New Ordinance Would Lift Chicago Sports Betting Ban, A Key Step Toward In-Stadium Sportsbooks

Alderman Walter Burnett( 27th ) is proposing a law that would end Chicago’s ban on sports betting. Wholesale casinos at Wrigley Field, the United Center, etc. may be made possible by this.

While this may be viewed as a formality, it is a necessary step to offer retail sports betting in Chicago.

Betting is permitted at Illinois sporting facilities thanks to the Sports Wagering Act. But Chicago needs to lift its ban on sports gambling in order for that to happen.

Burnett said via the Chicago Sun-Times:

They & rsquo have been discussing setting up a location for it, including & ldquo, Wrigley, and the United Center andmdash. Therefore, in order for that to occur, this regulation must be passed. We & rsquo, we’ll see where the council wants to take it from there. & rdquo,

The city would charge$ 50,000 for a license and$ 25, 000 for an annual renewal in addition to Illinois Gaming Board ( IGB ) fees.

Sports betting would not be permitted from Monday through Thursday between nightfall and 10 a.m., Friday and Saturday from nightfall to 9 o’clock, and on Saturday and Sunday from 1 am until 9 am.

A maximum of 15 restaurants may be permitted at each place, unless the businesses offered food and beverages.

City Mayor Lori Lightfoot seems to support the Chicago zoning ordinance. She said on Wednesday when asked if Chicago sportsbooks would negatively impact the city’s casino project:

& ldquo, Sports( betting ) is the law of our state, first and foremost. That was approved by the General Assembly in 2019. I agree with that rule. No, I don’t think it will undermine our efforts to build a future casino, and we’re going to make sure that it does, t. & rdquo,

A physical casino in the United Center?

Burnett represents the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks‘ residence district, which is close to the United Center. The mention of a casino at the United Center is tucked into his quote over.

For the first time, the United Center has expressed confirmed attention. We currently only have information about Wrigley Field’s ideas.

Which gaming operator would run a sportsbook at the United Center? The most likely answer is FanDuel, the market leader in Illinois by revenue.

FanDuel did not serve as the Bulls & rsquo’s sole betting partner, but it did hold a sizable and prominent baseline advertisement for home games between 2020 and 21. Jerry Reinsdorf is the owner of both FanDuel and the White Sox, which have a comparable marriage.

The United Center is collectively owned by the Bulls and Blackhawks, while Reinsdorf does not. To manage a potential United Center betting, FanDuel must be regarded as the front-runner.

Given that the Bulls and Blackhawks have a larger fan base in the area than the White Sox combined, the area is probably more interesting than Guaranteed Rate Field.

What is known about a Chicago Wrigley Field casino?

Wrigley Field and the Cubs were quick to pounce on a Chicago retail sportsbook. In September 2020, they struck a deal with DraftKingsto build a facility right off of the Addison red line train stop.

It & rsquo is a$ 100 million business partnership. Regarding the upcoming casino, Cubs official Julian Green said:

With a food and beverage choice and bets, DraftKings claims that this would be their biggest casino in the nation. In the winter, there is Super Bowl. March Madness is in you. We could accommodate groups if we had a venue where they could watch the Super Bowl or March Madness & mdash. & rdquo,

Of all, the IGB and the city of Chicago must approve Wrigley and DraftKings. That might require some time.

If Chicago residents took advantage of the brief online registration time, they would already have access to wireless sports betting andmdash.

They ought to be able to enter the arena of their preferred team and make a personal wager in the upcoming years.