WynnBET will be missing out on the Indiana March Madness betting action this year.
The company could have become the state’s 10th online sportsbook on March 25.
Unfortunately, WynnBET missed that target date and didn’t manage to launch until April 1.
First sportsbook to miss launch date
Getting final approval from the Indiana Gaming Commission is the last step for launching an online sportsbook in the state.
WynnBET received that approval on March 23. If it was ready, the company could have started taking bets as early as March 25.
It took an extra week, but at least the company finally made its Indiana debut.
That’s never happened before in Indiana, so it’s a strange situation to be in.
Companies are eager to start taking bets as soon as possible. This is why a sportsbook in the state has never missed its gaming commission-endorsed launch date before.
Right now, WynnBET has market access for a handful of new gambling states. Indiana was the priority out of those new markets.
Not coming online at the earliest possible time wouldn’t matter much if it wasn’t for March Madness.
WynnBET misses March Madness
If WynnBET Indiana‘s earliest launch date was in the middle of July, there wouldn’t be much to talk about here.
However, missing out on one of the biggest sports betting events of the year is significant.
The Super Bowl and March Madness command a lot of attention when it comes to sports betting.
Sportsbooks rush to open for business before both events.
We saw that in Indiana last year with the launch of BetMGM and PointsBet, and this year in Illinois with the launch of Barstool Sportsbook.
March Madness is particularly important as a betting event, since there are so many different games taking place over the course of a few weeks. Every game is a new opportunity to attract gamblers.
Hitting that March 25 launch date would have brought WynnBET online just in time for the Sweet 16.
The sportsbook missed out on most of the tournament, but at least it managed to get up and running in time for the Final Four.
WynnBet beats Barstool Sportsbook to Indiana
Barstool Sportsbook is opening for business in Indiana sometime before the end of April.
WynnBet’s April 1 launch just narrowly beat Barstool to market.
Barstool might have stolen the honor of becoming Indiana’s 10th online betting app if things had dragged on for much longer.
Barstool could be looking at a launch in the second half of the month, so WynnBET will have a chance to get its feet wet before it has to deal with the extra competition.