Illinois sports betting market is back

Content Team June 19, 2020

Illinois launched its first mobile sports betting in the state with covid-19 playing a huge part on this phenomenon

In the end of March, Governor Pritzker had put all casino operations on halt and are still closed to this day, which in turn had subsequently closed down the sports betting market in the state, but now sports betting is finally back.

BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino in Des Plaines along with its partner Rush Street Interactive, was the first to offer retail betting in the state when sports betting officially launched in Illinois back in March 9.

Richard Schwartz, said that his company is excited to make history by bringing the first online sportsbook to sports fans in their home.

Rush Street Interactive president, Richard Schwartz, stated, “We are excited to make history in bringing the first online sportsbook to sports fans in our home state just in time as American sports are coming back into action.”

Illinois sports betting regulations initially required customers to register at one of the casinos in flesh before they could create a sports betting account. But that all changed since the Governor, JB Pritzker, issued an executive order on June 4, loosening up that sign-up restriction and making it hassle-free for the sports bettors to create an account.

Illinois legalised Sports betting almost a year ago, but it took the state almost nine months before the first sportsbook started operating. Six other casinos were approved for a sports betting license last week, and they should be up and running once Pritzker gives the green light.

Pritzker’s office has predicted the annual gross gaming revenue of sports betting could generate by up to $100 million, with revenue designated for his statewide capital projects plan. Industry analysts had implied the Illinois market could rival Nevada’s, with a yearly handle over $5 billion, reported by PRNewswire.com

According to projections from PlayIllinois.com, which tracks regulated online and retail gaming in the state, If the Illinois market fully matures — which would have to include the widespread launch of online sports betting — the state could generate from $9 billion to $11 billion in wagers annually and $650 million in operator gross revenue.