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According to the Illinois Gaming Board, Illinois sportsbooks
took in over $1 billion in bets in March, beating the previous
high set in January by $2 million. The March totals moved
Illinois into second place in the country in both total bets and
revenue.
“Strong March Madness betting helped Illinois top $1 billion in
total sports bets for the fifth time in the last six months,”
Dave Briggs with PlayIllinois.com told The Center Square.
Briggs said the March numbers are truly amazing considering
Illinois is home to only seven online sportsbooks.
“Other states have many, many more options for people, so it
just shows you that Illinois sports bettors are passionate about
their sports,” Briggs said.
Briggs expects an eighth online option, Circa Sportsbook, to
launch before the NFL season begins.
A boost to the industry came in March 2022 when legislation went
into effect that allowed Illinois residents to sign up online
for sportsbooks rather than doing so at one of the state’s
land-based casinos.
Sports bettors are helping to fill the state’s coffers. Illinois
placed third in the country in sports betting taxes collected at
more than $15 million. Sportsbooks in Illinois are taxed at an
effective rate of 14.6%.
This year, Illinois leapfrogged Pennsylvania into third place in
lifetime sports betting handle with nearly $20 billion bet on
sports.
"Of the top 10 sports betting markets, only Illinois and New
York are showing growth,” Briggs said. New Jersey, which ranks
neck-and-neck with Illinois, is showing signs of cooling off. We
are predicting that by the end of the year Illinois will hold
down a solid spot as the second-biggest sports betting market in
the nation.”
Kevin Bessler reports on statewide issues in
Illinois for the Center Square. He has over 30 years of
experience in radio news reporting throughout the Midwest.
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