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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowSports betting in Indiana continues to hit new records, as Hoosiers placed wagers worth nearly $231 million in October.
According to a revenue report released Monday by the Indiana Gaming Commission, the total amount wagered on sports—known as the handle—increased more than 11% from September, the previous record-high month.
The total sports betting handle in September was $207 million, up from the old record of $187 million in February.
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During the spring, sports betting took a dive as casinos closed as part of the COVID-19 pandemic precautions and sporting events were either canceled or postponed.
In April, sports betting in Indiana generated a record-low handle of $26.3 million. But, by August, sports betting had picked back up, with the handle hitting more than $169 million.
In October, bets on football accounted for the largest share of the handle, with wagers totaling $84.7 million. Hoosiers also wagered $61.1 million on parlay bets, $26.6 million on baseball, $10.8 million on basketball and $50 million on other sports.
According to analysts with PlayIndiana.com, a news and research organization that follows sports gambling, the record-high level of betting can be attributed to an interest in the NFL and the return of Big Ten Conference football.
“With a schedule that was more comparable to an ordinary October, Indiana’s sportsbooks fared well and offered a clearer read on where Indiana’s market stands,” Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayIndiana.com, said in a written statement. “Interest in the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana University and Notre Dame is helping as the state transitions from a market that relies on Chicago to one that is more reliant on local bettors.”
Adjusted gross revenue for the sportsbook reached $21 million in October—up from $14 million in September.
Sports wagers generated $2 million in tax revenue for the state of Indiana last month, up from $1.3 million in September.
Betting on sports became legal in Indiana in September 2019, and Hoosiers have placed wagers totaling $1.6 billion since then.
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