After decades of only being a casino town, Aurora sportsbooks could change the gaming dynamics of the small Illinois city. The first Aurora casino was opened on June 17, 1993, and has since become a pillar in the community. Casino gaming brings in more than $7 million to the city each year, and now that sports betting is on the table this number would only increase. As far as the actual gaming options in Aurora, all types of Class III wagering is legal. This includes slot machines and table games such as blackjack, craps, and poker.
Leelanau Sands Casino is one of the first Northern Michigan casinos to offer sports betting, and we’re committed to providing you with the ultimate retail sports betting experience. #1 of 5 Casinos & Gambling in Albuquerque 'Really enjoyed the casino, good selection, friendly staff, great energy, clean, and beautiful views.' 'Outstanding employees including, valet, bellmen, registration, slots, players club, bingo and restaurants.' In addition to Jack Cleveland’s yet-to-be-launched sports betting product, the casino itself offers patrons a number of entertainment options. There are more than 1600 slot machines (from penny slots to high-stakes stations), and the casino.
One point to note about the current gambling climate in Aurora is that state law restricts gambling to riverboat casinos. While the law once meant that patrons would have to board actual cruises, the language was amended to allow casinos to be docked. Aurora sportsbooks will likely be located inside of existing establishments, taking the necessity out of building “riverboat” betting lounges.
When sports betting arrives in Aurora, bettors can expect to have a wide range of wagering options. If you have ever been to Vegas or are signed up at an offshore sportsbook, you may already be familiar with some of what sports betting will offer. You will be able to watch the biggest games of the season while waiting to see if your bet pays off. All of the best sportsbooks in Aurora Illinois are likely to have numerous wide-screen televisions, and depending on the lounge, may also feature a full bar.
The combination of the existing casino gaming and new sports betting action will make Aurora one of the top destinations to bet on sports in Illinois. Being that nothing is set in stone just yet, we can give you a preview of where we believe the best sportsbooks in Aurora will be once permitted by law.
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Is Sports Betting Currently Legal In Aurora?
Though Illinois sports betting laws have yet to be enacted, the activity is still available in the state. While Illinois and other states previously fell under the umbrella of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), this is no longer the case. PASPA limited sports betting to just four states, with Nevada being the only location permitted to offer commercial sports gambling. When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of New Jersey in Murphy vs NCAA, it also decided that the federal ban on sports wagering was unconstitutional and therefore made the law ineffective. Now that each state can determine whether to prohibit or regulate sports betting, the only roadblock is the state itself.
In order for land-based sports betting in Aurora to become legal, the Illinois Gaming Board will have to set the regulatory framework for the industry. Decisions will have to be made regarding which operators will be eligible to become Aurora sportsbooks, whether it be existing casinos or outside vendors. Determining when mobile and/or online sportsbooks will be regulated by the state is also another factor. Some states even have restrictions on not being allowed to wager on local college teams. Illinois has not opened up that discussion but it could come at any moment while regulations are being set in the Board. However, this process has begun and in no time residents will be able to physically (or virtually) visit the best sportsbooks in Aurora, IL.
In addition to the sportsbooks that are coming to the city via the state-based process, Aurora’s bettors can already access some of the best sportsbooks in the world via the internet. There are a lot of excellent offshore sportsbooks that Aurora’s bettors can use, and these sportsbooks are generally regarded as some of the best in the world. There is a table of some recommended online books above this section that you can check out if you want to place a wager on the NFL in Aurora, the Kentucky Derby, or any other sporting event!
What Is The Betting Age In Aurora, Illinois?
The betting age in Aurora, Illinois is 21 or older, which gamblers in the state should already be familiar with. All of the casinos in the state already require patrons to be at least 21 years old to play, and the same rule applies to sports betting in Aurora, IL. This is because Illinois gambling law established the age requirements when riverboat gambling was first legalized in the state. Aurora sportsbooks will utilize the same age verification procedure as any other gaming establishment, requiring visitors to show a government-issued ID before placing wagers.
Many of the online sportsbooks will have a sign-up age of 18, but don’t let that fool you. You must obey the laws of the state. If the state says 21, it doesn’t matter when the sportsbook lets you sign up. Make sure that you are over 21 before placing a wager on the Chicago Bears or the bet on the Kentucky Derby in Aurora.
Best Sportsbooks In Aurora
The best sportsbooks in Aurora will be those that offer a full-scale sports wagering experience. Though there could potentially be new operators that enter the market, we will focus on existing gaming venues for now. There is currently only one casino in the city that is slated to become the favorite sportsbook for Aurora, IL residents – the Hollywood Casino Aurora. Now that the operator can legally accept sports bets, patrons will be able to visit their betting lounge and place wagers on football, basketball, hockey, baseball, soccer, and more. There are also a ton of other gambling options available at Hollywood Casino & Sportsbook Aurora.
Similarly, you can access the online sportsbooks when you are located in Aurora. These sportsbooks might actually end up being the better long term options as well, especially if you are a fan of any local sports team. Local sportsbooks have to respond to local markets, which means that the odds on local teams will be less profitable. The online sportsbooks respond to global markets, removing this bias. This makes it a bit better to use the online sportsbooks compared to any local ones. Betting on the NFL in Aurora or any other sport is often times more profitible through these avenues.
The Hollywood Casino Aurora has been around for more than 20 years and is the premier gaming venue in the area. The 53,000 square foot gaming floor is jam-packed with casino action for all types of players. If you are all about the hottest slots and latest titles, you will find more than 1,000 machines at Aurora Casino. Play classic reels, 3D slots, video slots, and more! Slot machines come in all denominations, from penny slots up to $100. Progressives give players the chance to hit huge jackpots and become a big winner sports betting in Illinois.
If table games are more your speed, then the Aurora Casino will not disappoint. The selection of games is huge, with options like blackjack, craps, roulette, three-card poker, baccarat, and more. In total, there are 26 table games along with a live poker room that hosts frequent tournaments. The poker room has 7 tables with “$5/$10, $10/$20, $15/$30, $20/$40 Limit and 1-2 No Limit Texas Hold 'Em”. You can always check out the Promotions Calendar to see what’s coming up next.
We can go ahead and presume that the Hollywood Sportsbook Aurora will offer online betting once launched. The casino already allows patrons to play free slots online, so why not have a sports betting platform as well? It has the infrastructure in place as well as the following. It is expected that Hollywood Casino will provide some of the best amenities of any of the Illinois sportsbooks.
Though we are primarily focused on the future sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Aurora, it is also important to discuss what else the venue has to offer. For entertainment, visitors can watch live bands and other acts perform at Center Stage. Hungry? Stop by any of the three restaurants at Hollywood Aurora, including Fairbanks Steakhouse, Epic Buffet, and Take-Two Deli.
Hollywood Casino has also had amazing promotions going on all the time for its loyal players. This is one thing that not only brings players back but also brings in new players. That is one that this casino has a lot of is promotions and to have many promotions going on each month is very huge. A couple of promotions like Amazon Free Gift Card, $15,000 Jackpot Party, and New Member play up to $500 on us are a few promotions that are usually going on. These are just a few that they have going on and many players are very much excited about it. Having a promotion that happens on one specific day every week is basically great for those who are excited for they can possibly win. So Hollywood Casino having a drawing every Thursday only brings more crowd to the casino. Promotions and bonuses that vary but can do nothing but win prizes are huge for all players.
*As more Aurora sportsbooks are announced, we will add them to our list so that sports fans always know where to find the best action for sports betting in Illinois!
Atlanta is a sports town. The Falcons are consistently competitive in the NFL, the Braves have a rich history in the MLB and the Hawks have been an NBA team in the city since 1968. Atlanta was actually one of only a handful of teams to have a professional team in all four major sports leagues in the United States when the Atlanta Thrashers were an NHL team in the city. Unfortunately for the city, hockey didn’t fly quite as well in Atlanta, and the Thrashers moved north to Winnipeg in 2011.
With all of the professional sports teams in the city, not to mention the speedway and various college sports teams, Atlanta is a hotbed for sports betting in the United States. On this page I will answer the basic question surrounding sports betting legality in Atlanta, recommend two offshore betting sites for Atlanta residents and touch on the progress of sports betting in the state.
This question is easiest to answer in two parts.
Part 1. Sports gambling is not legalized in the state of Georgia. This means it’s not legal to operate a sportsbook or accept sports wagers (or horse wagers) in the state.
Part 2. Although it’s not legal to run a sports betting operation, it is not illegal for residents of Georgia to bet on sports with sportsbooks or betting sites located outside of Georgia.
Offshore betting sites, like the two outlined below, are licensed and regulated outside of the United States. These sites are able to accept Atlanta residents and provide safe, secure and popular betting platforms for Americans interested in betting on sports.
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Bovada and BetOnline are the two most popular and well respected offshore betting sites accepting American players.
Bovada is our top rated betting site for Atlanta residents because of their focus on the American market. Bovada was originally launched to only serve the United States betting market. This means that their betting platform, promotions, banking options and customer service are all geared towards American players. Bovada has started to allows players from a few other countries to join, but they are still largely an American sportsbook.
Bovada is currently the most popular online sportsbook serving American players. Check out our full review here.
Unfortunately, offline sports betting is not allowed in the state of Georgia. This may change in the future, but at the present time it doesn’t sound like Georgia is interested in legalizing sports betting and allowing bets to be placed at casinos and other betting locations within the state.
At the current time, residents of Georgia must either travel to a state that allows sports betting (such as Nevada) or place bets online at an offshore betting site, like the ones I’ve outlined above.
Pari-mutuel betting isn’t even legal in Georgia, so Atlanta residents cannot even place bets at the horses. Once again, if you want to bet on horses you can do so at the offshore betting sites I outlined above.
Atlanta is home to three major sports teams. The Atlanta Braves of the MLB, the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA.
The Braves are really the pride of Atlanta. They are the only major pro sports team to bring a championship to the city, having won the World Series in 1995. The Braves won the East Division this past season, but they fell 3-1 in the Division Series against the Dodgers.
The Falcons were so close to bringing the Super Bowl to Atlanta in 2016, but a monumental second half collapse kept the team from attaining their ultimate goal. The Falcons have been in the NFL since 1966 and are still yet to win the Super Bowl. The Falcons still have a fairly solid team though, so perhaps this could be their year if everything goes right.
The Atlanta Hawks have been the cities NBA team since 1968. The Hawks haven’t brought much NBA success to the city, with the franchises best years back in the 50’s and 60’s before relocation to Atlanta. The Hawks aren’t expected to have much success in the near future either with the team expected to finish last in the Southeast Division in 18-19 as well.