William Hill enters the ring
William Hill US has launched its Illinois mobile sports betting app in association with Grand Victoria Casino. The Caesars Entertainment-owned casino in Elgin is the site of William Hill’s first retail sportsbook in the state, which opened earlier this summer.
The co-branded William Hill Grand Victoria Casino app is available on Android and Apple mobile devices, and enables Illinoisans to wager on both college and professional sports. Features include biometric login, quick-bets, and multiple withdrawal and deposit options.
New bettors who register and make a digital deposit will get a 100% “risk free” match up to $300, with parlays, props, futures, and in-play betting options available.
Making noise in Illinois
After adding the Land of Lincoln to its roster, William Hill has a digital sports wagering presence in six US states. In addition to a mobile footprint in Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, New Jersey, West Virginia, and now Illinois, the sportsbook also powers trading services on the Rhode Island Lottery’s mobile app.
best markets and great service”
Back in the Midwest, William Hill’s president of digital Ken Fuchs, himself a Prairie State native, said he was excited to bring his firm’s app to Illinois.
“We look forward to providing millions of sports fans in the state with the best markets and great service,” said Fuchs.
Competition heats up
All ten of Illinois’s casinos remained shuttered in April and May due to COVID-19. On June 5, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker provided some relief, signing Executive Order 2020-41, which meant bettors did not have register in-person at a brick-and-mortar establishment in order to place sports wagers digitally.
Rivers Casino’s sportsbook, BetRivers, Illinois’s first legal player in the online space, launched on June 18, only weeks after Executive Order 2020-41 was first issued.
The latest figures from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) on total sports betting handles for March, June, and July makes auspicious reading.
the two raked in almost $62m in sports betting revenue
Rivers Casino in Des Plaines and Argosy Casino Alton were the only entities accepting sports wagers in March, June, and July. According to the IGB, the two raked in almost $62m in sports betting revenue over the above-mentioned period.
Since BetRivers’ debut, there are now five digital sportsbooks in Illinois. Bettors can expect healthy competition as BetRivers is joined on the brand loyalty battlefield by FanDuel, DraftKings, PointsBet, and, as of today, William Hill.
