Indiana: 11 sportsbooks could open next month, two in time for NFL kickoff

Two gaming companies announced Monday that they expect to open a total of eight sportsbooks throughout Indiana in the month of September, two of which the companies hope to open before the NFL regular season kicks off.

Ameristar Casino East Chicago expects to launch sports betting on September 1, and Horseshoe Hammond Casino expects to open its sportsbook on September 4, the casinos' operators said in press releases. 

Caesars Entertainment, which operates Horseshoe Hammond, also hopes to open six more sportsbooks throughout the state in September. Those venues will be at Harrah's Hoosier Park in Anderson; Horseshoe Southern Indiana in Elizabeth; Indiana Grand Racing and Casino in Shelbyville; Winner's Circle off-track betting locations in downtown Indianapolis; New Haven and Clarksville.

The Indiana Gaming Commission has allowed 14 places throughout the state to conduct sports betting as early as Sept. 1. A total of 11 sportsbooks could open in Indiana next month. Boyd Gaming said last week that it hopes to open sportsbooks at its Indiana casinos — Belterra in Florence and Blue Chip in Michigan City — in September, according to IndyStar. Tropicana Evansville also said its sportsbook will open in September. 

State gaming officials could not confirm any launch dates on Monday. Jenny Reske, deputy director of the Indiana Gaming Commission, said no operators have yet met all of the state's regulatory requirements.

Neither Caesars nor Penn National Gaming, which operates Ameristar East Chicago, addressed whether they will offer mobile sports wagering with the opening of their casino sportsbooks. Indiana gaming officials have previously said it may take longer to roll out mobile sports betting than retail sports betting. Reske said Monday that most operators, if not all of them, will launch retail betting first, followed by mobile betting.

Ameristar East Chicago's sportsbook will be located near the casino's Stadium Sports Bar and Grill, and will feature a betting counter, odds boards, betting kiosks and ticket writer stations. Chicago Bears legends Mike Ditka and Devin Hester will place celebratory wagers Sept. 1 to mark the sportsbook's opening, Penn National Gaming said in a press release. 

“Penn National looks forward to opening a sports book and providing our customers with another great amenity at Ameristar Casino East Chicago,” said Penn National CEO Timothy J. Wilmott. “Indiana will soon become the 12th state to legalize sports betting following the repeal of the federal ban last year, and our patrons in Northwest Indiana can expect an incredible sports wagering experience at our facility.”

“Our customers are very excited to start wagering on sports,” said Matt Schuffert, General Manager at Ameristar Casino East Chicago. “The passion for Indiana and Illinois sports teams runs deep in this region, and we look forward to becoming a destination for fans all year-round.”

Horseshoe Hammond's 5,300-square-foot sportsbook, branded as 'The Book', will launch one day before the Bears take on the Green Bay Packers in Chicago on Sept. 5 for the first game of the 2019-2020 NFL regular season. The Book will feature a high-resolution LED video wall, more than a dozen 85-inch LED televisions, six betting counters, lounge chairs and couches, Caesars said in a release. 

“This is a huge opportunity for us and for Indiana,” said Dan Nita, regional president of Caesars Entertainment, as reported by Chicago Sun Times. “We’ve worked really hard to get this ready, and we’re excited to share it with fans on both sides of the state border who have wanted this for a long time.”

“The legalization of sports betting in Indiana presents a huge opportunity for Horseshoe Hammond,” Nita stated. “We are proud to be among the first in Indiana to offer sports betting. I’m optimistic of the positive effect this will have on attracting new customers to our casino.”

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill in May that legalized sports betting in the state beginning Sept. 1. In addition to major professional sports leagues like the NFL, NBA and MLB, bets in the state will also be allowed on less popular sports like darts, cricket, rugby and sailing. Hockey, boxing, soccer and mixed martial arts will also be available to bet on. Wagers on the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL and WNBA drafts will also be available.

A full list of authorized leagues and events for sports wagering can be found on the Indiana Gaming Commission's website. Proposition bets, which are bets regarding an occurrence within a game, are also permitted.