Hip, Hip, Hooray: Illinois Governor Extends Online Sports Betting Registration Window

The voices of the people have been heard.

Gov. JB Pritzker announced on Friday that the online sports betting registration period in Illinois has been extended yet again. Sports betting enthusiasts can now sign up on their mobile devices at an Illinois online sportsbook until at least Oct. 17.

This action is taken as the Prairie State continues to grapple with COVID-19 cases.

Being an Illinois sports bettor is fantastic right now, with five online sportsbooks available in Illinois and plenty of sports events to bet on.

It is difficult to defend Illinois & rsquo; go back to in-person registration

The seven-day average for coronavirus-related deaths in Illinois is higher than it was on August 21, the last time Pritzker removed the requirement for in-person registration.

The seven-day rolling average is currently about 97 cases lower than it was previously. However, conditions have mostly remained constant and reached their peak in early September.

Pritzker defended Illinois’ unique policy of being the only Midwestern state not permitting youth sports, making the following strong statements earlier this week:

I declare, this is a pandemic for those who claim that endangering your child is a matter of personal choice. This is a tragic and unprecedented event for our country. In a coherent society, we must protect each other in order to fully enjoy freedom and safety.

Naturally, attending a game doesn’t carry the same level of risk as participating in email activities. But it would be challenging to justify the argument and then require customers to physically visit a casino to sign up for an online sports betting software, instead of doing so electronically.

Pritzker also requested state agencies to prepare for a “nightmare scenario” of budget cuts earlier this week, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

However, sports betting generated approximately $545,000 in state tax revenue in July, and this figure is projected to increase in August and September. Therefore, Illinois has a financial motivation to continue registering for wireless sports betting.

The triumphants? people, with the possible exception of BetRivers

DraftKings and FanDuel sportsbooks are the major winners here, apart from consumers.

The two business magnates leveraged downstate games to penetrate the Illinois business sector. Further, the necessity to travel that far for recording would have adversely impacted businesses in Chicago.

BetRivers Sportsbook has long been a proponent for in-person membership.

Are we sure that smart membership negatively impacts its bottom line, even if it potentially enhances its market stance against DraftKings and FanDuel?

In July, sports bettors in Illinois wagered a notable $51.4 million, considering the circumstances. Nearly 93% of these bets were made online.

It’s understandable that BetRivers is looking to capitalize on its Des Plaines location, given that it had over a month’s head start to register people in June and July.

Indeed, the competition among websites has intensified. Nonetheless, we anticipate some flashy earnings reports in the forthcoming months, something that would not have been possible with physical enrollment. Even though BetRivers & rsquo’s market share may be lesser, the overall potential revenue could be significantly larger.

As of Thursday morning, Illinois had 230,000 registered sports betting accounts, indicating a wide interest. All five of Illinois’ online casinos can participate in the Land of Lincoln competition, provided smart registration is accessible.

PointsBet and William Hill, which both entered the online market in the past week, are included in this.

Then, which betting in Illinois?

Operators are now more motivated to join the fight with the expansion of wireless enrollment.

Keep a watch on Unibet, which gained market access through Argosy Casino Alton earlier this month. Currently, it is the most probable online sportsbook to be launched next in Illinois.

Barstool has initiated a soft launch in Pennsylvania. Penn National Gaming, the owner of both Hollywood Casinos, would have straightforward entry to the Illinois market this week. However, there has been limited activity in this regard.

We haven’t received any information from companies such as Fox Bet or BetMGM Illinois, but this may change with an extended mobile registration period.