After Governor J.B. Pritzker legalized sports betting in Illinois last summer, an increasing number of neighborhood games have applied for licenses in anticipation of accepting bets soon.
In January, the Chicago Sun Times announced that Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, and the Argosy Casino in Alton were issued temporary certificates to prepare for accepting sports bets. Additionally, Fairmount Park Racetrack in Collinsville submitted an application for a license in February.
Last week, three additional games were given temporary sports betting licenses.
Three more games you get ready to offer sports betting that is officially legal.
The Illinois Gaming Board granted temporary sports betting certificates to Hollywood Casinos in Aurora and Joliet, as well as the Par-A-Dice Hotel and Casino in East Peoria, on February 27th, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
Before the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament, commonly referred to as March Madness, Governor Pritzker announced in February that he anticipates the start of the sports gambling industry before the tournament commences. This event is highly popular for sports betting enthusiasts and is considered one of the biggest sports events of the year.
According to the Chicago Sun Times, Argosy Casino Alton is the only one that has confirmed a March Madness build. Despite this, experts at Rivers Casino are confident that they will be prepared for the event on time.
Illinois has three horse racing tracks and up to seven sports venues, like the United Center, that are eligible to open casinos. Additionally, all ten casinos in the state have the opportunity to create mobile sports betting apps. However, Illinois law prohibits online bookmakers such as DraftKings and FanDuel from applying for licenses for more than a month.
Is it possible to launch in March?
Is the projected launch date for sports betting in Illinois in March still achievable now that it’s early March?
Cory Aronovitz, a seasoned entertainment lawyer at Casino Law Group in Chicago, Illinois, recently emailed PlayUSA to share his optimism.
Aronovitz stresses the importance of managing expectations, especially when there is high demand for the product. Therefore, having specific dates and contingencies in place is essential.
The three casinos most likely to open second are Rivers Casino Des Plaines, Grand Victoria Casino Elgin, and Argosy Casino Alton.
Aronovitz explained that these properties have been exposed to sports betting and the software has been tested and used in different markets. It has also been adjusted to adhere to Illinois regulations.
Before they can start operating, the sportsbooks must pass rigorous testing on their domestic power systems, gambling software, and compliance operations as required by emergency rules.
The Illinois Gaming Board’s policy director, Joe Miller, stated to Legal Sports Report that the casinos have been equipped with the necessary resources, and it is now their responsibility to finish the task.
LSR reports that Miller states that casinos are keen to adhere to regulations and provide customers with the chance to wager on sports.
Illinois and gambling complement each other like PB & amp.
Illinois boasts a wealth of gambling experiences thanks to its plentiful video gaming terminals (VGT) – surpassing even Las Vegas in quantity. In 2019, the state raked in an impressive $444,384,459 in gaming terminal fees. A report from the Illinois Gaming Board revealed that towns across the state collectively collected a substantial $83,833,498 from these terminals.
Based on some estimates, the state is expected to reach an annual sports betting handle of $5.3 billion by 2025.
With a well-established gambling scene already in place, legalizing sports betting in Illinois has the potential to not only strengthen the economy but also solidify the state as the premier gambling destination in the Midwest.
