Illinois Leads US In Year-Over-Year Sports Betting Growth On NFL

Betting on sports in Illinois during the NFL’s opening week saw a 60% increase compared to the first week of the 2021 season. Additionally, Illinois experienced the most significant year-over-year increase amongst all states in the country.

GeoComply recorded the volume of sports betting in Illinois from last Thursday through Sunday night. The company offers geolocation and anti-fraud services to the seven legal and regulated sportsbook operators in Illinois.

GeoComply reported a volume of sports betting activity in Illinois of about 8 million this past weekend. This is an increase from the 5 million volume recorded during the first weekend of NFL betting in Illinois last year.

Betting volume in Illinois surged by 60% from 5 million in 2021 to 8 million during the #NFLKickoff2022 weekend! Thanks to the permission for mobile registration, a new wave of gaming boom has arrived in IL. 💫 pic.twitter.com/2IsEfHAip2

From GeoComply on September 13, 2022.

Illinois leads the nation in sports betting growth

Illinois was the fifth largest state by volume for NFL betting during the weekend’s games, trailing behind New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan. However, excluding New York – which didn’t legalize sports betting in 2021 – Illinois saw the most significant growth in a year compared to the other states.

The year-over-year increases in sports betting volume are ranked as follows:

1. The population of Illinois has increased by 60%, rising from 5 million to 8 million.
2. Pennsylvania’s population has risen by 30%, increasing from 11.8 million to 15.3 million.
3. Michigan experienced a 26% increase from 12.6 million to 13.6 million.
4. The population of New Jersey has risen by 7%, from 7.7 million to 9.7 million.

In summary, GeoComply reported a 71.5% increase in sports betting across all legal, regulated markets in the United States during the NFL opening weekend compared to 2021. The company noted a total volume of 103.1 million, a significant increase from 60.1 million in 2021.

“An unbelievable start to the NFL season is evident,” stated GeoComply’s CEO, Anna Sainsbury, in a press release. She further noted that the increase in legal betting indicates a shift in Americans’ behavior – they are leaving offshore sportsbooks and opting for regulated options in their own states. Sainsbury explained that this was precisely the result lawmakers and regulators aimed for through legalization – to safeguard consumers and boost tax revenues.

Gains in Illinois a result of easier sign-up process

The annual growth in Illinois is primarily linked to the legislation passed in 2021 that permits residents to register for sportsbooks online. This legislation was enacted on March 5 of this year.

Before this, registering for online sportsbooks in Illinois required a trip to a physical casino to finalize the registration process. This additional step necessitated a three-hour drive for some apps.

The introduction of online registration led to an instant increase in sports betting revenue in the Land of Lincoln.

Until June, Illinois was the second highest state in sports betting revenue, trailing only behind New York. In the first half of 2022, Illinois generated $344 million from sports betting. New York, however, led the pack with a revenue of $608 million during the same timeframe.

In 2022, the sports betting handle in Illinois was third highest in the nation, surpassed only by New York and New Jersey. Illinois saw more than $4.75 billion wagered by sports gamblers in the first half of the year. In comparison, New York had a sports betting handle of nearly $8.6 billion and New Jersey saw close to $5.8 billion in bets for the same year.

Chicago Bears victory could lead to more gains for Illinois

Even though they were playing in a monsoon and were considered 6.5-point underdogs at their home ground, the Chicago Bears managed to secure a 19-11 win against the San Francisco 49ers. This victory is likely to tempt more fans to place bets on the Bears in the upcoming weeks. As a result, sports betting revenue in Illinois could skyrocket even further.

Additionally, Circa Sportsbook is set to become the eighth legal and regulated sportsbook operator in Illinois before the end of the NFL season. Circa has partnered with Full House Resorts, anticipated to open a temporary casino in Waukegan, IL, in December. Once it opens, Circa will also commence operations.