Table of Contents
- Is Sports Betting Legal in Indiana?
- How to Select an Online Sportsbook in Indiana
- DraftKings Indiana
- FanDuel Indiana
- BetMGM Indiana
- Caesars Indiana
- Fanatics Indiana
- Bet365 Indiana
- BetRivers Indiana
- ESPN BET Indiana
- Hard Rock Bet Indiana
- Sportsbook Rankings Methodology
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Indiana’s plentiful legal sportsbooks are safer and more reliable than illegal offshore accounts, which sometimes don’t pay out winnings or keep your personal info secure. Both retail and online sportsbooks are safe and easy to use in Indiana.
Here’s a look at the state’s best online betting options.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Indiana?
Yes. Indiana became one of the first states outside of Las Vegas to legalize sports betting when Governor Eric Holcomb signed the state’s sports wagering bill (HB 1015) into law on May 8, 2019.
Retail sports betting officially went live in the state on Sept. 1, 2019, followed by the launch of online sports betting on Oct. 3. Indiana bettors now have several options to bet on their favorite teams, including the Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis Colts.
How to Select an Online Sportsbook in Indiana
You can use one or more online sportsbooks in Indiana. Here’s what to look for when deciding which sportsbook websites/apps to try first.
- App functionality: How does the app work for you? Is it laggy? Does the interface make sense? If you’re going to use a sportsbook, make sure it works the way you want it to.
- Betting market variety: The sportsbook you choose should have all the betting markets you’re interested in. While every licensed sportsbook has odds on all major U.S. sports, markets and bet types vary by sportsbook.
- Betting odds: How competitive are the sportsbook’s odds? Small differences in odds can add up in the long run if you bet frequently or place large wagers.
- Customer service: Reliable customer service is important in case you have any issues with your account.
- Live betting: Live betting is becoming more popular, so you’ll want a sportsbook that allows you to submit live bets quickly. If a sportsbook takes too long to load or place a live bet, you may miss out on favorable odds.
- Payment methods: There’s a variety of payment methods you can use to fund your sportsbook account, but make sure the sportsbook offers common ones like online banking, credit/debit cards and digital wallets.
- Promotions: You’ll want a sportsbook with strong promotions, including a good welcome offer and recurring promos for existing users.
With that in mind, let’s dive into the online sportsbooks in Indiana that meet our recommended criteria for your sports betting experience. All of the following sportsbooks rate highly in the aforementioned areas, so you can’t go wrong with any of them.
DraftKings Indiana
One of the most popular sportsbooks in America, DraftKings offers extensive betting markets with unique prop bets and futures. It was one of the first online sportsbooks in the state along with BetRivers and has a partnership with the hometown Indiana Pacers.
DraftKings has daily odds boosts, plentiful futures markets and prop bets, a strong rewards program and a Parlay Builder tool that makes it easy to combine multiple wagers into one.
DraftKings is also the official betting partner of the UFC if you enjoy wagering on MMA/UFC fights.
Category | Description |
---|---|
Offer | Bet $5+, get $150 in bonus bets if first bet wins |
Promo Code | N/A |
Requirements | New users only, 21+ and in eligible state |
Eligible Bet Types | All bet types |
Availability | AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, NH, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, VT, WY, WV |
Offer Expires | Jan. 5, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET |
Apple Store Score | 4.8/5 |
Google Play Store Score | 4.5/5 |
Date Verified | Nov. 26, 2024 |
Claim Bonus |
FanDuel Indiana
FanDuel is one of the most well-known online sportsbooks in the country and has a significant presence in the Hoosier State thanks to its partnership with the Indianapolis Colts.
FanDuel starts users off with a generous welcome offer, then keeps them coming back with daily odds boosts, promotions and competitive odds.
FanDuel stands out with its slick, easy-to-use interface, which many bettors consider the best in the industry. FanDuel’s streamlined app is easy to navigate, helping users quickly find the bets they’re looking for.
BetMGM Indiana
With its odds boosts, modern app and extensive betting markets, BetMGM has everything sports bettors are looking for.
BetMGM makes it easy to build your own parlays and same-game parlays with its “Build Parlay” button under each sporting event. It also has a unique “Edit My Bet” feature that allows bettors to adjust eligible wagers even after the game has started.
Under its parent company MGM, BetMGM also has special promotions for loyal customers like VIP trips to its resorts and casinos.
Caesars Indiana
Caesars stands out in Indiana thanks to its partnership with the Colts. It is known for its impressive array of odds boosts, offering dozens to explore across a variety of sports every day.
Caesars has a deep menu of betting markets and an enticing welcome offer. It also has a strong rewards program, frequent promotions for loyal customers and a “FireBets” feature that makes live betting quick and easy.
Fanatics Indiana
Fanatics launched in Indiana in February 2024 and provides a high-end sports betting experience. On top of its generous welcome offer and daily odds boosts, it customizes the home page based on your betting history and favorite betting markets.
It also has one of the best rewards programs in the industry. Fanatics gives bettors a percentage of every bet back in FanCash, which can be used for bonus bets at the sportsbook or as site credit at Fanatics’ retail website, where you can purchase merchandise and apparel of your favorite teams.
Bet365 Indiana
Based in the U.K., Bet365 is considered one of the best sportsbooks in the world. It’s still growing its presence in the U.S. but launched in Indiana in January 2024.
Bet365 shines in a few key areas, most notably with its betting markets and welcome offer. It offers many international markets and niche sports not found at other sportsbooks.
Bet365 also has a unique signup offer that gives new customers the choice between two welcome promos.
BetRivers Indiana
BetRivers was one of the first online sportsbooks to launch in Indiana along with DraftKings, debuting in the state in October 2019.
BetRivers isn’t flashy, but it covers the basics and provides more of a local feel compared to big-name sportsbooks. It also has a solid loyalty program for repeat customers via Rivers Rewards.
ESPN BET Indiana
A newer sportsbook, ESPN BET launched in Indiana in November 2023. Its app provides a smooth betting experience with its modern interface, quick load times and easy navigation.
ESPN BET has a solid welcome offer, exclusive odds boosts and rewards for existing customers like deposit matches and cash back on bets. It also has good customer service and fun tie-ins to its parent company.
Hard Rock Bet Indiana
Sportsbook Rankings Methodology
We’ve taken the time to sample and research numerous sportsbooks, narrowing down a list of the best in the industry. These criteria can help you decide which ones to try first.
Our list above is based on scores in the following categories:
- App reviews
- Availability across states
- Size of welcome offer
- Ease of claiming welcome offer
- Rewards program
- In-app streaming capabilities
- Existing user promos
- Customer service options
Below, we’ll break down each category and why it’s important to your sports betting experience.
App Reviews
A quick and easy way to get a sense of a sportsbook’s quality is by comparing user reviews on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android). Since ratings are out of five stars, you’ll generally want a sportsbook that’s well-regarded with an average score of at least four stars.
You can also dive into specific user comments to gauge what people are saying about the app and if there are any recurring complaints or issues. This can be helpful for features that are hard to gauge until you actually use the app, like lagginess or customer service.
Many commenters are there to complain, so don’t put too much stock in specific reviews.
That said, if you notice common themes throughout the comments, consider it a warning for issues you may encounter with the app.
State Availability
Each state handles sports betting differently. Some states allow both in-person and mobile sports betting, while others might only allow in-person sports betting or have a hard cap on the number of mobile sportsbooks permitted.
Accordingly, sportsbooks vary by state, as each state has to approve a sportsbook before it can launch there. No sportsbook is available in every state with legal online sports betting, but a few have launched in the majority of them.
Generally speaking, the more states a sportsbook is available in, the better. That means it’s more likely to be available in your state, a bordering state or a state you’re likely to travel to, making it easier and more convenient to use. That way, you’ll be able to take your sportsbook with you rather than needing to sign up for a new one every time you leave your state.
While smaller “local” sportsbooks usually offer profit boosts and other bonuses based on hometown teams, they’re usually only available in a handful of states at most, offering limited availability.
Size of Welcome Offer
This is an important one. How much free money will a sportsbook give you for signing up?
Most sportsbooks have welcome offers to entice new customers, but it’s important to know how these offers work. Just because an offer has a higher dollar amount attached to it doesn’t necessarily make it better.
Some sportsbooks have “bet and get” promotions where you receive bonus bets (site credit) just for wagering a small amount of money. For example, you might get $200 in bonus bets just for placing a $5 wager. You’re essentially getting free money to bet with.
Other sportsbooks have “no-sweat” offers that give a bonus bet only if your first bet loses. For example, if you place a $20 bet after signing up and it loses, you’ll receive a $20 bonus bet, similar to a refund.
These offers tend to wow bettors with larger amounts than “bet and get” promos, often going up to $1,000 or $1,500. However, you’ll only receive a bonus bet if your first wager loses, in which case you’ll need to use the bonus bet to try to win your money back. If your wager wins, you’ll receive your cash winnings like a normal wager but won’t receive any bonus.
Accordingly, “no sweat” offers generally aren’t as good as “bet and get” promos.
When comparing sportsbooks, it’s better to focus on welcome offers with guaranteed bonuses that give you site credit no matter what.
Ease of Claiming Welcome Offer
The size of the bonus offer won’t matter if it’s difficult to claim.
The best sportsbook bonus offers are as easy to claim as they are generous, being simple and straightforward without requiring you to jump through hoops.
The best bonuses are guaranteed and hit your account instantly as soon as you place your first bet. They’ll also be easy to follow and won’t require you to check a bunch of boxes to get your bonus.
Some sportsbook bonus offers require you to make multiple wagers or wait days or weeks to unlock your full bonus. This can be inconvenient, especially if you’re trying to get your full bonus ahead of a major sporting event like the Super Bowl or March Madness.
More complex offers can be a pain, so we prefer simplified offers with fewer requirements.
Rewards Program
If you bet often and are planning to use a sportsbook frequently, a strong rewards program is essential.
Loyalty programs differ by sportsbook. Some give you rewards points for each bet, which can then be converted into bonus bets or other rewards. Others offer big rewards like free trips, hotel stays, tickets to sporting events and more.
On the other hand, some sportsbooks don’t have any rewards. That might not be a big deal for casual bettors, but it can make a difference for frequent sports bettors.
It’s like paying for something with cash versus a credit card. If you place a bet at a site without a loyalty program, you’re missing out on points elsewhere.
In-App Streaming Capabilities
While bigger sports like football or basketball are usually only available to watch via traditional cable or streaming services, some sportsbooks offer the ability to stream smaller sports in the app, which is a benefit for bettors.
For example, FanDuel‘s app often streams tennis matches, which makes it easier to follow the action and place live wagers.
Beyond just offering live streaming, we also considered how laggy the stream was, how much battery it used and the amount of events available to stream in the app.
Existing User Promos
Most sportsbooks have some type of welcome offer to get new customers in the door, but where they really differ is with their promotions for existing customers.
Some sportsbooks offer a slew of daily promotions like odds boosts, no-sweat bets, bonus bets and more to keep customers coming back every day. Others only offer these sparingly, however, if at all.
One key existing user promo to consider is the referral bonus. Many sportsbooks have some type of referral bonus for getting someone else to sign up, but the amount can differ ($50 per person, $100, $200, etc.). If you’re planning to bet with friends or family, this can be a great way to score bonus bets for you and them.
Similar to a rewards program, you’ll want a sportsbook with frequent offers for existing customers if you plan to bet frequently.
Customer Service Options
Strong customer service options are a must for any sportsbook considering most disputes or calls involve someone’s money.
High marks were given to any sportsbook that offered 24/7 customer service (sporting events often end at night, after all), while points were deducted if a sportsbook relied on a FAQ page as a key part of its customer service profile. The more options for contacting customer service (email, chat, phone, etc.), the better.
Customer support is essential to guaranteeing a smooth sports betting experience. If a problem arises, it’s important to have it handled quickly and effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the legal age for sports betting in Indiana?
Indiana’s legal sports betting age is 21, which is true for most states with legal sports betting. If you’re under 21 and try to sign up for an online sportsbook in Indiana, you won’t be allowed to register.
That’s true for retail sports betting as well, so you must be at least 21 to place a legal wager at a physical sportsbook in Indiana.
What betting apps are available in Indiana?
Indiana has over a dozen online sportsbooks operating in the state:
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- ESPN BET
- Fanatics
- Bet365
- BetRivers
- Betway
- Unibet
- SBK
- Bally Bet
- Hard Rock Bet
How do I place a sports bet in Indiana?
There are two ways you can place a sports bet in Indiana.
One way is by signing up for one of the online sportsbooks available in the state. Once you’ve registered, verified your identity and deposited money into your account, you can wager on anything you want.
If you prefer to wager in person, you can also place a sports bet at one of the state’s several retail sportsbooks.
Is mobile sports betting legal in Indiana?
Yes, Indiana legalized sports betting in 2019 and launched mobile sports betting in October 2019.
How do you download a sports betting app in Indiana?
To download a sports betting app in Indiana, go to the app store on your mobile device and download it from there. Once it’s downloaded, provide the sportsbook with the personal information needed to create an account.
After your account is verified, you can deposit real money and start wagering.