You can now bet on Jai-Alai in Illinois

The Illinois sports betting industry expanded right at the end of September, but this time it had nothing to do with a new operator.

Instead, one of the most popular names in Illinois added a new betting market that has both Florida and international flavors.

Jai-Alai is now an available betting option in Illinois, but only on the BetRivers Sportsbook. This operator is under the Rush Street Interactive company, and it is that partnership that makes this new betting market possible.

Rush Street Interactive (RSI) recently announced a partnership with Magic City Jai-Alai and it is that league that you can now find at BetRivers in Illinois. Magic City is a league that is based out of Florida, but there are leagues throughout the world that are extremely popular.

It’s not that Illinois is running low on available betting markets, but BetRivers is hoping to attract a new wave of customers with this betting market. Jai-Alai is a sport that is mostly unknown in Illinois, but that should change with this deal.

There are still some limits when it comes to betting on Jai-Alai, and the Illinois Gaming Board is not allowing for a wide range of betting on this sport. It’s unclear if other sportsbooks in the state will look to offer this unique betting market as well or if it will continue to just be BetRivers as it is now.

Could Match Fixing Be an Issue?

The Illinois Gaming Board will be keeping a close eye on these betting markets as there has been some trouble with fixing Jai-Alai matches in the past. The 1970s saw a number of scandals surrounding the sport, but there is hope that it won’t be a problem in the Florida league.

Magic City Jai-Alai has also implemented a program to regulate itself to ensure that no match-fixing is taking place. There have been over 4,000 matches played since back in 2018, and it’s only going to continue getting bigger from here on out.

Not only will this partnership provide a boost to BetRivers, but it will do the same for Magic City Jai-Alai league as well.

Iowa Included, Indiana Next?

Rush Street Interactive is starting to emerge as one of the biggest names in the US sports betting industry, and BetRivers is one of its biggest platforms. This company has made an effort to become a leader in the Midwest portion of the United States, and Jai-Alai is now a part of this plan.

This new betting market is already available in the state of Iowa as well, and it’s likely to become a staple throughout the Midwest. Rush Street Interactive has not specifically said when it will be offered in other states, but Indiana will likely be one of the next states.

Since Jai-Alai is already offered in the Chicagoland area that will allow sports bettors from Indiana to get in on the action as well. Illinois and Indiana tend to share sports bettors in that part of the country, but it is the “Land of Lincoln” that sees the most action and revenue.

If you want to stay up to date on all sports betting in Illinois, then make sure you check back regularly on our news blog.

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