Illinois sportsbooks reach $600m in handle for September
Fueled by football, these numbers fall just short of the state’s record.
The state of Illinois has reported its sports betting numbers for the month of September. Fueled by an increase in football-related bets, the Prairie State generated nearly $600m in wagers, just $30m short of the state’s record intake.
Specifically, Illinois bettors wagered $596.5m at both online and land-based sportsbooks, a 95.4% year-on-year increase and a 49% monthly increase. This equals approximately $19.9m in bets per day, a $9m increase from the previous month.
“September will set a US record for legal sports betting, and Illinois was able to meet those expectations,” said Joe Boozell, lead analyst for PlayIllinois.com.
“But as strong as September’s results were, in-person registration continues to limit Illinois’ ceiling. Assuming the Governor signs the bill that will put an end to the rule on March 5, Illinois will begin breaking through this monthly handle plateau in spring.”
NFL and Collegiate football were the biggest motivators for Illinois’ residents, with the NFL drawing $230.6m in wagers. Meanwhile, baseball attracted $115.9m in bets, a drop from the previous month.
Tennis and soccer also had relatively positive months, raising $55.3m and $34.4m respectively.
“The NFL, and to a lesser extent college football, is irreplaceable in its ability to motivate bettors,” Boozell said. “General interest in football helps Illinois’ sportsbooks overcome the struggles of the Chicago Bears, and the ban on betting on in-state college teams. Plus, sportsbooks continued to capitalize on the playoff run by the White Sox in September.”
DraftKings was the state’s most popular operator for September, accounting for $236.5m in combined retail and online bets. FanDuel followed in second, raising $152m. Next, BetRivers was the state’s third-most popular sportsbook, while Barstool came in fourth.
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