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 it difficult to justify continued investment in a standalone retail sportsbook. The company said it remains committed to serving mobile customers in the state.
The sportsbook was operated under Northside Crown Gaming LLC in partnership with the Chicago Cubs. DraftKings described the decision as part of a more focused investment approach.
In-Venue Sportsbooks Have Been Closing Across the Country
The Wrigley Field closure is part of a broader pattern. Sportsbooks located inside or near major sports venues across the country have been shutting down over the past two years.
Locations near the homes of the Phoenix Suns, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, and Washington Nationals have all closed. The trend points to a basic problem with the model.
The Fanatics Sportsbook at Progressive Field in Cleveland shut down in 2025. That location lost $226,000 and accepted just 19,018 bets during its final year. It was converted into a retail shop.
In Phoenix, the FanDuel Sportsbook at the former Footprint Center was turned into a branded lounge. In Cincinnati, BetMGM moved its sportsbook across the street from the Reds’ ballpark.
Industry observers say most fans at live events simply prefer betting on their phones. Non-bettors, meanwhile, would rather stay in their seats than visit a sportsbook during a game they paid to attend.
The first in-venue sportsbook in North America opened in 2021 inside Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., operated by Caesars. The concept was seen as a potential growth area for the industry at the time.
A handful of in-venue sportsbooks remain. Most are in the Washington, D.C., and Arizona markets. Three of the four major professional teams in each market still maintain sportsbook partnerships.
The Washington Commanders, who play in Maryland, host a Fanatics Sportsbook inside Northwest Stadium. In Arizona, DraftKings operates a retail outlet at TPC Scottsdale.
That golf course location is the most-patronized of the three professional venue sportsbooks in Arizona. It may represent a different model for making physical sportsbooks work at live entertainment destinations.
