PointsBet Makes Major US Move Debuting in Illinois

• Major move into Illinois and Chicago is a signature US development for PointsBet
• Partnership with the “Da Bears” is also a bonus toward signups & creative promotions
• News is the second big headline to a groundbreaking partnership with Colorado University

Following success in New Jersey, Iowa, and Indiana, Australia based bookmaker PointsBet made their signature launch last week into the US by landing both a retail and online prescience in Illinois.

This newest US state entry may be the company’s most significant as it allows them to penetrate four major focal points within Illinois including OTB premium books at Prospect Heights, Oakbrook Terrace, and Crestwood plus their new signature location at Chicago’s Hawthorne Race Track. Overall, it provides the company with a significant market penetration that they have never enjoyed before in one specific state.

Obviously, the group was extremely optimistic and enthusiastic, beginning with their leader.

Johnny Aitken, PointsBet USA CEO, said:

The PointsBet team is excited to share that we are now officially live in Illinois, our fourth state of operation in the US. The passionate sports fans in the state can now experience our leading online sports betting product and see for themselves why we’ve long stated that the best product experience will win. PointsBet possesses competitive advantages by owning our technology environment from end to ends, such as unrivaled speed and ease of use on a personalized platform. We, together with our partner Hawthorne Race Course, are thrilled to provide the Illinois consumer with exactly what they’ve been craving.

Huddling with Da Bears

The pairing decision matching with PointsBet in Illinois had a great deal with the business plan matching the company’s initial layout for one of their favorite blessed hometown teams, the Chicago Bears.

Aitken confirmed that PointsBet will offer the best price in the market for all Bears games this season across both the pregame spread and money line bet types. PointsBet will also menu their innovative “Crowd Booster” promotion for bettors in Illinois only for the Chicago Bears’ first three games of the 2020 NFL season.  As a unique promotion, the Bears spread will be boosted five points for every 200 bets placed, resulting in a very favorable spread for loyal clients.  As a special bonus, all clients will be able to take advantage of the final spread number, regardless of where they got their bet down.

The company is also aligning with projected Bears Hall of Famer Devin Hester as a focal point in their online gaming service.  He will be promoting PointBet’s unmatched mobile service, speed, and easy usage.  Generally, the fastest way to wager in Chicagoland.

PointsBet owns its technology end-to-end and emphasizes an in-house development approach, allowing them to offer clients a faster and more streamlined digital experience plus exclusive product features.  They also highlight deep Spanish language functionality.

Hester commented:

“With the technology that these guys have, it just makes things so easy and fast. And that is why I partnered up with PointsBet, just thinking about myself being fast, and then coming in and joining with these guys, it just makes life so easy when you want to get in bets.”

Another PointsBet First in Colorado

PointsBet also raised other significant headlines a week ago, signing the first sponsorship deal between a casino/sportsbook organization and an NCAA athletic organization. The five-year agreement with the Colorado Buffaloes will hopefully stave off part of the giant losses the school will be experiencing this year as part of the fallout from Big 12 football involving Covid-19.

Rick George, the school’s athletic director knew it would be controversial but had this comment:

“We certainly talked to the NCAA and we talked to the Pac-12 (conference) prior to us coming to an agreement on this,  he said during a Tuesday conference call to discuss the Buffs’ new five-year corporate sponsorship agreement with PointsBet, an Australian sportsbook that’s setting up its North American headquarters locally in Denver.

“If you look at (peer schools), there are casinos that are (adjacent to collegiate) venues, some in our league, and some in other leagues. So yeah, we thought it was important that we should make sure and reach out to the Pac-12 and to the NCAA prior to moving forward on this.”

Overall, it will be interesting keeping eye on Chicago as the competition evolves for a market share of both the onsite and online sports wagering landscape.  As PointsBet emerges as a market leader, it is expected current national leaders DraftKings and FanDuel will also be actively involved.