Operator News
US – PointsBet and Hawthorne Race Course open third retail sportsbook
By Phil - 16 March 2021
Just in time for college basketball madness, Hawthorne Race Course and PointsBet are opening their third brick-and-mortar premium sportsbook. The PointsBet Sportsbook at Club Hawthorne in north suburban Prospect Heights is the partners’ second standalone (non-casino, off-track) venue, following the opening of the PointsBet Sportsbook at Club Hawthorne in south suburban Crestwood in January.
The venue features cash wagering via self-serve kiosks or betting concierge on sports and horseracing, cash deposits and withdrawals for customers’ mobile wagering accounts, 100 TVs and a newly remodeled restaurant with a 100’ wrap-around bar.
“This is one of the best times of the year for sports wagering with college basketball madness and Kentucky Derby prep races every weekend, so we’re very excited to open another premium sportsbook with PointsBet,” said Tim Carey, president and CEO of Hawthorne Race Course.
Illinois law allows for sportsbook operators that are partnered with race tracks to open up to three off-track sportsbooks. The PointsBet Sportsbook at Hawthorne Race Course previously opened in September.
“One of the big appeals about partnering with Hawthorne is that they are a legacy sports business in Chicago with 130 years of service to bettors with the largest network of off-track wagering venues in Illinois,” said Johnny Aitken, CEO of PointsBet USA. “We now offer the best in-person sports betting experience at three locations as a complement to our premium mobile wagering platform, which is the fastest in the world.”
All PointsBet Sportsbooks at Club Hawthorne and Hawthorne Race Course will feature exclusive retail-only betting promotions and sweepstakes, beginning with a free $10,000 bracket challenge for the college basketball tournament and a sweepstakes to win a free 65” TV. Reservations for gametime seating is highly recommended for all venues.
