Rush Street Gaming Co-Founder Neil Bluhm Argues Against Chicago Stadium Sportsbooks

In-field casinos in Illinois were made legal by the 2019 Sports Wagering Act, but Chicago is not yet a member state.

Neil Bluhm, co-founder of Rush Street Gaming, is also not. Rush Street is participating in the submission of two casino bids in Chicago, and it seems there is a concern about potential competition.

Bluhm asserted in a combined meeting with the zoning and license committees that stadium betting would cause an annual decrease of $61 million in Chicago casino revenue.

Bluhm is a prominent figure in the Illinois entertainment community, and his perspective could be of importance.

Why Bluhm thinks that casinos do suffer from facility sportsbooks

Bluhm isn’t against sportsbooks being allowed in the city. It’s more about competition and revenue.

Rush Street has put the Chicago game permit up for bid. According to Bluhm, patrons of wholesale sportsbooks gather in both casinos and stadiums.

Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, which is affiliated with BetRivers Sportsbook, has a minority stake owned by Rush Street.

Bluhm, who is inclined towards the casino industry, clearly desires the legalization of sports betting in Chicago. However, he doesn’t want this to diminish the revenue from a casino. If Chicago passes the sportsbook stadium ordinance, it would result in financial loss from the casino gambling side for the co-founder of Rush Street.

In a joint meeting of the planning and permit commissions, the Chicago Sun-Times quoted Bluhm as saying:

“A gambler who also wagers on tables and slot machines is usually someone who also participates in sports. This represents 20% of our business, but this is only a theoretical conversation.”

The existence of the dynamic nature of games is undeniable. However, Bluhm is not interested in seeing the potential profits from his Chicago sportsbook and casino business being funneled directly into outdoor sportsbooks.

Bally & rsquo, s and Hard Rock also submitted bids for a casino in Chicago. We are still waiting to see both sides defend gambling on indoor activities.

The ripple effect of promotion

Currently, Illinois is home to six online sportsbooks. The competition to attract the attention of Illinois bettors is intense, with sportsbooks investing millions in advertisements and promotions.

Sports stadiums such as Wrigley Field, Guaranteed Rate Field, Soldier Field, and the United Center can accommodate tens of thousands of spectators at a time. Many of these spectators may be in attendance for the game they’re watching. The presence of such a large number of spectators at a single event could potentially cause gamblers to divert their money away from a casino game.

The circumstance may view in-house sportsbooks as a potential option as the industry continues to grow. If the law is approved, Bluhm and his team at Rush Street will need to emphasize advertising and blackjack promotions to divert visitors to their casinos and sportsbooks.

Naturally, that might entail additional expenses. While Bluhm & rsquo’s assertion may be open to argument, his reasoning is clear.

Do actual facility sportsbooks exist? Yes, they are indeed allowed in Illinois.

However, just like anything else, money is going to have a significant role in this business.