As Detroit Visits Chicago, We Ask: How Does Illinois Sports Betting Compare With Michigan?

Can you please rewrite your request?

As the Detroit Lions gear up for their visit to the Chicago Bears this Sunday, we decided to reach out to our friends in the gambling industry in Illinois from our home state of Michigan.

How does gambling in Illinois compare to Michigan after both states launched sports betting in the same week last year? Many Michiganders enjoy taking weekend trips to Chicago for its excellent food and holiday shopping.

I had a conversation with my colleague Joe Boozell from PlayIllinois, who is well-informed about all aspects of Illinois sports betting.

Make sure to visit PlayIllinois for the remaining part of this discussion, where we delve into the comprehensive sports scenes in Detroit and Chicago.

We should get started!

Michigan sports betting could be on cusp of big leap

Joe Boozell from PlayIllinois: What is the current state of the sports betting market in Michigan?

Since the launch of sports betting in Michigan, things have been going exceptionally well. However, the main inconvenience was the delay between the launch of sports betting at Detroit casinos in March 2020 and the subsequent launch of online betting in January of this year.

This marks the inaugural complete NFL season for betting, and I anticipate a significant surge in numbers throughout September.

Although Michigan is currently not a contender for a top three spot in the U.S. states in terms of sports betting handle, they have the potential to achieve this in the future.

I anticipate that Michigan will achieve a groundbreaking milestone, nearing $500 million in bets, and potentially surpassing that threshold by the conclusion of the season. This is particularly likely to occur as local-team enthusiasm wanes due to the Lions’ ongoing struggles.

Compared with Michigan, Illinois gambling still has access issues

Even though the numbers in Illinois are significant, there are ongoing problems that are impacting the growth potential of the industry, as acknowledged by Matt Schoch.

Just to clarify, if I understand correctly, it is currently not possible to acquire an online sports betting account in Illinois unless one personally visits a physical casino amidst the ongoing pandemic. Is my understanding accurate?

Joe Boozell: Absolutely correct! Illinois not only has a statewide mask mandate but has consistently been one of the most stringent states in terms of implementing COVID-19 restrictions. It’s a logical and sensible approach.

It is hopeful that online registration will be reinstated in 2022. However, this relies on someone bidding for a mobile-only license worth $20 million, as it is a requirement stated in the Sports Wagering Act to trigger online registration. The issue lies in the fact that multiple individuals have expressed doubts about anyone being willing to bid for that license. As a result, unless a legislative solution is found, we might find ourselves unable to progress.

Despite this, the sports betting industry in Illinois is flourishing. Currently, it ranks third in terms of monthly handle, trailing only New Jersey and Nevada. Anticipating a steady growth, I believe that the monthly handle in September and beyond will surpass a minimum of $500 million. However, considering the convenience of online registration, it is reasonable to speculate that Illinois has the potential to become the second-largest sports betting market in the United States, following closely behind New Jersey.

Matt: However, it’s still not possible to place bets on a Michigan vs. Illinois football game while tailgating in Champaign, right?

Joe: Moreover, it is impossible to place bets on Illinois, Northwestern, and other teams within the state of Illinois.

Last year during March Madness, when Illinois played against Loyola-Chicago and the Illini held a No. 1 seed, it’s easy to understand why people were particularly irritated.

That being said, the House approved a bill that seeks to permit in-person betting on Illinois college teams during the spring season. The Senate is yet to cast their vote on the matter, which is expected to take place by the end of October. However, Illinois’ enthusiasm for visiting casinos amidst the ongoing pandemic is peculiar, making it difficult to fully support the bill due to its requirement for in-person betting.

Michigan online casino gambling still the envy of Illinois

Joe: Are there any controversies surrounding the betting laws in Michigan?

Matt: The gambling issues in Michigan are definitely not as peculiar as the ones in Illinois.

In Michigan, college betting regulations were modified to discourage excessive wagering by implementing a rule that prohibits betting on specific props for college players. However, enthusiasts can still participate in predicting and betting on notable accolades, such as the prestigious Heisman Trophy winner.

Although it was a minor incident that didn’t create any controversy, I’m curious if they will reconsider discussing college props in the future.

In addition, our region boasts flourishing online casinos that have proven to be highly lucrative for public entities. Up until August, a remarkable $120 million in state tax revenue has been generated from Michigan’s online casinos and online poker platforms.

Do you believe that Illinois will eventually include them?

Joe: At first glance, it seemed like a promising opportunity, but perhaps that’s being too hopeful. Many people around here are quite jealous of the thriving online casino industry in Michigan.

In this area, the video gaming terminal (VGT) industry thrives, presenting a significant challenge for online casinos. Although the casinos desire to tap into this market, VGT operators strongly oppose the idea due to their substantial contribution to state tax revenue. Consequently, many politicians align with these operators, even if a segment of the legislature seeks to broaden internet gaming. It is worth noting that these VGT operators are typically local businesses that suffered greatly during the pandemic, evoking sympathy from numerous lawmakers who are reluctant to introduce further competition.

Do I believe it will eventually be accomplished? Yes. However, earlier this year, it seemed highly likely that it would be passed by 2022. At present, I consider that scenario to be unlikely. I still believe it will be achieved, but it may take several more years to happen.

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Matt asked if there were any truth to the rumors about a sportsbook being established at Wrigley Field. He wondered if this was indeed happening.

Are there any other non-casino places in Illinois that could potentially introduce physical sportsbooks? Has the legality of this been established, or will they need to make amendments to the existing law?

Joe stated that there will be a DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field. He mentioned that if you get off the red line ‘L’ stop at Wrigley, you will find a DraftKings shrine, even though the book is not operational yet. However, he noted that things tend to be complicated in Illinois, so the process might not be straightforward.

However, the responsibility for this issue lies with the city of Chicago. Under Illinois law, pro sports teams are granted the privilege of operating retail sportsbooks. Unfortunately, the city of Chicago currently prohibits such establishments.

The sports betting ban in Chicago is expected to be lifted with the passing of an ordinance, the timing of which remains uncertain.

The retail sports book is desired by all professional sports teams, who have enlisted lobbyists to advocate for their cause.

Matt: Awesome! Can you please do me a favor and place an order for an Old Style beer and a Lions Super Bowl futures bet for me next summer? I have a good feeling about the upcoming year.

Detroit and Chicago sports: Which city can think championships?

Matt: By the way, let’s conclude with this topic: Ranking the nine men’s major professional sports teams between Chicago and Detroit (excluding the Sky and Fire, since I’m not as familiar with the WNBA/MLS leagues) based on their likelihood of winning a championship next.

Afterwards, I will reciprocate. Here’s a clue about mine: The White Sox will take the lead, while the Detroit Lions will consistently remain in last place.

Joe: Absolutely, I understand.

1. The White Sox lead by a significant margin.<br>2. Following the White Sox are the Cubs.<br>3. Next in line are the Bulls.<br>4. The Tigers secure the fourth position.<br>5. Coming in at number five are the Blackhawks.<br>6. The Pistons follow closely behind.<br>7. The Bears take the seventh spot.<br>8. The Red Wings are in eighth place.<br>9. Lastly, the Lions complete the list.

You might not fully grasp the current state of Detroit sports until you engage in an exercise like this, but this list definitely highlights the difficulties they are facing. Yikes!

Matt exclaimed, “I can’t believe it! Bulls are actually eighth on my list! I should definitely reconsider my choices.”

(Pauses and ponders …)

Nah.

1. The first team on the list is the White Sox.<br>2. Following the White Sox are the Tigers.<br>3. Next up are the Cubs.<br>4. The fourth team mentioned is the Blackhawks.<br>5. Coming in at number five are the Red Wings.<br>6. The Bears take the sixth spot.<br>7. The seventh team on the list is the Pistons.<br>8. Following the Pistons are the Bulls.<br>9. Lastly, we have the Lions.

Joe: Let me clarify, I don’t believe the Bulls are anywhere near being a top team. However, I do believe they have a good chance of making it to the NBA playoffs this year, which is more than I can say for most of the other teams.

The Cubs currently perform poorly, however, I believe that their abundant resources and promising prospects could potentially lead to a significant improvement in their performance.

Matt: Except for the White Sox, it’s unlikely that any of these teams will have a significant chance in the near future. I agree that the Cubs have the necessary resources, and I also considered the unpredictable nature of the MLB/NHL playoffs, which could benefit those teams.

So, we need to discuss the Lions and Bears game happening this Sunday. What is the overall atmosphere surrounding the Bears? Having previously resided in Chicago, it was quite peculiar for me to observe a fan base that genuinely supports their team. It was like, “Oh, you guys aren’t just ironically participating in this whole NFL fandom.”

Additionally, make sure to visit PlayIllinois to find the second part of this conversation. It delves into the world of Detroit and Chicago sports, exploring the rivalry between these cities and analyzing how the NFC North underdogs will fare for the remainder of the season.

Please rewrite the given prompt or provide more context so that I can better understand what needs to be rewritten.