DraftKings announced via its Wrigley Field-specific Instagram it began taking retail wagers late Friday morning next to the iconic ball park on Addison Street and Sheffield Avenue on the north side of Chicago.
The launch for wagering at the 22,000-square-foot venue did not come cheap, as the Illinois Gaming Board confirmed via email to Sports Handle that DraftKings paid the full $10 million license fee to the state agency. The IGB will deposit those funds into the Rebuild Illinois Fund for infrastructure projects statewide.
It is the first such license issued by the IGB, though applied for one at the United Center, and the lounge area has been open for more than a year without taking bets.
DraftKings opened the two-story venue last summer with food and beverage service. Before DraftKings submitted its application for the sports facility sports betting license, the Chicago City Council had to approve an ordinance lifting the “home rule” ban for sports betting in the city, which it did in December 2021.
A winding road to Wrigley w5v73
My bro was in Wrigley yesterday setting up Draft Kings and sent me this gem. I love that city too. Any idea who those faces are at the bottom of Harry? pic.twitter.com/ow807CEtT5
— Mr. Elmore's Music Lab (@ElmoresMusicLab) March 5, 2024
The lifting of the “home rule” ban did not come sports betting ordinance while Rush Street co-founder Neil Bluhm was against it, citing a potential drain on downtown casino revenue. Bluhm was one of the finalists for the downtown casino license that eventually went to Bally’s.
The ordinance that did instituted a 2% city tax on revenue from all wagers placed at licensee locations, which also extends to a five-block radius where sports betting is allowed. That means the total taxes on adjusted gross sports betting revenue for DraftKings at the Wrigley Field location is 19% — 15% to the state, 2% to Cook County, and 2% to the City of Chicago.
Ricketts had hoped to open the venue around Opening Day last season and had long been the most aggressive owner among those wanting this type of venue. He originally reached an agreement with DraftKings to be the team’s “first official and exclusive sports betting and daily fantasy partner” back in September 2020.
