INDIANA - Hoosier gamblers and visiting bettors will have the chance to bet this year on a non-gaming event that's been made legal to bet on, the Oscars!
Jennifer Reske, Deputy Director of the Indiana Gaming Commission told Lakeshore Public Radio how legal wagering on the Academy Awards came about.
"Following approval in New Jersey, both DraftKings and FanDuel made requests to the IGC to offer wagering on the 2020 Academy Awards as an 'other event' pursuant to the authorization contained within Indiana statute, Reske said. We conducted a review and determined the request meets the standards established by statute and the IGC standards. As a result we approved the request."
Reske says one of the IGC's requirements is that the activity is governed by an integrity policy. The organization conducted a review of the Oscars and determined it was governed by such a policy and granted the request for each category.
Even though Indiana sportsbooks are allowed to offer wagers on all 24 categories of the 92nd Academy Awards, casinos are likely to stick to the six major award categories which include best picture, best director, best actor, best actress, best supporting actor and best supporting actress.
Sports betting became legal in Indiana on September 1, 2019.
The Academy Awards will be broadcast live at 7 p.m., CT on February 9th.
