Indiana Sees Record Sports Wagering In October Amid Pandemic

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana set a new sports betting record in October even as play slowed at other casino games, according to the Indiana Gaming Commission.

Recent data shows that gamblers in Indiana placed sports bets totaling $231 million in October — an 11 percent increase over the then-record $207.5 million wagered in September, The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported. The commission said about 73 percent of October’s statewide sports wagering passed through northwest Indiana casinos or their affiliated mobile sports wagering applications.

State taxes on settled sports bets produced a record $2 million in revenue for Indiana in October, according to data.

In total, around $1.6 billion has been wagered on sports since Indiana’s sports betting industry launched in September 2019, according to the commission.

Max Bichsel, U.S. vice president of the Gambling.com Group, attributed the success of Indiana's sportsbooks in October to the simultaneous play of the NBA Finals, World Series, NFL football and Big Ten football.

“The Hoosier State’s love for football is fueling local wagering momentum. Decent performance from the Colts along with a very strong start for the Hoosiers and Boilermakers helped bring in over $84 million in football wagers for October,” Bichsel said, adding that “Excitement around football and the upcoming Master’s tournament should keep the momentum going in November, pushing Indiana toward that $250 million mark in handle.”

East Chicago’s Ameristar Casino and its DraftKings mobile affiliate continued to lead the state in sports wagering with $97 million on the books in October. Michigan City’s Blue Chip Casino and its FanDuel affiliate came in second with $66 million.

The statewide casino revenue after paying winning bets totaled $167 million in October, a 2 percent drop compared to September and a 7 percent decline related to October 2019, according to the Gaming Commission.