Bally’s is the latest operator with designs on offering mobile sports wagering in Illinois, having submitted an application for a Management Services Provider license to the Illinois Gaming Board.
According to the state agency’s website, Bally’s Interactive submitted the application Sept. 12 and would operate as Bally Bet. The application did not specify if Bally Bet would be tethered to its potential downtown casino in Chicago or its existing Rock Island casino in Quad Cities near the Iowa border. Bally’s acquired the Rock Island venue for $120 million in October 2020 as part of its massive expansion and rebranding from Twin River.
A Management Services Provider license is a required component to offer mobile sports betting in Illinois, which has established itself as a top-three market nationally despite currently having only seven operators. BetMGM was the latest mobile sportsbook to enter the state in March, coinciding with the start of full-time remote registration. Prior to that, Barstool Sportsbook was the most recent entrant in March 2021.
Bally’s submitted its application for the state’s downtown casino license Aug. 11 after beating out Rush Street Interactive and Hard Rock to be the city’s preferred operator in May. Bally’s Quad Cities location has an owner’s license to offer retail sports wagering, but has yet to make that available. Bally Bet launched mobile operations in Iowa in July 2021 and has generated $4.3 million in handle since launch, including $2.3 million through the first eight months of this year.