Illinois sportsbooks hauled in 82% more revenue in August than in the same month in 2024.
Key Takeaways
- Illinois sportsbooks generated over $100 million in revenue for the eighth time in the last 12 months.
- The 10.5% hold was nearly four points better than last August.
- FanDuel and DraftKings have paid out nearly 75% of the state’s per-wager tax.
The Illinois Gaming Board reported on Wednesday that online and retail operators combined to produce $107.8 million behind a 10.5% hold, which was up nearly four points year-over-year.
August also generated the most profit for sportsbooks since June’s $113.7 million and marked the eighth time in 12 months that revenue surpassed $100 million.
Bettors in the Land of Lincoln wagered $1.03 billion, reaching 10 figures for the fifth time in 2025 and first since May. College football’s start in late August provided a substantial year-over-year boost in handle, which increased 19%.
Online wagering made up the massive bulk of August’s big haul, producing $105.9 million in revenue. More than $60 million in profits came from parlays, which produced a win rate over 21%.
Filling the coffers
Illinois sports betting operators paid out $33.4 million in taxes to the Prairie State, with $1.14 million going to Chicago-area Cook County.
The per-wager tax, which went into effect in July, resulted in an extra $5.3 million for Illinois. The new online 25-cent and 50-cent surcharges have produced more than $10.5 million over the last two months, with FanDuel and DraftKings combining for nearly 75% of the payout.
Seven other online operators reached six figures in wager taxes to the state. All 10 mobile sportsbooks have implemented changes to help offset the cost.
Chicago officials have discussed implementing a similar tax to help address a $1.1-billion city deficit.
Profits rise
| Online Operator | August Handle | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | $364.7 million | $38.1 million |
| FanDuel | $300.1 million | $34.3 million |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | $89.2 million | $10.8 million |
| BetRivers | $54.4 million | $6.2 million |
| BetMGM | $51.4 million | $4.8 million |
| bet365 | $44.2 million | $3.8 million |
August was a strong month for DraftKings and FanDuel. Both online operators turned in double-digit holds, with FanDuel reaching 11.4%. DraftKings led with $38.1 million in revenue, more than a $6 million boost from July.
Fanatics Sportsbook finished third in handle and generated $10.8 million in profit, a 56% month-over-month increase, and paid out the third-most per-wager tax with over $331,000. BetRivers had a solid August with $6.2 million in revenue. The online operator joined BetMGM with handles of over $50 million.
bet365 came in sixth and produced $3.8 million in profit, while Caesars reached $3.1 million. ESPN BET hauled in $2.7 million, and Hard Rock Bet got to $1.7 million to round out the operators that profited in August.
