Illinois: PointsBet opens new sportsbook in Villa Parks in tandem with Hawthorne Race Course

Sports betting operator PointsBet announced Friday the opening of its newest retail sportsbook in Villa Park, Illinois, offering bettors in and around Chicago "a new entertainment destination to watch and wager on games."

The Pointsbet Sportsbook, located at Club Hawthorne, marks the fourth retail location for the company in the state as part of its partnership with Hawthorne Race Course, which hosts the largest network of off-track betting bars for horse racing in Illinois. 

PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken commented: “With a full roster of NFL playoffs, NBA and NHL games, we couldn’t be more excited to be offering a new destination for Illinois sports fans to enjoy and bet on their favorite sports.”

“The PointsBet Retail Sportsbook is part of PointsBet’s continued efforts to expand our footprint in a key state like Illinois, and we’re thrilled to be able to provide the Illinois sports community with another premier location that caters to both sports fans and bettors - and everyone in between," he added.

The PointsBet Retail Sportsbook was designed to offer bettors in the Villa Park area an "immersive online and in-person betting experience." The retail sportsbook will be located inside the Crazy Pour Sports Bar at Club Hawthorne, 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 400-person capacity sports and horse betting bar is already "a renowned suburban destination for watching major sports" including football bowl games, NCAA basketball, UFC fights, and the Kentucky Derby.

Tim Carey, CEO of Hawthorne Race Course, said: "There's nowhere else in Chicagoland where you can bet on sports, horse racing and video slots. Only Club Hawthorne betting bars have it all. We're building an integrated on-site entertainment experience with great food and drinks, and excellent service for the next generation of sports fans."

Sports bettors can place cash wagers directly with cashiers at three betting windows or at eight self-service kiosks. Patrons will also have access to Crazy Pour's beverage and dining options, which include over 150 different whiskeys, seasonal craft beers, pizzas, burgers, "The Legendary Beef Roll" and more.

Sports betting is available in the PointsBet Retail Sportsbook Monday - Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm and on the weekends from 9 am to 9 pm. Wagering on horse racing is available daily from 10 am until 10 pm, and until 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. 

The news comes days after the company announced an addition to its slate of original programming with a new show focused on the NBA and college basketball titled Count It, featuring sports betting content. 

Airing four times a week on YouTube and all podcast platforms, with focused distribution on social media and the PointsBet app, Count It will be hosted by current MSG Networks on-air talent Kazeem Famuyide from the PointsBet Studio in New York City.