DraftKings and BetRivers mobile sports betting apps went live within hours of each other on Oct. 3. What are the advantages to being one of the first two online sportsbooks to launch in the Indiana sports betting market? Let’s take a look.

With at least eleven more online sportsbooks to join the fray in the coming months, DraftKings and BetRivers have some work to do to acquire customers and secure their place as a leader in the market.

The Hoosier State joined the likes of high profile states with the launch of online sports betting, including:

• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• West Virginia

DraftKings and BetRivers, and their retail partners, Ameristar Casino and French Lick Casino, respectively, have a considerable advantage by becoming the first online sports betting options in the state.

By being the only game in town, Indiana bettors will have only two choices to place an online bet.

And if the customer has an iPhone, that choice narrows to one: DraftKings. There isn’t an iOS app available for BetRivers yet.

The period of being the only mobile sportsbooks available in the market won’t last very long, though. When Indiana allowed the opening of retail sportsbooks, four of them started accepting bets on the very first day.

In total, seven land-based sportsbooks opened in the first week of September. Indiana now features 13 retail sportsbook locations after just over a month of legalized betting.

If this efficiency is any indication of how quickly online sportsbooks will release in the state, then DraftKings and BetRivers might have the market to themselves for only a few days.

Let’s examine the importance of having one of the first online sportsbooks in Indiana and how the two mobile sports betting apps must take advantage of this golden opportunity.

Online Sports Betting In Indiana

Undoubtedly, area bettors are ecstatic that two online betting options exist, especially as betting on the NFL football season is heating up.

By offering the first online sportsbooks in the state, DraftKings and BetRivers will have a chance to corner the market and acquire as many customers as possible with little competition.

Those in Indiana looking to place an online sports wager will have no choice but to use DraftKings or BetRivers unless they plan to travel to a retail sportsbook.

This should drive plenty of bettors to one of the online sportsbooks available in Indiana. It’s been shown through other states that online betting is more popular than going to land-based spots.

Of course, both books should perform well for the time that they are the only sportsbooks offered, but they should have higher expectations than that.

DraftKings and BetRivers need to fight each other to gain as many customers as possible right now. Then they can fight the competition to keep their new customers’ business over the long term.

There are several ways French Lick and BetRivers can do this.

Indiana sports betting bonus offers

A solid welcome bonus is a great way to grab the attention of potential new customers. Of course, DraftKings and BetRivers will be competing against each other’s welcome bonus.

A welcome offer that includes a deposit match or a bonus first wager on the sportsbook is relatively customary. The most successful online sportsbooks in the US offer at least one of these two bonuses for those who join.

Right now, Indiana bettors can choose from one of these bonus offers:

• DraftKings – $200 bonus bet
• FanDuel – $250 first-deposit match

The main goal for DraftKings and BetRivers should be to appeal to as many gamblers as possible for as long as they have the market to themselves. Free money would certainly help achieve that objective.

Indiana sportsbooks focus on customer satisfaction

Besides acquiring customers, DraftKings and BetRivers should be preparing how to keep them satisfied.

The best way to accomplish this is to provide a wide variety of promotions, bet incentives, and excellent customer service.

As an Indiana sports bettor, you will benefit as more online sportsbooks enter the playing field. Lines will be more competitive, offers will be plentiful, and your value as a customer will become more important to online sportsbooks. That will bode well in terms of promotions and incentives, such as odds boosts.

Indiana sports betting options

Another important consideration as the first two sportsbooks begin accepting bets, is betting options. With both sportsbooks operating in other states, bettors will find a full slate of sporting events and bet types.

What may differ, however, are the odds each sportsbook offers. For now, DraftKings and BetRivers will be competing against each other. But not too long from now, they will be competing against at least 11 different online books. That means popular betting options and competitive lines are a must.

French Lick First To Indiana Online Market

Releasing the first online sportsbooks is just the beginning for DraftKings and BetRivers in Indiana. It has proven to be beneficial in NJ, where both books operate.

DraftKings Sportsbook was the first mobile app in the Garden State. It used its initial success to maintain its standing as one of the top producing sportsbooks more than a year later.

DraftKings went live in NJ in Aug. 2018 and was the only online platform for nearly the entire month. It made almost $3 million in revenue in its first month.

In September 2018, with several other competitors available for download, DraftKings still held the top position. This time, it earned around $8.5 million for its retail partner, Resorts Casino in Atlantic City.

Although a quick start doesn’t necessarily guarantee long-term production, it sure doesn’t hurt. DraftKings was able to make a splash early on and then sustained it moving forward.

While having the first online option is undoubtedly helpful, FanDuel showed in NJ that it’s not everything. FanDuel’s online sportsbook released almost a full month after DraftKings and has had similar success.

Mobile betting options key to sports betting market success

An established and active retail sportsbook is great, but it’s clear the money and the majority of wagers are trending toward online books. In NJ, online options account for over 80% of bets during some months.

Even though the scale of wagers isn’t on the same level, sports betting in WV is doing the same. The Mountain State now has two online sportsbooks, and it’s evident that mobile is the preferred way to gamble.

As online betting expands in Indiana, both DraftKings and BetRivers will be hoping it benefits from being first.

Regardless, bettors in Indiana have an exciting few months ahead of them with online betting kicking off during the heart of the football season.