Regulatory Shift Loosens Licensing Rules in Indiana

Indiana’s sports betting industry. Beginning July 1, hundreds of companies that sports wagering operations—but don’t handle bets or s—will no longer need to with the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC).

This move comes as part of Gov. Mike Braun’s broader initiative to eliminate licensing mandates he considers “burdensome” or unnecessary. Shortly after assuming office, Braun directed all state agencies to review and eliminate regulations that didn’t serve the public or industry interests. The IGC concluded that its rule requiring “sports wagering registrants” (SWRs) to be licensed fell into that category.

SWRs include firms that provide auxiliary services—such as marketing, data analytics, media partnerships, or payment processing—but are not directly involved in placing or managing bets. With the rule change, companies such as advertising s, broadcasters like NBCUniversal and Netflix, ticketing platforms like Vivid Seats, and even sports entities like the Indianapolis Colts and PGA Tour will no longer need to be licensed to do business with sportsbooks in Indiana.

New Rules Mean Broader Access, Lower Costs

Eliminating these requirements opens the market to a wider pool of service providers and removes a financial barrier. SWR applicants previously paid a $500 non-refundable fee to , though these fees amounted to just over $60,000 annually over the past five years. In comparison, sportsbooks face much higher licensing costs—$100,000 to apply and $50,000 annually to renew.

“Even without IGC licensing, these firms must still comply with state and federal laws that regulate business practices and consumer protections,” Commission officials noted.

The rule change also frees up IGC resources, allowing staff to better focus oversight on entities directly involved in wagering operations. Licensed sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings remain fully responsible for vetting and managing their third-party partnerships.

Indiana’s Sports Betting Sector Keeps Growing

While Indiana’s regulatory structure is loosening for some, the state’s sports betting industry remains robust. Indiana currently has 11 online sportsbooks and 15 retail locations. With state law permitting up to three online skins per casino or off-track betting venue, the state has room for expansion, although no market has yet approached the maximum 45 online books allowed.

Despite seasonal drops after March Madness, Indiana sportsbooks posted $437.1 million in bets in April—up 2.8% from the previous year. The market saw a 9.2% hold rate, yielding $40.2 million in adjusted gaming revenue and $3.8 million in taxes.

DraftKings led the state in April with $156.5 million in wagers and $14.4 million in revenue, followed closely by FanDuel with $132.1 million and $14 million. Year-to-date, Indiana’s market has seen nearly $2 billion in wagers and $179.5 million in revenue.

Source:

“Certain companies tied to sports gambling industry won’t have to with state after July 1”, indianapublicradio.org May 27, 2025