Press Releases
PlayIndiana.com: March Madness propels Indiana sportsbooks to second-best month ever
Indiana’s sportsbooks reversed their February dip, using a completely home-grown NCAA Tournament to push monthly betting volume past the $300 million mark, according to PlayIndiana, which provides news and analysis of the state’s gaming industry.
“We expect to see high volume across most legal U.S. markets in March, but Indiana’s circumstances were unique with March Madness played entirely in Indiana,” said Jessica Welman, lead analyst at PlayIndiana. “It’s hard to know just how much it moved the needle, but March’s results were clearly fueled by a huge volume of NCAA Tournament games all in one place and by a number of fans who traveled to Indiana and then bet legally as they attended games. We may never see a betting event quite like that ever again.”
Indiana sportsbooks brought in $316.7 million in wagers in March, according to official reporting released Monday. That is the second-most for a month in Indiana and up 15.6% from $273.9 million in February. Only January’s record of $348.2 million topped March’s results, pushing Indiana’s lifetime handle to $3.1 billion since launch.
Sportsbooks generated $26.4 million in revenue, a 55.4% increase from $17 million in February, and only topped by the record $29.3 million set in January. March’s revenue yielded $2.5 million in state taxes.
Year-over-year, March’s handle was up 323.3% from $74.8 million in March 2020, a month marred by the pandemic-related shutdown of major U.S. sports, including the NCAA Tournament. Revenue rose 379.5% year-over-year from $5.5 million in March 2020.
“What a difference a year makes, even if comparing this year to last year is apples and oranges,” said Nicole Russo, analyst for PlayIndiana. “Beyond the shutdowns, so much has changed in Indiana’s landscape. Yet, the state continues to fare well in large part because its regulatory framework has been fair and unlike its neighbors in Illinois, consistent. That has created a resilient state industry able to withstand increased competition from neighboring states and a brutal pandemic.”
Online betting accounted for 88.1%, or $279.2 million, of the state’s handle, a modest decrease from 88.4% in February. $160.6 million of March’s bets were on basketball, a dramatic increase from $127.2 million in February as March Madness gripped the attention of bettors. That came even as Purdue, the lone Indiana representative in the NCAA Tournament among the state’s 10 Division I men’s programs, was knocked out in the first round.
“For a basketball-crazy state like Indiana, a dearth of local teams could have really lowered the state’s handle,” Welman said. “But it appears that the proximity of the tournament made up for a lack of Indiana representation.”
DraftKings/Ameristar Casino led the state’s operators with $111.2 million in online bets, up from $107.4 million in February and accounting for 39.8% of the state’s online handle. The month produced $8.5 million in receipts, up from $3.7 million in January. FanDuel/Blue Chip Casino was second with $92.4 million in bets, up from $70.9 million in February. That produced $6.8 million in receipts, up from $5 million.
The leaders were followed by:
- BetMGM/Belterra ($39.4 million handle, up from $33 million in January; $3.6 million win, up from $2.2 million).
- PointsBet/Hollywood Lawrenceburg ($13.1 million handle, up from $11.3 million; $1.7 million win, up from $1.3 million)
- William Hill/Tropicana Evansville ($9.5 million handle, up from $5.6 million; $879,577 win, up from $584,406)
- BetRivers/French Lick Resort ($9.2 million handle, up from $7.5 million; $829,034 win, up from $490,139)
- TheScore/Ameristar ($3 million handle, up from $2.7 million; $263,111 win, up from $180,674)
- Unibet/Horseshoe Hammond ($2.1 million handle, up from $1.8 million; $139,283 win, up from $70,125)
- Caesars/Horseshoe Hammond ($229,488 handle, down from $667,360; $1,392 win, up from -$20,062)
- BetAmerica/Rising Star Casino ($76,686 handle, down from $100,555; $1,191 win, down from $3,328)
$37.5 million in bets were placed at retail sportsbooks In March, up from $32.9 million in February. Hollywood Lawrenceburg, nearest Cincinnati, led the retail market with $10.8 million in wagers. Ameristar East Chicago was second with $6.2 million.
Operators in Indiana may also receive a boost from Illinois, where Gov. J.B. Pritzker reinstated in-person registration for that state’s online sportsbooks. That decision could make traveling across the border from the Chicago area more appealing, at least for some.
“Indiana has always been a market that has capitalized on large markets just across its borders,” Russo said. “Illinois’ decision could modestly move the needle, especially for the Chicago-area casinos that have always counted on out-of-state bettors as a significant portion of their customer base.”
For more revenue information on Indiana sportsbooks, visit PlayIndiana.com/revenue.
Stake Colombia is proud to announce its sponsorship and the incorporation of Juan Sebastián Cabal, the Colombian tennis legend, as its new ambassador. This alliance celebrates Cabal’s unparalleled career and reinforces Stake Colombia’s commitment to sports, excellence, and the Colombian community.
Juan Sebastián Cabal, an iconic figure in Colombian tennis, reached the top of the doubles world ranking in 2019, forming one of the most prominent duos of the last decade with Robert Farah. Together, they conquered Wimbledon and the US Open, were finalists at Roland Garros and the Australian Open in men’s doubles, and Cabal also won the Australian Open in mixed doubles. Furthermore, they achieved multiple victories in ATP 1000, 500, and 250 tournaments. His career is a clear example of perseverance, talent, and excellence, leaving an indelible mark on global tennis.
“Having Juan Sebastián Cabal as an ambassador is key for Stake Colombia. At a time when paddle is experiencing an explosion in popularity across the country, fostering entertainment among young people is fundamental. Supporting, connecting with the community, and offering new experiences is what drives us, and this alliance is an opportunity to truly excite both paddle and tennis enthusiasts alike,” stated Diana Otálora, Country Manager of Stake Colombia.
Beyond his impressive records and titles, Juan Sebastián Cabal embodies the fighting and resilient spirit of Colombian athletes. He has represented Colombia in three editions of the Olympic Games and has been a fundamental pillar in the Davis Cup for more than 15 years. Currently, Cabal continues his legacy in padel and sports development through his club “Padeling by Cabal,” which promotes well-being and physical activity in his hometown, inspiring new generations of athletes and strengthening national pride.
Regarding this new alliance with Stake Colombia, Cabal stated that “it is a fantastic opportunity to continue promoting the values of sport and dedication that have accompanied me throughout my career. I am excited about the idea of working together to inspire more people and support sports development in our country.”
The collaboration between Stake and Juan Sebastián Cabal is a testament to their shared passion for sports and entertainment. Through this partnership, Stake Colombia will seek to promote sports integrity and connect communities with innovative and exciting experiences.
Latest News
Buffalo Run Casino & Resort Selects QCI Go to Empower Hosts and Enhance Guest Engagement
Buffalo Run Casino & Resort has chosen Quick Custom Intelligence’s (QCI) Go, a native mobile app designed specifically for casino hosts, to elevate host productivity and deliver a superior guest experience.
QCI Go provides hosts with powerful tools including player card scanning, real-time player lookup, seamless access to QCI Meet and QCI Events, and robust task management features—all in a user-friendly mobile interface. By putting these capabilities directly in the hands of hosts, QCI Go enables faster service, deeper guest relationships, and greater operational efficiency on the casino floor.
Mary Jewett, Vice President and General Marketing at Buffalo Run Casino & Resort, expressed excitement about the implementation:
“Bringing QCI Go to Buffalo Run Casino & Resort represents a significant advancement in how we empower our hosts to serve guests. With mobile access to key player information, events, and task management, our team can deliver personalized service in real time, enhancing both the guest experience and host effectiveness.”
Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI, shared his perspective on the partnership:
“We are thrilled to deploy QCI Go at Buffalo Run Casino & Resort. By providing hosts with mobile access to the QCI platform, we enable them to deliver exceptional, timely service and foster stronger player relationships. This is a great example of how our mobile-first innovations help operators improve team productivity and guest satisfaction.”
QCI Go is part of Quick Custom Intelligence’s broader commitment to innovation in the gaming industry, providing operators with state-of-the-art tools that support host teams, streamline operations, and drive meaningful guest engagement.
BMM Testlabs (“BMM” or “the Company”), the world’s original gaming test lab renowned for exceptional product compliance and certification services, today announced that Amit Sharma, former Chief Executive Officer of its BIG Cyber business, has not been affiliated with the Company in any capacity since October 2024.
BIG Cyber is focused on delivering world-class cybersecurity solutions to the global gaming industry under the leadership of Marzia Turrini, President, iGaming & Cybersecurity at BMM Testlabs. Turrini provides executive oversight for BIG Cyber’s strategy, services, and partnerships, ensuring the highest standards of security, professionalism, and customer care.
BMM Testlabs Chief Executive Officer Martin Storm said, “We take the integrity of our brand and communications seriously. While we thank Amit for his past contributions, we want to make it clear that he no longer represents BIG Cyber, BMM Testlabs, or BMM Innovation Group in any form. Our BIG Cyber solutions business continues to grow under the trusted leadership of Marzia Turrini and our global team of experts.”
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