Industry analysts are reporting that DraftKings is expected to be the next betting operator to go live in Illinois. The launch is expected to happen before the end of this week.
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) claim that they are still currently processing the firm’s application which was made several weeks ago to start accepting bets through their retail outlets as well as online platform. The IGB usually takes around two weeks to process such requests, but IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter noted in a meeting that they were having trouble processing incomplete requests from some firms.
This is the final hurdle DraftKings has to pass before taking wagers. The moment the IGB gives its OK, DraftKings could immediately go live. Once it launches, the firm will be fourth retail sportsbook and second online platform for sports betting in Illinois.
In Illinois, DraftKings entered a partnership with Casino Queen, based in East St. Louis. Casino Queen subsequently rebranded as DraftKings at Casino Queen. The partnership allowed DraftKings to circumvent Illinois laws that impose an 18-month waiting period for digital-only platforms.
Despite the lack of online sports betting platforms in Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently refused to renew his suspension of the state’s in-person registration requirement late in July.
The window for remote registration in Illinois lasted for around two months. In that time, only BetRivers provided online sports bets for state punters. BetRivers is considered a part of Rivers Casino-Des Plaines, a brick and mortar location near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.
DraftKings’ physical casino location will be located in East St. Louis, four and a half hours away from Chicago. While DraftKings’ location will undoubtedly help the firm grab a hold on nearby markets like Missouri, the in-person registration requirement in Illinois will mean fewer punters from Chicago will bet on their online platform.
The next sports betting operator expected to go live in Illinois is PointsBet, which acquired its Temporary Operating Permit this July, alongside DraftKings and FanDuel. PointsBet’s Illinois partner is Hawthorne Race Course, who received their sports betting license this August.
Hawthorne Race Course is located near the Midway Airport, which makes the in-person registration requirement easy to accomplish for the 9.5 million people who live in metro area of Chicago. Hawthorne will also be the first racetrack in the state to offer OTB sportsbooks, with three OTBs for each track.
Whilst you waiting for Illinois to get their act together why not try some other sportbooks which are currently operating in the USA.
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