Pritzker Maintains Stay-At-Home Message, Extends Mobile Sports Betting Registration
In a planned action, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker extended his executive order allowing the register of smart sports betting once more.
The executive order 2020-41 is set to remain effective until at least December 12. However, considering the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Illinois, surpassing 15,000, it seems probable that this extension will carry on into the upcoming year.
The 2019 Illinois Gambling Act mandates that individuals must physically visit a sports betting operator’s retail location to register for a minimum of the first 18 months the operator is active. However, the COVID-19 pandemic swiftly disrupted this plan. The requirement for in-person registration has been suspended since August, providing a major boost to the sports betting market in Illinois.
Did Pritzker order be used by new providers?
Interestingly, the most recent online sportsbook to start its operations was William Hill in the middle of September. From that point onwards, there has been no activity in the Land of Lincoln.
At least three operators, Unibet, Barstool and BetMGM sportsbooks, have expressed interest in joining the fray.
In October, Unibet informed Play Illinois of its intention to commence operations in Illinois in early 2021, subject to approval from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB). The company has secured market access through Argosy Casino Alton.
Reports suggest that Barstool is planning to launch in Illinois in early 2021. To gain access to the industry, it is likely to partner with one or both Hollywood casinos.
BetMGM’s plans remain undisclosed, but it has submitted an application for a sports betting license in Illinois. However, it currently lacks a financial partner and there are limited options available in this regard.
Pritzker & rsquo’s ongoing readiness to increase mobile registration seems to provide a golden opportunity for the introduction of new sportsbooks in Illinois. However, they did not anticipate weeks of online membership capacity in early 2020, and the IGB authorization process remains challenging.
Illinois’s COVID – 19 perspective
Like the entire United States, Illinois has also recorded daily highs of COVID-19 cases in November.
The positivity rates have reached their peak since May, and the daily death toll is at an all-time high since June. Additional restrictions have also been recently implemented on casinos by the state. Currently, only 25% capacity is allowed at eight out of the ten casinos in Illinois.
During the crisis, most casinos have been operating at 50% capacity. Moreover, game durations have been reduced as they are now only available from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Domestic food and drink companies have also been put on hold. The plan aligns with the most recent purchases by Pritzker, especially considering that indoor dining service in the Prairie State has been shut down since November 4.
Essentially, considering the current public health situation, it would be unwise to require people to register for sports betting at a game.
That statement has been accurate for a while, but particularly in the context of this writing.
