The Indiana sports betting industry will soon become a little more crowded following state approvals for a pair of online/mobile sportsbooks. On Monday, the Indiana Gaming Commission awarded temporary vendor licenses to Roar Digital and BetIndiana.
The approvals come ahead of a mobile launch authorization, which the IGC issues separately closer to the go-live date. Neither sportsbook has a firm date in place for launching. DraftKings, which received approval in late August, started taking its first bets in early October, which was the quickest timeline for any online/mobile book so far. There are four online/mobile sportsbooks live in Indiana.
BetIndiana
The upcoming virtual sportsbook comes from USA Sports Gaming, in partnership with Indianapolis-based Spectacle Entertainment, which owns and operates the Majestic Star Casino in Gary, Ind. Spectacle is in the process of a casino project with Hard Rock International which will result in a land-based casino in Gary. The gaming facility is expected to open in 2021.
“This is the perfect partnership for us,” Frank Ignatius, founder and president of USA Sports Gaming said in an October statement. “Like BetIndiana, Spectacle Entertainment is an independent operator in the gaming industry, born in the Midwest and connected to our local markets. We see great synergy here and we’re confident we will provide bettors in Indiana with a book unlike any other in the state.”
USA Sports Gaming is looking at other markets in the U.S. sports betting space, according to a company presser.
Roar Digital
MGM’s online sports betting arm Roar Digital, which is behind the BetMGM app in New Jersey, will launch under Belterra Casino Resort, a Boyd Gaming operated casino. The sportsbook comes under a MGM-Boyd partnership dating back to the summer of 2018.
FanDuel is currently live with online/mobile sports betting under Belterra. Under Indiana law, the casinos are allowed three internet betting skins. FanDuel also operates under Boyd Gaming’s Blue Chip Casino.
Roar Digital is a 50-50 join venture between MGM and GVC Holdings.
BetMGM, previously PlayMGM, received Nevada approval this month. It is also not live yet in Pennsylvania. Unlike in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, BetMGM can’t offer other forms of gambling in Indiana.
