Hard Rock Casino Rockford, in conjunction with Hard Rock Digital, has launched the online Hard Rock Bet sportsbook in Illinois.
It’s the ninth Illinois online sportsbook to launch in the state.
Hard Rock Bet goes live in time for Hard Rock Rockford opening
The sports betting app’s Illinois rollout comes days before Hard Rock Casino Rockford opens its permanent location on Aug. 29.
“The launch of Hard Rock Bet on mobile and in-person sports betting is another milestone for the Hard Rock brand in Illinois, one that adds to the complete array of entertainment options for our guests,” said Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Casino Rockford.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida owns the Hard Rock brand. Hard Rock Digital, with headquarters in Hollywood, Florida, creates “interactive gaming and sports betting” products for the company.
Hard Rock Bet is now active in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia.
App offers an array of betting options
The online sports betting market in Illinois is competitive, and Hard Rock Bet intends to start strong with an attractive and powerful mobile and web-based experience. The sportsbook has embedded live game action from select sporting events, live betting, and same-game parlays.
Use of the Hard Rock Bet app in other states has shown that the sportsbook is a secure, stable option, especially for new bettors. The company is running a Bet $5 Get $100 in bonus bets for new Illinois customers. As well, Hard Rock Bet recently revealed its Roll With Us marketing campaign, built around Grammy Award-nominated music artist Post Malone.
The Google Play Store has given the Hard Rock Bet app 4.8 stars, and it has 4.9 stars in the Apple App Store.
Illinois sports fans keen to wager on their beloved Chicago Bears and Big 10 football will now have nine online sportsbook choices for the upcoming season as Hard Rock Bet enters the fray.
“This is shaping up to be a monumental football season for Hard Rock Bet with our Roll With Us campaign, the continued innovations on our highly rated platform, and now the launch of Hard Rock Bet in one of the largest sports betting markets in the country,” said Marlon Goldstein, Hard Rock Digital executive managing director and CEO, in a press release.
App debuts in a shifting Illinois sports betting market
The Hard Rock Bet sports betting app integrates with the online casino betting platform. However, in Illinois, that type of gaming activity is not yet legal.
Illinois sports betting is changing for operators, as the state recently announced a new graduated tax rate for sportsbooks. Previously, sports betting companies paid 15% of gross gaming revenue (GGR). As of July 1, they pay on a sliding scale, resulting in a tax rate between 20% and 40% depending on GGR.
In Ohio, Hard Rock Bet commands a small percentage of the market, under 2%. They hold a similar share of the market in Virginia. If the same holds true in Illinois, they will likely pay a tax in the neighborhood of 20%-25%.
DraftKings proposed a surcharge on winnings to offset the higher tax rate in Illinois. It backed off that decision earlier this month. Hard Rock Bet is entering a market with one of the highest tax rates on sportsbooks in the country, but also with emerging opportunities as brands open new casinos and join the competition.
