10 Days And Counting: Will COVID-19 Surge Keep Illinois Mobile Registration Alive?

On August 21, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker temporarily suspended the requirement for in-person registration for sports betting until September 19.

What happens on September 19, though?

The Pritzker administration has remained silent on the issue. Since June, sports bettors in Illinois have had to constantly switch between in-person and mobile registration.

The vacillation is due to COVID-19, and the state’s circumstances should influence Pritzker’s decision. It is also known that Rush Street Gaming, the parent company of BetRivers, which has been lobbying for in-person registration for a long time, holds significant political sway.

However, justifying a return to the mandate of in-person registration becomes challenging if we are solely considering the most recent coronavirus figures in Illinois.

The common case for seven days is at its highest point since May.

The average new case count for the seven days leading up to September 8 in Illinois was 2,262.

The case count was at its peak since May 24 until September. Illinois’ perspective as of August 21 might be more relevant to the current topic. The average new cases over seven days for this period was 1,891, which is nearly 400 cases less than on September 8.

Pritzker chose not to extend the executive order allowing smart registration on July 26 for later reference. In the subsequent seven days, the average number of new cases was 1,407.

It’s crucial to acknowledge that some of this is due to increased testing. The positivity rate in the state was 3.7% on July 26. This figure rose from 4.3% on August 21 to a consistent 4% by September 8.

Despite being the lowest in July, the number of COVID-19-related murders remained essentially constant during this period.

However, when considering the positivity rate and death toll, the COVID-19 outlook for Illinois is, at best, roughly the same as it was on August 21. At its worst, one might argue that the number of cases in Illinois is increasing, while a surge in deaths is yet to follow.

The worst areas in Illinois and Quebec have games.

Currently, regions 4 (Metro East) and 7 (South Suburban) are proving to be the most problematic for Illinois.

DraftKings at Casino Queen and Argosy Casino Alton, both with retail sportsbooks, are located in Region 4. DraftKings, which has its own mobile sportsbook, is especially pertinent in this context. Meanwhile, Argosy will soon introduce an online service through Unibet.

Region 7 houses the Hollywood Casino Joliet and the Harrah’s Casino. The former operates a physical betting platform.

The latest reported positivity rate in Region 4 was 9.8%, the highest among all regions. Following closely behind with the second-highest rate was Region 7 at 7.4%.

Recently, the state has put in place mitigation measures in certain regions. The casinos in these areas are restricted to 25% patron capacity, whereas in the rest of the state the limit is 50%. Additionally, the operating hours for these casinos have been limited from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day.

The website of the Illinois Gaming Board states:

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will observe the positivity rate in Regions 4 and 7 over a 14-day period to assess if they can ease countermeasures, require further moderation, or if the current prevention measures need to be upheld. If the average positivity rate equates to or is less than the rate over the 14 days, the area may revert to the original Phase 4 guidelines or a modified version as required. However, if the positivity rate averages between 6.5 percent and 8 percent, the new countermeasures will remain in effect.

The statement continues, stating that if the positivity rate equals or surpasses 8% after 14 days, more stringent countermeasures will be employed to further halt the multiplication of the virus. & rdquo,

If the enthusiasm level in Region 4 continues, it is trending in that direction.

repercussions for Illinois activities gambling

The status of the smart registration window, whether left open or not, could significantly influence sports betting in Illinois.

In the event that the screen shuts down, BetRivers and PointsBet bookmakers would be the biggest winners.

Rivers Casino is ideally located in Des Plaines, whereas PointsBet has collaborated with Hawthorne Racecourse, offering a variety of registration options throughout Chicago. With its lucrative NBC deal and unique betting experience, PointsBet Sportsbook is likely well-positioned and is anticipated to launch shortly.

DraftKings at Casino Queen, FanDuel, and other emerging apps are the primary beneficiaries in a mobile registration setting. Not to forget, the consumer as well.

Cory Fox, FanDuel’s vice president of government affairs and solution counsel, has pointed out the senseless nature of sending people to physical locations for no reason, especially in light of the COVID pandemic over the past half-year. He stated, “Simply destroying the market, but also introducing risk where none exists.”

The gaming environment in the state hinges on the next 10 days and potentially beyond.