Illinois Casino Launches State's First Sportsbook

The first Illinois sportsbook launched Monday with former Chicago Blackhawks goaltender and current announcer Eddie Olczyk placing the first bet in state history.

According to a local NBC affiliate, Olczyk bet $100 on the Chicago White Sox to win the American League pennant at Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, a northwest Chicago suburb. He placed the bet at 16-to-1 odds and would stand to win $1,600 if the White Sox represent the American League in the World Series this October.

With the launch of Illinois’ first sportsbook at Rivers Casino, it became the 15th state to legalize sports betting after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation last June.

Pritzker had been touting the idea of having sports betting available in Illinois in time for March Madness. Rivers Casino was the first property to apply for a license and the first to get approval from the state’s Gaming Board. It is open for business two weeks before the start of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament after formally opening to the public Monday at noon.

As of last week, six other casinos and racetracks had applied for licenses and are awaiting approval from the regulatory body.

When Pritzker signed the legislation last June, it also allowed online sports betting. Online sportsbooks are not available yet and won’t be available in time for March Madness.

Illinois’ neighbor to the east, Indiana, signed legislation just a month before Illinois, but launched its sportsbooks five months earlier. Indiana’s online sportsbooks launched alongside the brick-and-mortar locations, unlike Illinois.

In its first month with sports betting, Indiana generated an extra $1.1 million in tax revenue. State officials have projected $60 million in additional annual tax revenue in Illinois, but several states have fallen short of projections, especially when online sportsbooks are not a part of the market.

It is likely that Indiana’s tax revenue will take a slight hit following Illinois’ launch since gamblers in Chicago will not need to drive 30 minutes east across the border to place a bet.

Arenas that host sporting events are also eligible to apply for a sports betting license, but none of the major venues have applied for one at this point.

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