The Indiana Gaming Commission has cleared four companies to power mobile betting apps for their land-based partners as the state inches closer to a much anticipated Sept. 1 launch.
The firms were issued temporary vendor licenses that will allow them to enter the legal wagering market as they wait for their permanent permits to be processed.
FanDuel leads the way for the other companies with two vendor licenses. The operator will supply the technology for sportsbooks at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City and Belterra Casino in Florence. Boyd Gaming owns both properties.
Rush Street Interactive will power Blue Sky Casino at French Lick Resort, and Caesars Interactive has a permit for Horseshoe Casino in Hammond.
The fifth permit was issued to Penn Sports Interactive, allowing it to power online wagering for Penn National Gaming-operated Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg.
The Commission will meet again on Aug. 28 to approve sports betting regulations for the newly legalized market.
Horseshoe Casino Hammond Prepares To Open Sportsbook
Indiana’s largest casino, Horseshoe, has confirmed that it is putting the final touches on a 5,300-square-foot sportsbook, which will be located on its gaming floor.
The construction of the sports wagering venue is set to be completed by Labor Day, and operations might begin on Sept. 4. The timing will enable the facility to accept legal wagers for the NFL when the 2019 season kicks off on Sept. 5.
The sportsbook will be operated by Caesars Entertainment Interactive, a subsidiary of the casino’s parent company, Caesars Entertainment Corporation.
The book will feature a 100-capacity sitting area where bettors can watch various sports and tournaments on 85-inch 4k display monitors.
Talking about the new sports wagering venue, the assistant general manager for Horseshoe, Noah Hirsch, said that that the casino is excited about opening the sportsbook. According to Hirsch, the book will be a great addition to the casino, and he is optimistic that it will attract sports betting fans from the neighboring state of Illinois.
Horseshoe Hammond is one of four Caesars properties cleared to operate legal sports books in Indiana. The other three venues are Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville, and Caesars Riverboat Casino.
A Look At Indiana Sports Betting
The Hoosier State legalized sports betting in May this year when Gov. Eric Holcomb signed HB 1015 into law. The Act allows the Indiana Gaming Commission to license and regulate both mobile and retail operators in the state. According to the law, legal wagering operations can only begin on or after Sept. 1.
Since the ratification of the Act, the Commission has been working on opening the market on the first day so that operators can accept wagers when the regular football season begins.
So far, 12 venues have been issued provisional permits to operate sports betting. They include four Caesars venues, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, Belterra Casino, Blue Chip Casino, Ameristar Casino in East Chicago, French Lick Resort, and three off-track betting facilities.
Last month, the regulator issued a full list of sports that will be available to Hoosiers when regulated wagering begins. Popular sports like football, baseball, and basketball will be legal, and so will soccer, tennis, and boxing. The Commission also authorized betting on UFC, auto racing, and professional golf tournaments.
The initial cost of an Indiana sports betting license is $100,000, and the tax rate is set at 9.5 percent of the operator’s adjusted gross revenue.
The Commission has also renewed fantasy sports permits for FanDuel, DraftKings, and FantasyDraft.
