Hard Rock Casino Opens New Sportsbook In Gary

Posted on May 12, 2022

Gamblers at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana can finally bet on sports. The casino just opened a retail sportsbook at the property.

Hard Rock is one of the most popular casinos in the entire state. That made the lack of a sportsbook at the building noticeable.

The in-person version of Hard Rock Sportsbook is taking wagers, but the Indiana online betting app is still a ways away.

Hard Rock Casino Sportsbook Opens

It’s been nearly one year since the newest Indiana casino opened for business.

Hard Rock always wanted the building to feature a sportsbook, but plans to get things up and running took longer than anticipated.

Now that the process is finally complete, gamblers can find the sportsbook right next to the casino’s Hard Rock Cafe. The area features plenty of screens displaying odds and betting options, so the process shouldn’t be complicated for Hoosiers.

Hard Rock Sportsbook also has its fair share of betting kiosks that gamblers can use.

Adding an in-person sportsbook gives Hard Rock Northern Indiana one more tool to compete with its neighbors. There’s plenty of competition on both the Gary and Chicago sides of the state line, so the more firepower the better.

Now that the retail sportsbook is taking bets, Hard Rock is halfway through with its sports betting plans for Indiana.

Online sportsbook coming soon

Hard Rock’s online sportsbook is also on its way to the Hoosier State.

The betting app snagged its temporary vendor license back in January. That’s the first major step towards launching an online sportsbook in Indiana.

At this point, Hard Rock Sportsbook could open its digital doors for business at any time. It’s just a matter of getting everything ready and jumping through those final few regulatory hurdles.

The retail version of the sportsbook shows that Hard Rock is making sports betting a priority in Indiana.

Despite that, carving out its own chunk of the state’s market will be easier said than done. Hoosiers wagered $360 million on sports during April alone, so when Hard Rock launches, it will have its work cut out for it trying to compete with the other 13 betting apps in Indiana.

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Jake Garza

Jake Garza is a US Gambling Industry Analyst for Catena Media. He specializes in Midwest sports betting and casino content. Prior to covering the legal gambling industry, he spent time as a professional sports writer, reporting on teams such as the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers. Garza is currently working as a Managing Editor for PlayIndiana and PlayOhio, with previous stops at other well-known brands such as PlayIllinois and PlayMichigan. He has been covering the gambling industry since 2019, and currently works with a team of other journalists to provide comprehensive coverage of the legal U.S. gambling industry.

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