Sportsbook opens at Waukegan’s temporary casino
Some gamblers who sat at the newly opened Circa Sports sportsbook at The Temporary by American Place casino in Waukegan Sunday were closely watching several NFL football games to see how good or bad their bets looked.
Others were taking a break from slot machines or table games to watch the Chicago Bears play the Denver Broncos before returning to the tables or machines to gamble some more.
With 36 television screens ranging from 60 to 80 inches in size, people like Mike Bellucci of Antioch enjoyed simultaneously following a number of games on which he made wagers.
“You can see where the movement is,” Bellucci said, as his eyes traveled between the screens and the piece of paper at his fingertips covered with information and handmade notes. “When you see the live action, it helps you decide what you’d like to bet.”
Officials at Circa Sports and American Place got word from the Illinois Gaming Board Thursday the sportsbook license was approved. The operation opened Friday, both at the casino and online.
Circa Sports and American Place plan a public celebration of the sportsbook’s opening Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Temporary by American Place in Waukegan in hopes of giving a boost to both operations.
Visitors to the casino Wednesday will have the opportunity to meet former Chicago Bear and NFL Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, as well as participate in a baseball wild-card playoffs watch party.
Brian Floyd, Circa’s property manager who oversees the live and online sports gaming operations in Illinois, said people can place live bets either at one of three windows, any of the 12 self-service kiosks or use the online app from anywhere in Illinois.
Operating daily from 9 a.m. to midnight, Floyd said people can place bets at the kiosks anytime the casino is open. The casino is open from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays. When it opens at 8 a.m. Friday, it does not close again until 4 a.m. the following Monday.
Placing bets online is also an option. Floyd said wagers can be made any time of day on the app as long as the customer is within the state of Illinois. Residents of other states can put the program on their phone, but the betting must occur inside the state’s borders.
Though some states allow live sports betting but not online wagering — or otherwise limit betting electronically — Floyd said residents of neighboring states like Wisconsin, Iowa or Missouri can get the app, drive into Illinois and place a bet.
While some people at the sportsbook early Sunday afternoon were closely checking out the action with nine games on screens simultaneously with paper and pencil in hand, others like Sebastian Oko of Antioch were focused on one game in particular.
“I’m watching the Bears,” Oko said, pointing to the game on multiple screens — they were on eight in all. “I’m a Bears fan. I didn’t bet.”
Oko’s behavior is what Jeff Babinski, American Place’s vice president and general manager said will create synergy in the partnership between Full House Resorts-owned American Place and Circa’s sports betting operation.
“Our partnership has been a great opportunity to offer more to our guests,” Babinski said. “I believe we’re going to complement each other.”
Mike Palm, Circa Resorts and Casino’s vice president of operations, said in an email Monday he was exhilarated to open the sportsbook in Waukegan’s temporary casino. It was a team effort, and he is also excited about the beneficial cooperation between the two companies.
“We are excited for the synergy between the two brands,” Palm said in an email. “We hope to drive many new customers to the terrific property, American Place, at the same time we will benefit from the loyal customer base they have built.”
Hoping the sportsbook would open in February along with the rest of the temporary casino, Babinski said it makes the entire operation more wide-ranging, offering another form of popular gaming.
“We’re definitely more complete,” Babinski said. “It’s something our guests have wanted, and it’s a great to have it open.”
During the wild card baseball watch party Wednesday, Floyd said people can watch the games until 7 p.m. — three will be happening at least partially at that time — and enjoy a free buffet. Illinois law requires drinks be purchased.
Though two of the baseball games are scheduled to continue into later evening hours, Floyd said people can continue to watch, place bets and purchase food at nearby casino stands.
Along with the 36 television screens, betting windows and kiosks, a large board above the windows shows odds on events both in progress and coming in the future on the NFL, Major League Baseball, college football, the NBA, NHL, boxing, ultimate fighting, soccer and more.
Floyd said part of Circa’s philosophy is to keep betting simple and transparent. Gamblers can place bets on a team to win, to beat the point spread and whether the total points scored will be over or under a specific number.
“We’re doing sports betting the way it should be,” Floyd said. “We have a smaller menu than a lot of books. It gives more transparency to all customers.”
Though the television screens can show events from around the world, Ryan Dickey, Circa’s content supervisor who oversees the decision making on which games are put on the 60 screens, said there will be a lot of local flavor.
“It will be very Chicago-centric,” Dickey said. “We’ll have a heavy showing of Chicago teams. We’ll have all the in-state college football games. Illinois law requires those bets must be placed live.”
Plans call for the eventual construction of a permanent resort and casino on the site, complete with a hotel with 20 large suite. A 1,500-seat entertainment venue offering concerts, comedy shows and other forms of entertainment is also on the drawing board.
