Heating Up: PointsBet Obtains Sports Betting Permit, Ramping Up Race For Illinois Dominance

Becoming the top sports betting site in Illinois could lead to millions of dollars in profits.

PointsBet Sportsbook is currently encountering a challenge in that competition.

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has granted approval to PointsBet for conducting both online and offline betting. The operator may receive a substantial portion of the advanced control.

Illinois’s progress for the PointsBet Sportsbook

Instead of waiting for a standalone online-only license in Illinois, PointsBet has joined DraftKings and WilliamHill in entering the Prairie State.

PointsBet has secured a partnership with Hawthorne Racecourse in Cicero, a suburb of southwest Chicago, to launch a sportsbook. This will allow PointsBet to expand its presence in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and New Jersey.

The key issue at hand is whether PointsBet will function similarly in Iowa as it does in Indiana and New Jersey, where it provides a mobile sports betting app.

PointsBet Iowa customers can choose to access the casino either in person or online, a model that may be adopted in Illinois in the future.

There is a significant resemblance between the two statements.

Like IA, IL also requires in-person registration for online betting. However, Gov. JB Pritzker has temporarily waived this requirement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pritzker reserves the right to reinstate this mandate at his discretion.

The measure in Illinois will stay in effect until the state’s first online sportsbook is inaugurated. While Iowa’s mandate ended on January 1st, Illinois law prohibits the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) from issuing registration until 540 days have elapsed since April 9th of this year, which is when RiversCasino made its first land-based bet.

PointsBet might postpone the release of mobile apps in Illinois until there is less demand for in-person services. Currently, there is no set timeline for when betting will start in Illinois.

IL books’ release time is also unknown.

PointsBet has not yet announced a timeline for when it will begin accepting bets in Illinois, despite the advantageous location of the Hawthorne Race Course near Chicago. Various factors still need to be taken into consideration before any decision is made.

One issue is the uncertainty surrounding major US sporting events. More college conferences are opting to cancel or postpone sports, while the schedules of other leagues remain in limbo.

For example, Major League Soccer has had to postpone games and disqualify teams from its ongoing tournament. PointsBet may opt to postpone a major launch in Illinois until the situation is more secure.

PointsBet had originally planned to launch this month, but those plans changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, postponing the start could have consequences. Starting in late July or early August, particularly in the Chicago area, could be ideal if local sports teams are performing well.

Reports indicate that the NBA is considering establishing a second “bubble” in Chicago for the eight teams not included in the league’s restart. This could be a unique opportunity for individuals looking to relocate to Illinois and take a chance on a new chapter in life.

Additionally, there is increasing pressure to hinder BetRivers, the sole online sportsbook in Illinois, from dominating the market. This pressure is expected to intensify if rivals such as DraftKings or William Hill enter the Illinois market soon.

The value of the option is unquestionable, but the Chicago sports market remains open for competition. There are still questions lingering about the timeline and process for PointsBet to launch in the state.