At noon on Thursday, Dave Portnoy revealed that the Barstool Sportsbook app will be launching in Illinois.
The founder of Barstool tweeted about the news first, which was then followed by Penn National Gaming issuing a press release about their launch in the Prairie State.
As previously announced, the online sportsbook will be launching in Illinois right in time for March Madness betting, becoming the sixth sportsbook available in the state.
Barstool is poised to join the ranks of sports betting operators such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, PointsBet, and William Hill. The opening of its retail sportsbooks at Hollywood Casino Aurora and Hollywood Casino Joliet is imminent, with plans to launch a retail sportsbook at Argosy Casino Alton in the near future.
The Ameristar East Chicago in Indiana is home to a Barstool Sportsbook, conveniently located less than a 40-minute drive from downtown Chicago.
Barstool is striving to establish a strong presence in Illinois by leveraging its dedicated fan base in Chicago.
Here is the information you need to know about Barstool in Illinois.
Barstool additionally employs Kambi conflict
Half of the online sportsbooks in Illinois, including DraftKings and BetRivers, will now be using Kambi odds.
Currently, DraftKings is utilizing Kambi’s technology, with plans to switch to its own platform later in the year.
Usually, the introduction of a new sportsbook would benefit those looking for the best odds. But because Barstool also uses Kambi, there is no extra advantage in this situation.
Casinos typically offer special promotions upon their launch, and while Barstool is not yet available, we will provide updates on any introductory deals that may be offered.
How has Barstool fared in different locations?
While Barstool may not be the top sports gambling site in the US, it is seeing success in Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Illinois will be the next state where electronic availability is introduced.
Pennsylvania ranks third in handle operation behind FanDuel and DraftKings, while Michigan holds the third spot in online handle operation, trailing FanDuel. The gap between the top two and third place is significant in both states.
Nevertheless, achieving a top three ranking in Illinois will pose a significant challenge. While it is within reach, it will require considerable effort and determination.
In December, DraftKings led in handle in Illinois, followed by FanDuel and BetRivers. BetRivers, coming in third place, received bets totaling $111.2 million.
PointsBet, which came in fourth, announced a turnover of $32 million.
Barstool is likely to begin between BetRivers and PointsBet.
There is a strong likelihood that There & rsquo will surpass BetRivers in the future. However, surpassing FanDuel or DraftKings may prove to be difficult based on trends seen in other markets.
Illinois & rsquo, the ceiling, should be raised by new operators.
Illinois, the fourth-largest sports gambling market in the US, reported a revenue of $49.7 million in December.
Although it had fewer than five online sportsbooks that month, it still outperformed its fellow top states.
Barstool is set to become the latest online sportsbook to launch in Illinois, following in the footsteps of William Hill. Despite a period of rapid growth, the state has recently experienced a slight decline in numbers.
Since we anticipate Barstool’s success, its debut is likely to elevate the potential of sports betting in Illinois.
BetMGM and Unibet are also expected to enter the Illinois market soon, following FanDuel’s recent license transfer to its race track. It is likely that BetMGM Illinois will be up and running shortly.