Will FanDuel’s Illinois Sportsbook Be Live in Time for the NFL Season?

Though FanDuel is not the first sports betting operator in Illinois, it appears to capitalize on the next critical target: the start of the NFL season.

To realize the target, Par-A-Dice Casino, FanDuel’s licensing partner, submitted an application on August 19 to go live.

As Illinois Gaming Board is taking the usual two to three weeks duration to approve such applications, FanDuel Sportsbook is supposed to be ready for NFL betting by September 10.

What’s the hurry?

Last week, Illinois Governor J.B Pritzker reinstated the remote registration for bettors, resuspending the in-person registration requirement. The development has caused a relief among the IL sports betting operators and the players in the state.

However, the order will last until September 19, and it is not yet clear whether or not the Governor will extend it again.

Moreover, FanDuel will be a step behind its major rival, DraftKings, which was up and running merely two hours following the executive order last Friday.

Optimistically enough, FanDuel refrained from the recent public spat between DraftKings and BetRivers. On the other hand, it has turned out to be beneficial by being the first to market in other states.

Beginner’s Luck?

FanDuel had a four-month advantage in PA, and it still possesses a 13 percentage point lead in market share. On the other hand, DraftKings began its operation one month prior to Indiana, with the market shares reversed there. Though DraftKings managed a head start in New Jersey, FanDuel ultimately pulled ahead there.

In addition, there are various other contributing factors beyond the mere launch date, but it is yet to see what difference the three weeks create, particularly during an eventful period in the sports calendar.

For example, the PGA Tour that arrives in Illinois this weekend could turn out to be a productive acquisition ground for DraftKings and BetRivers.

Furthermore, the NBA and NHL playoffs are also underway, followed by the MLB season.

How will FanDuel Sportsbook be branded?

Ultimately, uncertainty abounds surrounding the FanDuel branding. According to IL rules, the land-based license owner must be the preeminently featured brand on the sportsbook.

Therefore, the Casino Queen property was rebranded to ‘DraftKings at Casino Queen. In this regard, DraftKings might also be the leading name on the internet sportsbook.

However, it is still not clear if Boyd intends to do the same with its Par-A-Dice establishment. Still, the FanDuel Illinois site currently depicts a screenshot of the FanDuel sports with “Presented by Par-A-Dice,’ as its subhead.

It suggests the two collaborators may have something akin to DraftKings in the works. When asked the same, FanDuel did not comment on it.