According to a state report issued by the Indiana Gaming Commission, Indiana’s sports betting handling jumped nearly 139% in August, 2020, compared to July this year.
Revenue rose to $9.8 million – marking the third-best month for the state since its sports betting industry was launched just one year ago. Before adjustments, revenue came to $12.5 million. Of that, $10 million was brought in from online sports betting and the rest from retail.
Stakes hit $1.20 billion and revenue from sports betting in the first 12 months of legal sports betting exceeded $100 million.
Other details from the Indiana sports betting report:
- The fact that the NBA returned on July 30th was a major boost for August numbers – handle increased an incredible 851.7%.
- Baseball also contributed to August’s revenues. Handle increased by 114.1% thanks to the Major League Baseball season which returned on July 23rd.
- The sportsbook at Penn National Gaming’s Ameristar Casino, operated by DraftKings, brought in half of Indiana’s sports betting revenues in August (just under $5 million).
- FanDuel’s sportsbook at Blue Chip Casino brought in $2.3 million. It’s handle climbed over $50.8 million.
- Other sportsbooks worth mentioning include: Penn’s Hollywood Casino Lawrenceberg (sports betting operated by PointsBet), Belterra Casino’s BetMGM sportsbook, French Lick Resort and Caesars’ Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
On September 1st, 2019, Indiana’s Gaming Commission gave approval for five casinos launch retail sports wagering. At the time, state regulations allowed for online and mobile sports wagering, but no casino had yet been approved to launch an interactive offering.
In October, 2019, Rush Street Interactive and French Lick Casino Resort launched the first legal online sportsbook in the state. Players registered and bet online or via mobile platforms, since Indiana’s regulations don’t require in-person registration at a casino.
Rush Street timed the launch to coincide with the height of the football season, the start of baseball playoffs and just before the return of basketball.
