Indiana Sports Betting Handle Soars To Nearly $150 Million In November 2019

In November 2019, Indiana’s sports betting handle surged to almost $150 million.

Posted on December 10, 2019Last Updated on December 11, 2019

Legal sports betting in Indiana almost reached $100 million in bets in October 2019. However, the numbers for November not only exceeded this accomplishment but also established a considerably higher standard.

In November 2019, the total handle exceeded $147.27 million. The state’s sportsbooks collected nearly $9.3 million in revenue, indicating a decrease from the $11.54 million of the previous month.

Despite this, it’s significant to note a 61% surge in handle from $91.7 million in October. If this growth rate persists, it won’t be too long before the first month hitting $200 million.

November sports betting figures data for Indiana

After three months of sports betting being legalized in Indiana, certain trends are starting to show. Specifically, online sportsbooks are proving to be successful in the state.

In November, mobile betting brought in $96.21 million, making up 65% of the total handle. Despite only three apps being active in Indiana, they almost doubled the revenue produced by the 14 retail locations.

DraftKings once again reigned supreme in the mobile betting sector for the month.

In Indiana, all three mobile operators completed their first full month of operations. Even though BetRivers and DraftKings were functional for the majority of October, they did not start their operations until the third day of the month.

FanDuel didn’t begin operations until late October, but by November, it was running at full capacity alongside the other two. The total amount bet on these three sports betting apps in Indiana during November was:

  • BetRivers: $8.39 million
  • DraftKings: $64.08 million
  • FanDuel: $23.73 million

Once again, DraftKings surpassed BetRivers and FanDuel combined in accepting more bets, assisting Ameristar East Chicago in maintaining its leading position in total handle from all sources.

Ameristar once again leads in retail sports betting handle.

Mainly due to its partnership with DraftKings, the Ameristar was responsible for almost 50% of all statewide bets in November. A detailed breakdown by facility is provided below.

Casino Handle Retail Sports Betting Handle Mobile Sports Betting Handle Revenue* Taxes (9.5%)
Total $147.27 million $51.07 million $96.21 million $9.29 million $883,361
Ameristar (DraftKings) $72.07 million $7.99 million $64.08 million $4.32 million $410,048
Belterra $920,344 $920,344 N/A $88,024 $8,362
Blue Chip (FanDuel) $28.19 million $4.47 million $23.73 million $1.98 million $188,170
Caesars Southern Indiana $1.41 million $1.41 million N/A $84,310 $8,009
French Lick Resort (BetRivers) $9.63 million $1.24 million $8.39 million $487,429 $46,306
Harrah’s Hoosier Park** $6.97 million $6.97 million N/A $463,958 $44,076
Hollywood Lawrenceburg $8.78 million $8.78 million N/A $861,360 $81,829
Horseshoe Hammond $12.96 million $12.96 million N/A $671,826 $63,823
Indiana Grand*** $4.19 million $4.19 million N/A $199,083 $18,913
Tropicana Evansville $2.01 million $2.01 million N/A $125,452 $11,918
Rising Star $110,300 $110,300 N/A $20,076 $1,907

The adjusted gross revenue (AGR) is the revenue after necessary adjustments have been made.

The statistics for Harrah’s Hoosier Park incorporate data from Winner’s Circle OTBs in Indianapolis and New Haven.

The figures for Winner’s Circle OTB in Clarksville are included in the Indiana Grand.

The Ameristar surpassed all its competitors. The casino’s total handle escalated to $72.07 million, reflecting a 56% rise from the previous month’s $46.16 million.

Operators in Indiana continue to enjoy the benefits of the college football and NFL seasons. However, the ongoing increase in betting activity is also being influenced by other sports.

Evaluation of Indiana’s November sports betting handle by sport

College football and the NFL were responsible for around 39% of Indiana’s total handle in November, marking a decrease of about six percent from October.

In the past month, basketball bettors in the Hoosier State exceeded wagers of $33.62 million, helping to cover the difference. Additionally, parlays involving assorted sports generated another $38.66 million.

The expansion of basketball betting benefits sportsbooks. Even though the college football and NFL seasons are nearing their end, their two most important annual events are still to come.

The college football playoffs, NFL playoffs, and Super Bowl LIV are anticipated to be some of the largest gambling events of the year. This could be particularly significant in Indiana, where as many as four new mobile sportsbooks might be introduced by Super Bowl Sunday.

Indiana is currently in the season of further growth.

Sportsbook operators are expected to roll out unique promotions related to upcoming events. The fusion of major games and marketing tactics could potentially result in the most lucrative month for sports betting in Indiana. It could even see Indiana surpassing the notable landmark of $200 million in a single month.

So far, each month has set a new record for legal sports betting in Indiana. It remains uncertain if this trend will persist into December. However, should it continue, reaching a handle of $200 million could be feasible.

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Derek Helling

Derek Helling, a lead writer for PlayUSA and the manager of BetHer, graduated from the University of Iowa in 2013. He specializes in reporting on the confluence of sports, business, and law.

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