The Governor of Illinois is at it again, with more good news after extending the online sports betting registration in the state. While the process was to expire last week, J.B. Pritzker has moved the deadline to November 14, 2020.
The U.S. has witnessed a spike in COVID-19 cases, and Illinois governor understands the importance of mobile registration. The state has also recorded more sportsbook coming in, with the latest being PointsBet, FanDuel, William Hill and DraftKings.
The registration was temporarily banned in July 2020, but the decision was reversed on August 21 allowing more hundreds to register with online bookmakers. As a result, the state has seen $140 million, thanks to the online wagering.
Initially, the sports law of Illinois required new online bettors to register at a physical casino or sportsbook. But, since the outbreak of coronavirus, several measures have been put in place to prevent the spread of the virus. To keep up with social distancing guidelines, the state of Illinois lifted the law in June to allow punters to register on online platforms.
An Online Sportsbook Benefits Greatly
When the Governor directed a temporary ban, it was a day before DraftKings could launch in Illinois. The company still launched its DraftKings at Casino Queen Sportsbook, which is the official betting platform for the punters residing in Illinois. The ban also meant that the sportsbook couldn’t capitalize their presence in Chicago without online registration. This posed problems to the business until barely a month later when Pritzker lifted the ban.
Luckily for the DraftKings, it immediately entered the Illinois market after finding a loophole into Illinois sports betting. Usually, it could have taken 18 months before entering the market.
Fortunately, the DraftKings and FanDuel got the chance to enter the Illinois market by accepting players to register online accounts on the platform. However, BetRivers continues to dominate the Illinois market, though maybe not for so long as these new betting operators continue to catch up.
Online registration has helped more bookies enter the market, including the Australian company PointsBet. The operator has partnered with Chicago Bears and has a retail shop that is 12 miles southwest of Chicago.
Illinois’ Sports Betting Industry is Set to Expand
Illinois sports betting didn’t start on the right foot. For starters, the coronavirus pandemic has affected every industry, including halting sports events. Although online sports betting is now legal in Illinois since its approval in March, online registration was stopped at the end of July 2020.
Both physical and online betting became legal in the state of Illinois, with the first wager made at Rivers Casino Des Plaines on March 9,2020. Online betting soon followed suit in the summer, when punters could register for an account from anywhere in the state.
After the execution order was extended to November, together with players getting back on the field, the sports betting industry in Illinois has continued to gain steam. Pundits have placed bets on the NBA, NHL, MLB, soccer and various other sports, leading to an increase in the amount collected from gambling. The state is also looking at what it might collect after all significant sports in the U.S., including the NFL and college football, continue to unfold.