Illinois sports betting handle reaches $595.5m in September
The state handle was up 95.4 per cent from the same period 2020 and up 49 per cent from August.
US.- Illinois online and retail sportsbooks generated nearly $600m in wagers in September, just short of the state record of $633.6m set in March. September 2021’s handle was $596.5m, up 95.4 per cent from $305.2m in September 2020 and up 49 per cent from $400.4m in August of this year.
Gamblers bet $19.9m per day in September, up from $12.9m in August. Football generated $230.6m in bets, basketball $115.9m and tennis $55.3m. Gross revenue rose 279.3 per cent to $44.6m, up 36.3 per cent from August´s $32.7m. That led to $40m in adjusted gross revenue, yielding $6.5m in state and local taxes.
Joe Boozell, lead analyst for PlayIllinois.com said: “September will set a U.S. record for legal sports betting, and Illinois was able to meet those expectations. But as strong as September’s results were, in-person registration continues to limit Illinois’ ceiling. Assuming the governor signs the bill that will put an end to the rule on March 5, Illinois will begin breaking through this monthly handle plateau in spring.”
“The NFL, and to a lesser extent college football, is irreplaceable in its ability to motivate bettors. General interest in football helps Illinois’ sportsbooks overcome the struggles of the Chicago Bears, and the ban on betting on in-state college teams. Plus, sportsbooks continued to capitalize on the playoff run by the White Sox in September.”
See also: Illinois sports betting stakes fall to $369m in July
