Until Saturday, Illinois bettors were limited to only one legal sports betting option. However, William Hill Illinois expanded the options over the weekend, bringing the total to two, at least for retail betting.
William Hill Sportsbook officially opened its betting windows at Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin over the weekend, marking the beginning of future expansion plans.
information about the William Hill Illinois Sportsbook, which is now available
The first bet placed at the book on Saturday was purely symbolic, as the anticipated game between the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers was called off due to inclement weather.
Nonetheless, bettors should not interpret this as a negative sign. The region is well-equipped with all essential amenities, such as:
- There are three bets windows, though only two are currently in use to allow for social distance.
- The bar is located on the casino floor close to the Grand Victoria.
- Numerous tall pieces of furniture.
- There are seating options for watching gymnastics that are available for the long term.
- numerous high-definition displays
- Gambling is available daily between the hours of 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
- Safety measures, such as regular cleaning and mandatory face masks, have been implemented.
The beginning of William Hill’s retail presence in Illinois is essential for the launch of its online platform. Illinois law requires individuals who want to bet online to first register their accounts in person.
The company has not announced a set launch date for the William Hill Illinois app and website, but it is included in the brand’s overall strategy.
BetRivers is currently the sole player in the state and is positioned to become the next authorized online casino operator. However, William Hill faces some resistance in this market.
Playing in Illinois for subsequent place electronically
Last Thursday, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) granted the Hawthorne Race Course, known as William Hill’s main competitor in the Prairie State, a master license, bringing positive news to the establishment.
PointsBet has a management services agreement with the facility. The IGB recently approved PointsBet for a license to run Hawthorne’s online and retail sports betting platform.
Due to the removal of regulatory obstacles, PointsBet is in a prime position to emerge as a major player in Illinois. The unveiling of their website and expansion of operations could happen very soon.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel have been granted similar licenses by the IGB. DraftKings seems to be closer to launching than FanDuel, as it is only waiting for licensing from the IGB for its facility partner, the Casino Queen in East St. Louis.
FanDuel has not yet set up a physical location in Illinois in order to potentially obtain one of the three online-only licenses. If FanDuel decides to pursue this opportunity, they would need to invest $20 million and wait at least two years to obtain a license.
In a matter of weeks, Illinois residents may soon have access to four online betting platforms, in addition to the numerous in-person betting options already available. This expansion of choices is a positive step forward for gamblers in the state.
