The Land of Lincoln's eighth consecutive $1 billion monthly handle propelled Illinois into an elite club.
Key takeaways
- Illinois reached a sports betting milestone only New York and New Jersey obtained.
- Monthly profits surpassed $100 million for the fourth time in the last six months.
- FanDuel enjoyed a 12.8% hold in May.
Illinois joined New York and New Jersey as the only three U.S. states to reach $50 billion in total bets since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018.
The Illinois Gaming Board reported bettors wagered $1.27 billion on sports in May, a 24.9% year-over-year increase and 2025's third-highest total. Only New York generated more bets this year, and the Prairie State's monthly handles haven’t fallen below $1 billion since August 2024.
Dominated by the NBA and NHL Playoffs, online and retail sportsbooks reported $120.9 million in May adjusted revenue, a 19.6% year-over-year bump. Monthly profits surpassed $100 million for the fourth time in the last six periods.
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Tax revenue climbing
Illinois sports betting operators had strong success against bettors during the NBA Playoffs. While the Land of Lincoln's 9.5% hold didn’t reach the double-digit heights other states produced, it’s still 2025's third-highest win rate.
Sportsbooks also hauled in 11.5% more revenue than in April, leading to $45.2 million in Prairie State tax income. That total tax haul surpassed $200 million year-to-date and will continue to climb, thanks to new 25-cent and 50-cent surcharges on every bet placed.
FanDuel dominates bettors
| Online Operator | May Handle | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | $413 million | $38.1 million |
| FanDuel | $388.7 million | $49.7 million |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | $156.4 million | $6 million |
| BetRivers | $64.5 million | $5.7 million |
| BetMGM | $62.4 million | $6 million |
| bet365 | $50.8 million | $4.2 million |
Online sports betting was $1.24 billion of May’s total handle and $118.6 million of revenue.
DraftKings led all operators with a $413 million handle, but FanDuel, which generated $388.7 million in wagers, used a 12.8% hold to produce $49.7 million in income. DraftKings' 9.2% win rate led to $38.1 million in profit for the month.
Fanatics Sportsbook was the only other operator with over $100 million in bets and took in over $40 million more than in April. Fanatics finished third with $6 million in revenue.
BetMGM produced the same amount of profit, while BetRivers wasn’t far behind with $5.7 million, on much lower handles. bet365 generated $4.2 million in income from a $50.8 million handle. ESPN BET and Caesars hauled in around $3.6 million each in May.
Other news
Several Illinois sportsbooks responded to state lawmakers’ decision to add a surcharge with wagering charges of their own. DraftKings and FanDuel both included 50-cent fees per bet. BetMGM’s minimum wager is now $2.50, while Hard Rock Bet will only accept bets over $2.
The Prairie State is also trying to eliminate credit cards as a funding method for sports betting. The state’s Attorney General sees iGaming also coming at some point in the future.
