Wind Creek Chicago Southland has upped the ante in the competitive Illinois gaming market after adding a new retail sportsbook to its property.
Kambi will power the 4,200-square-foot brick-and-mortar sportsbook at the casino, which is owned and operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians through their gaming entity, Wind Creek Hospitality. It extends the collaboration between Wind Creek and Kambi after they first partnered in late 2024.
Since their 2024 agreement, Wind Creek and Kambi have sought to harmonize the betting experience across the operator’s portfolio, which includes properties in Pennsylvania and Alabama.
As the Illinois market continues to demand higher levels of technical integration, the new venue utilizes Kambi’s Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) technology and a 24/7 kiosk network to streamline the user journey. BYOD allows players to build their bet slips on their mobile phones via a QR code before finalizing the wager at a physical window or one of the nine 24/7 self-service kiosks.
The extended partnership with Wind Creek Chicago Southland will also see Kambi offer markets such as same-game parlays and player props in a retail setting.
By integrating Kambi’s sophisticated tech stack into a physical environment, Wind Creek is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the Chicago-area handle, leveraging Kambi’s solutions to drive on-property engagement and cross-vertical revenue.
Jahnae Erpenbach, EVP and General Manager of the property, emphasized that the facility was built with the modern sports fan’s expectations in mind.
“Our goal was to create a space where you can fully immerse yourself in the game and all of the thrills that come with it,” said Erpenbach. “This is where Illinois sports fans—and all fans—can come together to enjoy and wager on the sporting events they love at Chicago-Southland’s premier gaming and entertainment destination.”
For Kambi, the new launch is a strategic win in a key U.S. jurisdiction. Merging its physical presence with digital technology appears to be forming a key part of the supplier’s North American strategy.
Kambi’s retail resilience
While much of the industry’s focus remains on mobile and online, the Wind Creek launch shows Kambi’s commitment to expand its presence within the U.S. retail space.
The Illinois expansion is particularly noteworthy given the state’s high tax environment and intense competition. By creating a 4,200-square-foot sportsbook that offers a range of sports betting events and several LED televisions to watch sport on, Wind Creek is not just focusing on transactional betting – it’s looking at creating a holistic experience for bettors.
The partnership suggests that Kambi’s value proposition in 2026 isn’t just about expanding with new partnerships, but is about driving overall casino floor ecosystem engagement.
