FanDuel became the third mobile sports betting operator to go live in Illinois, joining BetRivers and DraftKings. FanDuel’s partner in Illinois, Boyd Gaming’s Par-A-Dice Casino, submitted paperwork to the Illinois Gaming Board in mid-August for online wagering only.
Under co-branding rules, the mobile app bears the moniker of FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook, according to Sports Handle.
“We have been waiting for this day for quite some time,” Mike Raffensperger, CMO of FanDuel Group, said. “Sports are back, so we are going to show sports fans in Illinois an innovative sports betting app experience.
FanDuel hopes to capitalize on the window of opportunity to allow patrons to register online for an account. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker rescinded the order to require in-person registration and will permit online sign-ups through September 19.
FanDuel planned to partner with Fairmount Park horse racing track through a purchase of the track. But the track has still not completed its application process for a sports wagering license. When the license does come through, FanDuel will have sportsbooks through both locations.
PointsBet, through its partnership with Hawthorne Race Course, could be the next to go live online since it obtained a license July 30. William Hill, which launched its retail sportsbook at Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin on August 1, may be ready by the NFL season kickoff.
FanDuel CEO Matt King called Boyd and the Par-A-Dice the “perfect partners.”
