DraftKings has announced that it is terminating operations at the home of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field, due to excessively high taxes. However, DraftKings has stated it will continue to operate its mobile sportsbook in the Land of Lincoln.
To ensure you are always getting the best possible value on your wagers, you can easily compare these local lines against the odds available at top-rated offshore sportsbooks.
Taxes Bench DraftKings Wrigley Sportsbook
DraftKings announced that the cost of doing business at Wrigley Field was too taxing, at least for its retail sportsbook. After only two years, the Boston-based bookmaker has called it quits, thrown in the towel, and will no longer accept wagers at the iconic home of the Chicago Cubs.
“While we are proud of what we have built alongside the Chicago Cubs, we are taking a more focused approach to where we invest in the state,” DraftKings said. “The cost of operating in Illinois, including its high tax structure, makes it more difficult to justify continued investment in a standalone retail sportsbook. We remain committed to serving our mobile sportsbook customers.” With regulatory hurdles and tax structures varying so widely, staying up to date on the latest betting laws by state is the best way to ensure you are finding the most competitive odds and top-rated platforms available in your area.
However, the company will continue to operate the space as a restaurant, bar, and entertainment venue. The retail space is actually located adjacent to the ballpark at the northwest corner of Addison Street and Sheffield Avenue.
It was formerly the site of the Morgan Club, which ran from 2009 to 2018. DraftKings worked with three historic preservation organizations to strictly adhere to their specified guidelines and spent 14 months building the restaurant and in-house retail sportsbook, which opened in June 2023.
After only two years into a 10-year, $100 million agreement with the Chicago Cubs, the sportsbook will cease operations on May 31st, but will continue serving food and beverages.
Taxing Away Business
Illinois has been one of the most aggressive states in raising taxes on mobile sportsbooks. After launching the industry in 2020 with a 15% flat tax on all sportsbooks operating in the state, legislators voted for a progressive tax based on revenue in 2024, which now tops out at 40% for industry leaders like FanDuel and DraftKings.
But in 2025, lawmakers voted for a per-bet tax in which 25 cents is levied on sportsbooks for the first 20 million wagers annually and is increased to 50 cents per bet thereafter. FanDuel and DraftKings immediately passed the per-bet tax onto their customers and vowed to rescind the fee once Illinois did the same. Thus far, there are no indications that such a rescission is in the offing. As you navigate these added costs and shifting markets, we always recommend managing your bankroll wisely and utilizing available gambling help and resources if wagering ever stops being an enjoyable experience.
Yet, the latest tax did not emanate from the state but from Illinois’ largest city, Chicago. A controversial measure was passed, in which any adjusted gross revenue generated within the city limits would be subject to a 10.25% tax on top of the state taxes previously mentioned.
The Sports Betting Alliance, representing five major sportsbooks including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Fanatics Sportsbook, and bet365, has filed a lawsuit claiming the city tax is illegal and unconstitutional.
The SBA’s complaint reads, “The State—not the City—has sole authority to license and tax online sports wagering in the State of Illinois. The Illinois Constitution reserves authority over licensing for revenue- and income-based taxation to the State unless expressly delegated. The Illinois General Assembly has never authorized the City to impose licensing fees or income-based taxes on online sports wagering.”
