Horseshoe Hammond plans to focus on the Chicago teams - the Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox and Blackhawks - offering additional betting opportunities that may not be available in Vegas. The Indiana casinos can offer wagering on 19 sports, ranging from basketball and football to bowling and darts. “If anything, the more neighboring states that legalize, the better, as you're likely to see more marketing and more consumer awareness overall,” Grove said. Having sports betting in adjacent states may help Illinois and Indiana rather than hurt them, said Chris Grove, managing director of sports betting for Eilers & Krejcik.
In separate studies, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, a California-based research and consulting firm, projected annual revenues of $256 million for Indiana and $756 million for Illinois within five years of their respective launches of sports betting. Illinois has set the tax rate at 15% of adjusted gross receipts for the sports books, while Indiana is looking for a smaller piece of the sports wagering pie, imposing a 9.5% tax. Majestic Star Casino in Gary is the only eligible facility that has yet to file an application, Reske said.īoth states foresee big paydays from sports wagering revenue. In Indiana, each of the state’s 12 casinos and three off-track betting parlors can obtain a sports wagering certificate for $100,000.
