The Grand Victoria Casino Elgin in Ceasars, Illinois, recently underwent a renovation project costing more than $4 million. The focus of the renovation was to revamp the sportsbook area and introduce a brand new room dedicated to hosting the prestigious World Series of Poker (WSOP) events.
The former location of the Indulge Kitchen Buffet will be transformed into both a sportsbook and a poker room. The poker room will occupy an area of 4,400 sq ft and accommodate a total of 20 tables. Meanwhile, the sportsbook will feature three customer service windows and four self-service kiosks.
In November, Illinois will host its inaugural WSOP event.
According to local media, Rolando Guerrero, the general manager of The Grand Victoria, stated that Caesars is dedicated to enhancing the guest experience and aiming to attract fresh clientele and players.
He expressed his excitement to proceed with this and expressed the hope to further improve and enhance the experiences of our customers. He viewed these new additions as advantageous for our property, as they will ultimately contribute to making us a stronger and more comprehensive business through our strategic positioning.
In August, sportsbooks in Illinois recorded a total of $564.8m in wagers, indicating a 9.4% increase from July and a substantial 41% surge compared to August 2021. Among these wagers, $540m originated from mobile wagering platforms, while $24.8m came from retail sportsbooks.
According to the IGB’s report, their revenue amounted to $47.8 million, reflecting a hold rate of approximately 8.5%. In terms of tax contributions, the state received nearly $7.2 million, bringing the year-to-date total to approximately $65.3 million.
FanDuel emerged as the frontrunner, accumulating a staggering $180.2m in online and retail sportsbook wagers at the Fairmount Park racetrack. DraftKings secured the second spot with a handle of $172.2m, while BetRivers trailed behind with $74.2m.
