On Wednesday, the Indiana Gaming Commission signed off on allowing its retail and online/mobile sportsbooks to take action on the Academy Awards, which will air on Feb. 9, 2020.
It’s the first non-sporting event approved by the IGC for wagering. Only category winners can be bet on.
The Oscars were bet on legally in New Jersey in 2019, and books in the state will do so again, but with caps on wagers, reportedly set at $1,000. It’s unclear what books in Indiana will have as a cap.
According to a report, legal books in Nevada will not be taking action this year.
Nevada sportsbooks will not be taking bets on the Academy Awards this year. According to Nevada Gaming Control Board research analyst Michael Lawton, the NGCB has not received a request from a book to offer wagers on the 2020 Oscars, slated for Feb. 9. #RJnow
— Todd Dewey (@tdewey33) January 21, 2020
The award show, which will air live but whose results are known to some people in advance, should provide a small boost to Indiana books. The state is seeing nearly 70% of wagers happen over the state’s four online/mobile sportsbooks.
Bettors can wager remotely from home while watching the show, provided sportsbooks keep betting open after the broadcast begins.
