Hard Rock Bet Launches Officially Online Sportsbook in Illinois

Michael Savio
By: Michael Savio
08/28/2024
Sports Betting
Hard Rock Bet Launches Officially Online Sportsbook in Illinois
Photo courtesy of John Picken, CC BY 2.0

Key Takeaways

  • Hard Rock launched their online sportsbook and a new retail location this week
  • The new sportsbook is the first to enter the state since it changed its tax system
  • Hard Rock won a legal battle to become the sole operator in Florida

The Land of Lincoln’s sports betting market just got a little bit more crowded.

Hard Rock Bet launched its online sportsbook in Illinois on Monday, making it the state's ninth active operator. Bettors in the state can now sign up and access the platform, which continues to expand across the US.

Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook is now live in a total of eight states, including Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. 

Retail Location Opens at Rockford Casino
The company also opened its new retail location at the Hard Rock Casino in Rockford. The new location features four betting kiosks, three windows, and a large seating area facing a wall of televisions. 

The retail location's opening and the online platform's launch give the Hard Rock brand a significant presence in the state’s sports betting market.

“The launch of Hard Rock Bet on mobile and in-person sports betting is another milestone for the Hard Rock brand in Illinois, one that adds to the complete array of entertainment options for our guests,” said Hard Rock Casino Rockford President Geno Iafrate.

Tax Rate for Online Sportsbook Still Unknown
Hard Rock Bet is the first online sportsbook to launch in the state since it imposed a progressive tax rate. The progressive system sets the tax rate for each operator based on their adjusted gross revenue. Illinois voted to adopt the new tax structure instead of significantly increasing it across the board. 

While it is unknown where Hard Rock will fall on the scale, many industry experts believe it will range between 20% and 25%. 

Hard Rock Continues Impressive Year
Few bookmakers have had the success Hard Rock has enjoyed over the last year. 

Their run of luck started at the end of 2023 when they finally launched the Hard Rock Bet platform in Florida. The sportsbook, which the Seminole Tribe owns, was supposed to be the sole operator in the Sunshine State back in 2021. However, legal battles caused the platform to shut down for a couple of years.

Hard Rock’s future in Florida hung in the balance as opponents challenged them in federal and state courts. After initially losing the initial challenge, Hard Rock won each appeal from that. The issue was settled once the Supreme Court decided against taking the case.

Florida has the third-largest population in the country, giving Hard Rock sole access to a massive sports betting market.

Michael Savio covers the US online casino industry, giving readers insights and information they won’t find anywhere else. He has followed the retail industry since his time living in Las Vegas and has continued to do so as the online industry has taken off. Michael covers everything from online casino reviews to industry news, making him one of the most trusted insiders in the business. Check out Michael’s latest articles at casinos.com to see what he has to offer!