Sports bettors in the Hoosier State now have another option for an online sportsbook.
Bet365 entered the Indiana market Tuesday morning, making it the 13th online sportsbook in the state. It’s the eighth state in which the European sportsbook operates.
The operator already had a U.S. presence in Kentucky, Louisiana, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Iowa and Coloardo.
“At Bet365, we don’t do ordinary, and as the home of the country’s first professional baseball game, ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’ and a rich basketball history, neither does Indiana,” said a Bet365 spokesperson in a statement. “New and eligible fans in the Hoosier State, renowned for their passion and loyalty, can enjoy the Bet365 experience featuring market leading offerings like amazing Bet Boosts, the fests in-game product and unique same game parlays.”
Deal with French Lick Resort gave Bet365 ability to launch in Indiana
Indiana online sportsbooks need a land-based partner to operate in the state. As a result, Bet365 partnered with French Lick Resort to gain market access.
French Lick Resort is a $600 million historic restoration and casino development project in French Lick, Ind. It features three hotels, a 51,000-square-foot casino, a 45-hole golf course, and all the traditional amenities of an upscale casino resort.
In addition to market access, these types of partnerships usually bring a branded retail sportsbook to the resort. The announcement of Bet365 Indiana launching didn’t make any mention of any changes to the brick-and-mortar facility.
Are online casino prospects driving Indiana sports betting expansion?
Bet365’s launch came just a few days after Betr announced it would start operating in Indiana later this year. The Jake Paul-backed micro-betting operation will be the state’s 14th online sportsbook option.
Betr’s announcement also included plans to get an online casino license in Pennsylvania. The Keystone State is one of just six states where online casinos are legal.
New Jersey, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut and Delaware are the others. Bet365 operates an online casino in the Garden State.
Online casinos appear to be the next big trend in gaming expansion. Since the six states have shown increased tax revenue with limited societal downside, other states are starting to look into it.
For example, lawmakers in Ohio and New York have openly commented about the possibility of legalization. Indiana online casinos aren’t legal yet, but it could be on the horizon.
Indiana lawmakers legalized sports betting in 2019, just one year after the Supreme Court overturned PASPA. The ruling removed a federal sports betting ban and allowed states to decide for themselves. It was one of the first states to hop on the new trend.
Online casino legislation could’ve easily been on the docket for the 2024 legislative session if legislators hadn’t explicitly taken it off the table following a corruption scandal. A lawmaker filing a bill in 2025 wouldn’t be surprising.
The details of any future expansion would be complete speculation. However, having an existing sports betting license in the state would definitely make the approval of an online casino license easier.
