Illinois sportsbooks saw a betting handle of $596.5 million in September, marking a anticipated rebound month thanks to a packed sports calendar.
Illinois saw a $400.4 million mark in August, followed by a significant increase in handle in September, largely attributed to the return of football.
It is the second-highest total ever recorded in the state of Illinois. Residents of Illinois posted $633.6 million in revenue in March.
The casinos earned a profit of $44.6 million, resulting in a keep percentage of 7.5. The state received $6 million in tax revenue.
If Illinois had online registration, it would likely have surpassed the handle mark. While in-person registration is still in place, its days are limited. The Senate and House have approved a bill that will reintroduce online registration no later than March 5, 2022.
Illinois is consistently ranked third in the nation for sports gambling, behind New Jersey and Nevada.
Illinois has some catching up to do with New Jersey and Nevada in terms of sports betting, but New York is expected to be the starting point for intelligent wagering. Nevertheless, Illinois’ success in sports betting cannot be denied.
betting data for September by Illinois casinos
The Illinois Gaming Board’s report provides a breakdown of the wagering handle by each sportsbook.
| Licensee | Website company | Complete Solve | Online Support | Shop Handle | Income overall | Express levy | Nearby levy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Casino | DraftKings | $236,474,771 | $232,081,734 | $4,393,037 | $8,041,746 | $1,018,083 | $68,995 |
| Park Fairmount | FanDuel | $156,179,929 | $154,998,413 | $1,181,516 | $18,026,558 | $2,505,462 | $187,674 |
| Des Plaines Rivers | BetRivers | $98,510,939 | $87,333,812 | $11,177,127 | $9,269,902 | $1,250,782 | $119,468 |
| Aurora in Hollywood | Barstool | $46,561,860 | $45,271,338 | $1,290,522 | $4,233,376 | $570,691 | $31,314 |
| Hawthorne | PointsBet | $43,992,633 | $41,956,658 | $2,035,975 | $3,581,935 | $482,414 | $42,820 |
| Victoria the Great | Caesars | $9,417,493 | $8,256,939 | $1,160,554 | $595,393 | $60,638 | $1,585 |
| Argosy | N/A | $3,348,730 | $0 | $3,348,730 | $412,858 | $58,017 | $0 |
| Joliet from Hollywood | N/A | $1,339,510 | $0 | $1,339,510 | $257,992 | $24,657 | $0 |
| Par-A-Dice | FanDuel | $629,829 | $0 | $629,829 | $159,804 | $27,974 | $53 |
| Total | $596,455,694 | $569,898,894 | $26,556,800 | $44,579,564 | $5,998,718 | $451,909 |
Despite DraftKings in Illinois reporting the highest handle figure, FanDuel Sportsbook continued to dominate in revenue, showcasing its consistent success. This was particularly notable in September, considering DraftKings introduced Same-Game Parlays in August.
FanDuel has always had a strong preference for Same Game Parlays, which, like in many other states, are the main source of revenue for sportsbooks in Illinois. In September, Illinois casinos generated a profit of $44.6 million, with wagers contributing $24.7 million to the total amount.
For example, football generated $9.9 million in revenue for casinos, while the control attracted an additional $105 million.
Compared to other markets, Illinois has a smaller number of online sportsbooks, making it a notable aspect of the state’s sports betting industry.
Illinois currently has only six mobile sportsbooks, a significantly lower number compared to similar markets which typically have double-digit options. This limited availability can be traced back to the requirement of in-person registration, making it challenging for sportsbooks to launch without online sign-up capabilities.
I anticipate a rise in numbers once distant registration is reinstated in Illinois, with the possibility of seeing an increase in the number of online casinos by the end of 2022.
Therefore, this will lead to an increase in consumer campaigns and product lines, as well as greater control over market positioning, ultimately resulting in higher revenue.
In a year, how far has the IL industry advanced?
We have now reached a point where we are able to compare sports betting odds year-over-year. According to historical data, it is clear that the sports betting industry has experienced significant growth in the past year.
In September 2020, Illinois achieved a record-breaking $305.2 million in revenue from control. A year later, the state nearly doubled that amount.
However, since then, only one newly launched online sportsbook (Barstool) has become accessible.
Imagining what these numbers may look like in a year is challenging, especially considering the possibility of Illinois having online registration by March 2022 and other influencing factors.
