in the sportsbook and then follow the media app for detailed live updates.
SBK Sportsbook
- IGC Status: Pending
- Partnered with: Full House Resorts (Rising Star Casino)
SBK Sportsbook is a unique betting site operated by Smarkets, which itself is an international exchange betting operator. What makes SBK different than other sportsbooks is the ability to offer much lower-than-average commissions compared to traditional betting sites by taking odds straight from the Smarkets exchange and importing them into SBK to give customers better odds.
SBK also includes a social element allowing customers to share and view tips among one another. This will allow customers to view who’s hot, who is on a winning streak and even compete against one another on leaderboards to see who really is the best at making smart picks.
Smarkets announced a partnership with Full House Resorts in September 2019.
WynnBET
- IGC Status: Pending
- Partnered with: Full House Resorts (Rising Star Casino)
WynnBET plans to enter the Indiana sports betting market soon. Wynn Resorts International has a partnership with BetBull, which will provide technology and risk management services. An early version of WynnBET launched in New Jersey as a standard online sportsbook, but the company indicates it has bigger plans in store to provide a uniquely social experience.
It’s possible, WynnBET will borrow heavily from BetBull’s social betting platform. In essence, BetBull is what you would get if you combined a regular online sportsbok with Facebook or Twitter. Every user has a custom profile, can follow other users, and share tips with one another.
The WynnBET path into Indiana comes through a series of two separate partnerships. First was a partnership reached between BetBull and Wynn Resorts International reached in October 2018. Under that agreement, Wynn Resorts acquired a 22.5% stake in BetBull. Second was a partnership reached between Wynn Resorts International and Full House Resorts one year later.
FOX Bet Indiana
FOX Bet is an up-and-coming betting app that is the product of a partnership between The Stars Group and FOX Sports. The two joined forces in May and to create a sportsbook that will have the key advantages of experience, technical know-how, brand name recognition and widespread reach courtesy of FOX Sports.
In Indiana, FOX Bet has two primary pathways into the market. A deal struck between The Stars Group and Eldorado Resorts could see FOX Bet launch in partnership with Tropicana Evansville. An alternate deal reached between Penn National and The Stars Group could also see FOX Bet launch in partnership with Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg.
888Sport
888Sport is one of the world’s largest mobile sport betting and online gambling operators. The company has a long track record and comes to Indiana with a wealth of experience.
In a press release, 888Sport announced it plans to launch in Indiana in 2021. 888Sport is partnered with Harrah’s Hoosier Park to offer mobile betting.
Retail Sportsbooks in Indiana
All of Indiana’s commercial casinos have applied for (and received) licenses to launch sportsbooks on casino property.
That leaves us with twelve casinos and three OTBs that will play host to sportsbooks in Indiana.
Ameristar parent company Penn National launched a retail sportsbook in September 2019 and has several options for running a mobile sportsbook as well. Ameristar may operate an online sportsbook under its own name and/or mobile betting in partnership with DraftKings, theScore, FOX Bet and PointsBet.
Address:
777 Ameristar Blvd.
East Chicago, IN 46312
Belterra Casino parent company Boyd Gaming has a partnership in place with FanDuel to operate sportsbooks in Indiana and elsewhere. FanDuel Sportsbook at Belterra is now open for business.
Boyd Gaming has not announced its online betting plans, but we can expect to see FanDuel launching a mobile sportsbook in partnership with one of the Boyd properties.
Address:
777 Belterra Dr.
Florence, IN 47020
Blue Chip Casino in Indiana opened a FanDuel-managed sportsbook in early September, 2019. The new FanDuel Sportsbook measures a little over 2,700 square feet and comes fully equipped with five betting windows, 22 TV screens and two sports tickers.
Address:
777 Blue Chip Dr.
Michigan City, IN 46360
The sportsbook at French Lick Resort can be found at the south end of the casino near the bar and Player Service area. Players can visit one of three betting windows from 9 AM to 11 PM daily or use any of the eight self-service kiosks 24 hours a day.
On the resort side, French Lick houses two historic hotels, three golf courses, two spas and a recently-added sports bar as a part of a $17 million addition.
Address:
8670 West State Road 56
French Lick, IN 47432
Harrah’s Hoosier Park is another Caesars property and launched The Book in September 2019. The Book is now open seven days a week and can be found near the Terrace Showroom. A high-def television wall and luxury seating throughout the sportsbook promise a comfortable experience for all visitors.
Address:
4500 Dan Patch Cir.
Anderson, IN 46013
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg launched a retail sportsbook in September 2019. Guests can find the sportsbook inside Hops House 99.
When it comes to an online sportsbook, Hollywood Casino has options there as well. Penn National has forged relationships with numerous providers including William Hill, DraftKings, PointsBet, theScore and FOX Bet. Look for any or all of those to launch off the Hollywood Indiana license.
Address:
777 Hollywood Blvd.
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
Indiana Grand received an upgrade over the summer in anticipation of sports betting and has since launched a retail sportsbook. We can also expect to see Indiana Grand take advantage of online betting, although details on those plans are also limited at present.
Address:
4300 N. Michigan Rd.
Shelbyville, IN 46176
Rising Star Casino is partnered with Churchill Downs Inc., parent company of BetAmerica. This resulted in the opening of a retail sportsbook under the BetAmerica name in November 2019. The partnership with Churchill Downs will also likely result in the launch of BetAmerica Mobile Sportsbook in Indiana at some point.
Address:
777 Rising Star Dr.
Rising Sun, Indiana 47040
The Book at Caesars Southern Indiana features large-screen TVs and sports betting action seven days a week. An online sportsbook managed by Caesars Southern Indiana is also likely in the works, although details are limited at this time. In other states, Caesars operates mobile betting apps under its own name and in partnership with other providers.
Indiana Mobile Sports Betting
Address:
11999 Casino Center Dr.
Elizabeth, IN 47117
The Horseshoe Hammond sportsbook dedicates 5,300 square feet to what it calls “a best-in-class sports wagering experience.” With an HD LED video wall, chairs, lounge areas and ten betting windows, it is hard to argue with that description.
Address:
777 Casino Center Dr.
Hammond, IN 46320
Tropicana Evansville partnered with William Hill to open an in-person sportsbook in September 2019. The sportsbook is open seven days a week, features HD TVs throughout the venue, and a full service bar.
Address:
421 NW Riverside Dr.
Evansville, IN 47708
Majestic Star Casino was the last to join the list of Indiana casinos with sports betting licenses, leading to some speculation it would forgo applying for a sportsbook. The two Majestic Star Casino boats are slated to move inland and rebrand as a singular Hard Rock Casino in Gary.
That plan is still in place, but it seems Majestic Star parent company Spectacle Entertainment will be wasting no time adding sports betting to the menu. In September 2019, the Indiana Gaming Commission issued a sports wagering license to Majestic Star.
Other plans for the new casino include the construction of a $300 million facility complete with 225,000 square feet of gaming space, 2,000 slot machines, a Hard Rock Café, Hard Rock Live music venue and much more.
Current Address:
1 Buffington Harbor Drive
Gary, IN 46406
Caesars Entertainment operates four off-track betting (OTB) locations in Indiana and will install sportsbooks at three of them. The fourth, Winner’s Circle Indiana Grand, is located inside a different Caesars property that will already have a sportsbook.
Details on how sports betting will work at each of the Winner’s Circle OTBs are lacking as of today, but Caesars Entertainment already has the license it needs to host sportsbooks at each.
Winner’s Circle Clarksville Address:
650 Eastern Blvd.
Clarksville, IN 47129
20 N. Pennsylvania St. Suite 2
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Winner’s Circle New Haven Address:
1304 Minnich Rd.
New Haven, Indiana 46774
There is also the question of Indiana’s sole tribal casino, Four Winds South Bend.
Four Winds operates as a Class II casino, which precludes the casino from offering sports wagering.
However, Four Winds officials have reportedly asked Gov. Holcomb to negotiate the casino being able to add sports betting and table games. Four Winds may eventually get involved at some point.
Address:
3000 Prairie Ave
South Bend, IN 46614
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There will always be something new to discover, and we want you to have a leg up on fellow sports bettors.
How sports betting works in Indiana
Indiana is officially a sports betting state. In September 2019, the Hoosier State joined the growing fraternity of states to offer legal wagering on sports to its inhabitants. The law which legalized sports betting, H 1015, provided that licensed casino properties could open online versions of their sportsbooks.
In October 2019, Indiana online betting apps launched. Now there are 10 different apps to choose from, with even more on the way.
How online sports betting works in Indiana
Online sports betting is a relatively new experience for many US sports bettors. However, Americans are quickly discovering the advantages of playing online over traipsing to the nearest retail book.
Advantages of online sports betting
- Convenience: Obviously, the ability to bet sports from anywhere in the state is a valuable feature for online sports bettors. Instead of having to negotiate location and traffic concerns, sports bettors can wager from the comfort of their own homes, coffee shops, or a favorite sports bar. For the many states surrounding Indiana that don’t have sports betting, being able to drive over the state line and bet is a huge perk.
- Flexibility: Alongside its convenience, online sports betting offers increased flexibility over retail operations. Technological superiority allows online sportsbooks to offer dozens of wagers on every single game. Some online books even allow their players to propose their own wagers. It’s just not possible to do the same thing at many retail sportsbooks.
- Promotions: Online sportsbooks often have promotional offers that cannot be found in retail sportsbooks. These offers usually promise some extra cash or prizes in return for playing on a particular sportsbook.
How to signup to an Indiana online sportsbook
In order to get started with an Indiana online sportsbook, a player must first proceed through the registration process. Though the process varies a bit from book to book, they all usually end up in the same place and with the same information.
Indiana Sports Books
The homepage of the site will come with a prominent link to sign up. A simple click will take the player through the site’s registration wizard.
Most registrations break into a couple of pages of data entry. The data that each sportsbook wants will usually consist of the following:
- Name – common name is usually fine, but occasionally, a book asks for legal
- Address
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Social Security number – either the entire number or the last four digits
- Username
- Password
The registration process may also ask the player to ask and answer some security questions. These prompts usually involve mildly personal questions, such as a mother’s maiden name or the name of a first pet.
The answers given serve as an extra layer of protection and password recovery. However, just to be safe, make sure to use an uncommon password with special characters and symbols.
Before submitting a registration, make sure to check for any sign-up bonuses and/or bonus codes available. We at INBetting will keep you up to date, but make sure to check back so as not to miss out on free money or other offers.
Indiana online sports betting quick questions
Can I bet on sports in Indiana?
Yes. There are several sportsbooks active in the Hoosier State right now. The online sportsbooks live in Indiana are:
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- BetMGM
- BetRivers
- PointsBet
- BetAmerica
- Caesars
- Unibet
- theScore Bet
- William Hill
Is it legal?
Yes. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed H 1015 into law in May 2019, making sports betting legal in Indiana.
Can I bet on my phone?
Yes, there are numerous sports betting apps available for download or both Android and iOS/iPhone.
Can I bet on sports when I am outside of Indiana?
No. It is against both state and federal law to place a wager from outside state lines. Every online sportsbook employs geolocation software to verify each player’s location. If you cannot prove that you are physically inside Indiana, you will not be able to wager.
How Indiana legalized online sports betting
Indiana’s venture into the online sports betting world came as a slight surprise. Obviously, the state is not hostile to gaming, with 14 casinos operating inside the state.
Still, the Hoosier State mostly appeared from nowhere to legalize sports betting in May 2019. Gov. Holcomb received H 1015 from the Indiana legislature and signed it on May 8, 2020, the last day of eligibility to do so.
Indiana’s journey was only marked by one major point of contention. State Rep. Bill Smaltz, a powerful committee chairman, strenuously objected to online sports betting’s inclusion in the bill.
His concerns stemmed from a belief that online sports betting suffers from a lack of adequate consumer protections. His influence managed to strip the provision out of the law, albeit briefly. A conference committee later reversed the decision. So, the law passed to the governor with online sports betting.
As is the case with most gaming activities in the state, the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) is responsible for overseeing online sportsbooks in the state. Each licensed casino property in Indiana could apply for a license to operate an online sportsbook. All 14 did when the licensing process opened up.
Legal Sports Betting Indiana
Licenses cost $100,000, and require a $50,000 annual renewal. The state also taxes 9.5% of adjusted gross revenues from sports betting.
The new law permits wagering on most sports. However, bets on esports or amateur athletes under 18 are not allowed.
The IGC is also going to maintain a strong grip on live betting offerings at Indiana online sportsbooks. The commission will also monitor and restrict data sources as it deems fit.
How to choose an online sportsbook in Indiana
In terms of which site to trust, the choice boils down to how transparently the site operates.
The IGC oversees all regulated sites in Indiana. That should be reason enough to avoid offshore sportsbooks, which do not have a regulatory body watching over the industry to ensure everything is on the up and up.
Furthermore, at regulated Indiana betting sites, it should be easy for players to contact site personnel and resolve issues. A site should have people on call around the clock to handle problems as they arise, even if they are minor and easy to fix.
Sites should also have a wide variety of deposit and withdrawal methods. There should be plenty of information about how the site does business.
Finally, any site worth the time will have resources available to help problem gamblers with their addiction. Restricting or canceling one’s account should be possible with very little effort.
Generally speaking, a legit online sports betting site is as safe as any other online merchant. Though it is wise to verify, they are as trustworthy as they need to be. Anything less is a deathblow to the business, anyway.
Indiana sportsbooks vs. apps
Any discussion of online sportsbooks will include mentions of both online sportsbooks and apps. Those unfamiliar with the topic may wonder about the differences between the two.
Online sportsbooks typically refer to browser-based sportsbooks you can access on your desktop or laptop. While you may be able to look at a sportsbook’s website on your phone, you need to download the sports betting app in order to actually wager. That is because the app needs to credibly verify your location to confirm you are betting within the sate.
So, it is quite common for an online sportsbook to release three separate versions of its software. There will be a browser-based version that anyone can access as well as dedicated versions for Android and iOS devices.
It is sometimes possible that one version might be more or less robust than its counterparts. There may be sports or bet types offered that do not appear elsewhere.
However, by and large, there is no risk playing on either an online sportsbook or app. All things equal, they are the same.
Online sports betting promotions
As we mentioned earlier, one of the main advantages of online sports betting over retail sports betting is the prevalence of bonus opportunities and promotions. Online sportsbooks understand that competition is much fiercer in the virtual space since competitors are only a few button presses away.
So, books offer bonuses to entice players to give their sites a try. A healthy bonus structure can also be key to retaining existing clients.
Types of online sportsbook bonuses
Attracting new customers is an ongoing process for online sportsbooks. There are several types of bonuses that online sportsbooks use to aid this process.
- No-deposit bonuses: One of the most common types of bonuses that new players can use is the no-deposit bonus. These bonuses are found money. The sportsbook pledges to award a certain amount of cash to any player who signs up. These offers vary from site to site, both in dollar amount and in restriction. In some cases, the app is literally giving away free money that can be withdrawn immediately.
- Loyalty Rewards: The main reason why sportsbooks are less likely to have rewards programs is the very nature of sports betting. Like poker, sportsbooks derive their income in an ancillary manner to the action of sports betting, rather than directly from it. Ideally, a sportsbook can balance out its bets on either side of the action for a particular contest. Then, it takes its profit from the vig it charges all the bettors.
- Free bets: A free bet is something of a misnomer. This type of bonus yields a free wager for the player. However, it’s not free because it usually doesn’t come without some sort of exchange. Most of the time, an online sportsbook will award a free bet as compensation for losing a specific wager. So, free bets are equivalent in value to whatever losing bet preceded them. They’re more like a buy one, get one promotion than strictly a free bet.
- Deposit bonus: Another common type of bonus is the deposit bonus. This type of bonus, which is sometimes called a match bonus, commits the online sportsbook to match a certain percentage of a player’s deposit in their account. This match percentage varies wildly, going from a 10% match all the way to a dollar-for-dollar scenario. First deposits tend to be subject to more lucrative bonuses, with hundreds of dollars in bonus money possible.
One last thing to remember is that some deposit bonuses need a promotional code in order to activate. Make sure to check the promotional ad and copy the code into the appropriate box when making a deposit.
Cash out options at Indiana sportsbooks
Cash out options are not bonuses in the strictest sense. However, they are becoming more prevalent in US online sportsbooks due to the flexibility that they provide the bettors.
A cash out option is a dynamic button that appears at the bottom of some bet slips. The button displays an ever-changing amount of money.
What the button represents is an opportunity for the player to close out his or her open bet. Instead of waiting until the end of the game, the player can settle the bet for the displayed amount.
Obviously, the sportsbook wants to close the bet at a lower payout amount, if possible. So, its motivation is fairly clear.
However, a player may consider a cash out option if he or she wants to guard against any kind of miracle losses. Sports are unpredictable, and the loss of some profit potential for a sure thing may be enticing to some bettors.
What to look for in a bonus
Online sportsbooks will invariably attempt to lure new players with their bonuses. The smart ones will always have some sort of promo running in order to keep the existing players happy, too.
In terms of which site to choose, though, the best thing to do is read the fine print. The question with any bonus should be related to how much time and effort is required to redeem the offer fully.
So, before signing up for any bonus, check the terms and conditions. If none exist or are easily found, it’s probably not a good place to play.
Pay special attention to the playthrough requirement and the time it takes to redeem the bonus. Try to get a sense about whether that much play is possible before time expires, and whether the exertion will cause personal problems with family and commitments.
Calculating the expected value of a bonus
If you’d like to analyze bonuses even deeper, read on. It is possible to determine whether a bonus is a good investment of money based only on its playthrough requirement.
Consider the following scenario:
A player wishes to deposit into an online sportsbook. He notices that the casino is offering a 100% match up to $500.
He also sees that the playthrough requirement is 20 times the bonus amount. So, were he to exercise the option fully, he would have to wager $10,000 ($500 x 20) in order to release the funds.
Now, a typical spread or totals bet has a house advantage of around 4.54%. So, over the course of that $10,000 wagering, the player could expect to lose $454.
Since the bonus amount is worth $500, the expected value of the bonus is actually $46. So, in this case, it would make sense to redeem the bonus (assuming that there’s enough time).
Now, consider this scenario:
Think about what happens, however, if the playthrough requirement is now 25 times the bonus amount. Now, assuming that he loses the same 4.54% of his playthrough requirement, he actually loses $567.50.
The maximum bonus amount never changed, it’s still $500. So, in fact, a 25x playthrough requirement would actually be a losing proposition.
Funding your account
Playing on online sportsbooks requires having money online. Thankfully, the process of getting money into an online sportsbook account is relatively painless.
Once a player has an account with the online sportsbook, a deposit could be a matter of seconds away. A simple click to the cashier, an appropriate selection among the choices of deposit options, and the entry of credit card information can be all it takes to get started.
However, players without credit cards need not despair. Most online sportsbooks feature a host of deposit options. Some of those options include:
- Credit/debit cards
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Electronic check (ACH)
- Electronic wallet
- PayPal
- NETELLER
- Skrill
- Prepaid card
- Play+
- Bank transfer
- Online bill pay
- Wire transfer
- PayNearMe
- Cash
- Transactions are possible through the partner’s cage or cashier onsite
- Check
- Cashier’s check
- Money order
Withdrawing money from an online sportsbook is almost as easy as depositing. However, most sportsbooks do not offer as many withdrawal options as deposit options. Furthermore, the sportsbook itself will often designate its preferred method of withdrawal.
Depositing FAQ
Is depositing money in an online sportsbook safe?
Assuming that the sportsbook is legal and licensed in Indiana, yes. The Indiana Gaming Commission oversees the entire industry, and has resources available in case of any disputes.
Is making a deposit secure?
Yes. It is in the interest of both the online sportsbook and the IGC to ensure that there are appropriate measures in place to combat hacking and other cybercrime.
Can I deposit any amount that I want?
Every online sportsbook will limit the amounts available for deposit. These limits will exist for both daily and monthly timeframes. However, most players can get their limits changed if they communicate with the personnel at the sportsbook.
Can I deposit from out of state?
Yes. Most online sportsbooks will allow you to make deposits from outside the state lines.
However, you will not be able to wager on anything until you are physically within Indiana. Sportsbooks use verification software to ensure that players are in compliance on this issue.
How long does it take to deposit?
In most cases, depositing only takes a minute or two. However, the sportsbook will have to verify your method of deposit before anything can proceed. If there are issues with the method you choose, it could cause unnecessary delays.
How long does it take for my withdrawal to reach me?
It depends on the method. Some sportsbooks can make a withdrawal happen quite quickly if it’s an e-check or an e-wallet.
However, many sportsbooks prefer to send deposits to the player’s mailing address in the form of a check. In those cases, a wait of a week or two is not unusual.
Can I withdraw anytime I want?
Generally, yes. However, if there are any holds on money you’ve deposited, then those funds will not be eligible for withdrawal.
Sports/Indiana teams you can bet on
Most major sports are available for wagering in Indiana. Both professional and collegiate events can accept a bet in the Hoosier State.
The only significant exceptions to this rule are for esports and amateur athletes under 18. Indiana law does not permit esport betting, and sportsbooks have to leave the kids alone.
Here is a partial list of sports that player might see at Indiana online sportsbooks:
- Australian-rules football
- Baseball
- NBA
- NCAA basketball
- Cricket
- Darts
- Fighting
- Boxing
- Mixed martial arts
- NFL
- NCAA football
- Golf
- Hockey
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Tennis
The only professional football team in Indiana is the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. The guys in blue and white have an exceptionally-strong hold over the northern part of the state.
The Chicago Bears also garner a lot of Hoosier attention. Chicago’s proximity to Indiana guarantees that Chicago sports teams will always be adopted by Indiana residents. The same goes for the Cincinnati Bengals.
In the southern part of the state, Indiana’s tastes run a bit differently. People are much more interested in the Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball team than a football game. You could argue Indiana is the absolute heart of college basketball in the US.
Live/In-play betting
Live betting is quickly becoming a staple of online sports betting in the US. Also called in-play wagering, live betting revolves around wagering options that occur during the course of a match or game in progress.
Almost by definition, live betting options are proposition bets. They settle according to partial game results or due to factors ancillary to the game’s outcome.
In-game wagering allows a sportsbook to expand from the typical five to ten options for betting on each contest. Instead, it is now possible to offer dozens of wagers on a single game.
Typically, live betting falls into one of three categories of events. The first type of live wager poses a question about the outcome of a certain game period. So, a bet might be about the score at the end of the first quarter, or which team will “win” the first half.
Another type of live bet pertains to the possibility that a player or team will achieve a certain milestone during the game. So, an Indiana online sportsbook might ask whether T.Y. Hilton will reach 100 receiving yards or whether Jacoby Brissett will throw three touchdown passes.
IN sports betting starter kit
Of course, many people in Indiana will be completely new to sports betting, much less the online version of it. That’s fine. With just a bit of study, anyone can have fun placing a few bucks on their favorite team.
Sports betting comes with an array of betting types that may seem confusing at first. Here are the most common types of betting that new bettors may encounter:
Missouri Sports Betting Online
- Point spreads
- Moneylines
- Totals (over/under)
- Futures
- Propositions
- Parlays
- Teasers
- Pleasers
- Round robins
Tips and tricks for new sports bettors
With any new endeavor, there is a learning curve. Fortunately, many have blazed the trail before and have shared their knowledge.
Things to do that will improve results:
- Pick one game as your primary area of expertise. Don’t try to be a jack of all trades.
- Learn the chosen game inside and out. Focus not only on which teams are good, but also on why they are good.
- Determine which statistics strongly correlate with various bets. For instance, the pace of play in a game can provide big clues about the outcome of totals bets, because faster games tend to score more points.
- Use online resources effectively. Find a good win probability calculator and/or other ways to crunch the numbers.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Don’t follow the crowd or pundits. Even though both groups may be correct, sports are renowned for the unpredictability. Besides, a heavy favorite is unlikely to pay out very much.
- Don’t chase losses. The sting of one lost bet is always less than the sting of two bets gone. Losing the first bet can also affect one’s judgment and mindset – in poker, players refer to this condition as “going on tilt.” Don’t go on tilt.
- Try to avoid betting longshots. Most of the time, they’re longshots for a reason. Even though they have a chance of an outsized payout, the oddsmakers know that the chance is quite low.
- Bet smart. Don’t put money at risk that you cannot afford to lose. Don’t play if you’re under the influence.
Most of all, try to remember that sports betting is supposed to be fun. So, if it’s not, then something is off.
Sports betting glossary
Like many things, sports betting comes with its own set of terms and lingo. Here is a handy guide so that there’s no more confusion.
- Futures: A type of wager on an end-of-season or cumulative event. Common futures bets are straight-odds wagers on teams to win championships or players to win annual awards.
- In-game wagering: Proposition wagers that take place during the course of a game. They tend to involve either the results of a given time period within the game, or statistical milestones that players or teams may achieve during the contest.
- Leg: A portion of a parlay. Every leg in a parlay must be correct in order for the parlay to pay out.
- Line: A shorthand term for the point spread
- Live betting: Another term for in-game betting.
- Moneyline: A type of wager in which players receive designated payouts for correctly predicting the eventual winner of a contest.
- Moving the line: A sportsbook moves the line when it adjusts the point spread on a particular contest. As wagers come in, sportsbooks try to balance the action on each side of the bet. An imbalance on wagers creates an unfavorable situation for the book, so the oddsmakers will change the line in order to encourage more wagering on the weaker side of the bet.
- Parlays: A parlay bet is a combination bet in which the player wagers on the likelihood of two events occurring. Each event, known as a leg, must win in order to pay out. The increased risk associated with parlays is countered by their increased payouts.
- Pleaser: A type of parlay in which the sportsbook adjusts the line in its own favor, but the payout is increased.
- Point spread: A sportsbook’s estimated margin of victory for a game or match. Players bet whether the favorite will exceed the margin, or the underdog will lose by fewer points or win outright.
- Propositions: Wagers on events peripheral to the outcome of the game at hand. Propositions, or “prop bets,” are often the type of wager involved in a dare, where one party is challenged to complete an unusual task. Almost every live bet is a prop bet.
- Round robin: A group of parlays combined into a single bet. Unlike its constituent parts, it is not necessary for every part of a round robin to win in order to pay out.
- Teaser: A type of parlay in which the sportsbook adjusts the line in the bettors’ favor, but the payout is reduced.
- Totals: A sports bet based upon the total combined amount of points or goals scored by both teams in a match. The sportsbook estimates the total (the over/under), and players wager whether the actual total will be above or below the estimate.