Illinois sports bettors are rejoicing on news that their governor has once again lifted the ban on mobile registration for new online betting accounts.    

On Friday, sports betting lobbyist Jeremy Kudon tweeted that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had (for the second time) relaxed the state’s requirement for new betting customers to register in person at a betting site’s land-based casino or racetrack partner.

The move comes just days after the Illinois Gaming Board issued new restrictions on land-based gambling venues in several counties in which COVID cases were on the rise. The restrictions narrowed the window of time in which the venues were allowed to open and reduced their capacity to 25% of normal, making it even more difficult to sign up new bettors. 

Online betting operators that had already received the go-ahead to commence wagering in the state, including DraftKings, were bemoaning the fact that bettors in Chicago have to basically dedicate a whole day to driving to their far-flung land-based casino partners in order to open betting accounts.