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Indiana Casinos Prepare to Launch Legalized Sports Betting This September

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 08 August 2019

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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A new state law that was approved this spring will allow sports betting to start as early as September 1. Bets can be placed on dozens of collegiate, professional, and international events.

Every one of Indiana’s thirteen state-licensed casinos and the three off-track betting parlors are already gearing up to start on-site sports wagering. Casinos expect to have started taking bets before the start of the NFL season on September 5. They also prepare to launch their online betting apps, although those may not be fully operational before the end of the fall.

In late May, the Indiana Gaming Commission said that even though it is working toward that goal, it might not be ready for sports betting by September 1.

Caesars Entertainment will have areas dedicated to sports wagering at its Hammond casino, near Chicago, as well as at its other two casinos near Louisville, Kentucky and near Indianapolis. Their regional president Dan Nita stated that “a quick start” will help the company gain an advantage and attract more gamblers to its Hammond casino until sports betting becomes available in Illinois.

There is definitely a first-mover advantage, and there is also knowing that the NFL football season is the most popular sport to wager on.

said Dan Nita, regional president of Caesars Entertainment.

The timing of it makes sense for us to get up and running as expeditiously as possible.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for sports betting to start in Iowa with its decision last year, the state is looking forward to becoming the 11th one that would allow sports wagering.

Indiana’s casinos are clustered along the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, which is why these operators also see an opportunity to make headway with bettors from Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky, which still have not legalized sports betting.

Sports wagering in general leads to slim profit margins for casinos and an Indiana legislative report demonstrates that the state would only collect around $13 million a year in revenue from a 9.5% tax on the sports bets winnings of the casinos. This is a vast difference compared to the $430 million in wagering taxes that were collected from the casinos for slot machines and table games such as blackjack during the past year.

Due to competition from Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and tribal casinos, Indiana’s casinos have seen a decline in wagering over the past decade, which is why they do not wish to miss out on the edge that comes with sports betting.

Indiana law and regulations are going to allow sports wagering by people 21 or older at casinos or by mobile devices. The law requires bettors to have registered with a casino in the state. However, the online apps are only allowed to operate within state borders, which means Chicago residents should cross into Indiana if they wish to place a bet via their cellphone.

So far, the Indiana casino companies have not set dates for the start of mobile wagering. Such a step will certainly provide a major boost to sports wagering, especially considering the gaming commission’s projections that around two-thirds of wagers will be placed via smartphones or online. That figure could go even higher, considering how 80% of sports bets are placed this way in New Jersey. How things would go for Indiana remains to be seen during the next season.