The exciting announcement about the Barstool Sportsbook launching in Pennsylvania (September 15th) has everyone in Illinois wondering when it’s going to come here. The best bet for success in Illinois is if Barstool partners with a land-based casino and thanks to their partnership with Penn National Gaming (Penn) they will have two solid Hollywood brand casinos to pick from. There is one located in Aurora and Joliet.
Barstool Sportsbook in Illinois Expected To Partner With Hollywood
As already indicated, it is likely that the anticipated Barstool sportsbook in Illinois will be a part of a land-based Hollywood Casino. Barstool’s partner Penn also owns Argosy Casino in 
Althon giving them a distant third option. The Hollywood casinos reportedly already has sports betting licenses for Illinois, so the Barstool sportsbook expansion into Illinois seems all but certain when they want to make the move.
What to Expect With Barstool Sportsbook in Illinois
The Chicago market share is up for grabs when it comes to the sports betting industry. DraftKings has reportedly signed Michael Jordan as a board member and PointsBet has officially partnered with the Bears. However, the popularity of Barstool among adult men ages 25-45 is expected to have a big impact on the market.
The Penn National Gaming shares rose 4.5% the day the Barstool sportsbook went live. They achieved a record 21,000 downloads per day in their first weekend, this broke all of the DraftKings and FanDuel single day records. These numbers will have all the other sportsbooks competing with Barstool scrambling for marketing ideas to promote their businesses. For comparison purposes, DraftKings sportsbook only amassed 4,000 downloads its first weekend of operation.
Barstool Sportsbook in Illinois Going Live
With Governor J.B. Pritzker recently extending online registration for sports betting, you’d expect to see Barstool operating in Illinois within the next month. This is speculation, of course, because there has been no official announcement, but there’s money to be made so it’s a no-brainer. Penn already has the land-based partners that Barstool needs and they have multiple options to choose from.
Penn Casinos in Illinois
| Hollywood Casino Aurora | 1 W New York St, Aurora, IL 60506 (630) 801-1234 |
| Hollywood Casino Joliet | 777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, IL 60436 (888) 436-7737 |
| Argosy Casino Alton | 1 Piasa St, Alton, IL 62002 (800) 711-4263 |
Barstool Sportsbook Illinois Promotions
The welcome bonus for the Barstool sportsbook is currently the biggest promotion they have running. You receive $10 free just for signing up, no deposit needed. Once you make your first deposit to the platform and make your first wager, you will be eligible for a risk free bet of 100% up to $500. This means that if your first bet loses, you will be reimbursed 100% of the value of your bet, up to $500 to make another bet.
Barstool Sports Book |
Promotion |
| Sign Up | $10 FREE |
| First Deposit | 100% FREE Bet up to $500 |
Barstool Partnership with Penn
Barstool Sports has entered into a partnership with Penn National Gaming (Penn) whereby the casino and racetrack operator purchased a 36% share of the business. The buying price is $163 million, which equates to Barstool Sports having a value of $450 million. The investment for the acquisition comes in the form of about $135 million in cash and $28 million as non-voting convertible preferred stock. Within terms of the deal, Penn National will be Barstool Sports’ exclusive gaming partner, which allows the use of its online and retail sports betting brand.
The partnership will develop further over the next three years.
Barstool Sportsbook Revenue Opening Weekend
According to figures released by Penn, the Barstool Sportsbook took $11 million in handle on its first live weekend. The average first-deposit amount was said to be approximately $243.
Barstool Sportsbook Illinois FAQ
When will the Barstool Sportsbook in Illinois go live?
Nobody knows for sure, but many anticipate an announcement soon as the online registration for online gambling in Illinois was extended to October 17th.
Will the Barstool Sportsbook in Illinois partner with a Casino?
Hollywood Casino in Aurora and Joliet are owned by Penn National Gaming. So is the Argosy Casino in Alton. Any of these options would work for Barstool to obtain a license in Illinois.
Is the Barstool Sportsbook live in other states?
Yes, they are currently live in Pennsylvania.
Can I bet with the Barstool Sportsbook in Illinois?
Not yet because it doesn’t exist. Stay tuned for news on its opening. In the meantime, take advantage of the free $1,000 deposit bonus from DraftKings.
