Illinois tallies over $1 billion in sports betting handle during November

Illinois tallies over $1 billion in sports betting handle during November

In the post-PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) era, Illinois has established itself as one of the leading sports betting markets in the United States. With a sports wagering handle of nearly $1.03 billion in November 2021 alone, Illinois is consistently ranked among the top five U.S. markets, trailing only New York and competing with states like Nevada and New Jersey [1][3].

Illinois' Handle vs. Nevada

Nevada, the historic leader in sports betting due to its long-standing legal market pre-PASPA, has seen its national share shrink as new markets like Illinois have come online. In 2023, Illinois' sports betting handle was estimated at $11.6 billion, surpassing Nevada's $8.5 billion [3]. This trend continued in 2024, with Illinois handling $14 billion versus Nevada's most recent available total, which was still below $10 billion.

Key Points of Comparison

| State | 2023 Handle | 2024 Handle | Market Growth | Notes | |----------|--------------|---------------|--------------------|---------------------------------------| | Illinois | $11.6B | ~$14B | Rapid, sustained | Among top 3 U.S. markets[1][3] | | Nevada | ~$8.5B | <$10B | Steady, mature | Losing ground to new markets[3] |

Hold Percentage: Both states report similar operator hold percentages, with Illinois at 8.6% in 2024 and Nevada typically in the 7–8% range [1][3]. However, Illinois' much larger handle directly translates to higher gross revenue for both operators and state coffers.

Post-PASPA Landscape

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018, more than 35 states have legalized sports betting in some form, with online wagering driving much of the growth. Illinois' rapid legalization (retail in 2019, online in 2020), aggressive market expansion, and population base have allowed it to quickly leapfrog Nevada in total betting volume, though Nevada remains a key market, especially for in-person wagering and high-limit action [1][3].

November 2021 Highlights

• Illinois' handle for the year has surged 40% higher compared to the first 11 months of last year, with revenue up 45.3% to $714 million.
• Football provided the most revenue outside of parlays at $12.4 million, with a win rate of 4.3%.
• Hockey revenue totaled nearly $3 million, thanks to a 9.8% win rate.
• Casino Queen led all retail venues with a 17.6% win rate.
• BetMGM reported a new high of $4.9 million in revenue.
• Illinois had back-to-back $1 billion monthly handles for the first time since March 2020.
• DraftKings had a handle of $318.6 million, 6% off its short-lived state record.
• Rivers Casino in Des Plaines had back-to-back months of more than $1 million in revenue.
• Arizona is the only state outstanding with a strong likelihood the national handle for the month will reach $10 billion for the first time in the post-PASPA era.

Top Performers in November 2021

• Barstool placed last in handle with $46.1 million.
• FanDuel continues to be at the forefront of parlay revenue, surpassing $30 million in online parlay revenue for the second consecutive month.
• PointsBet earned $6.1 million in revenue, just behind BetRivers.
• Caesars Sportsbook cleared $53.8 million in accepted bets, a 13% improvement from October.
• BetRivers neared $100 million worth of wagers, finishing less than $2.5 million shy of the benchmark.
• BetRivers generated $7.9 million in revenue, coming second closest to the top mobile books.
• The Argosy in Alton was the only other venue to surpass $250,000 in revenue, earning $331,000 from $4.2 million in accepted wagers.
• DraftKings at Casino Queen finished at $932,000 in revenue, making a strong push to match Rivers Casino.
• Among state agencies that make category-specific numbers available, only New Jersey bettors seem to partake in parlay wagering at a level equal to their Illinois counterparts.
• Basketball revenue totaled $11.7 million, with a hold of 4.5%.
• The traditional soccer handle in November totaled over $66.6 million, setting a new record.

Illinois' sports betting market continues to thrive, demonstrating the potential for new, populous states with online betting to quickly surpass established markets like Nevada in the post-PASPA era. For the most precise 2025 national ranking, up-to-date official state-by-state reporting is needed, but Illinois is clearly a national leader in sports wagering volume [1][3].

[1] Illinois Gaming Board [2] American Gaming Association [3] ESPN Chalk

1. In contrast to Nevada's decline, Illinois' sports betting handle is expected to exceed $11.6 billion in 2023, surpassing Nevada's handle.
2. Operator hold percentages in Illinois and Nevada are quite similar, with Illinois at 8.6% in 2024 and Nevada typically around 7-8%.
3. Nationally, more than 35 states have legalized sports betting since PASPA was overturned in 2018, with online wagering driving much of the growth.
4. Illinois' handle for November 2021 surged 40%, with revenue up 45.3% to $714 million.
5. Football and parlays provided significant revenue in Illinois, with football revenue at $12.4 million and parlay revenue a major contributor at various online sportsbooks.
6. Among the states, only New Jersey's bettors seem to participate in parlay wagering at a level equal to their Illinois counterparts.
7. Traditional soccer handle in November 2021 set a new record in Illinois, totaling over $66.6 million.

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