In a written communication to its customers, BetMGM informed them that, starting today, it requires a $2.50 minimum bet on all wager types. Those include straight bets, parlays, Same Game Parlays, round robins, and bonus bets.

BetMGM is not alone in implementing a minimum wager requirement. Hard Rock Bet has already implemented a $2 minimum requirement for all bets.

The change by the two operators comes as a direct response to Illinois’ new two-tier tax structure on mobile sports bets. The law requires operators to pay $0.25 per bet on the first 20 million wagers. After that threshold, the tax rises to $0.50 per bet.

The new tax went into effect on July 1.

FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics Opt for Bet Surcharge

While BetMGM and Hard Rock Bet chose to set higher minimums, other major operators are passing the tax directly to bettors through surcharges.

FanDuel became the first operator to respond by announcing a $0.50 surcharge on all bets, starting September 1. The operator highlighted that the recent tax hike was the second in a year.

In 2024, FanDuel’s tax on gross gaming revenue rose from 15% to 40%. The platform claims it absorbed those costs in 2024. However, it now says it must pass them on to consumers to protect its margins.

FanDuel’s decision sent a shockwave through the industry, with observers closely watching to see how investors and analysts would respond.

As the response was relatively positive, FanDuel’s rival DraftKings also announced a $0.50 surcharge shortly after. DraftKings carefully timed its announcement. Last year, it introduced a similar surcharge, following the Illinois hike, but faced heavy scrutiny. That forced it to abandon the idea.

The third sports betting operator to impose a surcharge is Fanatics. However, unlike DraftKings and FanDuel, Fanatics decided to impose a $0.25 surcharge instead of $0.50 surcharge.

Observers note that the lower fee is due to Fanatics not being expected to exceed the 20 million bets threshold. At the same time, a large part of the wagers placed on FanDuel and DraftKings will fall under the higher $0.50 per bet tax.

Meanwhile, the remaining mobile sportsbooks in the state, bet365, BetRivers, Caesars, ESPN Bet, and Circa, have not indicated whether they will impose a surcharge or a minimum bet requirement in Illinois.

Credit Card Ban Advances in Illinois

In another potential blow to Illinois mobile sportsbooks, the state has moved one step closer to banning the use of credit cards to place sports bets. Illinois already prohibits the use of credit cards in casinos and video gaming establishments within the state.

In April, the Illinois Gaming Board unanimously approved a prohibition on credit card usage at sportsbooks. That advanced the proposal through the state’s administrative process.

The proposed amendment to the state’s gambling laws was officially published in the July 11 Illinois Register as part of the required rule-making protocol.

As part of the process, the amendment is now under review by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. The committee will hold a public comment period until August 25, after which it will make a decision. The next meeting is scheduled for August 13.

If the committee approves the change, it would prohibit retail and online sportsbooks from accepting credit cards for deposits. Debit cards and bank transfers (ACH) will still be available as payment methods.

With a ban, Illinois would join six other states with similar provisions. They include Rhode Island, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Tennessee.

The post BetMGM, Hard Rock Bet Impose Minimum Wagers in Illinois as New Tax Kicks In appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The budget was passed late on May 31, the last day of the 2025 legislative session. It now heads to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk for a signature.

The governor has indicated he will sign the budget. He even praised it as the “seventh consecutive balanced budget that continues to get the state’s finances back on track.”

New Tax on Every Sports Betting Wager

The approved budget includes an anticipated $800 million in increased tax revenue. With Gov. Pritzker indicating he would veto a budget with an increase in tax on individuals, corporations, or the sales tax, lawmakers targeted industries like sports betting to raise funds.

Under the new tax, operators will pay 25 cents on the first 20 million bets placed on their platforms. After that threshold, the tax increases to 50 cents per bet. Estimates are that this initiative will bring $36 million annually.

Industry analysts, such as Truist analyst Barry Jonas and Jefferies analyst David Katz, suggest that the tax increase will have the most significant impact on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Katz also warns that operators might pass the increased costs to bettors through higher minimum bets. That could drive them to alternative platforms like Kalshi, a market prediction site which recently received a cease-and-desist letter from the Illinois Gaming Board.

The new tax increase has come as a surprise to operators. Lawmakers introduced it on the last day of the legislative session, giving them little time to respond.

Second Tax Increase for Illinois Sports Betting in a Year

Once Gov. Pritzker signs the budget, it will mean that Illinois sportsbooks will incur a second tax hike in a year. In 2024, Illinois introduced a graduated tax system:

• 20% for annual revenue of $0 to $30 million
• 25% for those generating $30 to $50 million
• Those with revenue between $50 million and $100 million pay 30%
• 35% for operators with annual revenue of $100 million to $200 million
• Over $200 million: 40%

Additionally, operators pay separate taxes for their retail and online sports betting operations. Before the 2024 increase, operators paid a flat 15% tax. As with the new tax hike, the most affected by the 2024 tax hike were DraftKings and FanDuel. The two market leaders saw their tax rate increase from 15% to 40%.

Higher Sports Betting Taxes Instead of Legalizing iGaming

While lawmakers were scrambling to find an additional revenue source, one potential source went unnoticed: the legalization of online casinos.

Mirroring efforts in 2023, Rep. Edgar González, Jr. and Sen. Cristina Castro introduced companion bills, known as the Internet Gaming Act, to legalize iGaming in the state.

Some estimates suggest that if legalized, online casinos could generate $450 million in tax revenue in their first year, which is over 10 times the estimated tax revenue for new sports betting.

Over time, that figure could reach $800 million. That is comparable to the iGaming market in Pennsylvania, which has a slightly higher population, a mature market, and an aggressive tax system.

Despite these projections and a signal from Gov. Pritzker that he would be open to the idea, the 2025 Internet Gaming Act failed to gain traction and advance past the committee stage.

Illinois Fails to Ban Sweepstakes Casinos

The end of the 2025 Illinois legislative session also means that sweepstakes casinos remain legal in Illinois.

In April, the Senate Gaming, Wagering, and Racing Committee inserted an amendment to a bill that targeted unlicensed retail sweepstakes machines, including online sweepstakes, which directly affected sweepstakes casinos.

Illinois is one of 12 states that introduced bills to ban the social gaming platforms. However, so far, only Montana has passed an official ban.

The post Illinois Raises Sports Betting Tax as Part of New Budget appeared first on CasinoBeats.

DraftKings CEO Blasts Illinois Tax Hike

In a press release, Jason Robins, DraftKings CEO and Co-Founder, expressed strong disappointment with Illinois lawmakers:

“Illinois has been an important part of our growth, and we’re proud to have contributed meaningfully to the state through tax revenue, job creation, and a sustained investment in responsible gaming tools and resources.”

“We are disappointed that Illinois policymakers have chosen to more than triple our tax rate over the past two years, and we are very concerned about what this will do to the legal, regulated industry. Meanwhile, Illinois continues to fuel the rapidly growing illegal industry, which pays no taxes or fees and provides none of the consumer protections that regulated operators offer.”

DraftKings emphasized that it continues to support beneficial policymaking that promotes long-term sustainability of the industry. The operator notes that if the Illinois legislation is repealed, the company will remove the surcharge.

DraftKings Mirrors Rival FanDuel

DraftKings’ move comes two days after an identical decision by FanDuel’s parent, Flutter Entertainment.

On June 10, Flutter announced that it would pass on to customers the costs associated with Illinois’ new tax increase through a 50-cent surcharge per bet, starting September 1.

The move was a direct response to newly passed legislation that will require operators to pay 25 cents for every bet placed on their platforms up to the first 20 million bets. After that threshold, the tax increases to 50 cents per bet.

As FanDuel and DraftKings control about 70% of the market, they will pay 50 cents on the vast majority of the bets placed on their platforms. Flutter, in the surcharge announcement, also highlighted that the new tax is the second increase in a year.

In 2024, Illinois replaced its fixed 15% tax with a graduated system based on gross gaming revenue. For FanDuel and DraftKings, that rate jumped to 40%.

Like Flutter, DraftKings Investors Respond Positively

Investors received Flutter’s surcharge announcement well, and the stock rose 1.5% on June 10. DraftKings shares also rose by 2.7% that day. That was likely due to optimism that the operator might avoid adding a surcharge, at least in the short term.

The DraftKings surcharge announcement had a minimal impact on the stock price. It closed on June 12, up nearly 1% at $37.98, before dipping 2% at the market open the next day. It has since started gaining ground.

Jefferies analysts suggest that the surcharge could provide a slight boost to DraftKings’ stock price. Still, the market has already anticipated it, so it’s already accounted for in the current price. Jeffreys and many other analysts maintain a Buy rating and remain optimistic.

Analysts note that DraftKings reported a strong start to the year. That followed strong 2024 results, during which the company posted its first-ever positive Adjusted EBITDA.

The company also maintains a healthy balance sheet with $1.1 billion in cash, following the repurchase of 3.7 million shares. It’s also realizing efficiencies in areas such as advertising.

The post DraftKings Follows FanDuel’s Lead, Will Implement a 50-Cent Surcharge on Bets in Illinois appeared first on CasinoBeats.

In the past week, the company has announced job cuts in the UK, customer surcharge fees in the US, and a series of stock buybacks, all as part of a strategy to protect margins amid shifting market dynamics.

Flutter to Eliminate 250 Jobs, Mostly in Leeds

Almost all the job cuts will be in the company’s Leeds office, with an additional 10 positions being in Dublin. The eliminated positions are expected to come from Flutter’s technology and product teams. The move comes as the company seeks to consolidate several of its brands.

A Flutter spokesperson told the Yorkshire Post: “As part of a broader strategy to bring some of our brands onto a single tech platform – and against the backdrop of increasing cost and regulatory pressure – we have entered into consultation with a number of colleagues.”

“While we are working with those affected to explore redeployment opportunities wherever possible, it is likely that some roles will regrettably become redundant later this year.”

According to the news outlet, Flutter plans to make further investments in its safe gambling operation in Leeds.

UK Gambling Reform Spurs Change

Last month, the UK government submitted new legislation to modernize the country’s land-based casino laws. The proposed reforms are part of the “High Stakes: gambling reform for the digital age” program.

Key changes include allowing more machines on casino floors, adopting cashless payments on slots, and removing outdated machine-to-table ratios.

If approved by the UK legislature, the new rules could take effect as early as July. Stakeholders in land-based gambling operations have praised the move, seeing it as long overdue.

At the same time, the UK government is working towards tighter online gambling regulations. Planned changes include stake limits for online slots, stricter risk checks for high-spending users, and enhancements to responsible gambling tools.

While these changes are aimed at consumer protection, together with the land-based casino reforms, they are expected to increase costs for operators like Flutter, whose brands rely heavily on online revenue.

Different Approaches in the UK and US Amid Rising Costs

Flutter’s UK job cuts come as the company faces growing regulatory and cost pressures across key markets.

In the US, the company is taking a different approach to protect its margins by passing new costs on to consumers. Flutter announced that, starting September 1, the FanDuel platform will add a 50-cent surcharge on all bets in Illinois.

The move comes as a direct response to the new tax hike in the state. The Illinois legislature passed a new law that will require operators to pay 25 cents for every bet placed on their platforms up to the first 20,000 bets. After that threshold, the tax increases to 50 cents per bet.

As FanDuel is the market leader, a significant portion of bets on FanDuel will fall under the higher tax. The increase comes on top of the Illinois tax hike that took effect last year. It raised FanDuel’s gross gaming revenue tax from 15% to 40%. The company states that it absorbed the costs last year, but this year, it will pass them on to the consumer.

Investors and analysts perceived the move as positive, and the company’s stock remained stable. The company expects to retain its profit forecasts.

Buyback Program Signals Confidence to Investors

As Flutter restructures in the UK and adapts to rising costs in the US, the company is also signaling confidence to investors through a series of share buybacks.

Last September, the company announced a plan for a $5 billion multi‑year buyback program. This week, Flutter announced the acquisition and subsequent cancellation of its ordinary shares, aiming to repurchase up to $300 million worth of shares by June 30.

The $300 million phase follows a previous $350 million tranche that the company closed on March 31. Additionally, Flutter has announced plans for another $225 million in buybacks, to be completed between July and September 2025.

In total, the three tranches add up to $875 million returned to shareholders this year.

The advancement of buybacks suggests that Flutter’s leadership remains confident in the company’s long-term strategy, despite shifting dynamics in the UK and US.

The post Flutter Responds to Global Cost Pressures: UK Job Cuts, US Surcharges, $875M in Buybacks appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Mirroring a similar case filed in California last week, Stake faces a second legal battle, but this time in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Filed by Illinois resident Brayden Urdan, the suit primarily targets its sweepstake casino platform, Stake.us. He claims it is operating an unlicensed and illegal online gambling site under the guise of being a “social casino.” 

Dual-Currency System Constitutes Gambling

Central to Urdan’s lawsuit challenge is the platform’s use of a dual-currency system, which he believes is deceptive as users buy “Gold Coins” but receive “Stake Cash” as a bonus. The plaintiff argues that while Gold Coins cannot be wagered, Stake Cash can, and any winnings can be cashed out, effectively qualifying as real-money gambling.

Despite Stake.us advertising claiming that users do not need to purchase to receive Stake Cash, the complaint argues that these procedures are obscure and insufficient for sustained gameplay.

The legal action asserts that while players can technically obtain small amounts of Stake Cash via platform promotions, daily logins, or a long-winded mail-in request process, he maintains most users on the site end up making real money deposits to play. 

Stake Using Misleading Advertising in Illinois

In conjunction with the concerns raised regarding the dual-currency system, the filing also calls into question the operator’s use of celebrity endorsements. Stake uses stars like Drake and UFC star Israel Adesanya to promote both casino platforms. The plaintiff contends that Stake is using high-profile partnerships to actively normalize gambling while masking the risks, packaging it instead as an entertainment app.

Furthermore, Urdan is also seeking financial restitution, statutory damages, and an injunction to halt Stake’s operations in Illinois after claiming to have lost more than $15,000 on the platform since 2022, with $10,000 lost in the past six months.

These losses, he argues, illustrate the social casino platforms’ lack of responsible gambling measures, which should include safeguards, addiction support resources, and self-exclusion tools, which are typically mandated by law for licensed operators.

Illinois a Hotspot for Gambling-Related Class Actions

In light of Urdan’s recent filing against Stake.us, the move has also reaffirmed Illinois’ reputation as a hub for gambling-related lawsuits—due in part to its unique centuries-old statute, the Illinois Loss Recovery Act (LRA).

Under the LRA statute, plaintiffs in the Prairie State are entitled to reclaim three times their gambling losses if the losses stemmed from unlawful betting activities. The only caveat to the application of this statute is that the claimant must file the suit within six months.

The lawsuit in California could impact Urdan’s case in Illinois, as the law firm Edelson PC is challenging it. Edelson is the firm behind a recent prominent court case that secured a $24.9 million win against High 5 Games in Washington state over their comparable social casino model.

With the Washington state ruling against High 5 Games setting a new precedent that non-cashable virtual chips can constitute “something of value” under their state gambling laws, should a similar adjudication be made in California and Illinois, Stake may likely face more legal challenges in the near future.

The post Stake Faces Second Lawsuit Over Alleged Illegal Gambling Practices in Illinois appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Illinois joins Ohio, New Jersey, and Nevada in states that have deemed the increasing adoption of sports events contracts to be against state-specific gambling legislation.

In the letter, the Illinois regulator claims the companies are violating the Illinois Wagering Act and Illinois Criminal Code. It emphasizes that under Illinois law, sports wagering is defined as “accepting wagers on sports events or portions of sporting events, or on individual statistics of athletes in sports events or combination of sports events.” 

It continues: “by any system or method of wagering, including, but not limited to, in person or on the Internet through websites or mobile devices.” 

The IGB has said it is “aware” that the companies are engaged in sports wagering in Illinois. It adds that it has not granted a license or authorized the companies to engage in wagering, and consequently, the activity constitutes illegal gambling. 

Unlike other states, the cease and desist letters do not specify a date for cessation. 

CEO Claims States Like Illinois Misunderstand Prediction Markets

The latest blow to event contract exchanges comes less than 48 hours after Ohio took action. Matthew Schuler, an Executive Director at the Ohio Casino Control Commission, commented: “Purchasing a contract based on which team a person thinks will win a sporting event is no different than placing a bet through a traditional sportsbook.” 

Kalshi has responded to C&D orders in Nevada and New Jersey by suing the regulator. Tarek Mansour, the company’s CEO, claimed that the regulators’ orders “fundamentally misunderstand prediction markets and undermine the foundation of U.S. financial markets, which are regulated by the federal government.” 

Wallach: Prediction Markets Heading for Legal Showdown

Industry experts believe that federal intervention will have to come soon. Gaming lawyer Daniel Wallach shared on X the timeline of Kalshi, CFTC appointments, and the current CFTC Commissioner’s views on sports events contracts. 

The views support sports events contracts. Industry suspicions that the CFTC was giving them the green light without publicly saying so seem increasingly true.

In March last year, Quintenz supported contracts based on NFL game outcomes while at the CFTC. Following his resignation from the Commission in November, he joined Kalshi. Kalshi also brought Donald Trump Jr. on board as a strategic advisor in the immediate aftermath of President Trump’s election victory. 

Wallach also points out that a Kalshi lawyer has since joined Elon Musk’s DOGE, who holds a prominent position in the President’s cabal. Quintenz, CFTC Commissioner, commented in 2021: “When we think of commodities, we think of tangible things. Oil, corn, gold. But what about an event? An election? Whether the Summer Olympics will occur in Japan? A football game? Those, too, are commodities!”

Wallach bluntly suggests that the roundtables put on by the CFTC are “all for show” and the result is “preordained.” He expects this CFTC to approve event contracts based on sporting event outcomes. He concludes by asserting that “there will be lawyers.”

This dispute will rumble on for the foreseeable future. If sports betting is effectively being ‘legalized’ at a federal level, where does that leave sports betting regulators and individual state regulation that has taken years to build? How do integrity frameworks fit in with exchanges? What constitutes a breach with regards to CFTC rules on the contracts? 

It’s just getting started.  

The post Illinois Joins C&D Pile-On, Is CFTC Approval Preordained?  appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Wilna van Wyk

Two legislative bills have been introduced in Illinois that look to curb the use of artificial intelligence and introduce mandatory affordability checks. 

Senator Bill Cunningham introduced two brief bills, SB 2398 and SB 2399, which have both been referred to the State Assignments Committee. 

The Illinois Senator’s proposals are taken directly from the SAFE Bet Act, which aimed to create federal oversight of sports betting. It suggested limitations on the number of deposits, mandatory affordability checks, and limited utilization of AI, all appearing in the two bills. 

What’s in SB 2398 and SB 2399?

The full text of SB 2398 seeks to amend the state’s Sports Wagering Act. It would “prohibit a sports wagering licensee from using artificial intelligence to track the wagers of an individual; create an offer or promotion targeting a specific individual; or create a gambling product such as a microbet.” 

A microbet is defined as a wager placed on “an outcome or occurrence within a sporting event which may or may not be related to the ultimate result of the sporting event.” 

A micro bet is considered in the industry as a bet on a specific play in an NFL match. In contrast, Cunningham’s definition seems to broadly define any in-play bet generated by artificial intelligence. 

SB 2399 would make affordability checks mandatory for operators whose customers meet certain conditions. First, it would prohibit any licensee from accepting more than five deposits, regardless of amount, from an individual during a 24-hour period.

Secondly, deposits made by credit cards would become prohibited in Illinois. 

Finally, a sports betting operator in the Prairie State would be required to conduct an affordability check before accepting deposits from customers of more than $1,000 within 24 hours or $10,000 within 30 days.

The affordability check would require verification that the intended deposit amount is no greater than 25% of the monthly income of the person trying to make the deposit. 

Alternatively, the bill states “verification through a reasonable lender standard based the issuance of an unsecured loan for the proposed deposit through methods normally used by consumer lenders.” 

Massachusetts Senator Pushes for Even Tighter Gambling Regulations

Senator Cunningham is not the first to propose affordability checks on a state level, either. Massachusetts’ Sen. John Keenan filed SD 1657, titling it “An Act addressing economic, health and social harms caused by sports betting.” 

Keenan is a vociferous opponent of online sports betting and proposes banning in-play and proposition bets (regardless of AI involvement), prohibiting advertisements during live sporting events, and restricting compensation structures for affiliates and/or operators.

For the second time in as many years, he proposes raising the sports betting tax rate in Massachusetts from 20 percent to 51 percent, matching that of New York. 

In addition, Keenan’s bill would legislate monthly wagering capped at 15% of the customer’s bank balance.

Written By

Wilna van Wyk

Wilna van Wyk is an online casino enthusiast with over a decade of experience working with some of the world’s biggest gambling affiliates, including Thunderstruck Media and OneTwenty Group. She specializes in gambling sites and games and provides expert knowledge on the online casino industry’s essential fundamentals.

The post Bills Introduced in Illinois to Limit AI in Betting and Enforce Affordability Checks appeared first on CasinoBeats.

With the Illinois Gaming Board set to oversee and regulate the industry, this bill would allow the state’s casinos and racetracks to apply for internet gaming licences with up to three skins on that licence. 

While the cost of each initial licence will be $250,000, the tax rate would be 15 per cent on adjusted gross revenue and the bill would also allow operators to deduct promotional credit. 

Dissimilarly to Illinois’ sports betting, there will be no mandatory in-person registration requirements attached to the legislation. However, the legislation will present stipulations to address responsible gaming efforts in addition to diversity efforts. 

These stipulations include the need for operators to establish a self-exclusion list and prominently display responsible gaming prompts on their online casino platforms. 

Castro’s bill will also prioritise diversity when it comes to hiring and vendor spending, using Massachusetts and Maryland’s approach to sports betting as a prime example. 

Under the remit of diversity, licensees will need to provide annual reports dictating their goals for the forthcoming year while outlining how they have performed on previous inclusivity goals. 

In order to avoid the criticism met with the sports betting launches in Massachusetts and Maryland, which were chastised for a slow-moving operation, this bill has laid out short deadlines to fast-track applicants, particularly those with existing licences in other states. 

Castro will hope that the continued success of The Prairie State’s sports betting space can set a precedent for the launch of its online casino market, making the difference from her efforts in 2021. 

The post Illinois pushes for online casino bill once again appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Last-years’ figure of 60.1m geolocation transactions has been blown out of the water as the Los Angeles Rams kicked off the 22/23 season. An uptick of 71.5 per cent YoY was seen with a record 103.1m checks taking place across the opening weekend. 

“Our data indicates 71.5 percent growth from this same period last year. Clearly an unbelievable start to the NFL season,” stated Anna Sainsbury, GeoComply’s Chief Executive Officer. 

“The growth of legal betting suggests that Americans are ditching offshore sportsbooks for regulated options in their home states. This is exactly the outcome legislators and regulators looked to achieve through legalisation as they now protect consumers and increase tax revenues.” 

Since the start of last year’s season, five states have introduced regulated online sports betting with Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana and New York entering the market. 

Upon regulation, New York went straight to the top of Geocomply’s chart of states with the highest volume of transactions. The Empire State contributed over 15.7m transactions, closely followed by established regulated state Pennsylvania which fell behind by 400,000.  

“New York continues its reign as ‘King of the Hill’ with 15.3 percent market share for US betting, but we are also seeing strong growth across the country.” added Sainsbury. 

Elsewhere in the states, Illinois jumped 60 per cent to 8m transactions from last year’s figure of 5m, following the Prairie State’s introduction of mobile registration instead of the in-person registration at the state’s casinos and tracks, which was previously required. 

This saw the state, along with New Jersey and Michigan, head into the top five states by total volume over the opening weekend.

Sainsbury concluded: “GeoComply has worked hand in glove with our customers over the offseason to ensure a seamless and, most importantly, safe start to the NFL season. 

“Whether it’s confirming location, verifying identities or detecting and thwarting possible fraud, our technology solutions are leading the way to support the regulated online gaming environment.” 

The post GeoComply checks see record usage for NFL opening weekend appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Sports betting entities through the Prairie State generated $971.3m in wagers through the month, which is up 53.3 per cent from the $633.6m one year earlier.

This record performance was driven by $278.4m in betting on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, as March’s handle shattered the previous record of $867.5m in bets in January and was also up 43 per cent from the $679.4m set one month earlier.

“March Madness and the removal of in-person registration proved a powerful combination,” said Jake Garza, analyst for PlayIllinois. “This is what a less-restrained market in Illinois looks like.”

Sportsbooks won $79.4m in gross revenue off of March’s bets, which represents an increase of 59.2 per cent year-on-year from $49.9m and 155.6 per cent from $31.1m on a monthly basis

The previous record for monthly revenue was $78.2m in November 2021. The win generated $9.8m in state and local taxes.

Online betting accounted for $927.5m, or 95.5 per cent, of all wagers in March, with FanDuel leading all operators with $315.3m in online and retail wagers, including $310.7m online. 

DraftKings followed with $289.2m in combined online and retail handle, including $284.2m in online wagers.

“Even with the inevitable seasonal slowdown that begins in April, the state’s sports betting industry should continue to make a significant lurch forward compared with last year,” said Eric Ramsey, an analyst for the PlayUSA. 

“It would not be too surprising if Illinois became the second-largest market in the U.S. by the beginning of football season.”

March was the first month of betting following the permanent removal of in-person registration rules for online betting, which went into effect on March 5 and see bettors no longer required to register at a retail sportsbook.

The post Registration flexibility and NCAA drives Illinois through March appeared first on CasinoBeats.