Residents of Illinois are unable to register for an online sportsbook to place bets on the Super Bowl this year, even though the state has the third-highest sports betting handle in the US on a monthly basis.
It’s easy to see why that isn’t the best option. The Super Bowl is the most popular event on the sports betting calendar.
Therefore, bookmakers usually see a surge in client acquisition during this time of year, and to underestimate its significance would be a mistake.
Chris Grove, managing director of sports betting at Eilers & Krejcik, a gambling industry research firm, told the Chicago Tribune prior to the previous year’s Super Bowl:
Casinos see a surge in new customers during the week leading up to the Super Bowl and on the day itself, making it a unique event compared to other activities on the calendar.
Illinois has offered in-person registration since April 2021, but this will be discontinued by March 5 at the latest to coincide with the start of March Madness betting.
Not being able to electronically register for the Super Bowl presents challenges on multiple levels.
Many casual Super Bowl viewers may be puzzled as to why they can’t easily download and use a sports betting app like they would with any other app. As a result, Illinois sportsbooks will lose out on attracting numerous new customers and generating additional tax revenue.
Illinois remains true to itself.
How Illinoisans wagered on the Super Bowl last year & rsquo,
Illinois offered virtual casino membership during the last Super Bowl season.
The residents made sure to make the most of it. Illinois saw a $45.6 million handle for the Super Bowl, leading to $7.7 million in operator profits and $1.1 million in tax revenue.
The numbers from the handle were unexpectedly high, thanks to the Chiefs’ loss to the Buccaneers, resulting in a profitable day for sportsbooks.
What makes it intriguing? Illinois could potentially lead the pack in 2022, even without the need for online registration.
Firstly, we hope that there will be no app outages this year, unlike in 2021. Additionally, Illinois sports betting figures are rapidly increasing when comparing them to previous years.
For instance, when comparing October 2021 to October 2020, there was an increase of over $400 million in the monthly handle. Despite the inconvenience of in-person registration, Illinois residents utilized online sign-up opportunities throughout 2020 and early 2021.
It also showcases the market’s potential once online registration is back up and running.
March Madness is at least here.
March Madness is a massive sports betting event, even more so than the Super Bowl. By that time, Illinois may have implemented online registration.
In the previous year, the Land of Lincoln saw over $200 million in March Madness bets. When you factor in the tournament’s popularity and the multitude of games, it’s clear that sports betting numbers were exceptionally high.
On Thursday, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) granted a sports betting license to BetMGM. BetMGM is expected to launch by March 5, with the potential for additional sportsbooks to enter the market.
Since the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines, in-person membership no longer provides any benefits. Existing casinos have been unable to sign up customers electronically, leaving only three months for Barstool Sportsbook to register users online.
Casinos are expected to see a surge in visitors on Super Bowl Sunday, but the potential online traffic could far surpass the number of players in person.
Luckily for Illinois, the state boasts a large size and a substantial sports fan following. Despite some missteps in planning, Illinois is proving that its sheer size and passionate sports culture are key factors in the success of its sports betting industry.
