The state of Indiana became the latest state to welcome legal and regulated sports betting this weekend. From September 1st, 13 different locations, including off-track betting facilities and land-casinos, were given the go-ahead to start accepting wagers on sports.
The first person to place a bet on Sunday was Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. He put $10 on the Indianapolis Colts to grab the Super Bowl title at the Indiana Grand Racing and Casino in Shelbyville.
Earlier this year, Indiana passed a law that allows people of 21 years of age and older to bet on all major league games (such as NHL, MLB, NBA and NFL) within state borders. In addition, players can wager on other sports such as boxing, cricket and golf. The new law does not make allowance for betting on high school events.
For those wondering whether it is legal to wager via mobile devices in Indiana, the answer is yes. The new law also allows this. However, none of the gambling locations across the state have been given the green light to do so yet. For the time being, players need to place their bets in person at physical locations.
Like other states, Indiana raced to start offering sports betting before the start of the NFL season on September 5th. Indiana becomes the 12th state to legalize sports betting and the first major Midwest state.