Bet365, one of the world’s biggest online sports betting and casino brands, officially announced its launch in the American state of Indiana, in partnership with the French Lick Resort.

Bet365 was founded in 2000 as part of the complete online gaming offering from British company Bet365 Group Ltd. The company’s operations include a great variety of casino, poker, sports, skill and bingo games.

Indiana became the eighth state in which Bet365 managed to expand in the United States, following launches in Kentucky, Louisiana, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Iowa and Colorado.

The company issued a statement through a spokesperson, promising players in Indiana “market leading offerings like amazing Bet Boosts, the fastest In-Game product and unique Same Game Parlays.”

The statement acknowledged that the state of Indiana is the home of the very first professional basketball game in the United States and that sports fans in this region are “renowned for their passion and loyalty.”

In December 2023, the Indiana sports betting industry reported adjusted gross revenue of 50.6 million dollars, a new monthly record for the state, while the handle went up to 503.1 million dollars, the second highest monthly amount since the state opened its legal sports betting market in September 2019.

Support for Online Casinos in Indiana

The state of Indiana still does not allow online casinos to operate legally within its boundaries, but that might change sooner rather than later as more and more entities support the legalization process.

In fact, a report commissioned by the Indiana Gaming Commission and conducted by Spectrum Group has found that the iGaming industry in the state could be able to generate revenue of up to 2.1 billion dollars over the first three years after legalization.

The study has also indicated that iGaming tax revenue over the first three years following legalization could amount to 929 million dollars for the state of Indiana. That prediction also represents a 5 percent increase on the estimations made in the previous report.

The introduction of legal online gambling has been discussed for quite some time in Indiana, with opponents claiming that online casinos would affect the activity of the land-based casinos in the state. However, the report sustains that iGaming did not have a negative impact on the more traditional forms of gaming in other American states where it was successfully introduced.

Source: “Bet365 Announces Official Launch in Indiana“. European Gaming. February 1, 2024.

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A man in Indiana was arrested earlier this week at a Shelbyville area casino on suspicion of a robbery of a gas station. The person suspected of the crime was identified with the initials M.C.S., a 34-year-old resident of Indianapolis, Indiana. A Fishers Police Department (FPD) statement reveals that the young man is held on charges of robbery and theft.

The incident dates back to Wednesday morning when officers from the FPD received a call about a robbery at the Circle K gas station on 9611 Allisonville Rd. The FPD statement reveals that the suspected robber entered the gas station and threatened the worker there at around 5:55 AM on Wednesday. The alleged robber claimed to have a gun in his possession and confirmed he was ready to use it unless the gas station employee gave him all of the money from the register.

The gas station employee complied with the robber’s demands and the robber left the venue with an undisclosed amount of money. During the incident, the worker at the gas station was not harmed and was able to call 911 while also catching a glimpse at the suspect’s vehicle.

Upon arrival, law enforcement reviewed video evidence which helped identify the suspect’s car. Using a system known as FLOCK/License Plate Reader (LPR), FPD officers were able to track the vehicle of the suspect to a casino within the Shelbyville area.

The Suspect Was Arrested

Law enforcement determined that the alleged robber was at the Horseshoe Casino in Shelbyville, in the same car that was used for the robbery. In a collaboration between the Indiana Gaming Commission as well as Shelbyville Police Department Indiana, the suspect was arrested. He was detained until FPD detectives arrived on the scene at the Horseshoe Casino.

“The accused was located at the Horseshoe Casino in Shelbyville in the same vehicle used at the scene of the robbery,“

reads a statement released by Fishers Police Department

Upon searching the suspect’s car, police uncovered money that matched the sum stolen during the Circle K gas station robbery. Additionally, law enforcement found clothing that matched the description of the robber. According to the FPD, the 34-year-old admitted to the crime after he was interviewed.

Under the current laws in Indiana, robberies are designated as a Level 5 felony, a crime that is punishable by up to six years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000. On the other hand, armed robbery, a crime in which the perpetrator uses a deadly weapon, is subject to a penalty of up to 16 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Charges for theft in Indiana are a Class A misdemeanor, with penalties depending on factors such as the value of the stolen property, whether or not the person who committed the crime has other convictions and other conditions.

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In the aftermath of former State Representative Sean Eberhart’s guilty plea to federal corruption charges, the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the integrity of the gaming industry. 

IGC Operations Remain Unscathed Amidst Corruption Allegations

Despite the gravity of the corruption case, IGC Deputy Director Jennifer Reske assured the public that the IGC’s operations would not be significantly affected. 

Eberhart’s plea involved allegations that he accepted a position with Spectacle Gaming, complete with a substantial $350,000 annual salary, in exchange for supporting Gaming Bill HEA 1015 in 2019. This bill, which had far-reaching implications for the state’s gaming industry, now stands at the center of the corruption charges.

The purported offense occurred several years ago, specifically in late 2018 and early 2019. According to legal records, during this period, Spectacle Entertainment, a gaming company, expressed interest in acquiring licenses for two Indiana-based casinos. 

In Indiana, obtaining approval for the purchase and relocation of casino licenses requires endorsement from the state’s legislators. Typically, such approvals are facilitated through the passage of bills. 

Eberhart’s guilty plea in the case, involving charges of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, could lead to a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. However, Judge Matthew P. Brookman of the Southern District Court of Indiana has not yet set a date for sentencing.

Corruption Concerns Prompt Indiana Leaders to Exclude Gaming Legislation in 2024

Legislative leaders, including House Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, have unanimously decided to exclude any gaming-related bills from the 2024 legislative agenda. The decision reflects Indiana’s commitment to restoring public confidence in the integrity of the Statehouse. 

Bray emphasized the challenges posed by corruption, asserting that it tainted the Statehouse and diminished the confidence people had in the integrity of the Statehouse.

The IGC’s alignment with this decision underscores its dedication to ensuring the gaming industry’s integrity rather than pursuing immediate legislative changes.

Deputy Director Reske reiterated the commission’s support for the US Department of Justice’s efforts in investigating Eberhart’s dealings with Spectacle. Reske affirmed that the commission highly appreciated the efforts of the Department of Justice and the initiatives they were undertaking, not only within the state but also in other states, to combat public corruption. She further expressed the commission’s commitment to providing as much support as possible.

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Financial crimes, burglaries, robberies and other criminal activities are much easier to uncover nowadays thanks to technological innovations, proactive monitoring and CCTV. Casino operators across the globe continue to invest heavily in technology to protect their online and retail operations, battling against a wide range of criminal activities, including money laundering, fraud and robberies, among others.

Earlier this week, one casino patron who visited Bally’s Evansville in Indiana, and was suspected of auto theft, was arrested, a report released by 44 News reveals. On Wednesday morning, casino security contacted law enforcement to notify them about the presence of an individual who was suspected to be involved in an auto theft.

Police units were dispatched to the Evansville casino where they identified the suspect as a 46-year-old with the initials K.S.N. The same person was suspected of a theft dating back to earlier this week, the new report reveals. It is unclear whether he was identified by CCTV footage or witnesses who were able to recognize him.

Police Officers Find Drugs, Book the Suspect in Jail

The 46-year-old suspected of the car theft agreed to a search. He was detained and police uncovered drugs in his possession. K.S.N. reportedly had a glass pipe, as well as fentanyl and meth. The person was subsequently arrested and booked in the Vanderburgh County Jail. He is reportedly facing charges related to the car theft along with drug-related charges. It is yet to be confirmed what penalty he may face if he is found guilty.

In other crime-related news, a 35-year-old man who drove his car through the fence of a solar facility that provided power to MGM Resorts recently pleaded guilty. The person caused damage to the Mega Solar Array facility located 25 miles outside Las Vegas by ramming through the fence. He then allegedly set his car on fire and fled the crime scene.

The person allegedly responsible for the damage to the solar facility entered into a guilty plea under the stipulation that he is mentally ill, KLAS reported. As a result, he accepted guilt for second-degree arson and malicious destruction of property.

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The gambling regulator in Indiana, the Indiana Gaming Commission, released its latest report, revealing details regarding the performance of sports betting operators for the month of September. The recent report reveals that the betting handle posted by regulated betting operators last month hit $404.1 million, marking a year-over-year increase.

A comparison to the $382.5 million in betting handle posted a year earlier, in September 2022, shows that this year, the handle increased by nearly 6%. On the other hand, when compared to the $355.4 million betting handle result reported in September 2021, an increase of 13.7% is observed, reaffirming an ongoing growth trajectory.

Considering the $404.1 million in betting handle reported last month, taxable sports wagering adjusted gross revenue (AGR), halted at $41.1 million. A year-over-year comparison to the corresponding period last year shows that while the betting handle was lower, taxable AGR was higher. In September 2022, taxable AGR reported by regulated sports betting operators was higher by $10 million, a total of $51.2 million. Still, the taxable AGR reported last month surpassed the result from September 2021 which was $33.9 million.

According to the newly released report by the gambling regulator, sports betting tax last month was $3,972,181. This result, when compared to the $4.9 million in sports wagering tax reported for September 2022, also marked a decrease.

Considering the start of the new NFL season last month, it’s no surprise that football posted the highest betting handle, $155.4 million. Parlay bets were also strong in September with $124.8 million in betting handle, while other sports saw $62.9 million in betting handle.

Highest Betting Handle Posted by DraftKings While FanDuel Follows Closely

DraftKings, the leading online betting operator, along with its retail partner in Indiana, Ameristar Casino, posted the highest betting handle last month, a total of $171.2 million. This resulted in $15.6 million in taxable AGR for September, bringing in nearly $1.5 million in tax revenue.

Second in line was Blue Chip Casino and its online betting partner FanDuel. Overall, the duo reported a betting handle of $124.8 million last month, the second-highest result out of all operators in the state. The taxable AGR posted by Blue Chip Casino and FanDuel last month was $15.1 million, bringing in $1.5 million in taxes.

The Commission’s latest report reveals that Belterra Casino posted the third-highest betting handle result in September, hitting $33.7 million. This resulted in $3.8 million in taxable AGR and $357,194 in taxes.

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New legislation in Indiana is aiming to ease the burden of caring for the evidence of illegal animal fighting rings in Indiana, covering expenses for caretakers while the cases wind down through the legal system.

Matching Bond to Costs

Indiana Senate Bill 423 seeks to expand the scope of “reasonable expenses” of bonds set by courts for the animals impounded during busts of illegal animal gambling rings by explicitly stating medical care, quarantine, shelter and food as costs covered by the bond.

The forthcoming legal changes are expected to facilitate the cooperation of gambling regulators with the different groups involved in the process of raiding an illegal animal gambling ring. Animal fights fall within the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC)’s oversight of every activity involving wagers.

And while such fights are illegal, they are not uncommon: over the past seven years, the IGC worked on 50 animal fighting cases, with illegal gambling rings being busted in Hendricks, Owen, Morgan, Montgomery, Wells and other counties, leading to about 2,000 birds and 20 dogs being seized.

According to IGC’s General Counsel, Dennis Mullen, the undercover Gaming Control Unit investigates, substantiates and works with Indiana’s Board of Animal Health, local police departments or sheriff’s offices, and local prosecutors while planning every sting.

“We’ll run down every tip — and it’s a really coordinated effort,” Mullen said, quoted by Indiana Capital Chronicle, explaining that due to the bond not covering the real costs on several occasions, organizations working with the regulator such as the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) ended up footing the bill.

Euthanasia Requirements Eased

Besides better matching the bond to costs, Senate Bill 423 also eases requirements for euthanasia which, according to regulators, are too limiting and present risks to other animals and humans at the moment.

The current law which specifies timelines during which animals cannot be put down and allows euthanasia only for animals suffering from extreme pain is seen as very limiting, and the amendments brought by the bill will provide an additional level of discretion.

The bill allows euthanasia at any time in cases where an animal is found to present a serious threat to other animals or people by a licensed veterinarian, or if euthanasia is seen as in the animal’s “best interest.”

The new bill will also provide civil immunity to the private professionals that make those decisions, without exonerating them from adhering to ethical standards under veterinary practice legislation and regulation.

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The regulator’s executive director himself put into question the fact that an owner of the company is from Tel Aviv while others voiced concerns that the application review process was abnormally lengthy. Many are speculating that this could be the end for NeoGames’ Indiana license.

An Unresolved Issue is the Stumbling Stone

NeoGames is operational in The Hoosier State as a player account management (PAM) services provider for the Caesars Sportsbook. However, neither NeoGames nor Caesars has publicly addressed IGC’s concerns since the regulator’s meeting on March 9. During the meeting, it was made clear that the issue hasn’t been resolved in the three years since the application was first put forward.

What had happened, was that NeoGames received its temporary license three months after application, and the review process has basically been ongoing ever since, as a full license was never issued. The regulator’s current goal is to put forward a clear-cut action plan before June when NeoGames’ ongoing temporary license expires.

Thus, NeoGames’ permanent license is not only still elusive but it now seems even less likely it will ever be granted. Since the concerns that Indiana’s gambling regulator has with the company haven’t been resolved since the application, and the issue was raised yet again, there is still an option to move forward, however – at least in theory. It isn’t clear what NeoGames’ plans are, though.

Indiana’s Market is Preparing for Shifts

In the meantime, Indiana’s gambling market is having its own woes. Multiple analyses show that the most likely reason for January’s dip in betting handle was Ohio. As punters started flooding Ohio’s operations after the state went online, The Hoosier State reported $427.2 million in betting handle. The January 2022 results broke the $500 million mark, turning into a record success for the state.

Compared to December 2022’s $431.4 million, however, the January 2023 result wasn’t all that bad, marking only about a percentage point slide. This means that although Ohio did manage to allure many punters for its online launch, it can still be good news for the industry overall, as more players can now enjoy their favorite hobby.

Ohio’s January results were received well enough by many, though. As this was practically the first month of sports betting in the state, its $1.1 billion sports betting handle was extremely good news for the market’s outlook in The Buckeye State. Almost 99.1% of that was generated by mobile sports betting, leaving no doubt as to what the driving force for the state is.

It’s not a surprise, then, that out of the 33 states (plus DC) that have sports betting, 24 states (again, plus DC) offer mobile sports betting. Nebraska, Florida, and Maine are currently getting ready to implement sports wagers, and again – two of the three states are also going to launch online, with Nebraska being the one holding back.

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