Fanatics Moves Illinois Online Sports Betting License from Hawthorne to Argosy
Fanatics users in Illinois received a notice Tuesday that the online sports betting app changed partners, moving from Hawthorne Race Course to the Argosy Casino Alton, near St. Louis.
While the move meant very little for Fanatics bettors, it is another sign of trouble for the Chicago-area racetrack, which saw the Illinois Racing Board suspend its harness racing license the day before.
Fanatics Sportsbook customers in Illinois will not see any disruption to our mobile sports betting app, but we did get regulatory approval to switch our mobile license from Hawthorne to Penn National’s Argosy Casino Alton,” Fanatics said in a statement provided to Gambling Insider. “Customers will receive a notice of the change via an in-app message, and all of their bets and funds will be available in the Fanatics Sportsbook app.”
Fanatics’ retail license will remain tethered to Hawthorne. With that, the sports betting operator will maintain its brick-and-mortar locations at the track in Cicero and Hawthorne’s off-track betting facilities in Crestwood, Prospect Heights, and Villa Park.
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Hawthorne Suspension Affects Only Harness Licenses
On Monday, the IRB announced the suspension of Hawthorne’s harness licenses, which run under the Suburban Downs name. That includes the winter meet, set to run through Feb. 15, but has been canceled each weekend this month due to financial issues. In addition, the sanction also covers the inter-track wagering (ITW), or simulcasting, license for Suburban Downs.
An IRB spokesperson told Gambling Insider Tuesday that the suspension does not cover Hawthorne’s thoroughbred racing and ITW licenses, which are still considered valid.
Hawthorne’s 2026 thoroughbred meet is set to start on March 26 and run every Sunday and Thursday through Nov. 1.
Hawthorne Failed Twice to Deliver Financials
A two-page letter sent to Hawthorne President and General Manager Tim Carey indicated the suspension was due to the track violating the state’s horse racing law and being behind in purse payments to horsemen.
The letter, signed by IRB Executive Director Domenic DiCera, also said the state agency asked Hawthorne on Jan. 15 for bank statements pertaining to the track’s operations. Those were due the next day.
Five days later, DiCera and Carey met at the board’s offices in Chicago. The IRB reiterated its demand, and Hawthorne officials were “committed to providing it forthwith,” according to the letter.
As of the date of this letter (Jan. 26), we have not received the documentation,” it stated.
The racing board is scheduled to hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday in Chicago. Carey is on the agenda scheduled to give an update on Hawthorne.
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