Illinois Sports Betting For January Shows Improvement

In January 2025, online sports betting in Illinois reached a total of $1.4 billion, marking a 14.6% increase compared to $1.2 billion in January 2024.

Breakdown of Sports Categories

The Illinois sports betting market is categorized into Tier 1 and Tier 2 sports, with Tier 1 encompassing major professional leagues and Tier 2 covering less prominent sports.

• Tier 1 Sports: This category, which includes professional sports like the NFL, NBA, and MLB, recorded a total handle of $436 million in January 2025. This figure represents a decline from $527.7 million in January 2024. Revenue for Tier 1 sports also fell, dropping from $16.8 million to $15.3 million year-over-year.
• Tier 2 Sports: In contrast, Tier 2 sports experienced a robust increase in both handle and revenue. The total handle surged from $530.2 million to $778.3 million, while revenue rose from $14.2 million to $17.9 million.

College Sports Performance

College sports have maintained a strong appeal among bettors in Illinois. However, performance varied significantly between Tier 1 and Tier 2 college sports.

• Tier 1 College Sports: The handle for Tier 1 college sports decreased from $137.2 million to $113.6 million, with revenue slightly declining from $1.6 million to $1.5 million.
• Tier 2 College Sports: Conversely, Tier 2 college sports enjoyed a substantial boost, with handles increasing from $91 million to $139.8 million. Revenue also saw a notable rise from $942,220 to $1.6 million.

Leading Sportsbooks in Illinois

The competitive landscape among sportsbooks in Illinois is vibrant, with several key players vying for market share. Notably:

• DraftKings retained its position as the leading operator, reporting a total handle of $506.6 million for January. However, its revenue stood at $13.2 million, which, while significant, did not secure the top revenue spot.

• FanDuel emerged as the top revenue generator for the month, achieving $16.5 million in revenue. This included $869,514 from Tier 1 and Tier 2 college sports and $15.1 million from professional sports. FanDuel’s handle was recorded at $478.1 million.