December 16, 2021
Good news for fans of Chicago sports betting! The City Council has at last voted to end their ban on sports bets! And that opens the door for sports book operators to set up shop at sports stadiums!
The Sports Wagering Act of 2019 had provisions which would allow sports books to be located at stadiums within Illinois. The city of Chicago, however, was a different story. There a ban on sports betting had to be removed before any books even considered opening at a stadium. And now, that time has come!
The Cubs of Major League Baseball have already set up a deal with sports betting provider DraftKings to set up operations at Wrigley Field. Other teams are expected to follow with similar agreements. There are expected to be sports books operating at Soldier Field, the United Center, Guaranteed Rate Field, and others. Sports betting providers will also be allowed to set up shop within a five block radius of those stadiums.
Some interesting rules about Chicago sports betting are also in place. They state that there can be no more than 15 betting kiosks (or wagering windows) at any location, unless a bettor may also buy drinks or food there.There is also no betting allowed between midnight to 10 a.m. Monday through Thursday; and no bets from midnight Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday morning; No bets between 1 and 9 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday as well.
Additionally, there are two types of licenses available: Primary and Secondary. Obviously, those persons less that 21 years of age will not be allowed to gamble. And let’s not forget, there will be a 2% tax imposed on Chicago sports betting revenue, with the plan of having that money help to fund the city’s public pensions.
