Pritzker Ends Mobile Sports Betting Registration In Illinois

Editor’s Note: From Saturday, March 5, 2022, onwards, it is no longer necessary to visit a physical sportsbook in Illinois to register for a legal online sportsbook. You can now sign up for an Illinois sports betting account using your phone or computer.

Signing up for wireless sports betting was fun while it lasted.

Since late August 2020, online registration has been available due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Gov. JB Pritzker did not extend Executive Order 2020-41 on Friday, meaning Illinois bettors will now need to visit a physical sportsbook to sign up for an online account.

The improvement in Illinois’ COVID-19 situation since the spring has undeniably affected the decision. However, considering that the pandemic is still ongoing, it is indeed a surprising move.

Cases of Coronavirus are also increasing in the Land of Lincoln.

This news holds significance for existing sportsbooks in Illinois, but it inflicts even more harm on customers and new operators.

Barstool has recently been launched and is currently in a crucial phase of acquiring customers, whereas BetMGM Sportsbook might not be far behind.

Online registration is crucial for attracting new customers, particularly now that the five original online sportsbooks in Illinois have been able to operate remotely for several months.

This support has allowed Illinois to rise to the 4th largest sports betting market in the US, with a handle of $581.6 million recorded in January. Without such rapid progress, the Illinois market would not have reached this point if everything had gone as initially planned.

We haven’t encountered any issues related to mobile membership, given its intended function.

A more detailed analysis of Pritzker’s choice is provided here.

Increased COVID – 19 treatments, but circumstances on the rise

Pritzker terminated smart registration, regardless of an increase in cases and a positive rate.

As of Friday, the seven-day rolling positivity rate stood at 4.1%, an increase from 2.4% recorded at the same time last month.

In late July, Pritzker reinstated in-person registration when the state positivity rate was approximately 3%.

He reversed the positivity rate when it reached around 4% in late August. Until Friday, Pritzker had made no changes to his program.

Currently, 25% of the population in Illinois have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Recently, Pritzker announced that all adults in Illinois, except those in Chicago, will be eligible for the vaccine by mid-April.

What lies ahead?

It’s hard to definitively predict, but if new variants cease to spread, the future could look increasingly positive for Illinois COVID-19 in the following months.

Illinois is currently leading in immunizing its citizens and it is anticipated that registration will increase.

While Pritzker & rsquo’s latest action is excellent news, it’s likely that we’ll have in-person registration for some time.

If Illinois grants an operator an online-only license, which is priced at $20 million, the stipulations are linked to that license. The earliest this could happen is in January 2022, and due to its steep price, there may not be any offers.

Reinstating online registration may likely require new legislation.

a harsh the creation of Barstool

Barstoolsimply initiated its operations in Illinois in March.

Residents of Illinois will now be required to visit one of their local physical casinos to file.

Furthermore, Barstool has formed partnerships with Argosy Casino Alton, Hollywood Casino Joliet, and Aurora Casino, indicating a significant financial presence in Illinois.

However, the ability to sign up and place bets from the comfort of your sofa doesn’t contradict having a physical presence. Every month, more than 90% of the money wagered by Illinoisans is done online.

Compared to other El operators, Barstool is at a notable disadvantage in acquiring clients because of its in-person registration process.

In addition to being on BetMGM watch, we have also officially transferred our sports betting license from FanDuel to its racetrack.

However, should BetMGM partner with Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria, its situation would be more dire than that of Barstool.

The sports betting market in IL is undergoing another dramatic shift in its roller coaster journey.