Sports Betting At Wrigley Could Happen With Cubs Partnership

CHICAGO — Bettors may soon be placing wagers at historic Wrigley Field following news Thursday of a "first-of-its-kind" partnership between the Chicago Cubs and DraftKings Inc. A multi-year deal includes a plan to pursue a sportsbook at the historic ballpark with online access available in the surrounding Wrigleyville area, according to a release.

Legal sports betting in Illinois was approved last year with the first official bet in the state happening in March. For the retail sportsbook at Wrigley to happen, though, the City of Chicago must approve the plan.

"There has got to be tight restrictions on this. We're not going to turn our neighborhoods to be turned into the Las Vegas strip," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday. "So we are going to make sure we are active and engaged … along with the local aldermen to make sure anything that happens, whether it's at Wrigley or any other sports venue, is done consistent with the neighborhood’s desires on quality of life."

The DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field will include "a best in class entertainment experience for sports fans in Illinois," according to the release. This would mark the first time a Major League Baseball team has added a sportsbook where it plays.

"This is truly a historic moment, as we are thrilled to align with the renowned Chicago Cubs franchise and iconic Wrigley Field to provide sports bettors in Chicago with a revolutionary sports betting experience," said Matt Kalish, co-founder and president of DraftKings North America, in s statement. "As two organizations that share a mutual passion for innovation and a commitment to excellence, we look forward to working in collaboration with the Cubs, an organization steeped in tradition, and making our presence felt in and around Wrigleyville."

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Last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker rescinded a requirement met with some criticism that required anyone hoping to place online bets for sporting events to register in person at a casino.

The move, according to Patch news partner, Center Square Illinois, is projected to bring the state millions of dollars per month in additional revenue.

Pritzker's executive order Friday not only re-extended his ongoing emergency COVID-19 restrictions but it also removed the in-person requirement to register for popular online betting sites like FanDuel or DraftKings.

In April, DraftKings became a publicly traded company through a reverse merger with a special-purpose acquisition company. On Tuesday, former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan became an investor and board advisor with the Boston-based company.

"DraftKings has been a great partner for a number of years, and we are excited to expand this relationship as sports betting grows rapidly in Illinois," said Crane Kenney, president of business operations for the Cubs. "An increasing number of sports fans want to integrate sports betting into their game experience, and we're excited to be one of the first to engage in developing a retail sportsbook at a professional sports venue."

DraftKings currently operates retail sportsbooks in seven states, including a location in Illinois at DraftKings at Casino Queen in East St. Louis.

— Mark Konkol, Patch staff, contributed to this report

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