During its final 2024 meeting, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) granted bet365 a license, enabling it to partner with Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort. Together, Walker’s Bluff and bet365 will operate a retail and online sportsbook, pending satisfaction of further regulatory requirements and approvals.
Bet365 Illinois' 15th sportsbook
Bet365 is now the 15th sportsbook approved in Illinois. Its recent addition is at odds with doomsayers, who criticized the state’s approval of a sports betting tax hike. The new sports betting tax hike went into effect in July. Illinois went from a 15% fixed rate sports betting tax to a progressive tax rate that starts at 20% and goes up to a 40% max, depending on revenue.
Predictably, the larger sports betting companies were against the tax hike. The Sports Betting Alliance (SAB), an industry group that includes DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Fanatics, issued a statement prior to be tax bill’s passage:
“Sportsbooks across the industry will have no choice but to reevaluate their level of investment and participation in the state should this become law,” SBA president Jeremy Kudon said.
Since the tax hike’s passage, however, Illinois continues to attract new operators. In August, Hard Rock Bet launched its online app in Illinois and opened a retail location at Hard Rock Casino Rockford.
While Bally’s has a small retail sportsbook at its temporary casino, Medinah Temple, it secured funding reaffirming its commitment to build a new, permanent casino in Chicago by September 2026. It will likely offer a larger retail book and, possibly, the long-awaited launch of its mobile app in Illinois. With Illinois' addition, British-based bet365 will soon operate in 12 US states.
