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.
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.
