BetRivers launched its mobile product in Illinois in June, becoming the sole mobile sportsbook in the state. The company took advantage of Gov. JB Pritzker’s executive order, which eliminated the requirement for in-person registration, allowing BetRivers Illinois to thrive.
Another approved operator, It & rsquo, is in the race to launch their product in time for a busy late July sports schedule. What are the residents of Illinois betting on?
The main focus of the final product is football and sports, with BetRivers providing an iOS smartphone app that is currently unavailable. However, bettors can still access the betting site on their phone’s browser by using a third-party GeoComply app called GeoGuard.
What the IL runners are betting on
Even though we cannot control the quantities, we are aware of the activities and teams with the highest betting percentage. The data from Illinois was revealed on Sunday, July 5th.
| Sport/League | % of the entire Wagering Volume |
|---|---|
| PGA Tour – Golf Sport Bet | 32.48% |
| Spain’s La Liga in sports | 12.55% |
| Italy’s sporting Serie A | 10.21% |
| Sports USA-NWSL Challenge Cup | 10.01% |
| Football in the Premier League in England | 9.56% |
| PGA Check-out: 2 Grains, 18 Gap Bets | 4.46% |
| sport in the English Premier League | 4.31% |
| NASCAR Cup Line in Motorsports | 2.98% |
| Football: South Korea’s KBO League | 2.70% |
| Primeira Liga of Portugal in sporting | 2.17% |
The following percentages apply to all types of betting, not just leagues.
| Sport | % of the entire Wagering Volume |
|---|---|
| Football ( soccer ) | 55.17% |
| Golf | 36.95% |
| Baseball | 4.03% |
| Motorsports | 3.25% |
| Laws of Australia | 0.58% |
| Basketball | 0.01% |
| UFC/MMA | 0.01% |
BetRivers provided data
BetRivers reported that 35% of all wagers made the following weekend, encompassing bets from Pennsylvania, Colorado, New Jersey, and Indiana, were placed on the Rocket Mortgage Classic. The event was ultimately won by the favored bettor, Bryson DeChambeau, with odds of +600.
The situation of Illinois in relation to another position
With the exception of Illinois and Indiana, the key differences in the data from each state revolve around table tennis and strong positioning. Russian ping pong, a rare success story in 2020, was listed in the top 10 in Colorado, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Interestingly, it was the most popular league for betting on Sunday in Colorado, BetRivers reports.
It is not available in the Illinois rankings because it is not being offered. The Indiana Gaming Commission removed Russian ping-pong from their offerings last month due to concerns about integrity. While the Illinois Gaming Board has not made an official statement on the issue, they may have similar reasons for not including it in their rankings.
In the forthcoming quarter, what does change?
The NBA is set to start on July 30, followed by the NHL on August 1, with MLB beginning on July 23. Despite the uncertainty in the sports world, the NFL plans to kick off its training camp on July 28. If preseason games take place, they could generate interest in betting. According to a 2019 ESPN article, NFL preseason games often attract more bets than regular-season MLB games, which is something experienced bettors are aware of.
The Illinois betting industry is poised for an exciting period ahead, with changes on the horizon. While BetRivers is currently the sole online betting option, this is expected to change soon. DraftKings has partnered with Casino Queen to bypass the 18-month restriction on mobile-only betting, creating a compelling reason for them to enter the Illinois market in the near future.
Here are five more activities that come with four-year learning licenses:
- Casino Argosy in Alton
- Grand Victoria Casino
- Hollywood’s Aurora Casino
- Joliet’s Hollywood Casino
- Par-A-Ball Resort Casino
After a brief period of operating a brick-and-mortar sportsbook, Argosy was forced to halt all casino activities due to COVID-19. Although operations have since resumed, Argosy lacks a mobile platform. BetMGM Illinois, the owner of Grand Victoria, may soon enter the market, as they have demonstrated agility in launching in other states.
It remains to be seen if non-major sport events and global football will continue to attract gambling interest once the major leagues resume. Only time will reveal the answer.
Is it our goal to reach a point where we can provide an answer to that question? This is a genuine aspiration.
