“We’ve been on pins and needles hoping this day would come so we can infuse some excitement and energy back into gaming, especially sports betting.”

“It has been a little nerve-wracking,” Irvin said about getting to the launch day.

Masks and social distancing continue to be the norm throughout the state’s 10 casinos, and Irvin is hoping the arrival of sports betting will provide a revenue bump to help the casino and the city - located among the outer suburbs of Chicago.

local time, placing $20 on the Chicago White Sox moneyline at -177 to defeat the Detroit Tigers. jR4DFe6IAIĪurora Mayor Richard Irvin placed the ceremonial first bet at Hollywood Aurora shortly after 11 a.m. Today is the Sportsbook opening at and NBA playoffs Bears futures Hizzoner gets first bet honors at Hollywood Aurora Of the six sportsbooks now active, only two - BetRivers and DraftKings - are available online, and access to those mobile books currently comes only after registering in person at Rivers and Casino Queen, respectively. The Illinois Gaming Board has issued eight sports wagering licenses overall, with only Par-A-Dice in East Peoria, which is expected to be operated by FanDuel, and Hawthorne Race Course, which will have its sportsbook run by PointsBet, yet to commence operations. Rivers Casino in Des Plaines through BetRivers and Argosy Casino Alton, also with Penn, launched in March prior to the COVID-19 shutdowns. 1, and DraftKings at Casino Queen in East St. They are the third and fourth books, respectively, to open in Illinois this month after William Hill launched its sportsbook at Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin on Aug.

The two books, operated by Penn National Gaming, increase the number of places sports betting is available in the state of Illinois to six. Two more sportsbooks in the state of Illinois accepted their first legal wagers Thursday as Hollywood Casinos in both Aurora and Joliet launched their newest additions. Caesars Palace Online Casino Bonus CodeĪURORA and JOLIET, Ill.

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