Accel Entertainment, Inc. (Accel) made a big splash recently in Prairie State in terms of diversifying the state’s gaming options, according to a recent report. The company is a leading provider of full-services gaming solutions to local businesses across the U.S., announced earlier this month the soft opening of its first Illinois Casino, Fairmount Park Casino and Racing. The property officially opened its casino doors on Friday, April 18th, at 9 a.m. Additionally, the 12,000 square foot venue, located at 9301 Collinsville Road, offers cutting-edge slots and electronic table games. Other features at Fairmount Park include new concessions, FanDuel Sportsbook, a one-mile (1.6 km) dirt oval horse-racing track, and significant upgrades to the Park’s racing infrastructure.
In this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news coming from Illinois, along with some different notes and thoughts coming from the state and beyond.
Noted in the article, one of the representatives from Fairmount was pretty excited about the new establishment opening up. “We are thrilled to open our casino and showcase our park improvements, highlighting the hard work and dedication of our employees and partners,” Vince Gabbert, Sr. VP of US Gaming and General Manager at Fairmount Park Casino and Racing, said. “This year also marks the 100th anniversary of our racetrack, giving us the opportunity to celebrate Fairmount Park’s rich history while looking ahead to an exciting new chapter.”
Of course, the article points out, racing season begins Tuesday, April 22nd. Gates open to the public at 9 am, and the first race begins at 1:30 pm with skydivers kicking off the festivities. “I would like to thank the Illinois Racing Board, the Illinois Gaming Board, the City of Collinsville, and our local elected officials for their guidance and partnership throughout our development of this historic property. We would not have been able to complete these casino and park improvements in less than five months without their support.” Andy Rubenstein, Accel Chief Executive Officer, said. “I would also like to thank Vince and his outstanding team of professionals for their dedication to getting us here. I am proud and excited about the future of Fairmount as a premier entertainment destination for the Metro East Area.”
According to the same report, in addition, Fairmount Park is partnering with the nationally recognized Fifty/50 Hospitality Group to develop and expand the food and beverage offerings across Fairmount. Guests will now have the opportunity to order at three new concessions. Also, a full-service restaurant and bar are also opening in June, and Fifty/50 Group will allow Fairmount Park the ability to cater to corporate events and casual parties as well.
In other state gaming news, prediction market Kalshi continues to be hit by cease-and-desist letters, with the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB), the latest state regulator, demanding an end to operations within the state. This follows similar actions taken by regulators in both New Jersey and Nevada, leading to Kalshi filing lawsuits against both states, per the same article. With Kalshi already engaged in a legal battle with gaming regulators in other states, this latest cease-and-desist letter has come at a bad time for the company. Issued on April 1st, the IGB alleges that Kalshi is “engaging in unlicensed sports wagering in violation of the Illinois Sports Wagering Act.”
The letter continued, “No person or entity may engage in a sports wagering operation or activity in Illinois unless licensed by the IGB. The IGB is aware that Kalshi is engaged in sports wagering activity in Illinois over the Internet and on mobile devices. The IGB has neither licensed nor authorized Kalshi to engage in sports wagering activity. Consequently, Kalshi’s activity constitutes illegal gambling in violation of Illinois law.”
Launched in July 2021, Kalshi is a platform for traders to place trades based on the outcome of future events. Examples include sporting markets, political indicators, and awards. Prices are then set according to the estimated probability of a given market, with a yes-no option provided to traders. Usually, trades are set up with a probability set from 0% to 100%. Additionally, the article points out, Kalshi also has some history with esports, and the platform currently offers a market on the League of Legends World League of Legends World Championship. Of course, with this latest news coming from Illinois, it will be intriguing to see how these new developments pan out and what Kalshi will do next.
Once you are all up to speed in relation to the latest gaming news and updates coming from The Prairie State, make sure to, of course, check out the excellent array of info for you at SBS. For those interested and who qualify, the sports betting in Illinois guide is a fantastic page that goes over an excellent array of information about what is happening in the state. Conversely, for those who are also fired up about diversifying their payment options, the payment methods rundown is a must-read page that covers all kinds of options for deposits and withdrawals. This includes everything from crypto to more traditional banking routes. Finally, for those eligible, the VIP sports betting sites breakdown is an excellent page that covers all of the nuances of VIP wagering and whether it might make sense for you.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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