Circa Sports is now allowed to provide sports betting services in Illinois.

Sports Betting License Laws & Regulations

Circa Gets Go-Ahead for Sports Betting License in Illinois

By Lisa Spencer Senior Editor Updated: 08 May 2023

Lisa Spencer Senior Editor

As a Senior Editor at Betting.US, Lisa Spencer is a valuable member of our expert team. With a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics, Lisa is adept in gambling theory and analyzing odds. She contributes by writing online sportsbook reviews and finding competitive markets to help our readers make an informed choice.

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It was recently announced that the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has given the green light for a sports betting license to Circa Sports.

The board approved the operators for a management services provider permit, which means that the sportsbook could make its debut in the state within a matter of months. After applying for a sports wagering license almost a year ago, Circa could finally go live in Illinois in August.

Now that approval has been given for the management services provider permit, Circa will need to put in a request in writing to the IGB in order to start taking online bets in Illinois.

Once this has been approved, Circa will become operator number eight to provide access to mobile sports betting in the state. It will also be the fourth state in which Circa offers mobile sports betting, with the other three being Nevada, Iowa, and Colorado.

A Slow Process for Circa

After learning about the latest decision from the gaming board, officials from Circa took to social media to comment. They are hoping things will stay on course to allow for an August launch.

In a recent Tweet, the company stated:

For those asking, if all goes as expected, our current Illinois launch timing target is late August.

Many have commented on how long it has taken for Circa to make its debut in the state, and this is partly down to how long the gaming board takes in terms of approving new gaming permits. Circa announced its plans to enter the Illinois market in May 2022, and this was through an arrangement with Full House Resorts.

As a result of the agreement, Circa has the opportunity to run its retail sportsbook at the casino as well as offer mobile sports betting platforms. Last month saw a temporary Full House venue open in the state. However, before it can get its non-restricted casino license, it must pass a probationary period. After this, Full House will be able to open a sportsbook.

Hoping to Be Up and Running for the Football Season

At present, the world of live sports and sports betting in the United States is going through a slower period. This is a traditional slowdown during the summer months that continues until the football season begins in September.

Circa officials now hope that everything will run smoothly to allow for an August launch, as this will enable it to benefit from the extremely busy football season, which always sees a hug amount of betting on every game. This could be great timing for the operator, as it can hit the ground running with a flurry of sports betting activity within weeks of launching.

According to reports, Circa has also hinted that it is keen to expand into other states over time. The founder of Circa, Derek Stevens, lives in Michigan, and some think that this could be one of the next states on the list. However, no details have yet been provided by Circa in relation to ongoing expansion across the United States.