Illinois News

Bettors made $369.1 million in wagers at Illinois’ retail and online sportsbooks in July, down 22.5% from $476.5 million in June.

The agreement is the Bears' first multi-year exclusive deal in the sportsbook and casino categories and makes BetRivers the Bears’ Official Sportsbook Partner and Rivers Casino the Bears’ Official Casino Partner.

The company announced that it completed the previously announced acquisition of Jumer's Casino and Hotel in Illinois from Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment.

Rush Street Gaming is implementing a $15 non-tipped minimum wage at all Rivers Casinos including Rivers Casino Des Plaines, immediately boosting the pay for more than 100 local team members.

On Friday, 7 May Standardbred race horses will return to the track for a summer of live harness racing. “Chicago’s hometown track” will host racing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night beginning at 7 p.m.

Illinois retail and online sportsbooks attracted $509.8 million in wagers, according to official data released Friday. That is down 12.3% from the record $581.6 million in January.

In addition to seeing more casino properties inch closer to pre-pandemic times, there have also been an array of new openings and expansions.

Score Media and Gaming announced that it has secured market access to offer mobile sports betting in Illinois via an agreement with Harrah's Joliet Casino and Hotel.

The PointsBet Sportsbook at Club Hawthorne in north suburban Prospect Heights is the partners’ second standalone venue, following the opening of the PointsBet Sportsbook at Club Hawthorne in south suburban Crestwood in January.

Illinois online operators attracted $581.6 million in bets in January, 98.9% of which came online, according to official data released Wednesday. January's handle was up 18.3% from $491.7 million in December.

Illinois online sportsbooks pushed the statewide handle to nearly $500 million in monthly wagering and ended it's inaugural year with nearly $2 billion in bets even as retail casinos remained closed in December.

Hawthorne Race Course and PointsBet have been approved by the Illinois Gaming Board to open the state’s first off-track and non-casino sportsbook beginning on Wednesday, 27 January.

Team members and vendors will be required to wear masks and will undergo a health screening each day, including temperature checks, prior to their shift.

The Illinois casino will still have health and safety protocols in place for guests and team members, including everyone being required to wear a face mask.

The Illinois property is currently operating at 25% capacity per the state’s directive and features a reduced number of slots and table games with no poker.

At the Illinois resort, all guests are required to wear facial coverings. Guest spaces are cleaned and disinfected multiple times daily with EPA-approved products.

A total of 18 Boyd Gaming destinations participated in Wreaths of Hope in Nevada, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Pennsylvania.

Illinois sportsbooks drew $434.6 million in bets in October, according to official data released Thursday. That is up 42.4% from $305.2 million in September.

Due to a state-wide order from Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health, Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino is temporarily closed until further notice.

The Illinois Gaming Board has communicated to the State of Illinois' casinos that their facilities must suspend gambling operations at the conclusion of the gaming day on Thursday, 19 November 2020.