GeoComply Deal Lets DraftKings Illinois Customers Sign Up Online While On-Site

GeoComply, a company specializing in geolocation technology, has announced a partnership with DraftKings Sportsbook to simplify the registration process for sports betting enthusiasts in Illinois.

New bettors on DraftKings must first visit the newly rebranded Draft Kings at Casino Queen in East St. Louis to fulfill the state’s in-person registration requirement.

Using GeoComply eliminates the need to wait in line at a registration window.

Bettors can register from anywhere on the casino property using GeoComply’s “PinPoint” technology, which incorporates Bluetooth beacons and software to comply with state regulations, as announced in the press release.

Paul Liberman, co-founder of DraftKings and president of global technology and product, stated:

Thanks to GeoComply, we are able to provide our customers with a smoother mobile registration experience at DraftKings at Casino Queen. By utilizing their innovative technology that combines Bluetooth beacons with back office software, their PinPoint solution allows users to quickly and easily complete their registration on their mobile device through online ID verification. This streamlines the process and enhances efficiency for our customers.

DraftKings Iowa and GeoComply previously mandated in-person registration in Iowa until the end of 2020. This requirement allowed casino technicians to ensure that all customer bets were made within the state’s borders.

Sam Basile, General Manager at GeoComply’s PinPoint, stated that the objective is to provide a seamless mobile experience for players and operators, whether assisting with geo-location on casino premises or helping them set up their account on their mobile device.

Move follows a brief period of smart registration.

In early June, Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois issued an executive order suspending the need for in-person gambling memberships.

Pritzker’s decision to let the executive order expire on July 27 caught many off guard, as BetRivers was the only online sportsbook in Illinois at that time. While DraftKings is now operational, it was not available during the waiver period.

DraftKings received its master sports betting license on July 20 and quickly rebranded to Casino Queen to avoid any penalties. However, users in Chicagoland looking to bet with DraftKings now face a journey of over four days to reach East St. Louis.

Currently, DraftKings and BetRivers are both using Kambi for their betting lines, but this is likely to change soon.

DraftKings is the second-largest cellular market in Illinois.

Yet, upon closer inspection of the Illinois terrain, it becomes evident that the quote is somewhat deceptive.

BetRivers has a competitive advantage over its competitors by pioneering the market and being one of the first to launch mobile sports betting before cellular registration restrictions were in place. Additionally, its convenient location near Chicago has helped solidify its position in the industry.

PointsBet and William Hill are both in advantageous positions, with PointsBet benefiting from Hawthorne Racecourse’s newly approved master license and William Hill’s retail book now live at Grand Victoria Casino Elgin.

I am curious to see what FanDuel can accomplish in a day.

A partnership with a casino or racetrack closer to the Chicagoland area than DraftKings would be more likely. There were earlier reports suggesting that FanDuel might acquire Fairmount Park Racetrack Downstate, but there have been few updates on this recently.

FanDuel also acquired its master license on the same day as DraftKings.