BetMGM Starts Sports Betting in Illinois
The prominent casino and sportsbook operator BetMGM has announced that it has finally launched its mobile sports betting app in the US state of Illinois. Players in the state can now access BetMGM’s online sports wagering platform to place pre-game, live in-play, futures and parlay wagers on a selection of sports leagues and events.
Casino and sportsbook operator BetMGM has announced that it has finally launched its mobile sports betting app in the US state of Illinois. ©bk_advtravlr/Pixabay
App Will Be Integrated With BetMGM’s Rewards Program
The renowned casino and sports betting operator BetMGM continues to broaden its reach in the US gambling market with the announcement of the launch of its mobile sports betting app in the state of Illinois.
Illinois bettors located in the state can now take advantage of BetMGM’s online sports wagering platform to place pre-game, live in-play, futures and parlay wagers on a wide selection of sports leagues and events.
As with most of BetMGM’s sportsbook offerings, its mobile sports betting app is integrated with its proprietary BetMGM Rewards program, a revamped loyalty program that launched in January 2022, allowing players to earn points with every wager placed.
These points can in turn be exchanged for accommodation and experiences at MGM Resorts properties scattered across the US, including the likes of the Bellagio and MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Illinois Sports Betting Surpassed $7 Billion Mark in 2021
Speaking on the occasion of the announcement of BetMGM’s entry into the Illinois sports betting market, BetMGM chief executive Adam Greenblatt described the move as a watershed moment for the operator, seeing as the state’s sports betting market is one of the nation’s largest:
“This launch marks a significant milestone for BetMGM as we enter one of the country’s biggest sports betting markets. We look forward to working with the state of Illinois to bring its passionate sports fans a new, innovative and unique sports betting experience.”– Adam Greenblatt, Chief Executive, BetMGM
As of writing, BetMGM currently holds operator licenses in numerous US states, including Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming and Washington DC.
In February 2022, news broke which showed that sports betting operators in Illinois became the third state in the United States to surpass the $7 billion mark in a calendar year.
BetMGM Partnered With SportsGrid in February 2022
Also in February 2022, BetMGM announced that it had signed an exclusive strategic partnership with the sports wagering streaming platform SportsGrid, with BetMGM content now becoming integrated within SportsGrid’s original live programming.
The content which SportsGrid will be featuring will feature the likes of BetMGM’s brand, odds and promotions. BetMGM will also provide the US-facing 24 hour sports network with access to its trading team and brand ambassadors, so that SportsGrid can create insider content for its network.
The partnership is further evidence that the legacy casino and sportsbook operator is constantly looking for new ways to increase its reach and appeal.
SportsGrid co-founder and president Louis Maione acknowledged that BetMGM as an industry leader and that its name would help the streaming service better serve its loyal fanbase:
“We are proud to deliver real-time BetMGM data and intelligence to millions of sports fans. This relationship with a recognized leader in the industry helps us better super-serve the gaming community and further cements our position as the premier sports gaming and lifestyle network.”– Louis Maione, Co-founder and President, SportsGrid
Bally’s Planning to Open Chicago Resort
In further news concerning Illinois’ betting market, casino operator Bally’s Corporation announced in November 2021 that it had submitted a proposal to build and operate a massive new $1.6 billion land-based casino resort in the city of Chicago.
Going under the name of “Bally’s Chicago”, the resort will be built in two distinct phases: the first phase will see $1 billion spent on a physical casino featuring 2,700 slot machines and 95 table games; the second will have a further $600 million spent to add up to 4,000 total gaming positions, a 400-room hotel tower with a rooftop pool and bar, and much more.
Bally’s suggested two potential sites in its proposal to the City of Chicago to build its large-scale land-based casino on: the Chicago Tribune Publishing Center, located on the corner of Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street, and the McCormick Place Truck Marshaling Yard.
Bally’s chairman Soo Kim took the opportunity to tout the project’s local roots, emphasizing how the development would give back to the local community:
“Chicago is a dynamic, world-class city, which is why we are committing to make a $1.6bn investment in establishing Bally’s Chicago as our flagship, and the only property in its class in the Chicagoland market. This property will be built, owned, and operated by Chicagoans, with a focus on minority and women investors, contractors, suppliers, consultants, and employees. It will generate tax revenue, create good-paying jobs, and attract international, national, and local visitors for generations to come.”
