Mobile sports betting has officially launched in Illinois, and it came much quicker than anticipated. The coronavirus pandemic had a huge impact on the recently launched sports betting industry in the state, but it is also responsible for expediting the mobile launch.
Sports betting officially launched in the Land of Lincoln on March 9, and the BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino in Des Plaines was the first to offer retail betting. As of Thursday, BetRivers also became the first online sports betting site in the state.
Illinois sports betting regulations required that customers register in-person at one of the casinos before they could create a sports betting account. On June 4, Governor JB Pritzker issued an executive order removing that restriction, making it easier to create an account.
The problem was that there weren’t any online sportsbooks ready to launch in the state, but that all changed this week. BetRivers is now up and running, and they have already started signing up new members for an account.
BetRivers is already live in several other states around the country, so it was relatively easy for them to launch an online site in Illinois. When Pritzker loosened the signup restrictions, the company was hard at work to create this platform.
Sports betting was legalized in Illinois almost a year ago, but it took the state nearly nine months before the first sportsbook was up and running. A few days after BetRivers began taking bets at Rivers Casino, sports were shut down throughout the country.
Governor Pritzker ordered all casinos to cease operations at the end of March, and they are still not back up and running. This effectively shut down the sports betting market in Illinois, but it is finally back.
Six other casinos were approved for a sports betting license last week, and they should be ready to offer in-person sports betting when Pritzker allows them to reopen. Penn Gaming is the only other company that currently holds a temporary operating license, but they have yet to release a mobile platform.
Illinois is set to move into Phase 4 of its reopening plans on June 26, but that won’t allow casinos to reopen. It is unclear when Governor Pritzker will give them the green light, but sports betting is back on the table for Illinois residents.
BetRivers Mobile Sports Details
BetRivers.com, powered by Rush Street Interactive, went live at 10 am on Thursday, meaning that customers can now register from the comfort of their own home. This new release will give players a chance to be among the first to place legal sports bets in the state of Illinois.
BetRivers recognizes that this could be a slow start with several sports currently shut down, but they plan on focusing on the customer service aspect at the beginning. BetRivers specializes in fast and easy payouts, and they have a top-rated customer service department.
The easiest way to find out the best way to begin registering for an account is to simply visit BetRivers.com. The website will have prompts to help customers create an account, and they will also explain how to download the mobile app.
Android users have the opportunity to download the mobile app right away, and there is a link provided on the website. The iOS app has not yet been released for Illinois residents, but BetRivers has assured Apple customers that it will be on the way soon.
Customers must be at least 21 years of age to create an account at BetRivers, and they must be physically located in the state of Illinois. BetRivers is currently offering a $250 first-deposit match to new users that sign up on the site or through the mobile app.
