The Empire State began 2026 in much the same way it ended 2025 - with an online sports betting handle of over $2 billion.
Key Takeaways
- New York’s January handle dipped slightly from the same month in 2025 but is the sixth straight month surpassing $2 billion.
- This marked the third-highest revenue month ever for New York operators.
- FanDuel surpassed $100 million in profits for the fourth consecutive month.
The New York State Gaming Commission reported on Thursday that the eight mobile sportsbooks generated $2.44 billion in January to extend a streak of $2-billion handles to a record six consecutive months.
January, with much of the NFL postseason and some of the College Football Playoff, experienced a slight 1.6% year-over-year handle decrease, but it was still the fourth most-wagered month since New York online sports betting launched in 2022.
Mobile operators produced $250.6 million in gross revenue for the month, a 1.5% year-over-year increase, from a solid 10.3% hold that was up slightly from 10% the previous January.
The third-highest revenue total ever produced in New York filled the Empire State’s coffers with $127.8 million to kick off 2025.
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FanDuel keeps it going
| Online Operator | January Handle | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | $875.3 million | $113.7 million |
| DraftKings | $818.3 million | $79.7 million |
| BetMGM | N/A | N/A |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | $223.3 million | $21.5 million |
| Caesars | $160.7 million | $11.5 million |
FanDuel continued a string of impressive revenues, surpassing $100 million for the fourth consecutive month with January’s $113.7-million haul. The 13% hold fell more than a percentage point from December 2025, but the handle spiked nearly $20 million to $875.3 million, still a 9.3% year-over-year decrease.
DraftKings fell just shy of a double-digit hold, generating $79.7 million in gross revenue from an $818.3-million handle that was up about $17 million from the previous month but nearly $20 million less than January 2025.
Fanatics won back 9.6% from a $223.3-million handle, while Caesars produced a 7.2% hold on $160.7 million in wagers. theScore Bet reached $54.1 million in bets during January, about $2 million more than BetRivers, which took home slightly more revenue with $4.7 million.
BetMGM’s January revenue and handle figures were not immediately provided by the NYSGC when the report was released.
No football, no problem
A week without football still produced a $500-million online sports betting handle and a double-digit operator win rate in the Empire State. Sportsbooks generated $510 million in wagers during the week ending Feb. 1, the NFL’s off week before Sunday’s Super Bowl LX. The Empire State extended a streak of $500-million handles to seven consecutive weeks.
Operators won back $51.6 million in revenue during the period ending Feb. 1 thanks to a 10.1% hold. Profits spiked 99.3% week-over-week, giving operators a big boost after bettors dominated the NFL’s conference championship games.
FanDuel’s revenue nearly doubled despite its state-leading $177-million handle dipping 10% from the previous week. DraftKings had a very similar situation, making $17.1 million in revenue on a weekly handle of $167 million.
Changes looming?
The NYSGC recently sent a letter to five professional leagues in hopes they will provide insight into player prop markets that could be altered. The Empire State’s regulators sent the request in response to NBA and MLB gambling scandals involving player-manipulated wagering markets.
The NYSGC said it could change its betting menu, including restricting, limiting, or prohibiting particular markets, as it investigates current offerings.
