Illinois Sportsbooks Numbers: How Each IL Operator Has Fared In 2020

The sports betting industry in the US is expanding the quickest in Illinois, and users are benefiting from this.

Currently, the Land of Lincoln hosts five mobile sportsbooks and eight retail sportsbooks. Even though more are set to arrive, Illinois already boasts some of the market’s leading brands.

BetRivers initially took the lead in the IL sports betting landscape. It was the pioneer in launching both retail and mobile sportsbook in the state, giving it a substantial advantage in gaining customers.

In August, BetRivers dominated the market with an 84% share, being the only online book for the entire month. However, in September, DraftKings and FanDuel significantly closed the gap.

Therefore, DraftKings outperformed BetRivers in functionality in October, securing the top spot in betting. However, BetRivers maintained its lead in state profit despite this.

Currently, DraftKings, BetRivers, and FanDuel are significantly ahead of PointsBet and Theodore Hill. However, could this dynamic shift as the market continues to develop?

Here are the statistics for each casino since sports betting was legalized in Illinois, accompanied by quarterly breakdowns.

All-time sportsbook figures in Illinois

Licensee	Handle in full	Handle Online	Shop Manage	Full Income	Full taxable	All Betting	Betting Internet	Wholesale Betting
Total	$932,381,302.25	$865,356,518.04	$67,024,784.21	$59,894,933.93	$9,677,567.53	26,133,313	25,246,221	887,092
Betting BetRivers	$398,099,275.21	$355,268,646.40	$42,830,628.81	$28,733,997.26	$4,691,467.32	8,004,454	7,729,464	274,990
Game Queen’s Sportsbook	$253,821,559.04	$247,525,588.96	$6,295,970.08	$12,361,804.03	$1,973,937.31	9,325,002	9,216,695	108,307
Betting Lotto	$188,380,707.35	$187,852,803.85	$527,903.50	$11,142,088.17	$1,788,846.32	7,687,488	7,679,820	7,668
Casino PointsBet	$69,653,895.93	$69,104,042.83	$549,853.10	$5,285,838.09	$864,317.17	572,996	567,229	5,767
Casino at the Alton Argosy Casino( list only )	$8,656,178.00	$-	$8,656,178.00	$819,531.69	$122,929.75	312,507	0	312,507
Sportsbook Theodore Hill	$8,402,469.95	$5,605,436.00	$2,797,033.95	$737,649.00	$113,965.80	73,875	53,013	20,862
Betting at Joliet’s Hollywood Casino( list only )	$2,897,353.47	$-	$2,897,353.47	$383,490.31	$57,523.55	83,988	0	83,988
Sportsbook( store only ) at Hollywood Casino Aurora	$2,469,863.30	$-	$2,469,863.30	$430,535.38	$64,580.31	73,003	0	73,003

2020 October

Licensee	Online Company	Handle in full	Handle Online	Shop Manage	Full Income	Express levy	Nearby levy
King of the Casino	DraftKings	$141,416,340	$138,474,252	$2,942,087	$13,207,233	$1,722,457	$115,342
Rivers	BetRivers	$115,497,756	$101,546,001	$13,951,755	$13,131,663	$1,939,860	$170,938
Par-A-Dice	FanDuel	$105,571,911	$105,235,658	$336,253	$12,521,849	$1,671,313	$116,422
Hawthorne	PointsBet	$60,777,714	$60,250,110	$527,605	$5,550,739	$767,989	$71,314
Queen Victoria	Theodore Hill	$5,600,506	$4,274,205	$1,326,301	$1,563,631	$92,243	$3,223
Argosy	N/A	$3,058,668	$0	$3,058,668	$394,523	$59,180	$0
Joliet from Hollywood	N/A	$1,429,774	$0	$1,429,774	$275,873	$33,295	$0
Aurora Hollywood	N/A	$1,214,434	$0	$1,214,434	$322,313	$43,708	$0
Total		$434,567,103	$409,780,227	$24,786,876	$46,967,823	$6,330,045	$477,239

2020 September

Licensee	Model on the internet	Handle in full	Website Support	Shop Control	Full Income	Express levy	Local Income Taxes
Rivers	BetRivers	$112,719,576	$98,599,684	$14,119,892	$6,771,455	$893,757	$80,979
King of the Game	DraftKings	$98,316,259	$95,920,730	$2,395,529	$2,045,757	$33,263	$0
Par-A-Dice	FanDuel	$78,568,310	$78,376,659	$191,651	$1,498,339	$0	$1,111
Hawthorne	PointsBet	$8,876,182	$8,853,933	$22,249	$478,710	$24,887	$128
Argosy	N/A	$2,297,279	$0	$2,297,279	$160,525	$24,077	$0
Queen Victoria	John Hill	$2,216,866	$1,331,231	$885,635	$496,215	$12,173	$95
Joliet from Hollywood	N/A	$1,141,444	$0	$1,141,444	$158,037	$20,160	$0
Aurora Hollywood	N/A	$1,088,023	$0	$1,088,023	$145,492	$17,276	$0
Total		$305,223,938	$283,082,238	$22,141,701	$11,754,530	$1,025,593	$82,312

August 2021

Licensee	Model on the internet	Handle in full	Website Support	Shop Control	Full Income	Express levy	Local Income Taxes
Rivers	BetRivers	$117,967,144	$106,598,369	$11,368,775	$6,317,289	$939,219	$87,426
King of the Game	DraftKings	$14,088,960	$13,130,606	$958,354	$974,110	$98,551	$4,325
Par-A-Dice	FanDuel	$4,240,486	$4,240,486	$0	-$16,378	$0	$0
Argosy	N/A	$2,690,418	$0	$2,690,418	$222,250	$33,339	$0
Queen Victoria	N/A	$585,098	$0	$585,098	$83,565	$6,231	$0
Joliet from Hollywood	N/A	$326,136	$0	$326,136	$35,711	$4,068	$0
Aurora Hollywood	N/A	$167,406	$0	$167,406	$26,942	$3,596	$0
Total		$140,065,649	$123,969,462	$16,096,187	$7,643,489	$1,085,004	$91,750

2020 July

Licensee	Model on the internet	Handle in full	Website Support	Shop Control	Full Income	Express levy	Local Income Taxes
Rivers	BetRivers	$51,914,799	$48,524,592	$3,390,207	$4,658,783	$537,264	$42,025
Argosy	N/A	$609,813	$0	$609,813	$110,401	$6,334	$0
Total		$52,524,612	$48,524,592	$4,000,020	$4,769,184	$543,598	$42,025

Illinois casinos benefit from the crisis

As strange as it may seem, the Illinois sports betting market has actually benefited from the ongoing pandemic, even as it triggers a recession in the US.

The Illinois Gaming Act originally required all users to visit a casino in person to sign up for an online sportsbook. However, due to the health crisis, this registration requirement was suspended by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. This has permitted people to register remotely since June, with the exception of a few weeks in July and August.

Predicting with certainty how the monthly control numbers would look if the in-person subscription was still in effect is challenging. However, it’s logically sound to suggest that they wouldn’t be as flashy as they currently are.

Where does the sports gambling industry in Illinois go from here?

BetRivers, DraftKings, and FanDuel have emerged as market leaders, although the industry in Illinois is still developing.

It will be fascinating to monitor the business growth in the forthcoming months. Despite DraftKings and FanDuel picking up pace a few months post-launch, BetRivers has managed to secure an early lead.

Currently, PointsBet and John Hill Sports are trailing behind, however, PointsBet showed significant progress in October. Considering the high interest in sports betting in Illinois, there is definitely potential for them to catch up with the top three.

There should also be a few new users in 2021.

Unibet, Barstool, and BetMGM sports betting are all set to launch in Illinois in 2021. This will provide Illinois sports bettors with an expanded array of sports betting options.