WynnBet could be on its way to the Land of Lincoln. The online sportsbook recently applied for a license in Illinois.
Right now, there are seven different Illinois sports betting apps. The online gambling arm of Wynn Resorts is looking to add to that pile in the near future.
WynnBet coming to Illinois
Illinois gamblers could have a new sportsbook option before long.
WynnBet is the latest company to apply for a license from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB).
However, it isn’t the only sportsbook trying to make its debut in the state. Most recently, Circa Sports filed its paperwork to join the sports betting party.
Circa and Wynn are in similar boats now in Illinois, but there’s a key difference between the two. That is, we don’t know which casino Wynn will be working with in the state yet.
Circa is shacking up with the upcoming American Place casino, but the IGB’s website doesn’t mention Wynn’s retail partner yet.
That info will come to light in the near future if the IGB moves forward with the company’s application. In the meantime, Wynn might already be planning its next moves in Illinois.
Chicago sports team deal on the way?
Since there are only a handful of online sportsbooks available in Illinois, it’s easier for companies entering the market to make a big splash.
Gamblers in the state wagered nearly $1 billion on sports during March, according to the most recent report from the IGB. So even with only seven online sportsbooks in the state, there are still plenty of wagers to go around.
One way that WynnBet tries to stand out from the crowd is by partnering directly with sports teams.
For example, the betting app already has a deal with the Cincinnati Reds to offer special gambling options to baseball fans in Indiana. The company might try a similar approach in Illinois with one of Chicago’s sports teams.
Those types of sports betting deals are becoming increasingly more common.
Caesars Sportsbook signed a deal with the White Sox just last month. That partnership lets Caesars offer all sorts of special baseball promotions for fans in Illinois.
Of course, WynnBet needs approval from the IGB before any deal like that would be worthwhile for the company.
Regardless, it’s something for sports fans to keep an eye on if the company ends up taking wagers in Illinois. A deal with your favorite Chicago sports team might be coming down the pipeline in the future.
