Despite a 14% decrease from the previous month’s record-breaking $971 million handle, Illinois gamblers still wagered an impressive over $839 million on sports in April.
Illinois sports betting is entering a slower period as the summer season typically sees decreased activity for sportsbooks nationwide.
The state’s market may struggle to grow further until the NFL season resumes.
Nevertheless, Illinois gamblers continue to place bets at a remarkable rate, with the NBA playoffs and MLB season contributing to the surge in numbers.
Illinois April 2022 sports betting handle
As expected, the majority of April’s handle was generated from online wagers.
Sports betting apps in the state accumulated more than $810 million in bets in one month, accounting for over 96% of the total wagers placed.
The Illinois sports betting industry generated approximately $68 million in revenue for gambling companies, along with $11 million in taxes.
| Licensee | Online Brand | Handle | Revenue | Hold | Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmount Park | FanDuel | $287,947,008 | $33,370,897 | 11.6% | $5,534,629 |
| Casino Queen East St. Louis | DraftKings | $217,679,655 | $14,119,733 | 6.5% | $2,373,962 |
| Rivers Des Plaines | BetRivers | $105,972,072 | $6,236,613 | 5.9% | $1,041,282 |
| Hawthorne | PointsBet | $72,012,898 | $6,274,234 | 8.7% | $1,031,164 |
| Par-A-Dice | BetMGM | $52,713,476 | $2,806,754 | 5.3% | $409,931 |
| Hollywood Aurora | Barstool | $52,301,069 | $3,340,341 | 6.4% | $615,148 |
| Grand Victoria | Caesars | $46,463,693 | $1,436,851 | 3.1% | $230,553 |
| Argosy | $3,067,954 | $489,677 | 16.0% | $65,857 | |
| Hollywood Joliet | $1,229,058 | $159,691 | 13.0% | $18,960 | |
| Total | $839,386,882 | $68,234,791 | 8.1% | $11,321,487 |
Basketball leads Illinois April betting
Basketball was the preferred choice for sports betting in Illinois in April, with the NCAA Championship and NBA playoffs both happening during that time.
In April, gamblers in Illinois bet close to $300 million on basketball, securing the top spot for sports betting in the state. Here are the most popular sports for betting in April:
- Basketball: $291.6 million
- Parlay: $190.2 million
- Baseball: $135.5 million
- Tennis: $64.8 million
- Hockey: $39.9 million
While basketball may have been the standout, baseball definitely did its fair share of the work.
Both the Cubs and White Sox of Chicago draw significant betting interest individually. In April, Illinois baseball fans showed strong support for their teams, whether they were betting on the Cubs, White Sox, or any other baseball team.
NHL playoffs should boost hockey
In April, only a fraction of the state’s $839 million handle came from hockey, but this trend may shift in May.
The start of the NHL playoffs on May 2 could boost betting interest for the upcoming revenue report, even with the absence of the Chicago Blackhawks.
It is possible that the sport could secure a podium spot, but the basketball and baseball duo remains strong. It wouldn’t be surprising if hockey’s numbers surpassed tennis in May.
FanDuel and DraftKings dominate
In the state’s market, FanDuel and DraftKings were the top sports betting companies.
The pair accumulated more than $500 million in wagers in April, accounting for almost 60% of the total amount. This significant market share surpasses the combined total of the other five online sportsbooks in the state.
The two betting apps currently dominate the state’s market, but they will soon face increased competition.
Circa Sports has recently submitted an application for an Illinois sports betting license, while WynnBet followed suit with their own paperwork filed just last week.
Although DraftKings and FanDuel continue to dominate the market, the arrival of new sportsbooks in Illinois is a positive development for gamblers in the state.
In general, increased competition is beneficial as it results in improved odds, deals, and offers that gamblers in the state can capitalize on.
While Circa and Wynn have yet to debut in Illinois, their impending arrivals are definitely worth monitoring. In the near future, sports bettors may have some exciting new options to consider.
