November’s record-setting $1.03 billion handle left Illinois 3rd behind the November handle for New Jersey ($1.1B) and New York ($1.6B). NFL, NBA, World Cup, NHL, and the first month of the college basketball season were the driving force behind the record-breaking November handle.
FanDuel in Illinois was the sports bettors’ top choice in the state, as they handled $345,273,098 worth of wagers for a $43,827,568 net. DraftKings IL finished 2nd at $43,827,568, and Argosy Casino Alton posted a $4,630,633 handle.
How Illinois Compares with Neighboring States in November 2022
Illinois leads neighboring states in offering legalized sports betting by a wide margin. The top six states reported November sports betting handles are below:
| Illinois | $1.03 Billion |
| Pennsylvania | $797 million |
| Virginia | $598 million |
| Michigan | $504 million |
| Indiana | $452 million |
| Tennessee | $405 million |
Bright Future for Illinois Sports Betting
As we have talked about before, 2023 looks bright for Illinois sports betting after consecutive billion-dollar monthly handles and four solid sportsbook operators launching, and the HB57 could all make a significant impact in 2023.
- November was the 2nd consecutive month Illinois sports wagered a billion dollars. With upcoming events like the NFL Playoffs, Australian Open Tennis, Super Bowl LVII, the NCAA Tournament, the NBA & NHL playoffs, and the Masters, we should expect to see Praire State bettors wager at least a billion for the next few months.
- Heavy hitters Caliplay, Unibet, Circa Sports, and WynnBet will launch their betting apps in 2023.
- HB57 amends the Sports Wagering Act and defines an “eligible professional sports team” from the bill. The amendment would allow Illinois-based professional teams Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bears, and Chicago Bulls to apply for a license and begin taking wagers as sportsbook operators.
