Fanatics Betting and Gaming has launched its sportsbook in Illinois, upgrading four former PointsBet locations including Hawthorne Race Course. Meanwhile, Chicago video gaming terminal operators face a regulatory stalemate that impacts a projected $6.8 million in licensing revenue.
Fanatics Betting and Gaming launched its sportsbook in Illinois, which makes it the nineteenth state for the brand. This expansion follows the April 2024 acquisition of the US businesses of PointsBet. The company plans to upgrade four existing PointsBet retail locations with new signage, enhanced odds screens, and self-service betting kiosks from Suzohapp. These locations include Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, Crazy Pour Sports Bar in Villa Park, Club Hawthorne in Crestwood, and Players Pub & Grill in Prospect Heights. The company also migrates all PointsBet customer usernames, passwords, account balances, and rewards points automatically. This transition helps the brand capture the existing user base without requiring new registrations for every person. The brand maintains retail operations at Argosy Casino Alton and Hawthorne Race Course.
Navigating FanCash and Sign-up Promos
New users in Illinois can claim a welcome offer that provides up to $1,000 in FanCash. To get this, bettors place a $1 or more wager each day for ten consecutive days starting from the day they create their account. The FanCash rewards equal the qualifying wager amount, with a daily limit of $100. These rewards expire at 11:59 p.m. ET seven days after issuance. An alternative offer exists for certain markets where bettors can get $350 in FanCash by wagering $20. For this specific promotion, users must wager at least $10 and must opt-in each day to receive the $50 in FanCash. This alternative offer requires a minimum odds of -500 and the reward expires 24 hours after issuance.
| Offer Type | Min Wager | Min Odds | Max Reward | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bet Match | $1 | -200 | $100 per day | 7 days |
| Bet and Get | $20 | -500 | $350 | 7 days |
Users can use the promo code DIMEFAN to access these deals. FanCash can be used for Fanatics apparel or the user can convert it 1-1 into bonus bets. The amount of FanCash a user receives depends on the bet amount and the odds of the wager. You should compare these offers against the FanCash structure before committing funds.
The VGT and Regulatory Standoff
Chicago businesses face a stalemate regarding Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs). Although the city authorized VGTs eight months ago, zero machines run because the city has not issued the required local licenses. The Illinois Gaming Board issued state licenses to 42 Chicago locations out of 311 applications, but no machines function because the city administration has not sent the formal notification necessary to activate the local licenses. This delay affects the projected $6.8 million in VGT licensing revenue for the FY2026 budget. Meanwhile, the Illinois Gaming Board requires all licensed video gaming locations to post responsible gaming signage. This rule helps patrons access problem gambling resources and the IGB Self-Exclusion Program.
The nearly 39,000 machines statewide generate significant tax revenue. VGTs produced $455 million in tax revenue from $1.3 billion in operator revenue. In comparison, casinos generated $103 million in state taxes from $577.2 million in revenue. Sports betting raised $31 million from $208.8 million in revenue. Roughly 7,000 unlicensed sweepstakes machines that mimic VGTs continue to run across Chicago. These machines operate without being taxed or regulated. The Illinois Gaming Board also approved relocation proposals for Penn Entertainment’s Hollywood Casinos in Aurora and Joliet.
Comparing the Illinois Sports Betting Market
The Illinois sports betting market reached a total handle of $8.38 billion through July 2026. This figure exceeds the $7.02 billion handle from 2021. Total revenue for 2025 reached $1.4 billion, while the 2024 revenue totaled $1.19 billion. Fanatics maintains its presence at Argosy Casino Alton and Hawthorne Race Course. Other providers like DraftKings and FanDuel also operate in the state. DraftKings provides $300 in bonus bets for a $5 wager, while FanDuel provides $250 in bonus bets after a $5 win. Caesars Sportsbook provides a promo where users can double their winnings on their next 10 wagers with a $1 bet. BetMGM also provides a deal where they reimburse a $1,500 stake in bonus bets if a first wager loses.
The Fanatics Fair Play Policy protects player prop bets from early injuries. If a player leaves a game injured in the first quarter, Fanatics refunds the prop bet. For football, the policy covers the entire first half. For hockey, it covers the first period. For baseball, the policy applies after the first pitch and before three outs are recorded for pitchers, or between the first and second plate appearance for a batter. Will the tension between VGT operators and iGaming advocates eventually force a change in how the Illinois Gaming Board manages the state’s gaming hierarchy?