On Thursday at 10 a.m. local time at the Blue Chip Casino in northwest Indiana, FanDuel unveiled its branded retail sportsbook, with Chicago Bears legend Brian Urlacher placing the ceremonial first bet. He reportedly took the Bears to beat the Green Bay Packers, a game that will be played Thursday evening.
FanDuel, an offshoot of Betfair Interactive US, is the leading online/mobile sports betting platform in New Jersey. In Indiana, FanDuel, along with its competitors, isn’t yet authorized to go live with internet gambling, but that’s expected to begin in a matter of weeks, or within a couple short months.
FanDuel is also a sports gambling partner with the Belterra Casino Resort, which is slated to open its southeast Indiana sportsbook on Sept. 9.
Both of FanDuel’s partners are Boyd Gaming casinos. Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming and FanDuel announced a sports betting partnership back in August 2018.
Blue Chip prospect
The FanDuel sportsbook at the Blue Chip Casino was the sixth retail sportsbook to open in the state, with the first three coming on Sunday. Gov. Eric Holcomb placed the first bet at Indiana Grand.
Indiana was the 13th state to begin legal sports betting with the openings over the Labor Day weekend. The French Lick Resort, which partnered with Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive, will make it seven on Friday. A total of 14 properties statewide have been issued a temporary certificate of authority for sports betting. Even with a certificate, the Indiana Gaming Commission must give each casino what it calls a “retail go live authorization” as the final green light.
So far, 10 properties have been given a “go live” stamp of approval.
Here’s a look at some of the best photos of FanDuel’s retail launch at Blue Chip:
Take a peek inside our new @FDSportsbook before the grand opening tomorrow at 10:00am. 👀#FanDuel #BlueChipCasino pic.twitter.com/cYxToNVjwv
— Blue Chip Casino (@bluechipcasino) September 4, 2019
Here at the opening of the Fan Duel Sportsbook at the Blue Chip Casino here in Michigan City. Some looks inside: pic.twitter.com/0SNbGZR3ki
— Jack Parodi (@jack_parodi) September 5, 2019
In true #Bears spirit, Former @ChicagoBears linebacker @BUrlacher54 is here to help @bluechipcasino celebrate the reveal of their new sports betting area, FanDuel Sportsbook.
Whose ready for the game tonight? We know where we'll be watching it!@NFL #DaBears #BearDown @NBCSBears pic.twitter.com/kbUWdvdz1q
— LaPorteCounty.Life (@LPCLife) September 5, 2019
Brian Urlacher is ready to open the sports book at Michigan City’s Blue Chip with a bet on the Bears pic.twitter.com/3AzwNrZvks
— Robbie Weinstein (@rwweinstein) September 5, 2019
