Latest articles
2023 Illinois Online Casino Bill May Be Revived in 2024
The Illinois online casino bill that stalled in a House committee in March 2023 may be revived in 2024, hopes state Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr. On Oct. 31, he told Bonus he still believes HB2239 can move forward. If the bill is approved, Bonus estimates iGaming will generate $240 million in annual tax income for […]
Betway Declines Entering Illinois Sports Betting Marketplace
The Illinois sports betting marketplace won’t be Betway’s tenth sportsbook state because the operator bowed out of its online-only license application. On Oct. 26, attendees of the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) meeting learned the bidding process ended without any operators receiving licenses. Betway had been one of two would-be online-only sportsbooks, IGB Executive Director Marcus Fruchter […]
Bally’s Chicago Gets Extension to Operate Temporary Casino But Timeline Remains Tight
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has granted Bally’s a full operational license for its casino resort in Chicago, valid until October 2027. In the process, the IGB also approved a 12-month extension for the operator’s temporary casino in downtown Chicago, necessary due to construction delays for the $1.9 billion permanent location. The temporary casino at Medinah Temple […]
Shrinking Small Business VGT Revenue Means Bad News for IL iGaming Legalization Chances
Illinois has over 45,000 video gaming terminals (VGTs), far more than any other state. The machines are in over 8,200 locations, including restaurants, bars, truck stops, and other small businesses. And while VGT revenue is growing, so is the number of sites. That is oversaturating the market and causing many locations to start seeing a […]
Bally’s Is Up and Running in Chicago With Temporary Location at Medinah Temple
Downtown Chicago has finally welcomed Bally’s as its first legal brick-and-mortar casino. On Sep. 9, following an inspection by the Illinois Gaming Board and a two-day test run, Bally’s Chicago opened the doors of its temporary location to a line of excited players. Despite earlier expectations of 24/7 gambling, the temporary location will be closed […]
Illinois Gaming Board Backtracks on Licensing of Mob-Connected Man
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) plans to revoke the gambling license of a man with mob ties after a Chicago Sun-Times (CST) investigation published in May revealed the connection. When Bonus last covered Jeffrey Bertucci, we asked how a man with mob ties could receive a gambling license. While we suspected politics played a role, […]
Felony Convictions No Longer a Barrier to Non-Gaming Casino Jobs in Illinois
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a law giving former convicts better employment prospects by allowing the state’s casinos to hire them for non-gaming roles. The new law received support from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) and Unite Here Local 1 hospitality union. Local 1 represents about 15,000 hospitality workers across Illinois and northern Indiana. In […]
Betway Is the Sole Applicant for Illinois’ Online-Only Sports License
Betway is the sole applicant and winner of an Illinois online-only sports betting license. During the July 27 Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) meeting, IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter pointed out that identifying Betway as a winning bidder does not grant the operator a license. The IGB added that there was another bidder, which withdrew its application […]
Why Do Operators of Video Gaming Terminals Have Such Influence in Illinois?
Video gaming terminals (VGTs) are a major industry in Illinois and influence much of what’s happening with gambling in the state. Illinois has about 45,000 terminals, far more than any other state. The terminals are located in about 8,200 locations, which include restaurants, bars, and truck stops. VGTs are similar to casino slots, but available […]
Bally’s Chicago Granted Preliminary Suitability by Illinois Gaming Board
Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has deemed Bally’s application for its future Chicago casino “preliminarily suitable.” The board voted 4-0 in favor of the plan’s suitability, allowing Bally’s to focus on the remaining regulatory requirements. At the same meeting, the company secured a license extension for its existing property in the state, Bally’s Quad Cities. Several […]
