Doug Bonjour is a veteran sportswriter with more than a decade of experience, including in the realm of sports betting. He’s written for the New York Times, Associated Press, CBS Sports and Hearst Connecticut Media...
Read Full BioIndiana has eased licensing requirements for suppliers connected to sports betting in the state.
The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) recently announced that as of July 1, hundreds of companies connected to sports betting in the state will no longer need licenses to offer their services.
This comes after Gov. Mike Braun ordered all state agencies to eliminate any licensing rules that were deemed duplicative, burdensome, or not in the public’s or industry’s best interests.
Commission officials contend these companies pose minimal risk and are already adequately covered by state and federal laws.
As part of the change, companies will no longer be required to pay annual licensing fees to the state, which averaged approximately $60,000 over the last five years. Officials say that money can be reallocated to foster growth and innovation in other parts of the industry.
Marketing Affiliates, Payment Processors Among Indiana Suppliers Covered
The updated policy relaxes the requirements for sports wagering registrants (SWRs), which are companies that provide goods or services related to sports betting but are not directly involved in operations. This includes entities such as marketing affiliates, payment processors, and gaming data firms, as well as global media brands (Facebook, Google, TikTok, Twitter) and professional sports teams (Indianapolis Colts, Indianapolis Pacers).
What it does not include are core technology platform providers like geolocation tools, compliance services, and anti-money laundering specialists.
States Seek to Speed Up Supplier Licensing
Whereas online sports betting expansion has been rapid, iGaming is still only legalized in seven states: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
As more states like Indiana seek to join the market, lawmakers have proposed regulations with varying levels of complexity. Many recent iGaming bills, for instance, have included provisions that suppliers — and specific games — who have already been approved in other states with a strong regulatory track record should receive provisional approval immediately.
In Illinois, under the Illinois Internet Gaming Act, the regulator is required to issue a temporary license within 30 days to a company that “holds an equivalent license or temporary license under hte Sports Wagering Act or, otherwise, has equivalent licenses in connection with Internet gaming in another U.S. jurisdiction with licensing standards similar to those established under this Act.”
Similarly, Nevada, the gambling capital of the United States, has sought to expedite regulatory approvals for retail games. Gaming manufacturers stated in 2023 that delays in the approval process had caused significant financial harm.
Indiana Lawmakers Push to Legalize iGaming
Earlier this year, lawmakers also discussed introducing iGaming and a digital lottery to the Hoosier State, but House Bill 1432 stalled in the Ways and Means Committee.
Rep. Ethan Manning, the bill’s author, estimated that the online casino games and digital lottery, coupled with proposed betting tax hikes, could generate more than $300 million annually in additional revenue.
House Speaker Todd Huston described the bill as complicated, noting there were a lot of conflicting industry interests. Opponents also expressed concerns about potential revenue losses for retail casinos and the physical lottery due to cannibalization.
