BetRivers Looks To Be The First Mobile Sportsbook In Illinois

• There are six different sportsbook operators that have received a sports betting license in Illinois.
• BetRivers is likely to be the first online and mobile sportsbook in Illinois.
• In-person registration will make it difficult for new online sportsbooks to operate during the pandemic.

DES PLAINES, Ill. – BetRivers will very likely the first sportsbook in Illinois to open up their mobile and online sportsbook in the state.

Out of all the sportsbooks that have a sports betting license in Illinois, BetRivers is in the best position to be the first online sportsbook to open in the state.

Rush Street Interactive (RSI) owns the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, which operates the BetRivers online sportsbook. RSI has officially partnered with GeoComply, a company that provides geofencing technology. GeoComply makes sure that anyone signed up for a mobile sports betting app can only make bets within a state’s borders.

GeoComply has been recently approved for their temporary operating license which gives them the green light to geofence legal sports betting in Illinois. Thanks to GeoComply, BetRivers could technically start operating its online sportsbook platform.

The Registration Problem

Although BetRivers will likely be the first online sportsbook for Illinois sports betting, they will struggle to get any customers.

According to sports betting laws in Illinois, there is a certain process that sports bettors need to go through to make bets online. The most important thing for bettors to do in order to sign up for an online sportsbook is to register for their account at the land-based casino it’s affiliated with.

At the moment though, all casinos in Illinois are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Even if the BetRivers sportsbook does open up their online sportsbook, getting customers is nearly impossible at this point.

Without remote registration, online sportsbooks in Illinois stand no chance until the coronavirus pandemic passes. Other states that have in-person registration are struggling as well.

The coronavirus pandemic may make Illinois lawmakers re-consider the decision to restrict mobile sports betting with in-person registration.

News tags: BetRivers | Coronavirus | COVID-19 | Des Plaines | GeoComply | Illinois | Rivers Casino | Rush Street Interactive