Online sports betting operators turned in a second consecutive strong week in the Empire State.
Key Takeaways
- Online operators reach $56.9 million in gross revenue in back-to-back weeks.
- Wagering during the first three weeks of the NFL season is up 14% compared to last year.
- FanDuel’s hold sent over 12% again.
The New York Gaming Commission reported that the eight online sportsbooks hauled in $56.9 million in gross revenue – matching the previous week – during Week 3 of the NFL. It’s the most back-to-back profits since the NBA playoffs in early June. A flurry of wild finishes mostly went the way of sportsbooks in the NFL last Sunday.
The big haul during the week ending Sept. 21 came from a $555.8-million handle, which was up 4% week-over-week. New York sports betting operators have generated more than $500 million in wagers for the fifth consecutive week, which is one week away from tying the longest streak in 2025.
Behind the increased betting, the sportsbooks’ hold slipped a little from 10.6% during the NFL’s Week 2 to 10.2% in the latest period, but it’s been a strong start to the football season for operators.
Lucrative start
The first three weeks of the NFL season, along with college football, have generated $1.6 billion in wagers, an increase from the $1.4-billion handle produced during the same period in 2024. Operators have hauled in $144.4 million in that span, down slightly from the $144.8 million in gross revenue last year.
In both 2024 and 2025, the NFL’s Week 1 was the hardest on sportsbooks compared to the other two weeks. New York has never gotten off to a start like this from a handle standpoint during an NFL season. With MLB playoffs and the NBA regular season right around the corner, the most lucrative U.S. sports betting state is on pace to shatter records during the busiest sports time on the calendar.
FanDuel stays hot
DraftKings generated a handle of more than $200 million for the third consecutive week, for the second time in 2025. The online operator led all sportsbooks during the week ending Sept. 21 with $219.8 million in wagers, its highest since football season began.
DraftKings also reported a $22.4 million profit from a 10.2% hold. Rival FanDuel generated more gross revenue and a higher win rate, recouping $23.9 million from a $193.1-million handle. It’s the second consecutive week that FanDuel has enjoyed a hold of over 12%.
Both online sportsbooks have produced more than $20 million in each of the last two weeks to continue their dominance in the New York market.
Falling back
Fanatics Sportsbook endured a week-over-week handle drop of more than $20 million and hauled $4.3 million from just under $45 million in wagers. It’s the first gross revenue under $5 million in a month for the online operator.
BetMGM generated the fourth-highest handle in New York for the week with $36.8 million in wagers but turned in just a 5.4% hold to make $2 million in gross revenue. Caesars had a better week, producing $2.9 million from a $36.4-million handle.
ESPN BET and BetRivers turned in nearly identical handles at $10.7 million, but the PENN Entertainment platform produced $731,519 in gross revenue, over $200,000 more than the Rush Street Interactive brand. Bally Bet got hit hard, winning back just 2.5% of a $3.3-million handle.
