Pointsbet opens its fourth retail sportsbook in Illinois with Hawthorne

Just in time for the NFL playoffs, PointsBet announced Friday the opening of its newest retail sportsbook in Villa Park, Ill. The new location offers sports fans in and around the Chicago area a new entertainment destination to watch and wager on games.

Located at Club Hawthorne, the sportsbook marks the fourth retail location for the company in the state as part of its partnership with Hawthorne Race Course. Pointsbet already has sportsbooks open and operating in Prospect Heights, Cicero, and Crestwood. Hawthorne hosts the largest network of off-track betting bars for horse racing in Illinois.

The new sportsbook is located inside the Crazy Pour Sports Bar at Club Hawthorne (105 E North Ave, Villa Park, IL), a 15,000 square foot, full-service bar, and restaurant that features more than 160 high-resolution TVs, including a 26-foot-wide HD display, five 160" jumbo displays, an LED sports ticker, a private party and VIP room, and fully covered heated patio. The location has a 400-person capacity.

“There's nowhere else in Chicagoland where you can bet on sports, horse racing, and video slots," said Tim Carey, CEO of Hawthorne Race Course.

Sports bettors can place cash wagers directly with cashiers at three betting windows or at eight self-service kiosks.

Illinois gamblers placed over $1 billion in sports bets in October, and did the same again in November, according to the latest figures reported by the Illinois Gaming Board.

The future of Hawthorne

Founded in 1891, Hawthorne Race Course is the oldest sporting venue in Illinois for horse racing.

On July 30, 2020, the Illinois Gaming Board approved Hawthorne to move forward with a $400 million development of the state's first race track casino.

Illinois currently has 11 casinos operating in the state with Rivers Casino Des Plaines the largest (78,500 square feet) and Hard Rock Casino Rockford the smallest (20,000 square feet).

In addition to slot machines and table games, Hawthorne's casino plans include a sportsbook to be developed in partnership with PointsBet; dining amenities; a multi-level parking garage; and a new racing operation with upgraded wagering facilities.