Jump straight to the content
Illinois residents are eagerly anticipating the launch of sports betting at Wrigley Field by DraftKings Sportsbook and at the United Center lounge by FanDuel Sportsbook, but licensing delays are causing frustration.
We have updates on the status of each pending application for the two upcoming sportsbooks in Illinois. These will be the first of their kind, as no other sports stadium in Illinois currently allows patrons to place wagers in physical sportsbooks on site.
Naturally, you have the option to use your favorite mobile betting app to place a wager while inside the stadium. However, it is important to note that no sports venue in IL permits wagers to be placed with a cashier or kiosk.
However, that is soon to change.
Update on DraftKing’s Wrigley Field Sportsbook
Fans are hurrying to secure prime seats in the Wrigley Field bleachers as the ivy on the outfield wall begins to bloom. However, the Wrigley Field DraftKings Sportsbook on the corner of Addison St and Sheffield Ave is still shuttered.
The sportsbook opening would have been perfect to coincide with the Cubs’ Opening Day on March 30, but DraftKings must wait for the necessary sports betting licensing from the Illinois Gaming Board before they can proceed.
In a statement to Play Illinois, Beth Kaufman, the communications director for the IGB, expressed the following.
An application for Wrigley Field has been received and the website will be updated with information about the applicant shortly. Please note that we do not disclose the status of pending applications in accordance with our timeline policy.
Kaufman noted that DraftKings is not currently listed as a license applicant on the IGB’s website under the ‘Sports Facilities’ tab. However, DraftKings has announced plans to open a sportsbook at Wrigley Field in 2020.
Additionally, a visit to Addison and Sheffield will quickly reveal the large green sportsbook extending from Wrigley Field’s right field concourse, along with the DK signage on the building’s exterior, making it obvious which operator is anticipating a gaming license.
Although the exterior of DraftKings Wrigley Field has been completed, a peek inside reveals that construction is still ongoing within the interior.
FanDuel’s United Center Sportsbook waiting for license approval
The FanDuel venue at the United Center is already open, but you cannot place bets with a cashier or at a kiosk like at the DraftKings Sportsbook in the Friendly Confines.
The FanDuel Lounge can be found in the United Center Atrium on the south side of the building. It is exclusively open to guests during events such as Bulls or Blackhawks games.
FanDuel has big plans for the space, as they are also waiting for approval from the IGB to offer sports betting. Kaufman shared with Play Illinois about the status of FanDuel’s application at the United Center.
FanDuel has been designated as the sports facility applicant for the United Center. The sports wagering application for the United Center Sport Facility was received on August 10, 2022 and is still pending.
