Indiana Casinos with Retail Sports Betting

After signing Indiana’s sports betting bill in May 2019, it would only take a few months before the first sportsbook went live in Hoosier State. In September 2019, the first in-person sportsbook went live in the state, and a month later, online sportsbooks made their debut in the state. DraftKings and BetRivers were among the first sportsbooks to open shop in the state. 3+ years down the line, Indiana residents can access several reputable legal online sportsbooks. But we need to understand how we got here.

Firstly, Indiana is home to teams in the major leagues, explaining why its sports legalization was inevitable. They are:

• Indianapolis Colts
• Indiana Pacers
• Indiana Fever

The state is also home to several top college favorite teams to many, including:

• Purdue Boilermakers
• Notre Dame Fighting Irish
• Indiana Hoosiers

Secondly, Indiana law allows betting on land-based, riverboat casinos, off-track betting facilities, and racetracks. Under these properties, you will find some retail sportsbooks, such as Blue Chip Casino, Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Indiana Grand Casino, Winner’s Circle OTB Clarksville, Caesars Southern Indiana, a recent purchase of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and more. About fourteen (14) properties have had a license issued by the Indiana Gaming Commission since sports betting legalization in 2019.

Finally, Indiana sports betting law requires that online sportsbooks going live must partner with licensed physical properties. The law permits the licensed properties to host up to three separate (3) skins under its umbrella. The ‘skins,’ in this case, are online betting sites. Therefore, one licensed casino can operate up to three different online sportsbooks.

Indiana Casinos with Online Sports Betting Sites

We list some of the top online Indiana sportsbooks in operation today, the properties they partner with, and the free bets you can claim whenever you sign up for an account with the betting sites:

You do not need to be physically present in the retail sportsbooks to place a bet on any online platform. The online option allows you to bet on desktops or mobile at your comfort. You only need to create an account with the sportsbook to get started. Follow the link to your preferred sportsbook and register your account by providing accurate details on the following fields:

• Personal Information: Full Name, Email Address, Date of Birth, Gender, and SSN.
• Account Information: Username, Password, Bonus Code, or an exclusive Promo Code.
• Contact Information: Phone Number, Address, State, City, and ZIP Code.

While online casinos are not currently legal in the Hoosier state, there is a chance that they might become legal at some point. In this case, the account you create with the online sportsbooks will still serve the casino section since these sites integrate all their products under one website.

Once online casino gambling is made legal in Indiana, it would mean that residents can play all those games for real money and have the avenue to claim casino bonuses as provided in the states of NJ, MI, WV, CT, CO, and PA.

#1 French Lick Resort – BetRivers Sportsbook

BetRivers was the joint-pioneer online sportsbook to pitch tent into the expansive Indiana sports betting market. Launched under French Lick Resort in French Lick and under the Rush Street Interactive parent company banner, BetRivers remains a highly-rated sportsbook providing an exciting sports wagering experience, thanks to the vast bet markets and options.

Welcome Bonus

Click the ‘Join Now’ button on the main website to create your account and claim a risk-free bet of 100% up to $500 when the first bet loses. The first deposit and wager should be at least $10 to qualify for the bonus. Besides the new player bonuses, existing users will have plenty of offers, including odds boosts, sports contests, and other parlay bonuses.

Rewards Scheme

However, the rewards scheme stands out for the rewards and benefits you can claim. Whenever you wager on the sportsbook, you earn points that place you in a loyalty level. Each level provides better and additional benefits and rewards than the preceding one. You can redeem the points for benefits in the iRush Rewards Store. Below are the levels and the points required for each:

Loyalty Level	Points
1	40
2	160
3	400
4	760
5	1,400
6	2,800
7	5,200
8	8,800
9	13,600
10	20,000
11	By invitation

Points are earned at BetRivers based on parlay sizes as follows:

Parlay Size	Wager per 1 pt
1	$6
2	$3
3	$2
4	$1.50
5	$1.25
6	$1.05
7	$0.90
8	$0.75
9	$0.60
10 -11	$0.50

Benefits include special offers, VIP birthday gifts, VIP events invite, expedited withdrawals, dedicated VIP manager, and luxury gifts.

Sports and Betting Options

Besides the bonuses and the reward scheme, the BetRivers sportsbook provides an avenue to bet on top US professional and college sports, allowing you to wager on events and leagues like NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, NFL, NHL, and UFC. The most popular leagues will be available from the left bar, and once clicked, the middle section will show the events where after picking your preferred selection, the betslip pop-up updates. You can then confirm your bet after entering your wager amount.

Features and Services

Payments can be made on various options, including BetRivers Play+ Card, credit/debit cards, bank transfers, PayPal, and cash at the cage. Finally, the support team is available 24/7 and is reachable via multiple options, including live chat and email support.

Top features at BetRivers include:

• Live betting
• Buy Out option (Cash out)
• Live streaming
• Mobile app

Once legal, Indiana residents can access 1000+ casino games at BetRivers and a $1,000 first deposit bonus.

#2 Ameristar Casino East Chicago – DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings was the other joint-pioneer sportsbook to debut in Indiana besides BetRivers. The sportsbook partners with Ameristar Casino in East Chicago and is famed for its mobile platform, which has seen the launch of high-quality iOS and Android apps. Like other online sportsbooks, newbies are welcomed with a bonus, and at DraftKings, it comes in twos!

Welcome Bonus

Firstly, after signing up and providing the required information on all fields like name, email address, address, SSN, and ZIP Code, you will be eligible to claim a deposit bonus where you can claim a 20% bonus up to $1,000 on your first deposit of at least $5.

Secondly, you can claim $150 in free bets for a moneyline first bet of $5+. Existing users will have bonus options, including a refer-a-friend bonus, parlay boosts, and more.

Reward Scheme

It gets better with the rewards program dubbed ‘Dynasty Rewards,’ where new and existing users qualify. As DraftKings puts it, the VIP program allows you to earn crowns as you elevate your status, to receive the VIP treatment. There are five tiers as follows:

Tier	Crowns
Bronze	0
SIlver	25,000
Gold	125,000
Diamond	500,000
Onyx	1,000,000+

Crown earnings on the sportsbook will be as follows:

• Straight Bets & Futures – 1 crown for $2 wagered
• Parlays – 1 crown for $1 wagered

Benefits include exclusive offers, personal VIP hosts, high-value referral incentives, and priority customer support.

Sports and Betting Options

In addition to the rewards and bonuses, DraftKings offers integration, where you can access a daily fantasy sports (DFS) product and sportsbook all within the same platform. The DFS hosts contests where you can join and create teams within a set salary cap to compete against other friends. The sportsbook is home to the most popular events and leagues from top sports like baseball, basketball, cricket, football, and tennis. Pick your popular picks from the left side of the lobby and view all the markets from the middle section. Every selection you make automatically updates the betslip on the right, with the minimum bet set at $0.10. You can make several wager types at DraftKings, including moneylines, parlays, futures, prop bets, live betting, point spread, round robin, and teasers.

Features and Services

Transactions are easy, fast, and secure with the sports betting site supporting options like DraftKings Play+, PayPal, Venmo, online banking, Visa/MasterCard, Discover, and wire transfer. On the other hand, contacting customer support will be through live chat, email support, and mail.

Top features at DraftKings include:

• Live betting
• Cash Out
• Flash Bet
• Odds boost
• Mobile app

Once legal, Indiana residents will access 900+ online casino games at DraftKings through their sportsbook accounts. A $50 no deposit and a $2,000 welcome bonus will also be introduced.

#3 Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg – Barstool Sportsbook

Barstool partnered with Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg to provide the online sports wagering site in May 2021. Like DraftKings, the operator is famed for its highly-rated Barstool sportsbook app, with a rating of 4.5 stars, from over 20,000 users. Besides the app, Barstool sportsbook is popular for its unique set of solid promotions, where besides the usual bonuses, you can claim tournament entries and merchandise.

Welcome Bonus

Once on the main website, you will sign up from the login tab, and after you successfully register and verify your account, a 100% free bet of up to $1,000 will be available if you lose your first bet. More bonuses like Parlay Insurance on sports like soccer and NBA are also in place for existing users.

Reward Scheme

Moreover, Barstool sportsbook treats its loyal and consistent members to a reward program dubbed ‘Mychoice’ rewards. Whenever you place a bet on the platform, you earn ‘mychoice’ tier points and ‘mycash.’ The tier points will position you to the following tiers:

Tier	Points
Choice	0 - 999
Advantage	1,000 - 17,999
Preferred	18,000 - 49,999
Elite	50,000 - 199,999
The Owners Club	200,000+

The points will be awarded on the following basis:

• Straight bets – 1 pt for $10 wagered
• Parlay bets – 1 pt for $5 wagered
• Barstool exclusive bets – 1 pt for $10 wagered

Among the benefits you can enjoy depending on your tier include special offers & promotions, low hotel rates, accessing Barstool merch, and more.

Sports and Betting Options

All popular sports are hosted on the platform, with the main lobby providing top events and leagues like World Cup, NFL, UFC, NHL, and PGA Tour, and top college sports, including betting on Indiana teams like Notre Dame Fighting Irish, with a huge following. You can find the upcoming and live bets on the main page and access all sports betting markets from the ‘more bets’ option. The highlights at Barstool sportsbook include the betting stats and trends provided on most events to help you make a more informed wager and the Barstool exclusives that feature events with daily odds boosts.

Features and Services

Depositing and withdrawing at the site is available via various options, including Barstool Play+ Card, PayPal, ACH, PayNearMe, online banking, Visa/MasterCard, Discover, and Apple Pay. The support team is available 24/7, with several options to get assistance, including live chat, email support, and a FAQ page.

Once legal, Indiana players will have 100+ online casino games to access at Barstool via their sportsbook account and a $20 no deposit bonus.

#4 Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg – Pointsbet Sportsbook

Pointsbet is another legal sports betting site for Indiana bettors. Having launched in 2020 while partnering with Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Pointsbet has become the only sportsbook partnering with major professional Indiana teams, including Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers. However, the major highlight of the sportsbook is the unique pointsbetting concept, which has been widely accepted by most Indiana sports bettors. During Pointsbetting, the value of your profit or loss will depend on the points your wager wins or loses by.

Welcome Bonus

Once you sign up with the sportsbook, you will have a new user bonus of up to five (5) $100 free bets to claim if your first fixed-odds bet of the day loses. The new user bonus will be eligible for the first bets of the day for five days. After the welcome bonus, Pointsbet offers bonuses like same game parlays for existing users.

Reward Scheme

And like other Indiana sportsbooks, Pointsbet offers a reward program where every bet contributes to awarding you reward points. As is the norm, the more you place sports bets, the more you earn points. At Pointsbet, you can later redeem them for free bets. The points will be earned as follows:

• Fixed-odds wagers – 1 pt for $5 wagered
• Parlay wagers – 1 pt for $1 wagered
• Pointsbetting wagers – 1pt for $1 won or lost

The reward points values are as follows:

Reward Points	Value (Free Bet)
250	$2.50
500	$5
1,000	$10
2,500	$25
5,000	$50
10,000	$100
50,000	$500
100,000	$1,000

Sports and Betting Options

While Pointsbetting offers a unique concept, the operator also provides a fixed-odds betting format, allowing you to try different bet types, including moneyline, prop bets, spreads, and totals.

The landing page hosts the most popular events of the day, with the various sports betting markets accessible after clicking an event of your choice. As you select your picks, the betslip updates, and after confirming, you can keep tabs on your bets in the ‘My Bets’ section.

Features and Services

Pointsbet payments are easy and secure, thanks to the convenient and popular options supported, including Visa/MasterCard, PayPal, ACH, PayNearMe, online banking, and Pointsbet MasterCard. Finally, issues that need assistance from the support team will be sorted via live chat and email.

Other top features to expect at Pointsbet include:

• Live betting
• Name a Bet
• Booster Odds
• Live Streaming
• Cash out and Partial Cash Out

Once legal, Indiana residents will have around 60+ online casino games to bet for real money at Pointsbet Casino.

#5 Belterra Casino – BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM is a household name, with its access available in multiple states, including Indiana, since February 2020. The online site under the Belterra Casino in Florence is best known for its extensive bet options that Indiana sports bettors can enjoy.

Welcome Bonus

Once you register an account with BetMGM, you will be eligible to claim a risk-free bet of up to $1,000 if your qualifying wager loses. If the amount is $50+, you will have five (5) free bets awarded in the range of 20% up to $1,000. On the flip side, if the amount is below $50, you will receive a single free bet of the total amount.

For example, if your qualifying bet was worth $100, you will receive five (5) $20 free bets. On the other hand, if your qualifying bet was worth $40, you will receive one (1) $40 free bet. Other available bonuses and promos include one-game parlays, refer-a-friend, odds boost, and more.

Reward Scheme

A reward scheme dubbed ‘BetMGM Rewards’ is available where you can earn points and enjoy exclusive benefits depending on your tier level. Below are the tiers and credits required for each:

Tier	Points
Sapphire	Up to 19,999
Pearl	20,000+
Gold	75,000+
Platinum	200,000+
NOIR	Invite only

The points will be earned as follows:

• Straight bet – 20 reward points for $100 wagered.
• Parlay bet – 50 reward points for $100 wagered

The benefits you can enjoy on the scheme include accessing premier customer service, benefits at MGM casinos,  and a dedicated VIP host.

Sports and Betting Options

You will love the easy-to-use interface on the landing page, with top leagues and events like NBA, NHL, MLB, MMA, PGA Tour, and NFL hosted. You can also bet on specials like auto-racing events, where bets on NASCAR, IndyCar, and F1 events are hosted. For each top event, you will find a host of bet types and markets with the latest odds, with every pick automatically updating the betslip on the right side.

Features and Services

On other services like payments, BetMGM supports a variety of options for Indiana bettors. They include PayPal, ACH/e-check, Visa/MasterCard, BetMGM Play+, online banking, Apple Pay, bank wire transfer, Discover, and PayNearMe. Customer service is available 24/7 and will be dispensed via email support and a detailed FAQ page. The top features to expect at BetMGM include the following:

• Live betting
• Cash-out
• Edit my bet
• Live streaming

Once legal, you can play 800+ slot titles on BetMGM, while taking advantage of their $20 no deposit bonus and $1,000 welcome bonus for IN residents.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Indiana?

Indiana has been one of the legal sports betting states since May 8, 2019, after Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the bill HB 1015 into law. The bill permitting would see sports betting legalized in Indiana. The law then permitted online and retail sports betting at in-state casinos, off-track betting sites, and racetracks. The first Indiana sportsbook would debut in September 2019, with online sports betting beginning a month later, in October 2019, in the state.

As stated, Indiana gambling laws require that an online sportsbook partner with a retail casino before going live. For example, top sportsbooks like FanDuel partner with Blue Chip Casino, Caesars sportsbook with Horseshoe Hammond Casino, and WynnBET with Rising Star Casino Resort.

Other requirements laid down by the Indiana Gaming Commission, the official regulator, include the age requirement of 21+, and betting within the state lines of Indiana.

Additional laws placed on the online books in the Indiana market included:

• An annual license fee of $50,000
• A 9.5% tax rate for online betting
• Indiana casinos should submit the sports wagering system for independent testing certification.

When Will Online Casinos Become Legal in Indiana?

Online casino gambling is illegal in Hoosier state despite retail casinos being legal. However, this has been a common phenomenon across the US, with only few states legalizing online casino gambling. They include Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Colorado, Michigan, and West Virginia.

Despite the high revenues projected and received from the mentioned states, there is not much underway on the legalization of online casinos in Indiana, which is not so promising. However, the legalization in Michigan, a neighbor to Hoosier state, may put pressure that may see legislation passed sooner than later.

For now, Indiana players can place online wagers for real money on sports bets, daily fantasy sports, and horse racing bets at properties like Harrah’s Hoosier Park and Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Can I Play Online Casino Games in Indiana Today?

There are two ways to look at it. From the ‘glass half full’ point of view, you can play online casino games like slots, roulette, blackjack, keno, scratchers, craps, and video poker in Indiana. However, from the ‘glass half empty’ point of view, you can only play these games for free, not for real money prizes. To clarify, you can access and play these games on sweepstakes casinos, not online casinos. While they may look similar to online casinos, they use a different model, making them legal in almost every US state.

Unlike online casinos, you will not make real-money deposits on these platforms, but instead purchase coins. Sweeps coins, their virtual currency, can be used to play the games. Once you register, you will have the coins awarded, with some sites adding gold coins, and as you win the games, you get additional coins that you can redeem later on for prizes, including cash prizes.

Another important detail defining these casinos is that they must offer free entry to their games with no purchase necessary. Therefore, you will have free sweeps awarded daily, either as a form of promotion, prize wheel giveaways, or by logging into your account. Fortune Coins and Pulsz Casino are some of the sweepstakes sites to try!

Summary

The Indiana sports betting market has experienced massive and gradual growth since its legalization in 2019, and it is not yet over. Besides the fourteen (14) online sports betting sites in the state, more are still showing up, including FOX Bet and Tipico Sportsbook, which are expected to debut sooner. On the flip side, other sports betting sites like theScore bet halted their operations in the US from July 1, 2022, to focus on its Ontario market, while MaximBet announced plans to shut down its sports betting operations completely on Nov 16, 2022. Players have until Dec 15, 2022, to cash out their funds.

Residents and those within the state lines can bet on their favorite teams, claim bonuses, and cash out real money once they win. There is a lot to expect on these sites, including the wide range of sports markets, bet types, markets, and options, multiple access platforms, diverse and convenient payment options, 24/7 customer service, and the top features they host.

But while the Indiana sports betting market flourishes, there is a downside, especially for those wishing to play for real money on online casinos, poker, and bingo sites. They remain illegal, and plans to legalize them have been futile. However, the Hoosier state remains hopeful.

FAQ’s