DraftKings Shuts Wrigley Field Sportsbook on May 31 as Illinois Imposes 25-Cent Bet Tax
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 18
DraftKings Shuts Wrigley Field Sportsbook on May 31 as Illinois Imposes 25-Cent Bet Tax
5 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 18
DraftKings will close its Wrigley Field sportsbook on May 31, ending the standalone retail betting operation after about two years.
Illinois' sports-betting tax structure drove the decision, the company said, citing higher operating costs that made further investment in the venue hard to justify.
The state began charging operators 25 cents on each of the first 20 million online bets annually and 50 cents on bets above that threshold on July 1, 2025.
The Wrigley site will not fully shut down: its restaurant, bar and sports entertainment business will remain open even as the betting windows close.
The move highlights a broader clash between sportsbook expansion and state tax policy, with operators facing pressure on margins even as online wagering remains available.
Is Illinois' high-tax gamble on sports betting backfiring as major players begin to exit?
As DraftKings exits, are unregulated prediction markets poised to win Illinois' gambling dollars?