NFL Betting in Indiana: A How-To Guide

Indiana NFL Betting Guide

Here's an overview of everything you should know ahead of placing your first NFL bet in Indiana.

Choosing a Betting App

The first thing you have to do is figure out which Indiana sports betting app you want to use. Luckily for NFL fans in the state, there are plenty of options.

If you're looking to just bet on moneylines or spreads (more on that below), nearly any legal operator will get the job done. For NFL bettors looking for wagers like player props and live bets, you may want to do a little more digging. Here are some of my favorite NFL betting sites and what I think makes each stand out.

• bet365 Indiana - Best for same game parlay terms
• Fanatics Sportsbook Indiana - Best for rewards program
• Caesars Indiana - Best for daily odds boosts
• FanDuel Indiana - Best for live betting
• DraftKings Indiana - Best for player props
• BetMGM Indiana - Best for customization

Other options for NFL betting in Indiana include BetRivers, Hard Rock Bet, ESPN BET, Bally Bet, and SBK Sportsbook.

Take Advantage of Welcome Offers

Any sportsbook worth its weight will offer new customers a sign-up bonus. These Indiana sports betting promos will typically award you bonus bets that you can use to build your bankroll or will offer some type of first bet promo where you'll get your wager amount back in the event your bet goes sideways. Once you've registered, most betting sites offer ongoing promotions you can claim during the season as well.

Popular NFL Wager Types

The wager types listed below are going to be the most common and popular NFL bets the majority of Indiana bettors will be placing. I'll give a short explanation for each as well so you have an idea of the outcome you're wagering on.

• Moneyline - This is the most simple NFL bet as you're simply picking the winner of a particular game. The margin of victory and total points scored have no bearing on an NFL moneyline wager.
• Spread - With spread bets, the sportsbook is "giving" and "taking away" a certain number of points from a team's final total. If the Colts are listed at -3.5, for example, a bet on the spread would mean you need them to win by at least four points. If Indy is the underdog and listed at +3.5, they could lose by up to three points (or win outright) and your spread bet would still settle as a winner.
• Totals - Commonly referred to as "over/unders", total bets are wagers on the combined number of points between two teams. If a total is listed at 44.5, an over bettor would need at least 45 combined points while under bettors would be hoping for 44 points or fewer.
• Player Props - These wagers have exploded in popularity over the past few years and are a great way to get in on the action without being tied to the final outcome of a game. Player props are wagers on some statistical outcome, including things like touchdowns, passing yards, receptions, or rushing yards. If Michael Pittman has a receiving yardage prop at 67.5, you can still win your bet even if the Colts were to fall short in the game itself.
• Parlay - An NFL parlay is simply combining two or more wagers (called legs) into a single bet. These are popular because by combining two or more bets, the odds increase and therefore your potential payout. On the flip side, the risk increases with parlays because you need every leg to win for your wager to hit. If your parlay has four bets, you need all four wagers to win to get paid out.
• Same Game Parlay - Same game parlays are exactly what they sound like. It's a parlay built with legs all from one singular game. This could be something like taking the Colts moneyline, Jonathan Taylor to score a touchdown, and Trevor Lawrence to throw an interception.
• Futures - The most popular futures bet example would be on the winner of the Super Bowl. Futures markets are, as the name suggests, wagers on events that won't be known until later in the season. Aside from the Super Bowl, this could be bets on the AFC/NFC Champion, division winner, MVP, and so on.

Once you've picked the app you want to use and the wager you want to place, the last step is determining how much to bet. I always suggest picking one amount and sticking to it no matter what. Being disciplined with your bankroll will stop you from chasing losses and having to make new deposits over and over again. It's also imperative you bet within your means. Betting on the NFL, and any other sport, should be viewed as entertainment and not a side hustle.

Popular NFL Odds in Indiana

The majority of bettors will place the most bets and most amount of money on individual games. These NFL odds are typically only available the week leading up to a game, although DraftKings will offer odds for every NFL game as early as May after the full schedule is released. During the offseason, most sportsbooks will only have odds for futures markets as described above. Here are a few examples of the most popular odds for NFL bettors in Indiana:

As the season gets closer, more markets will become available.

Author

Cody Kutzer

@CKutzerFF

Cody Kutzer has been covering the sports betting industry for more than four years and has been losing his parlay bets for even longer. Cody currently serves as an editor and fact-checker for IndianaBets.com to ensure readers have the latest and most accurate information about all things Indiana sports betting.