Handball has been added to Indiana’s list of sports approved for gambling.
On Jan. 7, the Indiana Gaming Commission updated the list to make the sport available for any of the licensed online/mobile platforms. The handball organizations that one could wager on include:
- Top league and domestic cups: Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and Sweden
- European Handball Federation Champions League
- International Handball Federation World Championship
The list now includes 28 different categories of sport for wagering.
Indiana’s sports betting industry has been steadily growing since launching in late 2019. In November, the most recent month of reporting by the state, the sportsbooks handled $251.4 million, a new benchmark for the industry. It was about $100 million more than November 2019.
Since inception, Indiana books have handled nearly $1.9 billion in bets, winning $155 million for a hold of about 8%, according to analysis from Sports Handle.
Handball is just a minor sport, but it’s another meaningful addition to the betting market.
The approval of handball is timely for Indiana gambling operators. The U.S. squad is set to compete in the World Men’s Handball Championship next week, for the first time in two decades. The tournament in Egypt from Jan. 13-31 brings together teams from 32 nations.
The U.S. benefited this year from an expansion of the number of competitors, as well as not having to win a qualifying event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The favorite in the World Championship is Denmark, winner of the 2020 title. Handball players and enthusiasts in the U.S. are hoping the team’s participation will increase interest in the sport. Betting also helps.
https://twitter.com/olympicchannel/status/1332066630797549576
