All 10 sports betting operators have officially responded to the per-wager fee applied by Illinois lawmakers this summer.
Key Takeaways
- bet365 is the last operator in Illinois to take action following the new sports wagering per-wager tax fee.
- Multi-leg wagers will be considered a single bet.
- The online operator also recently launched in a new state.
U.K.-based bet365 recently notified customers that it is slapping a 25-cent surcharge on all bets below $10, which will be refunded if the wager is voided or canceled. The operator acknowledged that this is in direct response to the “revised Sports Wagering Act by the Illinois General Assembly."
“The tax fee will be displayed on your bet slip and be taken at the time the bet is placed,” bet365 informed customers. “For clarification, bets containing multiple legs (for example, parlays, round robins, etc.) are considered a single bet for tax purposes. Multiple straight bets on the same slip are considered separate, and therefore, if below $10, will have a tax applied.”
Bet365 emails just went out surrounding the Illinois betting tax…. ONLY for wagers below $10. I guess this is*better* than every wager but still, only hurts the little man and makes the overall Wagering Act a thousand times more suspect. pic.twitter.com/3d8zHB73zB
— ChimmyBimmy (@BimmyChimmy) August 31, 2025
The last to take a stand
Wagers of $10 or more will not be assessed a fee. The new measure is to help pay the 25-cent tax to the state on the first 20 million bets. The rate rises to 50 cents after that.
bet365 was the last of the sportsbooks in Illinois to implement some sort of surcharge or bet minimum tied to the Prairie State’s new law, which went into effect July 1.
On Monday, FanDuel and DraftKings began charging a 50-cent transaction fee on all wagers placed. Caesars had a 25-cent fee go into effect on the same day. Fanatics Sportsbook is set to charge the same amount.
BetMGM, Circa Sports, Hard Rock Bet, BetRivers, and ESPN BET all set new minimum bets in Illinois instead of implementing surcharges, but several sportsbooks are being flexible with the new tax.
Adding to the footprint
Additionally, bet365 announced it launched in a new state on Tuesday. The online operator began offering its app in Maryland, its 15th U.S. market.
“Following our recent launch in Kansas, we are thrilled to head east and deliver the bet365 experience to sports fans across Maryland,” a bet365 spokesperson said. “With our industry-leading product, user-friendly interface, and a reputation built over two decades, we’re excited to provide Marylanders with a trusted and dynamic platform for their sports betting entertainment.”
bet365 partnered with the Riverboat of the Potomac, giving Maryland 12 online operators and 13 retail sportsbooks.
