- Indiana Sportsbook Opening Update
- Indiana Sportsbook Promos
- Indiana Sportsbook Promos
- Indiana Sportsbook Apps
- Indiana Sportsbook Online
Hollywood Casino Indiana Sportsbook This Lawrenceburg sportsbook is located in Hops House 99. The book takes wagers on basketball, football, golf, tennis, soccer, hockey, auto racing, cycling, rugby, MMA, boxing, cricket and more. Hill is launching its 143rd U.S. Sports book at Tropicana Evansville, which is owned by Eldorado Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERI), in September, pending approval by the Indiana Gaming Commission. FanDuel Sportsbook is live in Indiana! Claim our exclusive Super Bowl offer! New users who place their first bet on the Super Bowl get 55/1 odds! Download FanDuel Sportsbook today for a chance to win! Indiana Online Sports Betting @ BetRivers Sportsbook - The Best Indiana Sportsbook Experience! Live Betting & Live Streaming - Claim your bonus for SPORTS BETTING in Indiana!
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.
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
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.
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
Indiana Sportsbook Opening Update
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
Sportsbooks maintain consistent profits by offering players less than true odds on their wagers. But the 'juice' is small enough that a savvy player can find ways to temporarily turn the book's advantage on its head.
One of the most effective ways to do this, that doesn't require advanced statistical modeling, arbitrage or chasing stale lines, is by taking advantage of promotional offers.
Unfortunately, brick & mortar books don't exactly offer tons of promos. Not so online, where players can find a wealth of lucrative promos that run the gamut from free bets to deposit matches and bet protection. With Indiana now offering online sports betting, players from the Hoosier State now have plentiful opportunities to claim these offers, and by extension, rake in some extra cash.
Read on to learn all about how Indiana online sports betting sites are weaving in bonus codes, promos, and welcome packages as part of their offerings, and learn how promos work and which ones provide the best value.
Best Indiana sportsbook bonuses
$2021 Risk-Free Bet
- Use Code: HSBRF
- Competitive Pricing
- Win Big on Player, Game Props
- Most Experienced Bookmaker
$600 Risk-Free Bet
- Use Code: HSB600
- Tons of Promotions
- Fast Withdrawals and Deposits
- Good Media Integrations
Up To $1000 Risk-Free Bet
- Best Odds, Prices in Industry
- Tons of Props on 16+ Sports
- Speedy Withdrawals, Deposits
- Smooth, Sleek Design
$250 Risk-Free Bet
- +$20 No Deposit Free Bets
- Build Your Own Parlay Boost
- PayPal, Visa, ACH Banking
- Play on iOS or Android
$250 Bonus
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT. Playable only in Indiana. Must be 21+
- Easy to Obtain, Generous Bonus
- Simple Withdrawals, Deposits
- Unmatched Loyalty Program
- Excellent Teaser Pricing
What are promo codes are how are they beneficial?
Sometimes, in order to receive an offer, players must opt-in through the use of a special promo code (or bonus code). These typically take the form of a short word or phrase, and usually appear in all caps, 'WELCOME50' or 'BETNJ' being examples of what they might look like.
Sports betting promo codes are effectively coupons, except that instead of receiving a discount on a good or service, bettors win added monetary value. The most common use of a promo code is upon first registering for an online sportsbook. Most, if not all, books even integrate a promo code field into their registration forms. Here's an example of one found at BetRivers, a legal online sportsbook in Indiana: Real money online casino.
Indiana Sportsbook Promos
By entering a promo code at signup, players will earn one of the most valuable promotions they'll ever receive at a sportsbook: the welcome package. This is often worth hundreds of dollars in added value, and should not be missed. Of course, players could just use a promo code provided by the online sportsbooks. However, our sites, and sites like this, are sometimes able to provide exclusive promo codes where the bonus amount exceeds that offered to the public.
One final note: Sometimes players looking for a bonus have an 'either/or' option, meaning they can either use a promo code found on this site, or just sign up through one of the links found on this page, negating the need for a promo code. In either case, a first deposit will still generally be necessary for players to receive their full welcome package.
Indiana online sports betting bonuses: Who is eligible?
In any legal U.S. sports betting environment, there are eligibility parameters that must be adhered to, and the Indiana market is no exception. Luckily, they're not too stringent.
Before receiving any sort of bonus in your account, you must successfully complete the registration process, and in order do so you must:
- Be of legal casino gambling age: In the state of Indiana, you must be at least 21 years of age to register an account. We do realize that most forms of gambling in the state, like pari-mutuel wagering, only ask that players be 18 years old, but sports betting is linked to the state's casinos, and abide by the same age requirements.
- Prove your identity: Every account registration will be subject to a stringent verification check, put in place by the Indiana Gaming Commission. At minimum, this means supplying your full name, address, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If everything is in check, then your application will be approved and verified seconds after hitting 'Submit'.
In addition to this, remember that in order to place wagers on a licensed Indiana online sportsbook, you must be physically located in the state of Indiana, and must be able to prove as much by having your location successfully geolocated via 4G or WiFi. That is not to say you have to be located in Indiana to register an account, check lines, or make a deposit — that can be done from anywhere.
Also, there is nothing in the law stating that players that don't hold residence in Indiana are forbidden from using Indiana sites, meaning tourists to the state are free to place wagers, pending they meet the eligibility requirements.
What's the catch with bonuses offered by IN online sportsbooks?
Just like any other for-profit operation, online sportsbooks are in the business of making money. So why would they throw hundreds of dollars at new players when it's unknown if those players will stick around for more than a few bets?
In short, it's a calculated risk that the books are willing to take. Remember, bonuses aren't free money, so players can't just claim the bonus and withdraw immediately. Instead, they're going to have to give the book some action. How much action is dependent on the offer, with some books taking massive risks by enticing players with extremely easy to clear and lucrative offers, and others mitigating risk via more stringent terms and conditions.
The hope for the books is that you'll sample the product, enjoy it and stick around long after your bonus funds are unlocked. Worst case scenario, the online sportsbooks now have you in their database and can market to you via email until you specifically tell them not to.
Therefore, promotional offers act as a sort of win-win for the operator and consumer. A real-life example: BetRivers in Indiana offers an extremely generous 100% match up to $250 to all new players with a scant 1x wagering requirement. The advantage for the operator is that it got a new player to sign up, which they can now market to via other, less lucrative (but still decent) offers in the future, and who might roll the dice on games regardless if there is a promo running or not.
On the flip side, players get the opportunity to turn the house edge on its head right out of the gate and will have ample opportunity to do so again throughout their life span on the book.
Indiana online sportsbook welcome bonus offers
We're already seeing a variety of promotional offers on Indiana online sportsbooks, and based on what we've witnessed from similar (or equivalent) books in other markets, we can ascertain the full-breadth of welcome bonuses Indiana players can expect to see going forward.
Here's what to expect, with an evaluation of how generous each offer type is:
No-deposit
No-deposit bonuses are the easiest bonus types to understand. They also incur the least amount of risk on the player since, as the name implies, bettors won't have to make an upfront investment to claim this offer. The only requirement in most cases is that players successfully register an account with the online sportsbook. Do so, and the bonus is yours.
This is about as close to a handout as a bettor can expect. However, there are usually terms and conditions attached to no-deposit bonuses. For one, bettors simply cannot cash the funds out. Instead, they'll have to use them on the site. More generous books will only require that players bet the no-deposit funds one-time before cashing out, others might require a 5x or 10x playthrough, or might insist that the funds not be cashed out until a qualifying deposit is made. As always, read the fine print.
Also, no-deposit bonuses tend to be much smaller than other bonus types, ranging from a few bucks up to about $30 – $50, with the higher sums usually attached to exclusive offers found on sites like this. No-deposit bonuses also expire, and often enough, the window for players to use these funds is smaller compared to other bonus types. Typically, players will have only about a week, but sometimes up to a month or longer to meet the wagering requirements of their bonus.
Regardless of the fine print, no-deposit bonuses should never be glossed over, as it's impossible to lose money on them. Take advantage.
Free bets
Free bets are certainly one of the most common new player promos utilized by online sportsbooks, in Indiana and elsewhere. The concept is simple: bettors get to make a wager on the house, and any winnings from those wagers are immediately awarded as cash. Notice, we said 'any winnings' as the original free bet amount is not cashable.
For instance, if a player is awarded a free bet of $200, and they wager it on Houston to win the World Series at +200, they would receive $400 for a winning wager, not $600 as if they used their own funds.
Free bets are handed out in a couple of different ways:
- Matched free bets: This one is common. A player will wager a certain amount, and receive a free bet of an equal or lesser amount. For instance, a promo might award a $500 free bet if the player places a $500 wager first. Look out for this very generous promotional type when a site first launches.
- No-deposit free bets: Instead of awarding players bonus funds for registering, an online sportsbook may offer players free bet wagers. They're essentially the same thing, except free bets are almost always subject to just a 1x wagering requirement. No deposit bonuses could see 1x, but also 5x or more.
- Deposit matched free-bets: Similar to matched free bets, except the player receives a free bet just for registering. The amount of the free bet is usually low, since this option doesn't require the bettor to make any upfront wagers.
Free bets usually have some restrictions affixed to them. Primarily, players may be forced to bet only on select markets at odds greater than -200 or -300 (+200 would be OK, -400 would not). Additionally, free bets usually have expiration dates. That being said, this is still one of the better promotion types from the player perspective.
Risk-free wagers
Risk-free wagers sound great, but they're really just lesser versions of free bets. Unfortunately, as the legal U.S. industry matures, this promotional type is becoming more and more common, especially as part of new player packages.
How it works is players who make a deposit, and lose on their first wager, will receive a refund of the amount of their wager, up to a certain amount. So a $500 risk-free bet offer will award up to $500 if the bet loses. The problem here is apparent: Players who win their first bet don't receive anything (beyond their winnings of course). This lies in stark contrast to free bets, where the bet is delivered win or loss.
Risk-free wagers are still decent, but they have about half the expectation of a similarly worded free bet.
Deposit matches
Deposit matches are exceedingly popular among online casinos and are gaining headwind in the online sports betting industry as well. How these work is relatively simple: Players deposit a certain amount of money, and the book matches this amount (either fully or partially) via a bonus.
Match bonuses are easy to recognize because they always follow a similar format of 'x% up to $xxx'. For instance, if a book offers a 50% match up to $250, that means for every dollar players deposit, they'll receive 50% of that as a bonus. So a $100 deposit will yield a $50 bonus, a $500 deposit a $250 bonus, and so forth. Note that because the bonus is capped at $250, $500 dollars is the optimal amount to deposit, as deposits above $500 will yield the same $250 bonus.
How good or bad a deposit match is depends on a variety of factors. Most important is the wagering requirement, which is the number of times a player must wager their bonus before it is converted to cash. For instance, a 1x wagering requirement, like the one offered by BetRivers Indiana, is awesome, because once the bonus is wagered one time ($250 in wagers on a $250 bonus), the money can be immediately withdrawn. By contrast, DraftKings imposes a hefty 25x playthrough requirement on its $1,000 match bonus, offered to new players. That's rough.
Other factors to look out for are the match percentage, with the higher the percentage the better. The gold standard is usually between a 50 – 100% match, but some books have been known to go as high as 200%, and DraftKings Sportsbook has gone as low as 20%. The monetary cap is also important, with $500 being about average, and $1,000 exceptional. Also, be sure to check if there are expiration dates: deposit matches often expire after a certain period of time has elapsed — sometimes as short as a few days.
Super (duper) boosts
Every now and again, books will offer new players ridiculous odds on an event, like 100-1 on a team winning a game when the true odds are 1-1. Of course, the amount bettors can wager on these super boosts is usually limited to about $5, with winnings paid out in bonus wagers.
In the outlined scenario above, the new bettor will either win a $500 free bet or lose the initial $5. The pro is that players don't have to make a big bet to claim a big bonus. The downside is that they'll lose approximately half the time.
Breaking down promotions at IN online sports betting sites
In addition to welcome bonuses, Indiana online sportsbooks often offer recurring and one-off promotions to returning players. All of the promotional types utilized for welcome packages can also show up as returning player promos, as well as the following:
Cashback bonuses
This is a common one, and one loved by operators because it entices players to plunk down bets they might not otherwise make. It's also a solid benefit for bettors, who have some insurance if they lose.
How this one works is the book will advertise a wager, encouraging players to make a particular bet, like who will win Game 3 of the World Series. If the bet wins, the player gets paid as usual. However, if it loses, they'll receive a portion of their wager back as cash or a bonus bet. In this respect, cashback bonuses are pretty similar to risk-free bets, except that instead of getting 100% back (risk-free), only a portion of the losing wager is returned, say 20% or 50%.
Obviously, getting cash returned is better, but it's more common to receive the funds as a bonus, which can be wagered on most events, and where only the winnings are returned to the player.
Discounted juice
Indiana Sportsbook Promos
No one likes high vigs. Just the difference between a -110 and -115 line where the true odds are 50/50 can have a damaging impact on a player's bankroll. Luckily, some books offer promos where they actually lower the juice. Sometimes, they won't charge any juice at all.
Look out for this kind of promo during special events, like the kickoff of the NFL or NBA seasons, or even March Madness. If you see the point spreads and totals listed at -105 or +100, it means the book is actively pushing to get players to bet on these markets, and that's good news for you.
Loyalty programs and VIP bonuses
The difference between a book that offers a loyalty or VIP program versus one that doesn't can be monumental, especially for frequent players.
Take a site like BetRivers in Indiana for instance. Players earn iRush Rewards points simply for making sports bets, which can be exchanged for bonus money with a scant 1x wagering requirement. Not to mention, players that climb the loyalty tiers (also accomplished for placing wagers), will open up a bevy of goodies, including their own VIP manager, birthday gifts, special promotions, swag, free playing devices, and much more.
Another beautiful aspect of online sports betting loyalty programs is that they are often tied to brick & mortar accounts. So those points you earn for playing online? They can be spent at a partnering casino. Or the online sportsbook may simply offer to set you up with meals, entertainment packages, and rooms at one of its casino resorts, no questions asked.
Now compare this to a book that doesn't offer a loyalty program, and it's pretty evident how stark the difference is. That's not to say all loyalty programs are as good as iRush Rewards, but even mediocre loyalty programs kickback about 10% of a bettor's theoretical loss in cash, gifts, and other luxuries. Great ones may return as much as 40-50%.
Indiana offers a fair climate for sports betting operators, with very reasonable tax rates — so we expect books to respond by being more aggressive in their promotional offers and loyalty kickbacks.
Referral bonuses
Thanks to referral bonuses, players are incentivized to tell their friends about their favorite sportsbook. But telling them won't be enough, as first, the referring player must already be signed up with the book. Then, the referred bettor can point back to the referrer's username (or a uniquely generated code tied to that username) at the time they sign up.
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.
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
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.
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
Indiana Sportsbook Opening Update
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
Sportsbooks maintain consistent profits by offering players less than true odds on their wagers. But the 'juice' is small enough that a savvy player can find ways to temporarily turn the book's advantage on its head.
One of the most effective ways to do this, that doesn't require advanced statistical modeling, arbitrage or chasing stale lines, is by taking advantage of promotional offers.
Unfortunately, brick & mortar books don't exactly offer tons of promos. Not so online, where players can find a wealth of lucrative promos that run the gamut from free bets to deposit matches and bet protection. With Indiana now offering online sports betting, players from the Hoosier State now have plentiful opportunities to claim these offers, and by extension, rake in some extra cash.
Read on to learn all about how Indiana online sports betting sites are weaving in bonus codes, promos, and welcome packages as part of their offerings, and learn how promos work and which ones provide the best value.
Best Indiana sportsbook bonuses
$2021 Risk-Free Bet
- Use Code: HSBRF
- Competitive Pricing
- Win Big on Player, Game Props
- Most Experienced Bookmaker
$600 Risk-Free Bet
- Use Code: HSB600
- Tons of Promotions
- Fast Withdrawals and Deposits
- Good Media Integrations
Up To $1000 Risk-Free Bet
- Best Odds, Prices in Industry
- Tons of Props on 16+ Sports
- Speedy Withdrawals, Deposits
- Smooth, Sleek Design
$250 Risk-Free Bet
- +$20 No Deposit Free Bets
- Build Your Own Parlay Boost
- PayPal, Visa, ACH Banking
- Play on iOS or Android
$250 Bonus
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT. Playable only in Indiana. Must be 21+
- Easy to Obtain, Generous Bonus
- Simple Withdrawals, Deposits
- Unmatched Loyalty Program
- Excellent Teaser Pricing
What are promo codes are how are they beneficial?
Sometimes, in order to receive an offer, players must opt-in through the use of a special promo code (or bonus code). These typically take the form of a short word or phrase, and usually appear in all caps, 'WELCOME50' or 'BETNJ' being examples of what they might look like.
Sports betting promo codes are effectively coupons, except that instead of receiving a discount on a good or service, bettors win added monetary value. The most common use of a promo code is upon first registering for an online sportsbook. Most, if not all, books even integrate a promo code field into their registration forms. Here's an example of one found at BetRivers, a legal online sportsbook in Indiana: Real money online casino.
Indiana Sportsbook Promos
By entering a promo code at signup, players will earn one of the most valuable promotions they'll ever receive at a sportsbook: the welcome package. This is often worth hundreds of dollars in added value, and should not be missed. Of course, players could just use a promo code provided by the online sportsbooks. However, our sites, and sites like this, are sometimes able to provide exclusive promo codes where the bonus amount exceeds that offered to the public.
One final note: Sometimes players looking for a bonus have an 'either/or' option, meaning they can either use a promo code found on this site, or just sign up through one of the links found on this page, negating the need for a promo code. In either case, a first deposit will still generally be necessary for players to receive their full welcome package.
Indiana online sports betting bonuses: Who is eligible?
In any legal U.S. sports betting environment, there are eligibility parameters that must be adhered to, and the Indiana market is no exception. Luckily, they're not too stringent.
Before receiving any sort of bonus in your account, you must successfully complete the registration process, and in order do so you must:
- Be of legal casino gambling age: In the state of Indiana, you must be at least 21 years of age to register an account. We do realize that most forms of gambling in the state, like pari-mutuel wagering, only ask that players be 18 years old, but sports betting is linked to the state's casinos, and abide by the same age requirements.
- Prove your identity: Every account registration will be subject to a stringent verification check, put in place by the Indiana Gaming Commission. At minimum, this means supplying your full name, address, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If everything is in check, then your application will be approved and verified seconds after hitting 'Submit'.
In addition to this, remember that in order to place wagers on a licensed Indiana online sportsbook, you must be physically located in the state of Indiana, and must be able to prove as much by having your location successfully geolocated via 4G or WiFi. That is not to say you have to be located in Indiana to register an account, check lines, or make a deposit — that can be done from anywhere.
Also, there is nothing in the law stating that players that don't hold residence in Indiana are forbidden from using Indiana sites, meaning tourists to the state are free to place wagers, pending they meet the eligibility requirements.
What's the catch with bonuses offered by IN online sportsbooks?
Just like any other for-profit operation, online sportsbooks are in the business of making money. So why would they throw hundreds of dollars at new players when it's unknown if those players will stick around for more than a few bets?
In short, it's a calculated risk that the books are willing to take. Remember, bonuses aren't free money, so players can't just claim the bonus and withdraw immediately. Instead, they're going to have to give the book some action. How much action is dependent on the offer, with some books taking massive risks by enticing players with extremely easy to clear and lucrative offers, and others mitigating risk via more stringent terms and conditions.
The hope for the books is that you'll sample the product, enjoy it and stick around long after your bonus funds are unlocked. Worst case scenario, the online sportsbooks now have you in their database and can market to you via email until you specifically tell them not to.
Therefore, promotional offers act as a sort of win-win for the operator and consumer. A real-life example: BetRivers in Indiana offers an extremely generous 100% match up to $250 to all new players with a scant 1x wagering requirement. The advantage for the operator is that it got a new player to sign up, which they can now market to via other, less lucrative (but still decent) offers in the future, and who might roll the dice on games regardless if there is a promo running or not.
On the flip side, players get the opportunity to turn the house edge on its head right out of the gate and will have ample opportunity to do so again throughout their life span on the book.
Indiana online sportsbook welcome bonus offers
We're already seeing a variety of promotional offers on Indiana online sportsbooks, and based on what we've witnessed from similar (or equivalent) books in other markets, we can ascertain the full-breadth of welcome bonuses Indiana players can expect to see going forward.
Here's what to expect, with an evaluation of how generous each offer type is:
No-deposit
No-deposit bonuses are the easiest bonus types to understand. They also incur the least amount of risk on the player since, as the name implies, bettors won't have to make an upfront investment to claim this offer. The only requirement in most cases is that players successfully register an account with the online sportsbook. Do so, and the bonus is yours.
This is about as close to a handout as a bettor can expect. However, there are usually terms and conditions attached to no-deposit bonuses. For one, bettors simply cannot cash the funds out. Instead, they'll have to use them on the site. More generous books will only require that players bet the no-deposit funds one-time before cashing out, others might require a 5x or 10x playthrough, or might insist that the funds not be cashed out until a qualifying deposit is made. As always, read the fine print.
Also, no-deposit bonuses tend to be much smaller than other bonus types, ranging from a few bucks up to about $30 – $50, with the higher sums usually attached to exclusive offers found on sites like this. No-deposit bonuses also expire, and often enough, the window for players to use these funds is smaller compared to other bonus types. Typically, players will have only about a week, but sometimes up to a month or longer to meet the wagering requirements of their bonus.
Regardless of the fine print, no-deposit bonuses should never be glossed over, as it's impossible to lose money on them. Take advantage.
Free bets
Free bets are certainly one of the most common new player promos utilized by online sportsbooks, in Indiana and elsewhere. The concept is simple: bettors get to make a wager on the house, and any winnings from those wagers are immediately awarded as cash. Notice, we said 'any winnings' as the original free bet amount is not cashable.
For instance, if a player is awarded a free bet of $200, and they wager it on Houston to win the World Series at +200, they would receive $400 for a winning wager, not $600 as if they used their own funds.
Free bets are handed out in a couple of different ways:
- Matched free bets: This one is common. A player will wager a certain amount, and receive a free bet of an equal or lesser amount. For instance, a promo might award a $500 free bet if the player places a $500 wager first. Look out for this very generous promotional type when a site first launches.
- No-deposit free bets: Instead of awarding players bonus funds for registering, an online sportsbook may offer players free bet wagers. They're essentially the same thing, except free bets are almost always subject to just a 1x wagering requirement. No deposit bonuses could see 1x, but also 5x or more.
- Deposit matched free-bets: Similar to matched free bets, except the player receives a free bet just for registering. The amount of the free bet is usually low, since this option doesn't require the bettor to make any upfront wagers.
Free bets usually have some restrictions affixed to them. Primarily, players may be forced to bet only on select markets at odds greater than -200 or -300 (+200 would be OK, -400 would not). Additionally, free bets usually have expiration dates. That being said, this is still one of the better promotion types from the player perspective.
Risk-free wagers
Risk-free wagers sound great, but they're really just lesser versions of free bets. Unfortunately, as the legal U.S. industry matures, this promotional type is becoming more and more common, especially as part of new player packages.
How it works is players who make a deposit, and lose on their first wager, will receive a refund of the amount of their wager, up to a certain amount. So a $500 risk-free bet offer will award up to $500 if the bet loses. The problem here is apparent: Players who win their first bet don't receive anything (beyond their winnings of course). This lies in stark contrast to free bets, where the bet is delivered win or loss.
Risk-free wagers are still decent, but they have about half the expectation of a similarly worded free bet.
Deposit matches
Deposit matches are exceedingly popular among online casinos and are gaining headwind in the online sports betting industry as well. How these work is relatively simple: Players deposit a certain amount of money, and the book matches this amount (either fully or partially) via a bonus.
Match bonuses are easy to recognize because they always follow a similar format of 'x% up to $xxx'. For instance, if a book offers a 50% match up to $250, that means for every dollar players deposit, they'll receive 50% of that as a bonus. So a $100 deposit will yield a $50 bonus, a $500 deposit a $250 bonus, and so forth. Note that because the bonus is capped at $250, $500 dollars is the optimal amount to deposit, as deposits above $500 will yield the same $250 bonus.
How good or bad a deposit match is depends on a variety of factors. Most important is the wagering requirement, which is the number of times a player must wager their bonus before it is converted to cash. For instance, a 1x wagering requirement, like the one offered by BetRivers Indiana, is awesome, because once the bonus is wagered one time ($250 in wagers on a $250 bonus), the money can be immediately withdrawn. By contrast, DraftKings imposes a hefty 25x playthrough requirement on its $1,000 match bonus, offered to new players. That's rough.
Other factors to look out for are the match percentage, with the higher the percentage the better. The gold standard is usually between a 50 – 100% match, but some books have been known to go as high as 200%, and DraftKings Sportsbook has gone as low as 20%. The monetary cap is also important, with $500 being about average, and $1,000 exceptional. Also, be sure to check if there are expiration dates: deposit matches often expire after a certain period of time has elapsed — sometimes as short as a few days.
Super (duper) boosts
Every now and again, books will offer new players ridiculous odds on an event, like 100-1 on a team winning a game when the true odds are 1-1. Of course, the amount bettors can wager on these super boosts is usually limited to about $5, with winnings paid out in bonus wagers.
In the outlined scenario above, the new bettor will either win a $500 free bet or lose the initial $5. The pro is that players don't have to make a big bet to claim a big bonus. The downside is that they'll lose approximately half the time.
Breaking down promotions at IN online sports betting sites
In addition to welcome bonuses, Indiana online sportsbooks often offer recurring and one-off promotions to returning players. All of the promotional types utilized for welcome packages can also show up as returning player promos, as well as the following:
Cashback bonuses
This is a common one, and one loved by operators because it entices players to plunk down bets they might not otherwise make. It's also a solid benefit for bettors, who have some insurance if they lose.
How this one works is the book will advertise a wager, encouraging players to make a particular bet, like who will win Game 3 of the World Series. If the bet wins, the player gets paid as usual. However, if it loses, they'll receive a portion of their wager back as cash or a bonus bet. In this respect, cashback bonuses are pretty similar to risk-free bets, except that instead of getting 100% back (risk-free), only a portion of the losing wager is returned, say 20% or 50%.
Obviously, getting cash returned is better, but it's more common to receive the funds as a bonus, which can be wagered on most events, and where only the winnings are returned to the player.
Discounted juice
Indiana Sportsbook Promos
No one likes high vigs. Just the difference between a -110 and -115 line where the true odds are 50/50 can have a damaging impact on a player's bankroll. Luckily, some books offer promos where they actually lower the juice. Sometimes, they won't charge any juice at all.
Look out for this kind of promo during special events, like the kickoff of the NFL or NBA seasons, or even March Madness. If you see the point spreads and totals listed at -105 or +100, it means the book is actively pushing to get players to bet on these markets, and that's good news for you.
Loyalty programs and VIP bonuses
The difference between a book that offers a loyalty or VIP program versus one that doesn't can be monumental, especially for frequent players.
Take a site like BetRivers in Indiana for instance. Players earn iRush Rewards points simply for making sports bets, which can be exchanged for bonus money with a scant 1x wagering requirement. Not to mention, players that climb the loyalty tiers (also accomplished for placing wagers), will open up a bevy of goodies, including their own VIP manager, birthday gifts, special promotions, swag, free playing devices, and much more.
Another beautiful aspect of online sports betting loyalty programs is that they are often tied to brick & mortar accounts. So those points you earn for playing online? They can be spent at a partnering casino. Or the online sportsbook may simply offer to set you up with meals, entertainment packages, and rooms at one of its casino resorts, no questions asked.
Now compare this to a book that doesn't offer a loyalty program, and it's pretty evident how stark the difference is. That's not to say all loyalty programs are as good as iRush Rewards, but even mediocre loyalty programs kickback about 10% of a bettor's theoretical loss in cash, gifts, and other luxuries. Great ones may return as much as 40-50%.
Indiana offers a fair climate for sports betting operators, with very reasonable tax rates — so we expect books to respond by being more aggressive in their promotional offers and loyalty kickbacks.
Referral bonuses
Thanks to referral bonuses, players are incentivized to tell their friends about their favorite sportsbook. But telling them won't be enough, as first, the referring player must already be signed up with the book. Then, the referred bettor can point back to the referrer's username (or a uniquely generated code tied to that username) at the time they sign up.
Usually, both the referrer and referred played will receive modest bonuses in the vicinity of $20 – $50 once the process is complete, and any other terms & conditions have been met. As for those terms, the most common one is that the books may require both parties to place $x amount in wagers before receiving their referral bonus.
How to eliminate the house edge through bonuses at Indiana online sportsbooks
- Read the fine print: Reading the terms is the single best way to determine if an offer is favorable or not. With the tips outlined in this guide, you should know exactly what to look for in terms of wagering requirements, restrictions, and other caveats tied to a bonus offer. For wagering requirements, a 20x turnover is OK, 10x is good, and 5x or lower is great. And remember, an offer with tons of fine print isn't necessarily bad.
- Free bets are better than risk-free bets: A risk-free bet actually does carry some risk, in that the requirement for receiving it is to first lose money. On the contrary, free bets are awarded simply by placing wagers, or sometimes, for doing nothing. Free bets are the better choice. But in either case, remember that only the winnings from free bets, and not the initial bonus amount, will be allocated to your account if your bet hits.
- Don't dally: All bonus offers come affixed with an expiration date, and these dates vary widely. By letting a bonus expire, you're essentially burning money. If you don't think you'll have the time to fulfill a bonus requirement, you're better off not opting in at all.
- Stack promos: Whenever possible, combine two or more promos together for maximum value. For instance, if an Indiana online sportsbook is offering -105 lines, and 50% insurance on an event, this is way more lucrative than either promo individually.
- Maximize value through research: Sometimes, a book will offer kickbacks based on a certain event happening. For instance, a promo may offer a $10 bonus for every home run an MLB team hits, in so long as you place a $50 money line wager on that team. In this case, it would benefit you to research stats like a team's ability to hit home runs, how many home runs the opposing pitcher and bullpen give up, and whether the ballpark is pitcher or batter friendly. A little data mining can go a long way.
- Consult this website often for exclusive offers.
Indiana Sportsbook Apps
The point is you don't need to be a math wizard or rely on advanced data modeling to win at sports betting — cleverly harnessing promo codes, bonuses, and promos is enough on its own. Will you make a killing using this method? No, probably not. But it's enough to at the very least ensure that you hold on to your bankroll for much longer than you would have otherwise.
Indiana Sportsbook Online
Let this site do some of the heavy lifting for you, by advising you frequently on promotional offers, but through our exclusive bonus codes and transparent Indiana sports betting site reviews.