TLDR DraftKings is closing its unprofitable sportsbook attached to Wrigley Field in Chicago, which opened in March 2024 The location generated just $17 million in handle, ranking 13th out of 15 retail venues in Illinois Illinois’ high tax structure, with effective rates near 50%, made the standalone retail sportsbook unsustainable In-venue sportsbooks at major sports stadiums across the U.S. have been closing over the past two years, including locations near the Phoenix Suns, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Guardians Most bettors at live events prefer using mobile apps, leaving physical sportsbook locations underused
DraftKings announced Monday that it will close its sportsbook location attached to Wrigley Field in Chicago. The space, which opened in March 2024, never gained traction as a retail betting venue.
The closure was first reported by The Chicago Tribune. The location sat at the northwest corner of Addison Street and Sheffield Avenue in the Wrigleyville neighborhood.
The DraftKings space functioned as a sports bar with televisions, food service, and a few betting kiosks. But the kiosks and ticket writers were rarely used, largely because Illinois allows mobile sports betting on phones.
Since opening, the sportsbook generated just $17 million in reported handle. That placed it 13th out of 15 retail sports betting venues in the state.
Illinois Tax Burden Weighed Heavily on the Operation
The tax environment in Illinois made the location especially hard to sustain. The state imposes a progressive tax of 20% to 40% on gambling revenues.
On top of that, operators pay a per-wager tax of 25 cents on the first 20 million wagers and 50 cents after that. The city of Chicago adds a 10.25% tax on net revenue, pushing the effective rate to roughly 50%.
DraftKings said in a statement that the high cost of operating in Illinois made