Hollywood Casino Aurora Sets Stage For First Barstool Sportsbook In Illinois

Barstool Sportsbook is formally visiting the Hollywood Casino Aurora, despite long-standing rumors to the contrary.

Hollywood Aurora reaffirmed their previous business expectations via Twitter on Tuesday.

We are presently in the process of recruiting and can be contacted at the phone number 128227.

We’re thrilled to announce that the #BarstoolSportsbook will be launching at Hollywood Aurora shortly. Keep an eye out for updates! We’re also seeking new team members to join our crew. Interested? Submit your application now! https://t.co/an7sI4p9NZ

Are you battling a gambling problem? Contact 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) for help. pic.twitter.com/ozAIpoJHbt

Hollywood Aurora (@HollywoodAurora) posted this on February 23, 2021.

A few weeks ago, Penn National Gaming CEO Jay Snowden announced the intention of Barstool to launch before the start of March Madness betting. However, with Selection Sunday rapidly approaching, it remains unclear if this will happen.

No matter what, Barstool is set to arrive in Illinois soon. Plenty of Barstool options will be available for sports bettors in the Chicagoland area.

Where else in Illinois did Barstool operate a physical casino?

It is confirmed that the Argosy Casino Alton will ultimately feature a Barstool Sportsbook.

Located in suburban St. Louis, Argosy is the second most popular financial betting platform in Illinois, coming after BetRivers.

It was somewhat surprising to hear that Unibet has access to the Illinois market through Argosy and plans to launch in 2021.

Nonetheless, given that Penn is the owner of Argosy, it probably presumed that introducing Barstool branding would attract more attention. There is data to back up this presumption.

In addition to Argosy and Hollywood Aurora, Penn also holds ownership of Hollywood Casino Joliet. We unofficially predict that a Barstool Sportsbook will also be a feature of Hollywood Joliet.

It has also proposed the same on social media.

Located in Indiana, the Ameristar Casino East Chicago is notable not only for featuring a Barstool Sportsbook but also for being the last on the list.

Given that it’s only a 30-minute drive from downtown, that place is the closest to Chicago.

When Barstool Illinois debuts, what can we anticipate from it?

Firstly, it uses Kambi odds, much like DraftKings and BetRivers. Hence, when it launches, half of the state’s online sportsbooks will be utilising Kambi odds.

This isn’t an ideal choice for buyers looking for the best value for their online purchases.

Despite this, Barstool is in a strong position and is anticipated to perform strongly from a business standpoint.

Boston is ranked second to Chicago in terms of Barstool following. Additionally, it is making a promising start in regions like Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Barstool is recognized as the leading third operator in Pennsylvania and Michigan. The company asserts that they don’t have to spend as much on attracting customers as their rivals do.

In Illinois, DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetRivers are unquestionably the top three. However, a notable handle gap exists between BetRivers and PointsBet, which is in fourth place.

Anticipate a competition between Barstool and BetRivers for the third place. BetRivers has a more extensive operation in Illinois compared to other states, with a monthly handle surpassing $100 million in December.

Nevertheless, its standing is declining as FanDuel posted a higher figure for the first quarter. Although there is no evidence yet from other states that Barstool will penetrate the top two, it has the potential to begin in third place and progressively ascend.

Why this might upset the Illinois activities gambling industry

To put it simply, Illinois needs more online users to surpass Pennsylvania and become the top state in the three US sports betting markets.

William Hill, launched in mid-September, is the most recent mobile sportsbook introduced in Illinois. Compared to other similar states, Illinois falls short in its offerings, providing only five online betting options.

In the December control, Pennsylvania made $548.6 million while Illinois made $491.7 million.

Whether it’s Barstool or any other, new casinos should be soaring high.

Assuming that Gov. JB Pritzker will keep extending mobile registration, the timing is still good now, although it would have been better in the fall.