Cubs, DraftKings want to open a sportsbook within Wrigley Field

Gambling is nothing new at Wrigley Field, as longtime bleacher denizens know, but the ballpark may be getting a legal sportsbook if the Chicago Cubs and DraftKings get their way.

The team has partnered with the Boston-based sports betting outfit and plans to establish DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field, pending necessary approvals.

No target date was offered for opening the facility.

The city of Chicago would need to sign off on the project and there likely is to be scrutiny from the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. Also required would be a license from the Illinois Gaming Board, which comes with a $10 million fee.

Written into last year’s state legislation to allow legal sports betting in Illinois was the opportunity for seven sports venues with capacities of 17,000 or more — such as Wrigley, Guaranteed Rate Field, Soldier Field, the United Center and Joliet Speedway — to open sports books within five blocks of the facilities.

Reports of the Cubs’ interest in setting up shop emerged almost immediately.

A sports betting facility for stadium fans is not unprecedented in this country.

There will be a sportsbook inside Capital One Arena, home to the NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals.

Action Network, a sports gambling media company in which Cubs ownership has invested, reported the value of the team’s DraftKings partnership at $100 million for a 10-year deal that includes being the team’s sports betting and daily fantasy partner.