MGM Mobile Betting Will be Released in Illinois

BetMGM Enters Illinois Launches just at the Right Time Online Betting

BetMGM Enters Illinois Launches just at the Right Time for Mobile Betting Alternative

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 12 March 2022

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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iGaming and online sportsbook giant BetMGM has announced that it will now accept bets from residents of Illinois. The BetMGM sports betting app launch will be welcomed news to bettors living in the state. As the state’s in-person registration requirement for mobile betting fades away, BetMGM has announced its launching in Illinois. It comes as the sixth-largest state, already a thriving regulated sport betting market, removing its requirement for in-person registration. We’ve reviewed the BetMGM app in New Jersey which will give Illinois bettors an insight as to what to expect when the local product launches.

As a result, gamblers can place wagers on their computers and mobile devices without needing to visit a land-based casino. BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said in a statement,

This launch is a significant milestone for BetMGM as we enter one of the country’s largest sports betting markets.

An equal partnership of MGM Resorts International and Entain Plc is at the heart of BetMGM. An online casino market share leader and top-three online sports betting market share leader are among the things Illinois has in common with the other 22 states the operator has just joined. Analysts and investors in the gaming industry will be interested in BetMGM’s Illinois launch following its January debut in New York. Why? The reason is that it has a proven track record in the nearby Michigan iGaming and sports betting industries.

BetMGM Joined Right on Time

The in-person registration mandate in Illinois has been abolished today, indicating that BetMGM’s Illinois entry was perfectly timed. If all goes well, New Jersey, which has had legalized sports betting for less than two years, could see an influx of new businesses. DraftKings and FanDuel were given an 18-month grace period when Illinois launched sports betting on March 9, 2020, to give land-based casino operators a head start.

Those online casino operators got around the law by using their names and logos on real-world gambling establishments. Gov. J.B. Pritzker later waived the in-person registration requirement to boost revenue as the state faced budget problems due to the coronavirus pandemic. After a spike in COVID-19 cases in the state, he re-implemented it in April of last year. In Illinois, the sports betting handle has risen to fourth place despite the state’s on-again-off-again live registration mandate.

There’s Still More on That Good Timing Story

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Illinois adults bet $9,341 per minute on sports, based on an $8.9 billion total as of December 31, 2021, according to the most recent date for which data is available. That fact alone shows how enticing Illinois is to casino operators.

The NCAA Tournament, one of the most popular sporting events in the United States, kicks off on March 13, furthering the belief that BetMGM’s timing is excellent. More than a few Big Ten teams are expected to participate in March Madness 2022, a major revenue source for Illinois and the sports wagering companies operating there.

About BetMGM Illinois Sportsbook

If you haven’t heard about BetMGM, this sportsbook has established itself as a major player in the legal sports betting market in the United States. It was the third most popular online sportsbook and the most popular online casino in the United States in 2013. It has also opened an online Racebook and Poker Room in some states.

BetMGM now claims to be the second-largest online gambling operator in the United States, behind FanDuel, according to its annual report. Nonetheless, it is the only major player that had avoided the Illinois market entirely due to a lack of market access. The in-person registration requirement deterred it for the longest period, but this is no longer the case. Today, you can use the BetMGM sportsbook app anywhere in Illinois.