Online Betting in Indiana
It’s been a long road getting online betting in Indiana approved, but it’s finally happened. In July 2019, Indiana legalized online sports betting. At present, just three sites are available to gamblers in Indiana – DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook and BetRivers. However, a half-dozen applications are currently before the Indiana Gaming Commission. As such, we expect this situation will change quickly over the coming months.
DraftKings was the first sportsbook to come online in Indiana. They accepted their first bet on October 3, 2019.
Indiana Sportsbook Bonuses
In Indiana, you get two types of bonuses for new sportsbook customers:
- Deposit bonuses
- Risk-free bets
These offers can be very lucrative. For instance, BetRivers Indiana offers a 100% deposit match up to $250. You get a money-doubling opportunity when you deposit anything from $20 to $250, as they’ll match your deposit dollar for dollar.
FanDuel Sportsbook & DraftKings Sportsbook have both come in with a risk-free bet. Risk-free bet is different from a free bet, even though they’re often confused with each other. With risk-free bets, you’ll get your money back if your first bet misses.
Bookies in Indiana often give existing customers free bets. They can be something in the lines of “deposit $10, and we’ll give you a $10 free bet”. You can then go on to use the free bet on anything you want.
Wagering Requirements in Indiana
To some, the offer made by BetRivers Indiana seems too good to be true. If you’re wondering if there’s a catch, you’re right – there is. As you might suspect, giving away $250 with no-strings-attached isn’t a smart business strategy. If BetRivers did that, nothing would stop any gamer from taking the money and running.
But here in the Hoosier State, the bookies offer incredibly lax wagering requirements. BetRivers Indiana only requires 1x wagering the bonus amount, as does FanDuel & DraftKings with their risk-free bets. Compared to NJ online betting sites, over there, the playthrough minimums can get as high as 6x before you can cash out.
Love the Great State of Indiana!
Depositing and Withdrawing from Indiana Online Casinos
There are several easy ways to get your money onto Indiana online sportsbooks.
To start gambling online in Indiana, you’ll need to get your money online first. Below, we cover the deposit and withdrawal methods currently offered by Indiana online casinos.
Depositing on Indiana Online Casinos
- Mastercard/Visa
- ACH/eChecks
- PayPal
- FanDuel Prepaid Card
- Cash at cage
Currently, deposit options in Indiana are limited, as the Indiana Gaming Commission has only approved DraftKings, BetRivers, and FanDuel. As a result, you’ll only be able to get money online via credit card, eChecks, or PayPal.
The first two methods are convenient but create a paper trail. If privacy is an issue, PayPal is your best option. Unlike the others, the name of your sportsbook does not appear on your statement – PayPal does.
If you’re depositing on FanDuel, you also have the option of using the FanDuel Prepaid Card. You can use available funds to deposit on FanDuel at any time. At BetRivers you can do the business by depositing over the counter at French Lick Resort near the Hoosier National Forest.
Withdrawing on Indiana Online Casinos
- ACH/e-checks
- PayPal
- FanDuel Prepaid Card
- Paper check
- Cash at cage
The FanDuel Prepaid Card offers the fastest withdrawal times, with funds typically being available within an hour. Once you receive them, you can spend them at any place that accepts Discover cards. Alternatively, you withdraw them at any ATM on the NYCE or PULSE network.
Your funds will be available in your PayPal account within 48 hours. Note that this does NOT include processing time between PayPal and your bank. Echecks usually resolve within three to five business days. Paper checks will take five to seven business days to land in your mailbox.
Oh, and of course, you can go to French Lick Casino if you’re a BetRivers customer. Just ID yourself, and they’ll match it to the online account, and give the money right there at the window.
Mobile Betting Apps Indiana
All three online gambling sites naturally offer betting apps, too. BetRivers, FanDuel Sportbsboook and DraftKings Sportsbook have iOS and Android apps available for download. You can download the gambling apps directly from the bookie’s websites.
| Indiana Bookie | App | Software |
| DraftKings | Yes | iOS/Android |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Yes | iOS/Android |
| BetRivers | Yes | iOS/Android |
iOS installations are usually a walk in the park – just search for your sportsbook in the App Store. Android downloads are a bit trickier, as the Google Play Store currently does not allow real-money gaming apps. In these cases, you’ll have to get your app from the sportsbook’s website.
Sometimes, your Android phone will block downloads from third-party sources. To get around this, go into your security settings and enable downloads from “Unknown Sources.” Does that sound like too much work for you? No worries – most gaming websites work well in mobile browsers.
Bear in mind that your gaming provider will make use of geolocation. If you attempt to log on outside Indiana, it won’t allow you to place bets. This restriction is in place to comply with Indiana state law. However, be aware that near the Indiana border, your phone may pick up towers in other states. If this happens to you, connecting to wi-fi can fix this issue.
Brick and Mortar Gambling in Indiana – May 2020
A few short steps from the center of Indianapolis, you can bet on sports legally. What a time to be alive!
The legalization of sports betting in Indiana hasn’t just benefited online operators. Changes in Indiana gaming laws have also allowed brick-and-mortar casinos to add sportsbooks. Below, we’ll list off gaming establishments that have added sports betting to their offerings.
Ameristar Casino Resort – East Chicago, Indiana
Located within an easy commute of Chicago, Ameristar Casino Resort offers a sportsbook powered by DraftKings. When you aren’t tracking the status of your parlay, play some slots or dine in one of six restaurants.
Belterra Casino Resort – Florence, Indiana
Want to mix a relaxing weekend in the countryside with some gambling and sports betting? You can do that at Belterra Casino Resort. In addition to their 1,100 games, spa, and golf course, they recently opened a FanDuel-fuelled sportsbook.
With five betting windows and ten self-serve betting kiosks, you won’t have to wait long to make your picks. Then, take a seat and watch your matches unfold on a giant video screen or one of 12 TVs!
French Lick Resort and Casino – French Lick, Indiana
Indulge your love of the great outdoors and sports betting with a getaway to French Lick Resort and Casino. Located near Hoosier National Forest, this resort’s sportsbook offers the perfect way to unwind after a day of hiking.
With TVs everywhere, comfortable club chairs, and a BetRivers sports bar, your evenings will be action-packed.
Harrah’s Hoosier Park – Anderson, Indiana
Are you craving live sports betting action within easy driving distance of downtown Indy? Make the trip out to Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson. While horse racing is the focus here, it also offers slots and table games, and, of course, sports betting.
Open from 9 am on weekends until midnight, you can get in a full day of wagering if you wish. With comfy seating and a top-of-the-line television wall, you won’t want to go anywhere else.
Winner’s Circle Indianapolis – Indianapolis, Indiana
Can’t get out of Indianapolis this weekend, but want to get in some live sports betting? Pop by the Winner’s Circle in the core. Located steps from the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, it isn’t a casino, but a pub that offers sports betting.
As such, you’ll get to wager while enjoying draft beer and pub food classics. It makes for an intimate atmosphere that you simply won’t find on the casino floor.
Q&A
- Is DraftKings Sportsbook available in Indiana?
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Yes. DraftKings took its first bet in Indiana on October 3, 2019. So long as you're within state lines in Indiana, you should have no problem creating an account and on DraftKings.
- Can I bet on IU Hoosiers football on Saturdays?
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Yes, you can. Could argue Indiana's online sports gambling law is the most advanced in the country, as we're even allowed to bet even Hoosiers on Saturdays.
That's not the case in New Jersey, where you can't bet for the local college basketball or football teams like Seton Hall and Rutgers. It's a bit backwards, and we definitely think Indiana's got it right by letting everyone bet on the home team, too.
- Are betting apps available in Indiana?
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Yes. You are now free to download the FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, or BetRivers appa. As the Indiana Gaming Commission approves other online sportsbooks, more apps like William Hill should become available.
- Can I wager on sports online in Indiana if I'm from out-of-state?
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Yes, you can. You just need to be within state lines. Let's say you live in Chicago – you're free to download the software at home. However, to play, you must cross the border into Indiana. So you don't have to live in Indiana, just be physically within the state borders.
