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PlayIndiana.com: Sportsbooks get 2021 off on the right foot with nearly $350 million in January

Indiana sportsbooks opened 2021 with yet another impressive month, setting the state’s wagering record for the fifth consecutive month with nearly $350 million and posting a new high in revenue. January’s strong showing, which came as neighboring Michigan launched its sports betting market, is yet more evidence that Indiana is far from reaching its ceiling and capable of generating more than $3 billion in bets in 2021, according to analysts from PlayIndiana.
“This will be a particularly important year for Indiana’s sports betting industry,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “Illinois and Michigan, which were two feeder markets in the early days of sports betting in Indiana, will continue to grow. And Ohio is moving toward regulating sports betting, too. So sportsbooks will increasingly have to rely on in-state bettors. That said, the market continues to prove more than capable of standing on its own.”
Indiana sportsbooks accepted $348.2 million in wagers in January, according to official reporting released Friday. That is up 103.9% from $171 million in January 2019 — highlighting the industry’s dramatic year-over-year growth — and topped the previous record of $313.1 million set in December.
January’s wagering resulted in a record $29.3 million in adjusted gross operator revenue, up from $12.2 million in January 2019 and up from $24.1 million in December. The month’s bets yielded $2.8 million in state taxes.
The brisk start to the year offers a glimpse of what could come in 2021. If the growth continues through the year, the state could top $3 billion in bets, more than $200 million in revenue, and $20 million in state taxes, according to PlayIndiana projections.
“Assuming we don’t have any interruptions in the sports schedule like in 2020, a new high is almost assured in 2021,” said Dustin Gouker, analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “The biggest question is how much higher? That depends in large part on how well the market responds to increasing competition from its neighbors.”
Historically across legal jurisdictions, including Indiana last year, January tends to be relatively flat with December. But a late start to the NBA season meant that January offered the first full month of games and college basketball settled into a more robust conference schedule after a relatively sparse nonconference schedule as basketball, and bettors responded with $133.2 million in wagers, accounting for 38% of the state’s handle. Plus, January got a boost from an expanded NFL playoffs with two additional games over Wild Card weekend, including one with the Indianapolis Colts, which helped football draw $77.6 million in bets.
“Aside from the NFL’s expanded playoff, January was perhaps the most normal sports schedule since February 2020, offering our best gauge yet of where Indiana is as a market,” Welman said. “Even with increased competition from Michigan, which launched in late January, Indiana’s sportsbooks continue to perform well. Indiana’s significant interest in basketball differentiates the market from many in the U.S., and offers a positive sign for a market that is increasingly local.”
Online betting generated 85.1% of January’s handle, or $296.5 million, which was up from 84% in December. DraftKings/Ameristar Casino accounted for 35.2% of the state’s January handle with $122.6 million in bets, up from $112.7 million in December. Those bets produced $9.4 million in gross receipts, up from $5.1 million in December. FanDuel/Blue Chip Casino was second with $89.2 million in bets, up from $78.2 million, which produced $8.2 million in gross receipts.
Meanwhile, BetMGM/Belterra continues to make gains, accounting for 15.1% of the state’s handle with $52.4 million, up from $41 million in December. That yielded a $3.7 million win, up from $2.9 million.
The leaders were followed by:
- PointsBet/Hollywood Lawrenceburg ($13.5 million handle, up from $11.4 million; $1.4 million win, up from $1.2 million)
- BetRivers/French Lick Resort ($9 million handle, down from $10.6 million; 8$28,347 win, up from $803,868)
- William Hill/Tropicana Evansville ($5.1 million handle, up from $4.2 million; $543,439 win, down from $632,634)
- TheScore/Ameristar ($2.2 million handle, down from $2.8 million; $134,301 win, up from $85,721)
- Unibet/Horseshoe Hammond ($1.6 million handle, up from $1.4 million; $98,717 win, down from $108,609)
- Caesars/Horseshoe Hammond ($677,532 handle, up from $675,183; $34,008 win, up from $27,569)
- BetAmerica/Rising Star Casino ($171,253 handle, down from $209,608; $11,476 win, down from $14,505)
Meanwhile, retail sportsbooks produced $51.7 million in January wagers, up from $47.4 million in January 2020. Hollywood Lawrenceburg, nearest Cincinnati, led the retail market with a $13.4 million handle. Ameristar Casino was second with $9.6 million, followed by Horseshoe Hammond with $7.4 million.
“A year after launching, BetMGM has quietly become a major player in the state,” Gouker said. “DraftKings and FanDuel continue to be the dominant forces, but having more operators challenge the top is ultimately good for consumers.”
For more revenueinformation on Indiana sportsbooks, visit PlayIndiana.com/revenue.
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Plaza Hotel & Casino launches Stay for a Cause to benefit St. Jude’s Ranch for Children

Located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, the Plaza Hotel & Casino has partnered with the Southern Nevada charity, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, to launch Stay for a Cause.
Any guest who books a room at the Plaza Hotel & Casino for check-in prior to Dec. 31, 2025, via the Stay for a Cause hotel package will have 20 percent of the room rate automatically donated to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. Established in 1966, the nonprofit organization helps provide healing and hope to abused and at-risk children in Southern Nevada.
“The Plaza has previously held toy drives to benefit St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, and we wanted to expand our partnership this year,” said Gary Vickery, vice president of operations at the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “With Stay for a Cause, guests can enjoy a great vacation at the Plaza and make a difference in our community at the same time.”
“We are grateful to the Plaza for their generous support through this innovative program,” said St. Jude’s Ranch for Children CEO Dr. Christina Vela. “By choosing to stay at the Plaza, guests are not just enjoying the wonderful accommodations, but also contributing to providing healing and hope to abused, neglected, exploited, and/or homeless children. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Plaza and all the guests who choose to make their stay count for a greater cause.”
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Booming Games Expands into Venezuela and LATAM through Partnership with JuegaenLínea

Booming Games is excited to announce its latest collaboration with Venezuela’s leading operator, JuegaenLínea.
Booming Games, a leading provider of online casino games, has announced a strategic partnership with JuegaenLínea, one of the largest online casino operators in Venezuela and the rest of Latin America (LATAM). This partnership will allow Booming Games to distribute its portfolio of innovative and engaging games to JuegaenLínea’s extensive player base.
Booming Games has a proven track record of delivering high-quality games with stunning graphics, immersive gameplay, and exciting bonus features. The company’s games have been enjoyed by players worldwide and have received numerous industry accolades.
Daniela Parra, Senior Account Manager at Booming Games, stated: “This partnership marks a significant milestone in our expansion efforts, allowing us to reach a broader audience while strengthening our position as a leading provider of online casino games. Collaborating with one of the most respected and successful online casino operators in Venezuela and LATAM reaffirms our commitment to delivering top-tier gaming experiences across the region.”
Gerardo Alcega Founder and CEO of JuegaenLínea stated: “We are honoured to collaborate with esteemed companies like Booming Games. This partnership represents an important step in our commitment to delivering top-quality gaming experiences to our players. We are confident that this collaboration will lead to significant accomplishments and long-term success for both parties.”
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IGT and Graton Resort & Casino Celebrate Global Debut of Wheel of Fortune Trio Cabinet

IGT expands celebrated Wheel of Fortune slots portfolio with new Cash Link™ Big Money™ game at luxury Northern California casino
International Game Technology PLC and Graton Resort & Casino announced today the global debut of IGT’s Wheel of Fortune Trio cabinet featuring the new Wheel of Fortune Cash Link Big Money video slots game. Guests of the Rohnert Park, Calif. casino will be the first players in the world to experience the latest entertainment showcase from IGT’s renowned Wheel of Fortune slots brand.
“Graton Resort & Casino is thrilled to be the first property in North America to offer the newest entertainment innovation from IGT’s popular Wheel of Fortune slots brand on our gaming floor,” said Brian Green, Chief Operations Officer, Graton Resort & Casino. “Our players have a strong affinity for the Wheel of Fortune brand, and the Wheel of Fortune Trio’s community-style win celebrations and large stature are sure to drive jackpot excitement across the gaming floor.”
“Launching Wheel of Fortune Cash Link Big Money on the new Wheel of Fortune Trio cabinet with Graton Resort & Casino kicks off a year full of premier Wheel of Fortune product launches across multiple categories,” said Nick Khin, IGT President, Global Gaming. “This solution combines legendary Wheel of Fortune gameplay with compelling hardware and community-style jackpot celebrations to create something special for our customers and their players.”
The Wheel of Fortune Trio cabinet features a massive 76-inch mechanical wheel centered above three ultra-high-definition 49-inch portrait screen gaming machines with a commanding 140-inch-tall video backdrop. The cabinet will house the new Wheel of Fortune Cash Link Big Money video slots game featuring the player-preferred Cash Link coin collection feature, a Cash on Reels mechanic, a Cash Link Multiplier that can award up to 35X, and free games.
First launched in 1996, IGT’s Wheel of Fortune slots is hailed as one of the most successful slot themes of all time. Since the game’s debut, IGT has paid out nearly $3.6 billion in jackpots and minted more than 1,200 millionaires. Last year, IGT announced that it extended its licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Television to continue producing Wheel of Fortune games via a contract that extends through 2034.
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