The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has revealed that it only has one applicant for an online-only sports betting license in the state this year. This is the second year that the application process for the three $20m licenses has been open, with none of the applicants successful in 2022.
A Digital Gaming Corporation (DGC) subsidiary is the only contender in 2023. It actually entered the race last year too before pulling out and has since been acquired by Super Group, which leases the Betway sportsbook brand to DGC in the US market.
still needs to undergo additional approval processes to actually receive a license
In the current stage of the process, the IGB must assess whether DGC meets the minimum suitability criteria. It still needs to undergo additional approval processes to actually receive a license.
DGC committed to adding $2.5m on top of the $20m license fee if successful. It also would donate 1.5% of all post-tax gaming revenue to the Common Goal USA non-profit.
Online sportsbooks are already up and running in Illinois, although these are all tethered to sports venues, racetracks, and casinos. Betway would represent the first untethered betting brand if the DGC application proves successful.