Illinois Hands Licenses to bet365 and New Casino

International gaming operator bet365 is set to further expand its global footprint with yet another market. During the Illinois Gaming Board’s (IGB) final meeting for the year, board members handed the new license to the sportsbook. The IGB also handed a license to Wind Creek Chicago Southland, a new casino in the state.

Bet365 to Launch in Illinois

The IGB confirmed that Bluff Casino Resort and Hillside Illinois have been awarded a Master Sports Wagering License and a Management Services Provider License respectively. The two are set to operate under the bet365 brand and provide both retail and online sports betting.

The two new licenses mean that bet365 and its local partner, Walker’s Bluff, will be able to work on launching betting. However, this launch is still subject to additional regulatory approvals.

Bet365 has been going from strength to strength, targeting multiple new opportunities. Now licensed in 12 states, the sportsbook has been steadily working on expanding its reach in America’s fast-growing betting industry.

The states in which bet365 has a license include the following:

• Arizona
• Colorado
• Indiana
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia

The company’s products are also available in the Canadian province of Ontario.

Bet365 recently hailed 2024 as a landmark year for sports betting. In its annual Year in Sports Betting report, the international operator outlined important trends and milestones, such as the growing popularity of women’s sports and the rapid expansion of the player prop betting market.

IGB Issued a New Casino License

In the meantime, the IGB issued its 16^th casino owner’s license to Wind Creek’s Chicago Southland property. This new license was in line with the 2019 gaming legislation, which approved six new casino licenses.

IGB administrator Marcus D. Fruchter commented on the matter, saying:

This is the sixth casino license the IGB has issued since enactment of the 2019 landmark gaming expansion legislation that authorized six new casino licenses.

Marcus D. Fruchter, administrator, IGB

Fruchter added that the regulator has collected some $386 million in upfront gaming fees from the new operators since the first of the new casinos opened in Rockford in 2021. The money has been used for critical infrastructure across the state.

In other news, one of the men who are believed to be behind the 2017 shooting at the Casino Queen in Illinois was convicted recently. The man, who was among three robbers, now faces up to 60 years in prison. The other two culprits, however, are still at large.