On Thursday shortly after 11 a.m. EST, Indiana’s first legal online/mobile sportsbook launched.
A platform called BetRivers debuted in the Hoosier State. The platform, accessible via in.betrivers.com, comes from Rush Street Interactive, a player in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania online sports betting markets. RSI is an offshoot of Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming, which has brick-and-mortar casinos in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New York.
Rush Street, which doesn’t have a casino in Indiana, partnered with the locally owned French Lick Resort.
“What better time to launch than in the height of football season, the start of baseball playoffs, and just before basketball returns?” said Richard Schwartz, President of Rush Street Interactive. “Our experience and success in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York allows us to zero in on what players want — a massive range of sports betting options, through reliable and scalable technology, with responsive customer service and fast payouts.”
RSI opted to go with the BetRivers brand in Indiana. It also uses the Play SugarHouse brand in Pennsylvania, as it has a brick-and-mortar casino in Philadelphia called SugarHouse Casino.
Remote registration
Like the BetRivers site in Pennsylvania, gamblers in Indiana can register remotely. In other words, you don’t have to go to a brick-and-mortar casino to sign up.
RSI, also French Lick’s retail betting partner, said in a presser that it will be offering a match bonus up to $250 on a player’s first deposit. There’s a 1x play-through requirement.
French Lick’s retail book opened in early September.
“We are excited to make history in the state of Indiana,” Schwartz added. “As a Chicago-based business and affiliate of the trusted and market-leading Rivers Casino in Illinois, we are proud to expand our trust into Indiana. We are thankful for the Indiana Gaming Commission giving Rush Street Interactive their vote of confidence and authorizing us to launch online sports betting in the state.”
RSI’s sports betting odds come from Kambi, under a deal brokered in mid-2018.
DraftKings, which partnered with Ameristar East Chicago, was also set to launch Thursday. An email from the company indicated a noon launch. The Ameristar property is operated by Penn National Gaming. DraftKings received its state approval to launch mobile on Wednesday, while RSI received its green light on Sept. 25.
Other online/mobile sportsbooks are expected to launch this fall, including platforms from FanDuel, Caesars Interactive Entertainment, and William Hill.
