Illinois Long-Awaited October Numbers Take National Handle to Over $3.2 Billion

Illinois, one of the newbies of the US legal sports betting industry will never be criticized for getting their sports betting numbers out too quickly. This past week, 45 days since the month of October ended, Illinois finally released their sports betting handle and provided the US industry with a couple of new and exciting milestones.

A peek at the overall Illinois numbers shows that we have a new #4 on the list of bet-friendly states - one that added to the lengthy list of jurisdictions that set monthly handle records in October. Illinois' October haul also helped the US industry on the whole reach a milestone that seemed almost unfathomable back in 2018 when the Supreme Court overturned its blanket ban on legal sports betting.

New Record

Illinois's long-awaited October sports betting numbers reveals a less-than-surprising handle record for one of the newest legal wagering states. The total handle in Illinois for October was $434.6 million which represents an eye-opening 42.2% increase from September’s $305 million.

Illinois officially comes in as the fourth best October-producer in the Nation. It came in behind New Jersey's $803 million, Nevada's $659 million and Pennsylvania's $525 million and just ahead of Indiana's $230.9 million and Colorado's $210 million.

According to the Illinois Gaming Board report, it was the state's mobile apps that dominated the handle, not surprising considering the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on the retail sector. Of the $434.6 million wagered, nearly $410 million, or 94.3% of the total came from internet betting. Remote sign-up for mobile betting has been extended again by Gov. JB Pritzker until January 9, which certainly helps the mobile scene in the state.

Adjusted gross revenue in October was $42.2 million, a whopping 517.2% spike over the $6.8 million that Illinois sportsbooks made in September. About $6.3 million in much-needed state tax revenue was taken from that total and about a half-million more flowed into Cook County coffers, thanks to Illinois's aggressive 15% tax rate.

What the Delayed Numbers Did for the US Total

Prior to Illinois reporting their September sports betting figures, the total US sports betting handle stood at an impressive $2.9 billion. It was seen as a formality that the total would eclipse a magical $3 billion plateau when Illinois' numbers were added.

Illinois officially put the US total over $3 billion, for the first time, and likely not the last. In total, in excess of $3.2 billion was wagered on sports in the US in October, a number that sets the standard going forward.

Illinois Going Forward

It has been since only March that the state of Illinois took its first legal sports bet and it has officially weathered a COVID-19 storm. As of the end of October, Illinoisans had wagered more than $941 million on sporting events.

In just over four months of uninterrupted, full-fledged legal sports betting in Illinois, they have elevated their platform to elite-level status. Analysts believe that Illinois could be eclipse a $5 billion yearly handle upon maturity.

October's sports betting numbers certainly support the notion that Illinois is poised to remain as a US legal sports betting Heavyweight. Illinois' sports betting platform has grown faster than any other that has preceded it and the state has learned quickly from potential mistakes - the in-person vs. mobile betting sign-up policy for one.

Illinois isn’t going away. The gap between their fourth-place handle figures and fifth isn’t close. Look for another November handle record for Illinois and for them to challenge for third, and possibly second as their legal sports betting platform matures. Unfortunately, we will have to wait about another month before we see any November figures out of the state.