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PlayIllinois.com: Sportsbooks hit $450 million for first time

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Sports Betting Market Size Is Likely to Experience a Tremendous Growth of USD 167.66 billion by 2029, registering a CAGR of 10.26 % by Size and Share, Industry Growth, Regional Outlook, Challenges and Analysis

 

Illinois online and retail sportsbooks collected more than $450 million in wagers in November, setting a fresh record for monthly handle to place fourth among legal sports betting markets in the U.S. It’s a remarkable ascent for a fledgling market that has become the fourth state in history to enjoy a month with more than $450 million in bets, according to PlayIllinois, which offers news and analysis of the state’s gaming industry.

“Illinois’ success is more than just a large population fueling impressive numbers that dwarf smaller states,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “Illinois is rivaling markets such as Pennsylvania that are far more mature and just as large, and it’s doing it because the top online sportsbooks in the country are investing heavily in the market and Illinois bettors are responding with an unprecedented fervor.”

Illinois bettors placed a record $451 million in wagers in November, according to “approximate” data released Wednesday by the Illinois Gaming Board. That is up nearly 4% from $434.6 million in October. Only New Jersey ($931.6 million) and Nevada ($609.4 million) — the two oldest legal sports betting markets in the U.S. — and Pennsylvania ($491.9 million) generated more in bets during November 2020.

November’s bets produced $41 million in adjusted gross revenue for the operators, down slightly from the state record $42.2 million in revenue generated in October. Those gains yielded $6 million in state taxes.

Despite a relative leveling from October to November, Illinois’ ascent remains unprecedented. New Jersey did not surpass $450 million in monthly handle until its 17th month after launch. It took Pennsylvania even longer, reaching the mark with $462.8 million in September 2020, 23 months after launch.

Aside from the suspension of the state’s in-person registration requirements, much of what has fueled the market is interest in regional sports, particularly the Chicago Bears and Notre Dame. But the Bears went 0-4 in the month, and without baseball and the NBA Finals, November offered less to bet on than in October. In addition, retail sportsbooks were shuttered in mid-November because of Covid-related restrictions.

That did not slow bettors, though, as the Illinois market showed resilience in the face of obstacles.

“At this point, it makes sense to adjust our expectations up for the market,” said Joe Boozell, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “The retail market was shut down in November, and this was the first month since the market really heated up in July that the sports schedule was slower than the month before, and yet sportsbooks still made gains. Such resilience shows that Illinois is maturing more quickly than anyone imagined.”

With retail sportsbooks shuttered for the second half of the month, online sports betting accounted for the vast majority of all bets. Specific operator data was not immediately released.

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With only five online operators, Illinois is still home to a relatively short roster of sportsbooks. But Penn National’s Barstool-branded app, BetMGM, and Unibet are among those that are expected to launch in Illinois in the coming months, which should give the state a boost.

“Remarkably, Illinois has done all this with just a handful of operators and without some of the best-known brands in the industry,” Boozell said. “The gains will continue to attract operators, and could have Illinois poised to challenge even the largest market in the U.S., so long as the state’s in-person registration requirement remains suspended.”

For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Illinois, visit PlayIllinois.com/news.

 

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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Industry-first: Dynamic, ‘Live Data’ feature in ads drives up to 20% growth in first-time depositors for iGaming customers

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Industry-first: Dynamic, ‘Live Data’ feature in ads drives up to 20% growth in first-time depositors for iGaming customers

 

  • Creatopy’s new Live Data feature connects creative assets to real-time data streams, enabling brands to deliver ads that update automatically based on live variables such as odds, pricing, availability or performance metrics
  • iGaming customers experience up to a 20% uplift in first-time depositors in the first 3 months of their campaign
  • Superbet is the latest company to adopt this new feature
  • Initial Live Data release also popular among travel, finance, retail and entertainment sectors
  • This news also follows a series of senior leadership appointments, including: Maikao Grare (CFO), Thibault Imbert (Chief Product & Growth Officer) and Ovidiu Gavril (CTO)
AI-powered ad campaign platform Creatopy has launched Live Data, a new feature that connects creative assets to real-time data streams.
An industry-first solution, it has already demonstrated significant results for the iGaming industry with an increase of up to 20% in first-time depositors observed over a 3-month period.
Live Data enables brands to deliver dynamic online ads that automatically update based on live variables such as odds, pricing, availability or performance metrics. There is no need for manual intervention. Once a design template has been created, the published ad can be updated automatically based on the parameters set. For iGaming companies, this can be a specific game or an entire competition; the tool can also dynamically display stocks and casino games based on current trends and performance.
The new solution offers several key advantages for advertisers, including:
  • Personalisation: allowing for ad delivery that precisely aligns with real-time audience interests, shifting market conditions or changes in available inventory.
  • Real-time performance: displaying up-to-the-minute prices, availability or exclusive offers, which in turn create a sense of urgency and significantly boost conversion rates.
  • Transparent metrics: showcasing verifiable, live information directly within the ad creative – this fosters greater trust and authenticity with consumers.
Superbet, an international gambling company, has become the latest to adopt Creatopy’s tech.
While the initial release focuses on the iGaming and gambling industry, Live Data offers a wide range of applications across various sectors, including Travel with live pricing for flights and hotels; finance with real-time stock movements or FX rates; and entertainment with live streaming stats and event availability.
Tammy Nam, CEO at Creatopy, said: “With Live Data, we’re making ads truly real-time. While static ads have their benefits, they can’t capture live market changes. Live Data changes that. By displaying real-time updates, marketers can expand the lifespan of their campaigns, ensuring that as circumstances change, the ads reflect the most current data and messaging. This isn’t about personalization someday but about delivering the right message, informed by the latest data, at the exact moment that matters most. This continued relevance is a key driver behind the 20% increase in first-time deposits that we’re witnessing with our iGaming customers.”
The launch follows a series of appointments to the company’s senior executive team, including Maikao Grare as the new Chief Financial Officer, Thibault Imbert as Chief Product and Growth Officer, and Ovidiu Gavril as Chief Technology Officer.
With over 15 years of experience in product management and growth at leading technology companies including Picsart, Adobe and GitHub, Imbert is responsible for overseeing product strategy, development and execution, as well as leading the company’s growth initiatives to expand its market reach and impact.
Grare brings over 20 years of experience scaling high-growth startups and is helping to accelerate the company’s momentum, shape long-term strategy, and support international expansion. Most recently, Grare served as Vice President of FP&A and Strategic Finance at MasterClass, and SVP of Finance at Picsart before that. Grare has also held top finance roles at Bolt Threads, Rdio and Skype.
Gavril brings a wealth of tech leadership experience from prominent tech companies, including Raft, Picsart, Trilogy, Jive Software, Crossover for Work, Optivia and Wave Motion Labs. Gavril’s appointment signals Creatopy’s strong commitment to accelerating its technological advancements with AI at its center. As CTO, Gavril will lead the company’s engineering and technology strategy, drive innovation, and expand the platform’s capabilities to further empower marketers with sophisticated AI-driven tools.
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TG Lab unveils new Brazil office to further cement position as market’s most localised platform

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TG Lab unveils new Brazil office to further cement position as market’s most localised platform

 

Strategic hub supports continued LatAm expansion and deepens TG Lab’s regional expertise for global clients and local operators

Global omni-channel platform provider TG Lab has announced the opening of a brand-new office in Brazil, further cementing its commitment to delivering industry-leading solutions and localised expertise across Latin America’s dynamic iGaming landscape.

Located in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, this strategic move reaffirms TG Lab’s position as a leader in the region and underlines its ambition to provide clients with unparalleled local knowledge and real-time responsiveness in both Portuguese and Spanish

Designed with comfort and functionality in mind, the new office spans an impressive 400m² and has been purpose-built to provide a modern, collaborative and inspiring work environment.

The new office will house a growing number of critical functions at TG Lab, including teams spanning casino games, gamification, platform development, DevOps, quality assurance and data analysis – supporting major clients such as Aposta.la, Stake and Playcet.

With Brazil’s iGaming market rapidly evolving and regulatory clarity improving, the timing for expansion was pivotal. TG Lab has continued to go from strength to strength across Latin America and the new office enables the company to scale operations and onboard new talent with ease.

Recruitment is already underway for a range of roles including Project Managers, .NET Developers, React Developers, Data Analysts and QA Analysts.

Commenting on the new office, Dainius Narmontas, Chief Operations Officer at TG Lab, said: “As we continue to expand our position across Latin America, this new Brazil office provides a solid foundation that will enable us to grow sustainably and with local insight that no other B2B provider can match. We’ve built a talented, multidisciplinary team here and created a space that nurtures innovation and collaboration. This is more than just an office – it’s a statement of intent.

“With our increased footprint and deepening roots in Brazil, we’re delivering the most localised service in the market. This is a pivotal moment for TG Lab in LatAm – and it’s only just the beginning.”

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Octoplay Makes United States Market Debut Through Strategic Partnership with BetMGM in New Jersey

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Octoplay Makes United States Market Debut Through Strategic Partnership with BetMGM in New Jersey

 

Octoplay continues its series of successful partnerships by joining forces with BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, for its highly anticipated United States market debut in New Jersey. This landmark entry into the United States marks a pivotal moment in Octoplay’s North American expansion strategy, bringing its premium product portfolio to American players. The strategic partnership with BetMGM establishes Octoplay’s first active U.S. collaboration and follows the company’s recently obtained Michigan provisional license, setting the stage for an accelerated North American rollout in 2025.

This partnership builds on Octoplay’s successful collaboration with BetMGM in Ontario, where the company first debuted Jackpot Blitz – a bespoke version of its popular jackpot system built in close collaboration with BetMGM. With active licenses in the UK, Sweden, Malta, Ontario, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Denmark, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and a provisional license in Michigan, Octoplay advances its strategic market roadmap in key jurisdictions worldwide.

“Our New Jersey launch with BetMGM represents a key milestone in our North American strategy” says Ralitsa Georgieva, Director of Business Development at Octoplay. “This partnership connects our content with players in the largest U.S. iGaming market, providing a foundation for our continued expansion across North America in 2025.”

Oliver Bartlett, VP of Gaming, BetMGM, said, “We are pleased to partner with Octoplay for their U.S. debut. Based on the strong performance in other markets and Octoplay’s premium game portfolio, we are confident the content will be a success in New Jersey.”

The integration with BetMGM marks a significant step in Octoplay’s North American strategy. With New Jersey serving as Octoplay’s gateway to the biggest iGaming market, the company stands ready to bring its proven European success to American players throughout 2025 and beyond.

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