Illinois Sports Betting Hits Record Handle in December
Illinois closed 2024 with record-breaking betting activity, as sportsbooks handled $1.5 billion in wagers in December. This surpassed the previous record of $1.4 billion set in November.
Despite the increase in handle, operator revenue fell. Sportsbooks generated $105.7 million in revenue, marking a 31.6% decline from November. While this was the fourth-highest monthly revenue total of 2024, it was also one of the lowest during the football season.
Illinois Sportsbooks Pay Over $35 Million in Taxes
Even with declining revenue, sportsbooks still contributed $35.1 million in state taxes for December. This was down from $48.2 million in November.
Online betting continued to dominate the market, accounting for $1.45 billion of the total handle. Meanwhile, college sports betting surged, with nearly $262 million wagered on NCAA events during the month.
DraftKings and FanDuel Lead the Market
Illinois’ sports betting landscape remains highly competitive, with DraftKings and FanDuel controlling the majority of the market.
DraftKings led the state in total handle, generating $508.2 million in wagers. However, its revenue took a hit, dropping 42.6% from November to $32.9 million.
FanDuel came in a close second, handling $500 million in bets, but emerged as the most profitable operator. It recorded $41.7 million in revenue, the highest among Illinois sportsbooks.
Among other operators, Fanatics Sportsbook was the only brand outside of DraftKings and FanDuel to surpass $100 million in handle. However, its revenue also declined compared to November.
BetRivers reported $89.4 million in wagers, with an 8.4% hold rate. BetMGM saw $74.7 million in bets, posting a 10.7% hold rate, which included a $5 million revenue adjustment. Caesars handled $66.2 million in wagers, earning $2.8 million in revenue.
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