Shortly before opening its new brick-and-mortar location in Illinois, Hard Rock Bet announced that it would be launching its mobile app first. On Monday the 26th of August 2024, the app went live on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store across the state.
The brand has built quite a reputation for its energetic atmosphere offline. But now, the sportsbook is taking it a notch further and moving the excitement online. Interestingly, this move comes right on the back of its $300 million investment in a 175,000-square-foot entertainment space in Rockford.
Post Malone's Role and a Quote from Hard Rock's CEO
Also, just back in mid-August, Hard Rock launched its Roll with Us campaign which featured pop music star Post Malone as part of efforts to drive players to its online sportsbook. And now with its impending launch in Illinois, rolling out its top-rated mobile app first was an unsurprising move.
“This is shaping up to be a monumental football season for Hard Rock Bet with our Roll With Us campaign, the continued innovations on our highly rated platform, and now the launch of Hard Rock Bet in one of the largest sports betting markets in the country,” the CEO of Hard Rock Digital Marlon Goldstein revealed in a press release.
“We’re thrilled to be delivering the unique Hard Rock Bet mobile experience to players throughout Illinois on our award-winning app and in-person at the new Sportsbook at the amazing Hard Rock Casino Rockford.”
What Can You Do with the Hard Rock Bet Mobile App?
While the Hard Rock Bet app is not really different from Hardrock.bet, there are still many perks to using the mobile APK.
First of all, players get to bet real money on football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, and a whole variety of sports more seamlessly. Plus, the odds are as good as what you'll find on the website. Additionally, there’s all the classic betting options, ranging from pre-game to in-game and same game parlay betting.
Using the app does not detract from the bonuses you'll initially receive when using the website. Instead, the offers are the same and equally accessible. For new customers, you even receive up to $100 worth of bonus bets when you stake on sporting events with as low as $5.
Illinois becomes the seventh US state where Hard Rock is operating a sportsbook-only app. The others are Florida, Arizona, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, and Indiana. In New Jersey though, the brand offers an integrated online casino and sportsbook app. A 4.9 rating on the App Store and 4.8 rating on the Android Play Store further makes Hard Rock one of the best-rated apps in the US gambling industry.
Rockford Opening Marks Hard Rock’s Entry into Viable Market
Amidst the launch of the Hard Rock Bet app is the ongoing near-week-long celebration of the new walk-in casino in Rockford. It is less than two hours west of Chicago and promises to be as entertaining as the virtual platform. Scheduled for launch right after the app went live in Illinois, the physical sportsbook opened to visitors on Thursday, September 29.
The new gaming area has nearly 1,300 slot machines, 50 live table games, and a poker room. There are six restaurants in the venue, too, ranging from casual to fine dining in service. This brick-and-mortar location will undoubtedly change the game for bettors in Illinois.
"Sports betting was always part of our holistic plan for Rockford and is another example of providing thrilling entertainment options for guests," Geno Iafrate, President of Hard Rock Casino Rockford said.
"The launch of Hard Rock Bet on mobile and in-person sports betting is another milestone for the Hard Rock brand in Illinois, one that adds to the complete array of entertainment options for our guests. If guests want to enjoy live music, have a meal, play table games, slots, or place bets on a sporting event, they can now take part in any facet of entertainment all under one roof."
With this massive establishment, Hard Rock has now become the ninth sportsbook with a presence in Illinois. This development would portend a lot of profit for the brand, considering the state’s viability. The Land of Lincoln raked in over $3 billion in revenue from online and retail sportsbooks in four years.
Besides, the second-highest betting handle across the US in June 2024. That said, both the state and the brand are in for a mutually beneficial relationship, especially on the cusp of a new NFL season in September.
