Indiana Sports Betting Gets Boost From Mobile Gaming in October
Published November 15, 2019 by Elana K
Mobile sports betting launched in Indiana in October, and with it the state saw a 161% increase in its handle when compared to September.
Indiana sports betting had a terrific month in October with a $91.7 million handle, a 160% increase from September. The reason behind the huge spike? Mobile sports betting launched in October.
Draftkings was the king of sports betting, generating a nearly $40 million handle and 43% of the state’s entire coup. BetRivers came in second with a $6.3 million handle while FanDuel Sportsbook took in $2.4 million in wagers — although to be fair, the latter only launched at the end of the month. The most popular sport was, unsurprisingly, football, with 45% of all bets placed on NFL and college games.
Competition on the Horizon
October sports betting earned operators $11.5 million in revenue, and state coffers took in $1.1 million in tax revenue. The hope is that the industry will continue to grow, however, there may be some competition should Illinois, Ohio, and other neighboring states move forward with sports betting.
Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for Play Indiana, commented, "Indiana is so far ahead of its neighbors in Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan, that the Hoosier State is well on its way to establishing itself as the gambling capital of the Midwest."
While that may be true at this point, it may change when neighboring states jump on the bandwagon. As of now, Kentucky and Illinois are in prime position to get sports betting up and running, and more will undoubtedly follow. However, Indiana’s headstart certainly gives it an advantage. The true test will be once nearby states launch their own industries. For now, Indiana will have at least a few months of a relative monopoly, enjoying wagers placed from state residents and those placed by visiting neighbors.
