The Chicago Cubs are said to be considering the launch of a new sportsbook at Wrigley Field in anticipation of sports betting laws coming into play in Illinois, according to ESPN‘s David Purdum.
According to Purdum, the MLB side has collaborated with a number of other Chicago franchises to plan for the roll out of “betting windows, automated kiosks and even a full-blown sportsbook venue inside the stadium.”
While the talks are still in the preliminary stages, official plans are yet to be confirmed regarding the launch.
“We will work with our clubs to explore the opportunities presented by the rapidly evolving sports betting landscape in a socially responsible manner,” an MLB spokesperson told ESPN in a statement.
The Illinois General Assembly passed a bill on 2 June which would pave the way for regulated sports betting across The Prairie State, pending the signature of Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
While the MLB currently prevents the opening up sportsbooks within a team’s stadium premises, there is currently an ongoing review by the league as to whether this may change at a future date.
New sports betting licenses, according to the Chicago Tribune, will be granted to existing and newly authorized casinos across the state, in addition to sports venues and horse racetracks. It has been reported that license fees are set to range from between $3.2 million to $10 million.
Under the new legislation, sporting facilities with a seating capacity greater than 17,000 will be permitted to apply for a sports betting license for inside the stadium or within a five-block radius.
Soldier Field, home of the Bears; United Center, where the Bulls and Blackhawks play; and Guaranteed Rate Park, the White Sox‘s stadium, are among the venues that can apply for a masters sports betting license.
