Press Releases
PointsBet Online and Mobile Sports Betting Live in State of Illinois; Flagship Hawthorne Race Course Retail Location and Three Premium Off-Track Betting Sites to Follow Soon

PointsBet, a premier global sportsbook operator, announced that it is now providing its mobile app and digital sports betting product in Illinois. Illinois marks the fourth operational state for PointsBet’s premium sports betting product, following successful launches in New Jersey, Iowa, and Indiana.
In addition to launching the PointsBet mobile app and digital product, PointsBet’s convenient retail presence in Chicago will soon debut at four sites that flank every corner of Chicagoland. Hawthorne Race Course (Stickney, IL) represents the flagship retail location, and additional off-track betting (OTB) premium sportsbooks will debut in Prospect Heights, Oakbrook Terrace, and Crestwood.
“The PointsBet team is excited to share that we are now officially live in Illinois, our fourth state of operation in the US,” said Johnny Aitken, PointsBet USA CEO. “The passionate sports fans in the state can now experience our leading online sports betting product and see for themselves why we’ve long stated that the best product experience will win. PointsBet possesses competitive advantages by owning our technology environment from end to end, such as unrivaled speed and ease of use on a personalized platform. We, together with our partner Hawthorne Race Course, are thrilled to provide the Illinois consumer with exactly what they’ve been craving.”
Hawthorne received approval from the Illinois Gaming Board in July to move forward with a $400 million redevelopment of “Chicago’s Hometown Track” to create a multi-dimensional gaming entertainment destination inclusive of a casino and sportsbook. The first-of-its-kind business in Illinois will feature slots, table games, enhanced parimutuel wagering, dining concepts created in partnership with well-known Chicago culinary leaders, and a connected multi-story parking garage. Hawthorne Casino & Race Course is expected to open in late 2021 pending final licensing approvals.
“There are a lot of good reasons why we chose to partner with PointsBet, but most importantly it’s their commitment to innovation and customer excitement,” said Tim Carey, President and CEO of Hawthorne. “They truly know the passion and needs of the player and that has always been our focus in horseracing, just as it will be in the casino that we’re developing. Illinois gamblers are going to quickly realize PointsBet provides the best sports betting experience by far.”
As a nod to Illinois sports fans, PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken confirmed that PointsBet will offer the best price in market for all Chicago Bears games this season across both the pregame spreadline and moneyline bet types. Additionally, PointsBet will unveil their innovative “Crowd Booster” promotion for sports bettors in the state of Illinois for the Chicago Bears’ first three games of the 2020 NFL season. The Bears spread will be boosted five points for every 200 bets placed, resulting in an extremely favorable spread for clients. Best of all, all clients will be able to take advantage of the final spread number, regardless of where they got their bet down!
In conjunction with the official launch of PointsBet’s Illinois sports betting product, the operator also recently announced its partnership with future NFL Hall-of-Famer, Devin Hester. A symbiotic element to the partnership, a primary point of differentiation for the PointsBet mobile product is unmatched speed and ease of use. The fastest way to get down a bet in Chicago, PointsBet owns their technology end-to-end and places an emphasis on an in-house development approach, allowing PointsBet to offer clients a faster and more streamlined digital experience, exclusive product features, bet types that cannot be found anywhere else, deep Spanish language functionality, the ability to incorporate regulatory approved changes seamlessly, and so much more. In a recent interview on the partnership, Hester commented: “With the technology that these guys have, it just makes things so easy and fast. And that’s why I partnered up with PointsBet, just thinking about myself being fast, and then coming in and joining with these guys, it just makes life so easy when you want to get in bets.”
As the official, exclusive sports betting partner of NBC Sports, PointsBet will utilize the media giant’s premium television and digital assets to promote the PointsBet brand across Illinois. As part of the agreement, NBC Sports provides PointsBet with year-round, multi-platform media and marketing opportunities across its unmatched portfolio of events, including exclusive multiplatform gameday integrations across NBC Sports Chicago, regional broadcast home to the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox. PointsBet’s full Spanish-language functionality will reach Hispanic sports fans via Telemundo Deportes and Telemundo broadcast stations.
About PointsBet
PointsBet is one of the fastest growing sportsbooks in the country and is rapidly expanding its U.S. footprint, now bringing its best-in-market proprietary technology, modernized and premium brand mentality, expert trading practices and proven growth marketing strategies to both the Illinois sports betting market and the notoriously passionate Chicago-area sports fans. Originally founded in Australia, PointsBet is a cutting-edge bookmaker that prides itself on having the quickest and most user-friendly app (iOS and Android) while also providing the best content and experience for sports bettors. PointsBet is the only U.S. online bookmaker to offer PointsBetting – a unique and innovative way to bet – and has also introduced a slew of well-received, bettor-first initiatives. PointsBet offers the most markets on all four major U.S. sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) and PointsBetting in the world, including up to 1,000 markets per NBA game.
About Hawthorne Race Course
Founded in 1891, Hawthorne Race Course is the oldest sporting venue in Illinois for America’s original sport: horseracing. For more than a century, the 4th generation family-owned and operated business has hosted racing on the border of the City as “Chicago’s hometown track,” which features traditional dirt racing and the 2nd longest homestretch in North America. Currently, Hawthorne is the only race course in the nation to host both Thoroughbred (Spring, Fall, Winter) and Standardbred racing (Summer), and operates Illinois’ largest network of off-track betting parlors. On July 30, 2020, the Illinois Gaming Board approved Hawthorne to move forward with development of the State’s first race track casino and sportsbook. For more information visit HawthorneRaceCourse.com.
SOURCE PointsBet
Latest News
Evolution Launches First Live Casino Studio in Brazil

Evolution has announced the launch of its first-ever live casino studio in São Paulo, Brazil, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion in Latin America. The cutting-edge facility is purpose-built to meet the unique demands of Brazil’s rapidly expanding regulated iGaming market.
Following the regulation of Brazil’s online gaming sector in January 2025, Evolution became the country’s first licensed supplier on day one of the new legal framework. The opening of this studio further underscores Evolution’s commitment and investment in the region.
The new state-of-the-art studio will initially offer multiple variants of native Brazilian Portuguese-speaking Blackjack tables, including Blackjack Clássico, Blackjack Illimitado, and Brazilian Blackjack.
Global fan-favourites such as Crazy Time, and XXXtreme Lightning Roulette will be fully localised and launched in Brazil – delivering world-class entertainment with a distinctly Brazilian flavour. Rounding out the line-up, ICE Fishing – Evolution’s flagship global release for 2025 – will also be customised for the local market and streamed from the new Brazil-based studio.
Natalia Torres, Evolution’s Head of Region Latin America, commented: “We are proud to unveil Brazil’s first fully localised live casino studio. This is a major milestone not only for Evolution but also for the future of regulated iGaming in Brazil. With our industry-proven formats, robust local infrastructure, and unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance, we’re empowering operators to go live with content that genuinely connects with Brazilian players.”
Torres added: “The new studio affords us full flexibility to customise everything – from game selection and dealer language to branding and marketing support. It sets a new benchmark for quality and localisation in Brazil, enabling our partners to deliver a premium, trusted, and highly engaging player experience from day one.”
Latest News
Kambi appoints experienced LatAm executive Mateo Lenoble as Head of Sales in Latin America

Appointment supports Kambi’s ongoing growth strategy in Latin America, with Lenoble bringing 10 years’ experience in senior LatAm-facing commercial roles at Sportradar
Kambi, the home of premium sports betting solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mateo Lenoble as Head of Sales in Latin America. Lenoble, an established voice in Latin America’s betting and gaming industry following 10 years at Sportradar, will play a key role in driving Kambi’s commercial growth and expanding its presence in the fast-growing region.
Lenoble brings more than a decade of experience in the Latin American sports betting and gaming industry, having previously held several senior commercial roles at Sportradar, including Director of Sales and most recently Vice President of Account Management for the region. Lenoble’s deep understanding of the market landscape, operator needs and varying regulatory environments will be instrumental in further strengthening Kambi’s leadership position in Latin America.
The appointment reinforces Kambi’s commitment to expanding its footprint across Latin America and providing leading operators with premium sports betting products and services. These solutions include Kambi’s flagship Turnkey Sportsbook, the world’s leading end-to-end sports betting solution, as well as cutting-edge standalone products such as Odds Feed+, Esports and Front End.
Sarah Robertson, Kambi Chief Commercial Officer, said: “I’m very excited to welcome Mateo to Kambi, strengthening our commercial team as we continue to establish ourselves as the home of premium sports betting solutions in Latin America. Mateo’s extensive experience and strong network across Latin America will be invaluable as we continue to expand in the region.”
Mateo Lenoble, Kambi Head of Sales, LatAm, said: “I’m thrilled to join Kambi at such a pivotal moment for the sports betting industry in Latin America. The region is full of opportunity, and Kambi’s reputation for product excellence, flexibility and regulatory expertise positions us perfectly for success. I look forward to working with the team to build strong partnerships and bring Kambi’s premium sportsbook offering to even more operators in Latin America.”
Canada
AGCO takes action to remove unapproved gambling machines from Ontario convenience stores

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)Â is continuing its efforts to combat unregulated gambling and protect the public. As part of these efforts, the AGCO took steps this week to revoke the lottery seller registrations of a number of retailers in the GTA that were found to be offering unapproved electronic gambling machines under the Prime Slot brand.
The AGCO regulates all gambling in the province of Ontario to ensure gambling products and gaming sites are held to high standards of game integrity, player safety, and the protection of minors and vulnerable individuals.
Over the past decade, unregulated gaming machines have increasingly proliferated across North America. While they largely rely on chance like traditional slot machines, manufacturers have claimed they are games of skill and have installed terminals in convenience stores and other locations where gaming machines would otherwise be prohibited.
The AGCO will continue to take every action within its authority to protect the public against the risks that these unregulated machines pose – particularly in locations easily accessible to children and youth.
A registered lottery seller served with a Notice of Proposed Order to revoke their registration has the right to appeal the AGCO’s action within 15 days to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.
“Unapproved gambling machines have no business being in convenience stores or other locations, particularly those that are available to children and youth. ” – Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO
Background:
Under Section 10(b)Â of the Gaming Control Act, the Registrar shall refuse to register an applicant as a supplier or to renew the registration of an applicant as a supplier if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant will not act as a supplier in accordance with law, or with integrity, honesty, or in the public interest.
Under Section 12 of the Gaming Control Act, the Registrar may propose to suspend or to revoke a registration for any reason that would disentitle the registrant to registration or renewal of registration under section 10 if the registrant were an applicant.
-
Latest News7 days ago
Pavilion Payments Partners with Pawnee Nation to Deliver Seamless Casino Funding Solutions Across All Three Properties
-
Canada7 days ago
Soft2Bet’s Brand ToonieBet Named an Official Sports Betting and Casino Partner of the CFL
-
Latest News7 days ago
BOYD GAMING TO SELL FANDUEL INTEREST FOR $1.755 BILLION
-
Latest News4 days ago
FINAL NINE PLAYERS SET FOR THE 2025 WORLD SERIES OF POKER® MAIN EVENT® FINAL TABLE
-
Latest News7 days ago
Casinos.com Announces Results from Tribal Gaming Community Impact Voting
-
Canada3 days ago
Rivalry Reports Q1 2025 Results Highlighting Strengthened Unit Economics, Operating Leverage, and Strategic Progress
-
Latest News3 days ago
Churchill Downs Incorporated Announces Definitive Agreements to Acquire a Majority of Casino Salem Project in New Hampshire
-
Canada3 days ago
AGCO Updates Responsible Gambling Training Standards for Gaming and Lottery