DraftKings Shuts Down Wrigley Sportsbook; Blames Illinois Sports Betting Taxes
Jesse M. Cox Published 19/05/2026
DraftKings sportsbook has announced that it is shutting down the site's retail sportsbook that operates adjacent to Wrigley Field. That's the home stadium for the MLB Chicago Cubs. DraftKings is citing the high rate of taxation on sports betting revenue in the state of Illinois as the reason behind the closure.
The location will continue to operate as a sports bar/restaurant. Plans by the Cubs to create direct access to Wrigley Field from the sports bar will also go forward. That is anticipated to happen later this year. The Cubs and DraftKings originally formed a partnership in 2020.
The DraftKings Wrigley sportsbook will stop taking bets at the end of the month
DraftKings officially announced the closure of its Wrigley Field-adjacent sportsbook on Monday, May 18.
“DraftKings has made the decision to discontinue onsite sportsbook operations at DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field following a review of our retail presence in Illinois,” the company said in a statement. “The venue itself will remain open, but in-person sports betting will no longer be offered at the location.”
Bettors will have until May 31 to place wagers on site. That's when the location will cease to operate as a retail sportsbook. People will have until June 30 to cash winning bets on site.
Of course, DraftKings will continue to take bets online across the state of Illinois.
The DraftKings at Wrigley Field retail sportsbook launched in March 2024. It was the only retail sports betting site operating in the state of Illinois that was connected to a sports venue.
The increase in the Illinois sports betting tax rate led to this decision
Deciding to shutter its Wrigley Field sportsbook could have been cited as three strikes, and you're out by DraftKings.
“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 in a statement. “The cost of operating in Illinois, including its high tax structure, makes it more difficult to justify continued investment in a standalone retail sportsbook.”
The first strike was the Illinois state government's decision to increase the tax rate on sports betting revenue from 15% to as much as 40% in certain instances. This tax rate works on a sliding scale. It's determined by how much a sports betting site does in terms of revenue.
Strike two came about when the state was adding a per-bet tax to the sports betting ledger. Sportsbooks now pay a 25-cent flat tax on the first 20 million wagers a site handles over the course of a year. After that, the rate jumps to $0.50 per bet.
The final swing and a miss came this year. Chicago was adding a 10.25% tax on all sports wagers people were placing while within city limits.
Cubs and DraftKings will continue their working relationship
The Cubs and DraftKings were entering into a partnership in 2020. DraftKings paid a reported $100 million, becoming the official sports betting and daily fantasy site of the legendary National League ballclub.
The closure of the DraftKings Wrigley Sportsbook won't affect the partnership between the two organizations. And the site will continue to operate as a sports bar/restaurant.
“DraftKings bar and restaurant will remain open on both game and non-gamedays, offering an elevated sports bar environment for Wrigleyville visitors year-round,” Cubs spokesperson Jennifer Martinez said in a statement. “Later this season, we expect to create a seamless flow between the bar and the ballpark concourse, making the space a great gameday option for Cubs ticketholders.”
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