Sports Betting Now Available in Illinois

Illinois Sports Betting Online Betting

Illinois Sports Betting Options Grow with PointsBet Launch

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 14 September 2020

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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The options for sports fans in Illinois who want to enjoy a bet have expanded thanks to the launch of PointsBet’s mobile and online sports betting platforms. This is the fourth state where PointsBet now offers sports betting, and it comes ahead of the opening of a retail sportsbook at Hawthorne Racecourse by the operator.

With many major sports now up and running again, including the NFL, the launch of the online and mobile sports betting platforms comes at the perfect time. Many people in the state will be eager to place bets on their favorite teams and sports events, and the launch of the new PointsBet online and mobile sportsbook will give them more choices.

Providing Sports Fans with a Superior Experience

Officials from PointsBet have said that the launch of its new sportsbook in Illinois will enable sports fans to enjoy a superior experience. Johnny Aitken, the CEO of PointsBet USA, said that the team is excited to now be officially live in the state, which is its fourth state of operation in the country. He said:

The passionate sports fans in the state can now experience our leading online sports betting product and see for themselves why we’ve long stated that the best product experience will win.

He also said that PointsBet had a competitive advantage because it owned its “technology environment from end to end, such as unrivaled speed and ease of use on a personalized platform.”

Aitken said that sports fans in the state were craving a superior sports betting experience, and this is exactly what the sportsbook operator planned to give them. At present, those wishing to sign up for an account can do so remotely without having to visit a physical location.

Retail Sportsbook to Debut at Hawthorne Race Course

In addition to launching its online and mobile sports betting platforms, the operator also announced the up and coming launch of its retail sportsbook. This will be opening at Hawthorne Racecourse in Stickney. The racecourse will become the flagship location for the PointsBet retail sportsbook, but there will also be other locations in and around the Chicago area.

At present, Hawthorne Racecourse is undergoing renovations, and this comes after it was given permission to redevelop the track by the Illinois Gaming Board. The current project will see the race track being transformed into an entertainment and gaming hub with a casino, sportsbook, and a range of dining options for visitors to choose from.

The president and CEO of Hawthorne Racecourse, Tim Carey, said that they had decided to partner with PointsBet to provide sportsbook operations because of the operator’s commitment to customer experience and innovation. He said that PointsBet recognized the passion and needs of sports fans, and this meant that it could provide them with a superior sports betting experience.

It is thought that the renovations at Hawthorne Racecourse will be completed next year, meaning that the new entertainment venue and retail sportsbook should be ready to open towards the end of 2021.