Unibet Sportsbook Comes To Illinois After Securing Market Access With Penn

Kindred announced on Tuesday that Unibet sportsbook is launching in Illinois.

Argosy Casino Alton, which launched its retail sportsbook in March without an online partner, will collaborate with Penn National Gaming to seek an Illinois sports betting license.

Moreover, the agreement between Kindred and Penn allows Unibet to pursue licensing at the Hollywood Casino in Ohio.

“We are thrilled to expand our presence in the US by establishing our brand in two significant states, Illinois and Ohio,” stated Manuel Stan, the Senior Vice President of Kindred US.

The two contracts both have a term of 10 years. Unibet is also presently accessible in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Uncertain Unibet timeframe

The retail sportsbook Argosy is already open. However, Kindred is required to first secure the approval of the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) for a sports betting license before it can be operational.

Stan has yet to provide a definite timeline for the launch, but he stated that the aim is to get it up and running “as soon as possible.” He also mentioned that Unibet is planning to launch next in Illinois.

So far, Kindred has achieved success in the US business. It generated a gross income of $7.7 million from Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the second quarter.

Business information indicates a 131% increase from the first quarter.

Also room in a market that could be strong in Illinois

It is widely recognized that Illinois has the potential to release flashy betting odds, especially if intelligent registration extends beyond September 19.

At present, only three online sportsbooks exist in the state: DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetRivers.

It’s likely the fifth for PointsBet, but what follows is somewhat unclear.

To provide some context, eight online sportsbooks are currently available in neighboring Indiana, with more expected to launch.

However, a book such as Unibet could thrive in the Land of Lincoln if it were to launch in the second tier following PointsBet. However, the comparison isn’t exactly fair as Indiana has fully accepted online registration, while Illinois hasn’t.

For Illinois sports betting operators, the Sept. 19 date is of significant importance. Should in-person registration be reinstated, it’s likely that Unibet will compete for the St. Louis market given that Alton is nearly a five-hour drive from Chicago.

However, Alton and St. Louis are only about 25 miles apart.

That being said, DraftKings at Casino Queen in East St. Louis may encounter strong resistance. The second largest online casino to launch in Illinois was DK, which has become increasingly popular in the states.

What this most probable means for Barstool

Barstool Sports and Penn also have a contract with all.

Penn operates three games in Illinois, which are located in Hollywood Casino Aurora, Joliet, and Argosy Casino Alton.

Currently, none of the three have a wireless presence, but they all operate open retail sportsbooks.

When the sportsbooks in Hollywood were initiated, they were publicized on social media by multiple Barstool Sports accounts. Given this, it can be inferred that the Barstool sportsbook will seek market entry through one of these casinos upon its launch, especially now that Argosy has partnered up.

Barstool is planning a tentative launch in Pennsylvania next month, but plans for Illinois are still in their infancy.