Illinois’ sports betting operators saw handle rise during December 2021 as the state became the third state to smash the $7bn mark for a calendar year.
Players wagered $789.6m during the month to December 31, a 1.2% rise from November 2021. The figure was 60.1% up on the at $491.7m wagered during December 2020, though failed to match the record $840.4m staked by players in October 20201.
Some $752.8m was wagered online in December, accounting for 95.3% of the total, with $36.7m spent on in-person wagering across the state.
December’s contribution also pushed Illinois’ total handle above $7bn, joining New Jersey and Nevada as the only states to clear that milestone to date.
DraftKings was the top online performer during December, with $290.3m wagered. FanDuel, based at Fairmount Park, followed on $230.6m.
Football accounted for $265.4m of handle, with basketball at $226.4m. Some $176.2m was made in parley bets.
Gross gaming revenue (GGR) fell substantially in December 2021 after the outlying $78.2m generated in November. GGR was at $36.7m, down 53% on November but up 54.2% on the $23.9m of December 2020.
FanDuel took the top spot for online operator revenue in 2021 with $204.2m, with DraftKings on $132m.
Parlay wagering accounted for around half of the revenue at $18.3m, with basketball and football contributing a combined $11.4m.