DraftKings Closes Retail Sportsbook at Wrigley Field

DraftKings is closing its retail sportsbook at Wrigley Field due to increased Illinois wagering taxes. This decision affects a small part of its business located at a high-profile venue. While DraftKings remains active online in Illinois, May 31 marks the last day for in-person betting at Wrigley Field.

DraftKings announced the closure through a statement indicating the venue will stay open, but in-person sports betting will cease. Opened in March 2024, DraftKings at Wrigley Field was the sole sportsbook in Illinois linked directly to a sports venue. Despite the closure, the partnership with the Chicago Cubs continues, and DraftKings will operate as a sports bar at the location.

City and state tax increases heavily influenced the decision to shut down the retail sportsbook. DraftKings expressed pride in its collaboration with the Cubs but cited high operating costs and taxes in Illinois as deterrents to maintaining retail operations. Illinois increased tax rates for large online and retail sports betting platforms to 40% based on adjusted gross revenue. Additionally, last year Illinois added a per-wager tax that further increased after sportsbooks reached over 20 million bets annually. A new 10.25% tax applied to adjusted gross receipts within Chicago also impacted the location.

Despite the sportsbook’s closure, DraftKings remains the official sports betting and fantasy partner of the Cubs. The Cubs have announced plans to connect the DraftKings sports bar at Addison Street and Sheffield Avenue directly to the ballpark later this season. Jennifer Martinez, the Cubs’ spokesperson, stated that the sports bar offers an enhanced experience for visitors to Wrigleyville both on game days and non-game days. Customers can redeem bets at the venue through June 30 or by mail.

As part of the transition to a sports bar, DraftKings will lay off a small number of employees dedicated to the sportsbook operations. The broader Illinois sports betting industry continues to grow rapidly since the launch of Rivers Casino sportsbook in Des Plaines back in March 2020. There are currently 15 sportsbooks operating in Illinois, including a newly opened retail-only venue at Wind Creek Chicago Southland, although the closure of the Wrigley Field sportsbook will reduce this number to 14 in June.

Illinois ranked second behind New York among the 39 states offering sports wagering, generating nearly $1.48 billion in revenue last year. Online sports betting accounted for 98% of the revenue. FanDuel led the sector with over $552 million in revenue, followed by DraftKings at $500 million. The Wrigley Field in-person sportsbook contributed $899,000 in adjusted gross receipts in 2025, highlighting why DraftKings is opting for sports bar operations rather than maintaining the sportsbook.