Illinois Gaming Authority Processing Applications for Sports Betting Licenses
Illinois Gaming Board Grants Temporary Permits for Sports Betting Amid Pandemic
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has been quietly approving applications for sports betting, supplier, and management services provider licenses during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite no sports wagering taking place in the state.
As of now, six casinos that have applied for these licenses have been approved, with Pair-A-Dice Gaming Corporation based in East Peoria the most recent recipient. Rivers Casino in Des Plaines and Argosy Casino in Alton are the only two sportsbooks provisionally approved to accept wagers on sporting events.
Rivers Casino was the first to open a sportsbook in Illinois on March 9 at the BetRivers SportsBook in Des Plaines. However, operations were shuttered almost as quickly as they began when casinos and sportsbooks across the state closed on March 15 due to the pandemic. Governor J.B. Pritzker recently extended the "stay-at-home" order in Illinois through May 30.
Two racetracks, Fairmount Park and Hawthorne Race Course, remain applicants for sports wagering licenses. Both tracks applied for racino licenses last August after Pritzker signed the gaming expansion bill into law in June 2019. Arlington Park has not yet decided if it will seek licensure.
Meanwhile, Rush Street Interactive, which runs BetRivers, appears to be making headway on the mobile front. The company has partnered with GeoComply, which was recently approved as a supplier, for geofencing. GeoComply announced last week it had received a temporary operating permit, marking a significant step towards offering mobile betting in Illinois.
FanDuel, currently under an 18-month "penalty box" provision as part of the gaming bill, could potentially bypass this waiting period by reportedly purchasing Fairmount Park Racetrack. This acquisition would allow FanDuel to have both retail and digital sportsbooks without the pricetag for a mobile-only license.
Relevant Enrichment Data:- As of May 2025, sports betting in Illinois is thriving with ten licensed and regulated operators, including major players like FanDuel and Rush Street Interactive's BetRivers [1][2][3].- The Illinois Sports Wagering Act, passed in 2019, governs sports betting in the state, with the Illinois Gaming Board acting as the regulator [1].- Remote registration is allowed in Illinois, making it convenient for users to sign up via mobile devices [3].- College betting restrictions exist, with wagers on in-state college teams needing to be placed in-person at retail sportsbooks, and college player props not allowed [3].- Illinois has seen significant growth in sports betting, with a rise in betting handle in March 2025 compared to the previous year, although revenue growth was impacted by a lower win rate [2].
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has provisionally approved Rivers Casino and Argosy Casino to accept wagers on sports events, despite no sports wagering currently taking place in the state. Rush Street Interactive, which operates BetRivers, is making progress on the mobile front, partnering with GeoComply for geofencing and receiving a temporary operating permit, marking a significant step towards offering mobile betting in Illinois.
