Launch includes odds boosts on 2021 World Series
With its application for online sports wagering approved by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB), Penn National Gaming’s Barstool Sportsbook is all set to launch on mobile and online platforms in the state this week.
The US gaming and betting provider announced via Twitter that the Barstool Sportsbook app is available for download and will launch at noon on March 11:
According to a press release, a variety of promotional bets are in the cards when the Wyomissing, Pennsylvania-based casino operator rolls out its online Barstool Sportsbook on Thursday.
Illinois sports fans can look forward to odds boosts on Major League Baseball franchises Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox to win the 2021 World Series, plus access various betting options based on the imminent March Madness college basketball tournament. Illinoisans can also avail themselves of a $1,000 risk-free wager after placing an initial deposit.
Windy City windfall for sports fans
The Barstool Sportsbook app rollout in Illinois comes at an opportune time. The US college basketball season ends March 14, the same day Selection Sunday whets bettors’ appetites for the March 18 start of the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)’s men’s basketball tournament.
Judging by his press release comments, Penn National CEO Jay Snowden is understandably excited. He pointed out how the architect of Barstool Chicago Dan ‘Big Cat’ Katz and collaborators “Chief, Eddie, Carl, and ‘White Sox’ Dave” have built up a big following in Illinois through their Chicago-sports-focused Red Line Radio podcast, in addition to daily blogs and social media content.
the only gaming operator with a fully integrated sports and media entertainment partner”
“As the only gaming operator with a fully integrated sports and media entertainment partner, customers in Illinois will now be able to engage with these Barstool personalities through the online Barstool Sportsbook and enjoy their unique take on Chicago sports,” Snowden said.
Will Penn’s Illinois debut mirror Michigan’s?
Penn National’s Philadelphia-based subsidiary Penn Interactive got off to a dream start in Michigan last month after the launch of its Barstool-branded sportsbook facility at Greektown Casino-Hotel in Detroit. According to figures from the Michigan Gaming Control Board, 48,400 people registered with the sportsbook in its first ten days of operation, placing bets that generated total handle of $27.5m.
Snowden pointed to the “building momentum” of the Barstool Sportsbook app in Michigan and Pennsylvania, saying his firm was eager to leverage this impact in Illinois and beyond.
Penn National has also positioned itself for potential New York mobile sports betting, after inking a long-term sports wagering and iGaming deal with Rivers Casino in Schenectady, New York.