The Greatest Spectacle In Racing Returns This Memorial Day Weekend

Posted on May 27, 2021 - Last Updated on March 20, 2024

The Indianapolis 500 is a Memorial Day weekend tradition for Hoosiers.

The Greatest Spectacle in Racing will be taking place this Sunday, May 30. Things will get underway at 12:45 p.m.

This will be the second Indy 500 since legal Indiana sports betting started, so gamblers can get in on the fun this weekend.

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Indy 500 odds

Right now, Indiana has 11 different online sportsbooks to pick from. All of them will be taking action on the big race.

That number will bump up to 12 with Betway’s Indiana launch coming as early as May 28.

Right now, Scott Dixon is the favorite to win the Indy 500.

Dixon is the reigning IndyCar Series champ, and he also managed to win the pole for this year’s 500.

Here’s a quick look at FanDuel Indiana Sportsbook‘s odds for some of the top drivers:

  • Scott Dixon: +350
  • Colton Herta: +700
  • Patricio O’Ward: +1,100
  • Alex Palou: +1,400
  • Alexander Rossi: +1,400

Dixon is no stranger to top-finishing spots at the 500.

A win this year would be Dixon’s second and his first since 2008. He also has a trio of second-place finishes in 2020, 2012 and 2007.

Live betting the Indianapolis 500

Race fans from around the world are heading to the Motor Speedway for what should feel like a normal race this year.

The pandemic pushed last year’s race back until August.

It also took place without fans, which had never happened before in the race’s history.

This time around, the Motor Speedway will be sitting at 40% capacity. That will make the race the most-attended sporting event since the start of the pandemic.

With fans in attendance, many of them will have the chance to bet on the race as its happening.

Live betting could be a nice addition to your Indy 500 experience.

The live product isn’t perfect, but it could be a fun way to mix things up if you’re going to the race.

If not for the dreaded local TV blackouts, fans in Indiana would be able to live bet while watching from home.

You can still listen to the radio broadcast while getting your bets in, but fans will miss out on the full experience with the blackouts returning this year.

Indy 500 prop bets

If you’re new to betting on racing, then you might not know about all of the fun prop betting options out there for the wagering on the Indy 500.

Props go past the typical “who will win the race” type of bets to offer something extra.

DraftKings has the largest selection of Indy 500 props available right now.

For example, you can bet the over/under on the number of the winning car. That betting total is sitting at 20.5 right now.

You can also wager on the nationality of the winning driver. The United States is the current favorite for those bets.

  • United States: +150
  • New Zealand: +300
  • Brazil: +1,000
  • Mexico: +1,000
  • Spain: +1,400

There are all sorts of prop bets to pick from, so check out DraftKings for the full list of options.

PointsBet Scott Dixon boost

PointsBet Indiana has one of the few promotions that are out there right now for the Indianapolis 500.

The sportsbook’s “Indy 500 Booster” is looking to take advantage of the Scott Dixon hype.

The promo is an odds boost on Dixon’s chances to finish in the top three at this year’s 500.

Originally, those odds were sitting at +120. Using the boost will bump that value up to +140.

It’s only a small increase, but it’s still a nice way to find some extra value if you already planned to bet on Dixon.

Barstool Sportsbook 500 party

Barstool Sportsbook is looking to make a splash after launching in Indiana a few weeks ago.

The company has a new type of promotion out there that’s never been seen before in Indiana’s market.

The “Barstool 500” is a party centered around the race in Indianapolis. Betting with Barstool Sportsbook is the only way to gain admittance.

Using an online sportsbook promotion to give out tickets to an in-person event has never happened before in the state.

There are two ways to qualify for the deal: a general admission ticket and a VIP entry ticket.

To qualify for general admission, you’ll have to opt-in to the deal on Barstool’s website or app, and then bet at least $250 on NBA Playoffs wagers listed under the company’s “Barstool 500” section.

General admission guests will have access to an open bar.

The price of admission gets significantly steeper if you’re looking for VIP entry.

You’ll still have to opt-in to the deal, but you’ll have to bet at least $10,000 on those “Barstool 500” NBA wagers.

The VIP level will also give you nine tickets for guests, a private table, and bottle service.

Once you place your wagers, you’ll receive your ticket to the party via email.

This deal certainly isn’t for everyone.

The typical gambler probably isn’t going to risk $10,000 just to attend a Barstool party.

However, this might appeal to some of the Barstool faithful out there.

The event will feature performances from Diplo and Machine Gun Kelly, as well as a handful of Barstool personalities.

Photo by Associated Press
Jake Garza Avatar
Written by
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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