Football fans are in a unique situation here in Indiana.
The Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears are the state’s favorite NFL teams. Both are on the hunt for a new quarterback this offseason.
Luckily for both franchises, two big names could be on the move. With Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson on the market, the future of both teams could be changing soon.
You can bet on the future of these quarterbacks in other states, but not in Indiana.
So what’s stopping sportsbooks from offering odds on Wentz and Watson trades? Turns out, it’s because no one has taken the time to ask.
No Wentz or Watson betting Indiana
Colorado and Illinois are both letting gamblers bet on which teams Wentz and Watson will eventually end up on.
The Colts and Bears are the favorites to land Wentz over at FanDuel in Colorado.
- Indianapolis Colts: +125
- Chicago Bears: +150
- Houston Texans: +450
- Philadelphia Eagles: +450
- Washington Football Team: +900
You can’t bet on these player trade markets in Indiana because sportsbooks haven’t bothered to ask for permission yet.
So what’s the hold up? Why aren’t sportsbooks jumping at the chance to take Wentz bets from Colts fans?
There seems to be some confusion regarding the process of approving new types of bets in Indiana.
New sports betting options Indiana
FanDuel doesn’t offer Wentz or Watson odds in the Hoosier State because “It’s not approved per the regulations in Indiana,” the company told PlayIndiana.
PointsBet offered up a similar explanation. “Unfortunately, at this time we are not permitted to list these wagers in Indiana,” the sportsbook said.
That’s technically true, player trade markets are not on the list of approved sports betting markets in the state. However, it wouldn’t take much to get Wentz and Watson trades on that list.
In Indiana, approving a new type of sports bet just takes a quick request to the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC). The IGC then takes a look at that request, and approves it if it fits regulatory standards.
The problem here isn’t some kind of logjam on the IGC’s end, it’s the fact that none of Indiana’s 10 online sportsbooks have put in a request yet.
Sara Gonso Tait, the executive director of the IGC, says that the commission would be open to approving player trade markets, but they haven’t been asked by a sportsbook yet.
The IGC even has limits already set for the markets. The commission is ready to give things the green light, but it can’t act until a sportsbook makes the first move.
“We will review certain player movement markets for professional sports leagues. In addition, we’ve imposed the following wagering limits: a maximum bet of $1,000 or a win limit of $1,000, whichever is greater. This means $1,000 on plus odds bets (where a payout would be more than $1,000) or an unlimited bet on minus odds (where the winning amount of the bet cannot be over $1,000).”
Since the IGC is already ready for a request like this, the approval process likely wouldn’t take long if a sportsbook ever asks for permission.
New quarterback for Colts and Bears
If you’re a Colts or Bears fan, then betting on the future of your favorite team probably peaks your interest.
It’s strange that sportsbooks haven’t made a push for these player trade markets in Indiana, especially since the Colts are in the mix.
If betting on a Wentz or Watson trade sounds like fun to you, then your best option right now is to drive to Illinois to place your bets. That’s hardly an ideal situation for most Hoosiers.
Let your favorite sportsbook know if you want to bet on these trades in Indiana. The IGC can’t push things along until a sportsbook puts in a request.
