Sports betting to go live in Illinois
Legal sports betting will take place in Illinois for the first time on Monday afternoon, with BetRivers accepting wagers at 12pm central time.
The sportsbook, operated by Rush Street Gaming, will be open for business at Rivers Casino, Del Plainis, with an opening ceremony taking place at 10am.
Rivers, co-owned by Rush Street Interactive, was one of the first casinos approved to launch sports betting in the state last month by the Illinois Gaming Board, with BetRivers the first accepted brick-and-mortar sportsbook.
Sports betting was legalised in the state in June last year and becomes the 15th state in the US to go live.
Rush Street Gaming Co-founder and CEO Greg Carlin said: “Whether you are a seasoned sportsbook player or 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.”
Temporary operating permits were also handed out to Argosy Casino Alton, Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin and Hollywood Casino in both Aurora and Joliet.
The launch coincides with the start of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, also known as March Madness, a popular event among the country’s sports bettors.
BetRivers also announced it plans to launch its online and mobile sportsbook later this year.
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