PointsBet recently debuted its sports betting app in Illinois and is preparing to open its retail locations in the near future.
Three suburban off-track betting (OTB) parlors in Chicago will be home to retail sportsbooks run by racino at Hawthorne Race Course and PointsBet.
They are expected to reach Crestwood, Prospect Heights, and Oak Brook Terrace.
PointsBet will be the first sportsbook in Illinois to have multiple retail locations. DraftKings will also be setting up a sportsbook at Wrigley Field, with the possibility of other sportsbooks joining in the future.
PointsBet is in the process of establishing a presence in the Chicagoland area.
A representative informed The Daily Herald that Player’s Pub & Grill, which has one OTB, may launch its sportsbook as soon as October 1st.
The bar’s interior renovations, including the creation and reconstruction of betting windows, are almost finished. Player’s Pub has already been contributing tax revenue to the city and in 2016, it helped fund a 2,500-square-foot OTB expansion.
According to Dan Peterson, the city’s director of building and development, they see this as a simple shift to create additional revenue opportunities for one of their valued business partners.
The initial Illinois sports betting revenue report was published on Tuesday, showing that intelligent betting was the most popular activity. Nonetheless, PointsBet seems well-equipped to succeed regardless of the sign-up climate.
PointsBet’s in-person membership setup is excellent.
If Gov. PointsBet is in a more favorable position than its Illinois competitors, this will be advantageous when JB Pritzker decides to re-impose the in-person registration requirement later this week or in the coming weeks.
A spokesperson from PointsBet has confirmed that individuals can sign up for PointsBet Sportsbook at their racecourse or Off-Track Betting locations if online registration is unavailable.
Even for the typical Chicago resident or northern dweller, PointsBet may not be the best choice. However, the platform does offer some of the most practical options available.
It takes about 45 minutes to travel from downtown Chicago to all four bookmakers. While Rivers Casino in Des Plaines is well situated, PointsBet’s locations in the west and northwest are more popular.
On the other hand, Chicago residents would have to make a nearly five-hour trip to East St. Louis in order to register with DraftKings Sportsbook. Likewise, a journey of almost three hours would be necessary to reach East Peoria for registration with FanDuel.
The Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin has teamed up with William Hill Sportsbook Illinois and is located about an hour away from Chicago.
Choosing to work with a racecourse is an appealing choice.
Arlington International Racecourse and Fairmount Park are the only two Illinois racetracks that do not have a sports betting partner.
FanDuel is reportedly in talks to acquire Fairmount, with the possibility of reaching an agreement in the future. On the other hand, Arlington has shown decreased interest in sports betting. Churchill Downs Inc., the parent company of Arlington, currently owns a 61% stake in Rivers Casino.
As a sports betting operator, it can be advantageous to have access to multiple Off-Track Betting (OTB) sites. In Arlington, there are several appealing OTB locations, including Joe’s Chicago Bar on Weed Street. Additionally, there is an OTB in Fairmount, situated in Springfield, the state capital.
PointsBet is the sole operator in Illinois working in collaboration with a track, and this alliance has the potential to be very lucrative in the near future.
