Indiana is still hoping to get everything going before the start of the upcoming NFL season, and the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) is hard at work trying to put all of the pieces together. A few 
months after Indiana legalized sports gambling, the community now has a clearer picture of what is, and isn’t, going to be allowed. If all goes well, sports fans will see Indiana sportsbooks taking wagers as early as September 1.
This past Tuesday, the IGC published (in pdf) its full list of what gamblers can expect once wagers are allowed. Coming soon, bettors will be able to place bets on professional games in the NFL, NBA and MLB, MLS, PGA, NASCAR and other vehicle racing competitions, as well as other sports like bowling, darts, martial arts and more. Additionally, wagers will be permitted on collegiate-level sporting events, notably those in the NCAA.
The final rules that will lead to the creation of the regulated industry in the state still have to be adopted. This won’t happen until after a public comment period ends at the beginning of August, which doesn’t give regulators much time to implement policies if they want to meet the September 1 deadline. If the draft that was released earlier this month stays intact, wagers will be allowed at sportsbooks and betting windows or through kiosks located at certain gambling venues. Online gambling, while approved by lawmakers, won’t be added until a later date.
Ten casinos in Indiana have already been given provisional licenses to launch their sportsbooks while their applications for permanent licenses are being reviewed. Majestic Star Casino in Gary and Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun were the only two venues not to request a sports gambling license.
Caesars Entertainment, which operates four casinos and three off-track venues in the state, is ready for regulators to pull the trigger. As soon as the green light is given, the company’s properties will launch their sports gambling operations, as all seven are expected to have their facilities upgraded ahead of the upcoming official launch. Another venue, previously the Horseshoe Southern Indiana, is undergoing an expansion and, when complete, will be called Caesars Southern Indiana. That rebranding will come accompanied by a new sportsbook.
