Illinois Legislators Greenlight Mobile Betting with Remote Registration
Sports betting enthusiasts in Illinois may soon have the opportunity to place mobile wagers ahead of the NCAA tournament, as lawmakers passed an amendment to House Bill 3136 on Thursday, effectively ending the in-person registration requirement. This change aligns with recent updates to Illinois sports betting regulations.
The amendment, which includes a March 5 expiration date for in-person registration, was overwhelmingly approved by both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly during the three-day veto session. The legislation now has 30 days to be sent to Governor JB Pritzker's office, who is expected to sign it into law within 60 days of receiving it.
Previously, the Illinois Gaming Board was given the discretion to extend the 90-day timeline for reviewing potential online-only applications. The date-certain language in the bill aims to provide clarity regarding the issuance of the state's first online-only sports betting licenses.
The application window for a $20 million mobile-only license is expected to open in approximately six weeks. In addition to this, the bill also allows the Wintrust Arena, home of the recently crowned WNBA champion Chicago Sky, to apply for a sports wagering license.
Since the inception of sports betting in Illinois, it has quickly risen among the top three U.S. markets. The suspension of the in-person requirement by Governor Pritzker via Executive Order 2020-41 for much of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in this achievement.
By the end of 2021, Illinois is expected to surpass $6 billion in all-time handle, joining New Jersey, Nevada, and Pennsylvania in this elite club.
Sports-betting enthusiasts can now wager on sports, such as the upcoming NCAA tournament, through mobile applications, as the Illinois General Assembly passed an amendment to House Bill 3136 on Thursday. The date-certain language in the bill aims to provide clarity for the issuance of the state's first sports-betting line, with the application window for a mobile-only license expected to open in about six weeks.
