Indiana to kick off sports betting at three casinos on Sunday

As early as Sunday, sports betting will be legal in Indiana at three sites within the state. The Indiana Gaming Commission Wednesday unanimously approved emergency rules that will allow three casinos to offer sports betting on Sept. 1 with two others to follow within the week.

Sara Gonso Tait, executive director of the commission, told members that her staff has been working hard since to develop the emergency rules that will allow Indiana to join the ranks of states allowing sports wagering. “In order to capture the black market, we have to have a competitive regulatory market,” she said, according to The Statehouse File.

The rules will be in place for 90 days with an option to extend them for another 90 days to give the commission enough time to finalize them.

Hoosiers can place bets on Sunday at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino in Shelbyville, Ameristar Casino Hotel in East Chicago, and the Hollywood Casino & Hotel in Lawrenceburg. The Horseshoe Hammond will take sports bets on Sept. 4 while the French Lick Resort and Casino will start up its operations on Sept. 6.

Horseshoe Southern Indiana will open its new sports betting venue, called The Book, on Sept. 12. The casino will rebrand under a new name, Caesars Southern Indiana, when the $85 million land-based casino debuts in December 2019. The Book will initially be offered in Horseshoe’s longtime riverboat location but will transition later this year into Horseshoe’s new land-based casino, which is under construction. The venue itself will be equipped with betting windows and several large television screens.

“Sports betting brings a new type of gaming fun and excitement to Horseshoe and is part of our ongoing commitment to offer elevated entertainment experiences to our guests,” Horseshoe Southern Indiana Senior Vice President and General Manager Brad Seigel said in a press release. “This is a big opportunity for us and we hope to become a favorite spot for sports fans throughout Kentuckiana.” 

Indiana Grand will be Caesars Entertainment’s first property in the Hoosier State to offer legalized sports betting. The sportsbook, Winner’s Circle Race, Sports, Pub, will be located in the heart of the casino, utilizing the footprint of the existing off track betting and dining venue. The casino says it will offer an upgraded entertainment experience including, state-of-the art audio and visual technology.

In Anderson, Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino’s sportsbook, The Book, is set to open on Sept. 19 following the completion of new construction. Located adjacent to The Terrace Showroom, the sports betting venue will overlook the track with access to food and beverage outlets. The Book will also offer state-of-the art audio and visual technology.

In addition to sportsbooks at the casino and racetrack properties, off track betting properties will also unveil sportsbooks under the newly renamed Winner’s Circle Race, Sports, Pub brand. The downtown Indianapolis Winner’s Circle has a tentative opening date of Sept. 3, with the Clarksville Winner’s Circle to follow on Sept. 12 and New Haven Winner’s Circle set to offer sports wagering to the greater Fort Wayne market on Sept. 19.

“Our properties are pioneering sports betting in Indiana, and we’re thrilled to offer sports fans a brand-new way to experience their favorite events while providing a legal platform to make sports bets,” said Ron Baumann, senior vice president and general manager of Indiana Grand, as reported by Fox59.

Sports enthusiasts in Indiana will now be able to make legal wagers on sports like professional football, basketball, baseball, and golf – in addition to more than 100 other sporting events throughout the year. “We expect to see new guests with the introduction of sports betting, which in turn creates more visitation and tourism for our host communities,” said Trent McIntosh, Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s senior vice president and general manager. “We’re thankful for the support from our Indiana legislators and the leadership within the counties that we operate. This is a very exciting time for us.”

Similar to casino gaming and horse racing, sports bettors will have an opportunity to earn rewards and take advantage of special experiences and offers with Caesars Rewards, one of the largest casino and entertainment affinity programs in the world.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill into law in May that legalized sports gambling in the Hoosier State beginning Sept. 1. In April, the Indiana General Assembly approved sweeping changes to the state’s gambling laws. In addition to sports betting, lawmakers passed a law allowing the move of two Gary casinos from Buffington Harbor to an inland site near Interstate 90 and a separate, new casino in Vigo County.