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July Surge Sends Indiana Sportsbooks Past $1 Billion in Lifetime Bets, According to PlayIndiana
Indiana’s retail and online sportsbooks posted their best month since March, as the opening of baseball and the reopening of the NBA season sent betting activity soaring, according to PlayIndiana. Even with just eight days of major sports, sports bettors wagered $70.9 million in July, up 137.9% from the $29.8 million sportsbooks accepted in June and sending the state’s lifetime handle past $1 billion.
“Indiana’s sportsbook operators have proven resilient in the face of a pandemic that completely upended the sports betting model, along with so much else,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst at PlayIndiana.com. “The industry is closing on a return to a more normal market that has the potential of a huge surge with a full month of baseball, basketball, and hockey and the potential return of football nearing.”
July’s handle, reported Monday, was Indiana’s best since it posted $74.8 million in March. July’s bets produced $6.7 million in adjusted gross revenue, up 127.9% from $2.9 million in May, and yielded $632,554 in tax revenue for the state.
Despite the jump, bets were still off by $90 million from the expectations of an ordinary July, according to PlayIndiana estimates. Since March, Indiana’s sportsbooks have lost out on nearly $700 million in wagers.
The days of subpar months should end in August, though. Assuming a full schedule of baseball, the NBA, and NHL — baseball hit $14.5 million in July bets and basketball another $5.8 million — bettors will have more to draw their interest than in a typical August.
“If the leagues remain healthy, August could help sportsbooks make up some lost ground,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “But the industry is not out of the woods yet. College football and the NFL still have challenges to overcome, and a significant loss of the football calendar would be a huge hit to sportsbooks.”
The July rebound pushed lifetime wagers to $1.03 billion since Indiana launched sports betting in October 2019, a milestone that should have been surpassed in spring.
Indiana’s sportsbooks have also tallied $84.9 million in revenue and $8.1 million in tax revenue since launch, putting more milestones in reach by the industry’s first birthday.
“Considering the obstacles Indiana’s sportsbooks have had to navigate, hitting the $1 billion milestone in 10 months is impressive,” Welman said. “If major sports can continue, and football returns, it won’t be long before the state surpasses $2 billion.”
After generating 98% of June’s bets, the online market accounted for 91.1%, or $64.5 million, of July’s handle. DraftKings/Ameristar Casino topped the online market again with $32.9 million in bets, up from $18.2 million in June. That produced $2.2 million in gross receipts, up from $1.6 million. FanDuel/Blue Chip Casino followed with $24.2 million in bets.
Retail sportsbooks are off to an expectedly slow start after reopening in June, producing a $6.3 million handle in July. Hollywood Lawrenceburg’s $2.7 million handle, up from $323,968 in July, easily led the retail market.
“DraftKings and FanDuel have very noticeably ramped up their battle for online dominance with each pouring millions into advertising campaigns, as sports betting continues to move more online,” Gouker said. “Hollywood Lawrenceburg’s handle is impressive, but as long as the pandemic rages on, in-person betting will be diminished. But operators with robust online products should continue to thrive.”
About the PlayUSA.com Network:
The PlayUSA.com Network and its state-focused branches is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the U.S.
SOURCE PlayIndiana.com
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Win Systems to showcase the future of connected gaming at the Southern Amusement & Entertainment Expo
Win Systems, a leading provider of technology for the gaming and entertainment industry, will participate in the Southern Amusement & Entertainment Expo (SAEE), which will take place on August 19–21 in Georgia, USA. This event, a benchmark for the distributed gaming market in the region, will serve as the ideal platform for Win Systems to showcase its comprehensive and cutting-edge ecosystem of solutions.
At SAEE Expo, the company will present WIGOS One, a flexible and scalable casino management system that can be seamlessly adapted to the specific requirements of the distributed gaming market in Georgia. WIGOS One enables operators to monitor and manage multiple venues and gaming terminals under a single, centralized platform, allowing real-time tracking of player activity, integration of loyalty and bonusing programs, and access to advanced analytics for strategic decision-making. The system supports the transition from anonymous play to a fully connected environment, enhancing operational control and opening new opportunities to boost player engagement and retention.
Additionally, Win Systems will present Win Up Wallet, a secure mobile solution that allows players to connect to gaming machines, access rewards, and manage their funds directly from their smartphones — eliminating the need for physical tickets or cash. In line with its digital-first approach, and in partnership with LoopPay, the company will also introduce a feature that enables players to redeem their winnings digitally through gift cards, without requiring TITO tickets or kiosks, while still offering the option to redeem traditional physical gift cards.
“We’re excited to bring our latest innovations to the SAEE Expo,” said Hunter Kampf, Country Manager USA & CANADA. “Georgia is a strategic market for distributed gaming, and WIGOS One precisely meets its unique requirements. Our connected solutions will enable operators to simplify management, reduce operational costs, and strengthen relationships with their players through real-time data and seamless digital tools.”
With a focus on integration, data-driven decision-making, and digital transformation, Win Systems continues to lead the way in offering robust and scalable solutions for today’s dynamic gaming landscape. The company’s presence at SAEE underscores its strong commitment to the U.S. distributed gaming market and its ongoing efforts to support local operators with the most advanced tools available.
Inspired Entertainment, Inc., a leading B2B provider of gaming content, technology, hardware, and services, is pleased to announce the launch of V-Play Football Brazil with EstrelaBet, a leading Brazilian gamingtech company. The integration is powered by Altenar, a leading sportsbook platform provider for licensed operators around the world.
This launch marks an exciting new chapter in Inspired’s expansion across Brazil delivering its market-leading Virtual Sports content to a local, LATAM focused operator. V-Play Football Brazil, designed specifically to capture the flair, passion, and energy of Brazilian football, provides fast-paced betting action with high-frequency, ultra-realistic match simulations.
“We’re thrilled to bring V-Play Football Brazil to EstrelaBet’s customers,” said Brooks Pierce, President and Chief Executive Officer of Inspired. “Brazil has a deep-rooted passion for football, and our latest Virtual Football product is tailor-made for that audience. This launch with EstrelaBet, through Altenar’s dynamic platform, represents a powerful combination of cutting-edge technology, local insight, and premium virtual content. It’s a major milestone in our commitment to growth in Brazil.”
EstrelaBet, known for its strong brand presence in Brazil and innovative approach to player engagement, continues to invest in new ways to enhance its sportsbook offering. V-Play Football Brazil is now available at estrela.bet.br, optimized for desktop and mobile platforms, as well as the Android app.
“Inspired’s V-Play Football Brazil delivers the quality, authenticity, and excitement that our players expect,” said Fellipe Fraga, CBO (Chief Business Officer) at EstrelaBet. “The launch of this product aligns perfectly with our mission to offer customers a dynamic and differentiated sports betting experience. We’re excited to bring Brazilian fans a product that feels made just for them.”
The launch was made possible through Altenar, whose scalable and flexible sportsbook platform supports operators across more than 30 countries.
“We are proud to power this exciting launch between Inspired and EstrelaBet,” said Antonis Karakousis, Director of Operations at Altenar. “Inspired’s V-Play Football Brazil is a perfect match for the Brazilian market, and this rollout exemplifies Altenar’s ability to support rapid integration and localization of best-in-class content. We look forward to seeing strong engagement and performance from this partnership.”
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced a new multi-year partnership with Hard Rock Bet, making it the official sportsbook of the Buccaneers. As a Florida based brand and Florida’s only legal sportsbook, Hard Rock Bet will be recognized as the team’s newest Pewter Partner, the organization’s most prestigious partnership level. This union will elevate gameday experiences with exclusive promotions and offers for Buccaneers fans across the Tampa Bay region and beyond.
“We’re always looking for ways to enhance the gameday experience and evolve with the needs of our fans,” said Buccaneers Chief Commercial Officer Atul Khosla. “With sports betting becoming an increasingly exciting part of the entertainment landscape, Hard Rock Bet has quickly emerged as an essential gameday touchpoint for our fans. This partnership brings the best of both worlds — exclusive opportunities and unique in-game app experiences — giving fans more ways to engage, whether they’re watching from home or cheering from their seat at Raymond James Stadium.”
The multi-faceted partnership includes a variety of co-marketing elements with marquee signage, digital, CRM, and social campaigns throughout the season. In addition, Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook players will receive ‘money can’t buy’ experiences at Raymond James Stadium and exclusive VIP access to Buccaneers off-site events. Through the partnership, Bucs fans will also have the opportunity to receive exclusive promotions in stadium and on the Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook app.
“This partnership will elevate the way fans connect with the Buccaneers and bring our players closer to the action through exclusive experiences and unparalleled access,” said Nick Menas on behalf of Hard Rock Bet. “We’re seeing the excitement around the team in the app – as the Buccaneers are among our most heavily bet teams – and are confident we’ll continue to see that level of engagement and enthusiasm throughout the partnership.”
Hard Rock Bet will also maintain a significant presence on Bucs Beach for select games, the beach-themed activation area located on the south side of Raymond James Stadium, beginning with the team’s 2025 regular season home opener Week 3 against the New York Jets. Locally, fans can also wager on the Buccaneers at the Hard Rock Sportsbook and kiosks at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.
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