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PlayIllinois.com: Sportsbooks catapult to more than $430 million in bets

Illinois sportsbooks hastened an already historic pace in October with more than $430 million in bets during the month, reaching a level in only four full months that no other jurisdiction has reached in fewer than 16 months. It’s been a stunning start only made possible by the dismissal of the state’s in-person registration requirement for online sportsbooks among other factors, according to analysts for PlayIllinois.
“Illinois is exploding at a pace we’ve never seen before, putting it on track to join the largest markets in the country by year’s end,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “This wouldn’t have been possible if lawmakers’ original intentions were met. If Gov. J.B. Pritzker hadn’t suspended the in-person registration mandate, as was originally required, there is no way Illinois could have reached these heights so soon.”
Illinois sportsbooks drew $434.6 million in bets in October, according to official data released Thursday. That is up 42.4% from $305.2 million in September and the fourth largest handle among legal jurisdictions in the U.S., behind only New Jersey, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.
By comparison, the nation’s largest sports betting market, New Jersey, did not surpass $430 million in handle until its 16th month after launch. It took Pennsylvania even longer, reaching the mark with $462.8 million in September 2020, 23 months after launch.
“Illinois has long been an intriguing market, but nobody expected this kind of start,” said Joe Boozell, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “The market is still nowhere near maturity and yet it may still challenge Pennsylvania and Nevada in the coming months. We projected the market to one day take in $10 billion in bets annually, and while that is still likely a few years away, it could come quicker than anyone dreamed, too.”
With a sports schedule that included a full month of NFL football, the World Series, the NBA Finals, and the return of Big Ten football, October’s bets yielded a whopping $42.2 million in adjusted gross revenue, up dramatically from $6.8 million in September. Those gains resulted in $6.3 million in state taxes.
Regional interest was a key contributor to October’s results. Football led all sports by attracting $186.7 million in bets, up from $91.4 million. That was bolstered by a 5-1 start to the season, in addition to hot starts by Northwestern and Notre Dame.
“In every regulated market, when local teams do well a corresponding uptick in betting is expected, so it’s not a surprise to see that in Illinois,” Welman said. “That said, the weeks since October haven’t been as kind for the Bears. But that early interest has been baked in, so it shouldn’t get in the way of overall market growth.”
Online sports betting accounted for 94.3% of all bets in October, or $409.8 million, and the three largest operators continue to dominate the market. DraftKings/Casino Queen led the market for the first time with $141.4 million in overall handle, including $138.5 million online. That is up from $98.3 million overall and $95.9 million online in September. BetRivers/Rivers Casino continued to capitalize on its early launch with $115.5 million overall and $101.5 million online, up from $112.7 million overall and $98.6 million online in September. FanDuel/Par-A-Dice Casino made gains, too, with $105.6 million overall and $105.2 million online, up from $78.6 million overall and $78.4 million online.
“BetRivers has really done well in getting a head start on DraftKings and FanDuel, but holding off the two largest sportsbooks operators in the country is all but impossible,” Boozell said. “That said, with a bevy of new competitors set to launch in the coming months, the landscape should significantly change behind the state’s three biggest operators.”
About the PlayUSA.com Network:
The PlayUSA.com Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states, PlayUSA.com and its state-focused branches (including PlayIndiana.com, PlayIllinois.com, PlayNJ.com and PlayPennsylvania.com) produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliation to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.
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EGTs RK6C roulette with a first-ever installation at Volcano Casino in Montenegro

EGT’s RK6C roulette made its debut on a global level. The product was installed at the sophisticated Volcano Casino in Ulcinj, Montenegro, earlier this month.
“We are very happy that the first installation of RK6C was accomplished here,” said Milen Dimitrov, Director of EGT’s office, responsible for Croatia, Montenegro, and Slovenia. “We have a long-term, fruitful cooperation with the operator, which we have now strengthened once again. This roulette has enormous potential to become a favorite of the casino’s customers and the results it has demonstrated so far are eloquent testimony.”
RK6C is the latest member of the company’s portfolio of ETG solutions. Standing out with a sleek design featuring 6 play stations and numerous advanced features, including dynamic LED lighting and engaging sound effects, it provides players with a state-of-the-art gaming experience. Guests of the establishment enjoy unparalleled comfort while trying their luck with Blue Power HD and Green Power HD multigame mixes, containing some of EGT’s well-known slot titles combined with widely preferred multiplayer games such as Baccarat, Blackjack, European, and American Roulette.
Adi Plakalo, Chief Executive Officer, Vezuv d.o.o., highly appreciated the product’s performance. He stated: “Having in mind the great popularity that EGT’s slot games and cabinets from General, Phoenix, and General Series have gained among clients on all our casino floors, we had very high expectations for the RK6C. It not only met, but even exceeded them. That is why, next month, another roulette of this model will be available at one of our other locations. We are also considering more installations in the future.”
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EGT Digital in a strategic partnership with Pepeta in Kenya

EGT Digital is thrilled to announce its collaboration with the prominent Kenyan operator Pepeta. Thanks to the provider’s Gaming Aggregator, pepeta.com customers can now enjoy the hit slot titles from the Bell Link, Clover Chance, High Cash, Single Progressive Jackpot, and Gods & Kings Link jackpots.
“We are very impressed with the performance of EGT Digital’s products, especially Bell Link and Clover Chance, which immediately caught the attention of our players and became their favorites,” said Joseph Mbugua, Kenya Country Manager of Pepeta. “I believe that our cooperation with the Bulgarian company will fully unleash its potential in the coming months, continuing to deliver remarkable results for us and our clients.”
Zsuzsanna Zeibig, Sales manager for Africa at EGT Digital, also shared her positive expectations regarding the partnership, stating that “it is of strategic importance for positioning our company as a leader not only in Kenya, but also in the region as a whole.” She concluded: “I would like to thank Pepeta for placing their trust in us. I am confident that together we will be able to further enhance the gaming experience of local players, providing them with access to innovative gaming solutions at a world-class level.”
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Quick Custom Intelligence Welcomes Industry Veteran Melissa Chiaurro as Vice President of Business Development

Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI), the global leader in AI-driven analytics and enterprise solutions for the gaming industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Chiaurro as Vice President of Business Development. This strategic addition to QCI’s leadership team comes at a time of unprecedented growth, with QCI expanding its footprint to over 1,000 sites worldwide and experiencing 50% compound organic growth in 2025.
Melissa brings over 20 years of leadership experience in the gaming technology sector, including serving as President of VizExplorer. Her career spans Class II, Class III, and VLT markets with a focus on scaling business intelligence software, electronic gaming systems, casino signage, digital media, and progressive systems. With her proven record of leading national sales teams, building customer-first partnerships, and executing enterprise deployments, Melissa is uniquely positioned to drive QCI’s next phase of growth.
“QCI has redefined how technology empowers operators, and I am thrilled to join at such a pivotal moment,” said Melissa Chiaurro, Vice President of Business Development at QCI. “Our rapid global expansion is a direct result of turning data into action, and I look forward to helping accelerate that momentum—delivering measurable revenue impact for our customers while building new markets and partnerships.”
QCI’s Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Cardno, added: “Melissa’s deep experience and proven leadership will be instrumental as we continue to scale. She knows what it takes to grow businesses globally, and her ability to forge strong industry relationships makes her a key driver of our expansion strategy. With Melissa on board, QCI is even better positioned to deliver innovative, AI-powered solutions that fuel profitability for our customers.”
Melissa’s appointment underscores QCI’s commitment to building a world-class leadership team and reinforces its position as the fastest-growing provider of integrated analytics and AI solutions for the gaming industry worldwide.
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