BetMGM and Hard Rock Bet Set Minimum Wagers in Illinois

New Minimums to Offset Tax Hike

Starting July 16, BetMGM set a $2.50 minimum wager for all bets in Illinois, covering straight bets, parlays, Same Game Parlays, round robins, and even bonus bets or tokens, as confirmed in a customer notice: “Starting Wednesday, July 16, 2025, BetMGM will increase the minimum bet for all wagers to $2.50.” Hard Rock Bet, meanwhile, introduced a $2.00 minimum wager, already in effect.

These changes aim to ease the burden of Illinois’ new per-bet tax, effective July 1, 2025, which charges operators $0.25 per wager for the first 20 million bets annually, then $0.50 per bet after.

By setting higher minimums, BetMGM and Hard Rock Bet reduce the number of bets, helping them stay under the 20-million threshold and lower their tax hit.

Other Operators Choose Fees

While BetMGM and Hard Rock Bet opt for minimum wagers, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Betting and Gaming are adding per-bet fees.

DraftKings and FanDuel will charge $0.50 per wager starting September 1, 2025, expecting to exceed the 20-million bet cap. Fanatics, less likely to hit that mark, set a $0.25 fee, planned for this fall.

Derek Stevens of Circa Sports warned, “You can kiss those $1, $2, $5, $10 bets [goodbye],” noting low-margin operators can’t afford small bets under these taxes.

Keith Scott Whyte of Safer Gambling Strategies LLC said, “When legal sportsbooks pass on costs, problem gamblers are more likely to turn to offshore platforms that offer no safeguards.” Bettors, especially those placing small wagers, face higher costs, potentially pushing them to unregulated sites.