Online Sports Betting In Indiana

Welcome to INBetting.com, the premier site for information about Indiana sports betting. You can find all the latest in news, updates, and reviews to aid your next bet.

Online Sports Betting Right now, there are 10 active online sportsbooks in Indiana. The Hoosier State is home to DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, BetAmerica, BetMGM, PointsBet, Caesars, Unibet, theScore Bet, and William Hill, which is the latest addition. These sites give Indiana players the ability to wager on single contests or parlays.

21 is the legal sports betting age in Indiana and both retail and online sports betting are allowed in the Hoosier State. Legal sports betting launched in September 2019 and the first online wagers were placed within one month of launch. Read on to find the best places to bet on sports in Indiana. MGM Entertainment is one of the most recognizable brands in casino/sports gaming around the world, and BetMGM is their official online betting platform. It’s available in many states, including New Jersey, West Virginia, Nevada, Colorado, and now Indiana. Use our BetMGM online sportsbook promo code and receive the best possible bonus offer. Sports betting at brick-and-mortar casinos and online sports betting through a mobile app or computer became legal in Indiana in 2019. This guide will break down the best sports betting sites by comparing the total number of sports and bets offered, odds, live betting features, mobile apps, educational resources, ease of use, as well as current.

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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.

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.

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.

Online Sports Betting In Indiana Casinos

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.

Betting

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?

Indiana

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

Online Sports Betting In Indiana Open

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:

Online Sports Betting In Indiana Free

  • Point spreads
  • Moneylines
  • Totals (over/under)
  • Futures
  • Propositions
  • Parlays
  • Teasers
  • Pleasers
  • Round robins

Tips and tricks for new sports bettors

Sports

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.

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  • 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.