Some big things are happening (and continue to happen) in Illinois in relation to sports betting. Per a recent report from a major media outlet in the U.S., Illinois has an incredibly strong sports betting market and in 2023, ranked only behind New York and New Jersey in total sports betting handle. With May’s online sports betting total reported, Illinois has added yet another month with more than $1 billion in sports betting handle to their ledger according to the same report. This is the ninth straight month in which the state has eclipsed that mark. To highlight the achievement, Illinois is just one of five states to ever reach the $1 billion monthly handle, the others include New Jersey, New York, Nevada, and Ohio.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming from the great state of Illinois, as well as some more notes and info for the region.
Per the same report, there was little doubt that sports betting would be a massive success in Illinois. It’s the sixth-largest state in the country based on population. The Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Blackhawks, and Bulls are all part of the state’s identity. Also, the Midwest of course loves its sports, and Illinois is a shining example of that. With May’s online sports betting total reported, Illinois has added yet another month with more than $1 billion in sports betting handle to their ledger. Recently, the state reported a sports betting handle of $1,015,279,112 for the month of May. That number is down from $1.1 billion in April. The state’s all-time high betting handle was in November 2023, when the books brought in nearly $1.4 billion in sports bets.
A look at 2023 as a whole will highlight just how much of a powerhouse Illinois is in the sports betting market, at least according to one report. The state brought in $11.6 billion in sports betting handle for the year. That is the third-highest number in the country behind New York ($19.2 billion) and New Jersey ($11.97 billion). DraftKings took in the majority of the betting dollars among Illinois sportsbooks in May. Moreover, it processed $386.4 million during the month alone. FanDuel was right behind, accepting $340.1 million for the month. The gap to No. 3 is shockingly wide though, as the third-highest betting handle came at BetRivers, who accepted just about $66 million in total handle.
As noted in the report, the sports betting industry has been a booming success in Illinois. In fact, it has been so successful that the state government apparently realized they were leaving too much money in the pockets of sportsbook operators. As a result, Illinois made some changes to its tax rates for sports betting operators. Operators like DraftKings and FanDuel will now be taxed at 40% of their revenue, which is up from the 15% rate they were taxed up until this point. Obviously, with their tax rate more than doubling, there is concern as to how these operators will react. One concern is that there may be a dry spell in terms of promotions and offers for Illinois bettors. Sign-up offers and daily boosts might not be as lucrative or readily available as they have been for the past few years.
Noted in one article, the last time Illinois failed to reach $1 billion in sports betting handle was back in August of 2023. Of course, we know that was in the heart of summer before football returned. As is noted in the same article, sports betting takes a bit of a break in the summer months. There is no NFL, college football, college basketball, NBA, or NHL to bet on. Instead, the focus is typically on baseball. Sports like golf and tennis do not generate much in terms of sports betting handle.
Moreover, Illinois is likely to see a decline in betting handle over the next few months, especially with the Cubs and White Sox both not being especially competitive this season. The $1 billion betting handle streak may come to an end in one of the following months. Illinois bettors are excited about the Bears and No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams for the upcoming NFL season. With a fanbase this passionate, they are perhaps raring to have a good team to root for. They will likely be back to betting in no time, at least according to the report.
Once you are all dialed in regarding the latest news and notes coming from the Prairie State, make sure to of course tap into the awesome array of information for you at SBS. Of course, if you are interested in more updates coming from this area, you should bookmark the sports betting in Illinois guide which goes over all the latest news coming from the state. Conversely, if you are interested in maximizing your wagers (and who isn’t), then make sure to check out the best bonus betting sites breakdown. On this page, eligible customers can find a catalog of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers to charge up their bets. Finally, for those on the go, the best betting apps rundown is a fantastic guide that helps you learn more about the nuances of mobile betting.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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