Rush Street Gaming launches first Illinois sportsbook
BetRivers venue first to open as the state initiates in-person registration requirements in time for March Madness
Rush Street Gaming has opened the first retail betting space in Illinois at its Rivers Casino in Des Plaines.
The BetRivers venue took its first bet at noon after being granted approval from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) on Friday.
With Illinois the 15th state to go live with betting, one in four American can now place a bet legally in their home state, the American Gaming Association has said.
Rush Street Gaming CEO Greg Carlin said: “Whether you are a seasoned sportsbook player or a casual sports fan interested in this new entertainment option, we’re dedicated to an environment where all customers will enjoy themselves in this great venue within our premier casino.”
The BetRivers retail book sits on Kambi’s back-end technology. It expects to launch its mobile app later in the year.
Once mobile betting is launched the IGB will enforce an in-person registration restriction, similar to Nevada and Iowa.
As a result of in-person registration, Iowa made only a quarter of neighboring state Indiana’s betting revenues in January.
Five additional retail venues are expected to open in coming weeks, including two Hollywood casinos and the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin.
According to Illinois betting laws, passed in December, online-only operators have only three licenses available to them, and cannot launch in the state for 18 months after the launch of retail betting.