Press Releases
PlayIllinois.com: Sportsbooks finish 2020 with nearly $500 million in December
Illinois online sportsbooks ended 2020 on the highest note yet, pushing the statewide handle to nearly $500 million in monthly wagering and ending the industry’s inaugural year with nearly $2 billion in bets even as retail casinos remained closed in December. But even as the book on 2020 closes, brisk betting on February’s Super Bowl signals an even bigger year ahead, according to PlayIllinois, which offers news and analysis of the state’s gaming industry.
“No state has made a bigger splash in its first year of regulated sports betting than Illinois,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “But with growth that is expected of any fledgling market, combined with, hopefully, a return to more normal life for everyone, 2020 should be a prologue to a year that has the potential of being one of the most lucrative for any legal jurisdiction. The caveat is, though, that a lifting of the current suspension of the state’s in-person registration requirements would have a chilling effect throughout the market.”
With retail sportsbooks closed, Illinois online operators attracted $491.7 million in bets in December, according to official data released Monday. That is up 8.6% from $449.2 million in November and represents the fourth-largest handle in the U.S. for the month, behind New Jersey ($996.3 million), Nevada ($588 million), and Pennsylvania ($548.6 million).
December’s bets produced $28.4 million in operator revenue, down from $41.3 million in November. That yielded $3.6 million in taxes for the state.
Despite a pandemic that slowed the launch of sports betting until July and deeply impacted retail sportsbooks, Illinois’ retail and online sportsbooks for all of 2020 produced:
- $1.9 billion in wagers.
- $125.5 million in taxable revenue.
- $20.2 million in state and local taxes.
Despite the historic start, the best is likely yet to come. Bets on February’s Super Bowl, for instance, reached $45.6 million, fourth most among states that released data following the game.
“With results that have rivaled far more established markets, it might be easy to forget that Illinois is still nowhere near its maturity as a market,” said Joe Boozell, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “The state is still very much ramping up, but there is no question that Illinois will be an increasing force in the industry.”
December’s results were helped by the playoff run of the Chicago Bears, which spurred football betting to $204.4 million, or 41.6% of the state’s handle. College basketball and the opening of the NBA season vaulted basketball betting to No. 2 with $441.2 million, or 29.3% of Illinois’ handle.
Illinois’ sportsbooks are also getting more creative, which should help bolster their bottom line. Some sportsbooks are now offering odds on where major NFL free agents will eventually sign, the kind of unconventional bet that has made its way to only a handful of states.
“Unconventional bets, prop or otherwise, are more than a fun curiosity for sportsbooks,” Welman said. “They offer new ways for consumers to engage, especially during a sport’s offseason. That is especially true for football betting, which commands more action than any other sport.”
With a $195.4 million handle, DraftKings/Casino Queen accounted for 40% of the state’s overall handle. DraftKings’ month was up from $166 million overall and $164.1 million online in November. FanDuel/Par-A-Dice Casino moved to No. 2 with $144.5 million in December, up from $113.5 million overall and $113.3 million online in November. BetRivers/Rivers Casino slipped to No. 3 with $111.2 million, down from $133.2 million overall and $125 million online in November.
New brands, most notably Penn National’s Barstool-branded app, which is among the most popular in Pennsylvania, will reach new customers and open new sources of revenue, and that will raise expectations for the state.
“The more robust the roster of operators in the state, the better it is for customers,” Boozell said. “The Barstool app should be an important addition, capable of not only grabbing a significant share of the market, but also helping to grow the pie for all.”
For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Illinois, visit PlayIllinois.com/news.
Internet Vikings, a licensed in-state hosting provider for iGaming and online sports betting, announces the extension of its relationship with GAN Sports®, a supplier of industry-leading casino content, into Arkansas.
Following a successful multi-state collaboration initiated in 2022, Internet Vikings continues to support GAN by delivering hosting services tailored to their operational needs. Internet Vikings is continuing to grow across the United States, as Arkansas becomes the latest state to benefit from their hosting services.
GAN, a B2B supplier of internet gambling software-as-a-service solutions, initially entered into an agreement with Internet Vikings in a landmark deal covering 15 states. Since then, the relationship has grown stronger, with GAN relying on Internet Vikings’ bare metal server solutions to support their large-scale U.S. operations.
This expansion into Arkansas follows a recent deployment in Nevada, where Internet Vikings also provides hosting solutions to GAN. As GAN continues to operate across regulated U.S. markets, Internet Vikings remains a dependable resource, and has demonstrated its reliability to support long-term growth.
Rickard Vikström, CEO and Founder of Internet Vikings, shared his thoughts, “Our relationship with GAN reflects the trust we’ve built over the years. It’s not just about providing hosting solutions; it’s about understanding their vision and exceeding their expectations.”
The Sends team attended the biggest and most famous gaming conference, ICE, now held in Barcelona, Spain. From the 20th to the 23rd of January, the leading gaming companies and solution providers gather for business meetings, experience sharing and networking. More than 170 countries visited, achieving the number of 55,000 visitors.
“Our team attends the ICE conference annually. Previously held in London, the financial capital and home to our head office, 2025 is the first time it’s hosted in Barcelona—and it remains as expansive and resourceful as ever. We’re thrilled to participate, connect with our partners, explore innovative solutions, and engage with market leaders. At Sends, we are committed to staying ahead in this dynamic industry, never missing an opportunity to gain fresh insights and experiences,” commented Alona Shevtsova, Director at Sends.
As the organisers of ICE 2025 said, after a rigorous, independent selection process, ICE and iGB Affiliate moved to Fira Barcelona Gran Via because Barcelona presents a compelling list of benefits, including improved logistics and operational efficiency. The location is close to Barcelona airport and is well connected to the public transport network, offering a world-class in-show and around-show experience.
It is worth mentioning that this February, Send will co-host its event in London for fintech companies. This is the third gathering in London to network and connect industry professionals. To get more information about the London Fintech Meetup, follow the link.
To get more details, keep in touch with Sends on social media: LinkedIn and Instagram.
Latest News
SCCG Partners with Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise to Enhance Interactive Gaming Operations with Managed Services
SCCG Management, a leading global advisory firm in the gaming and sports betting industry, is proud to announce its engagement by the Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise (ONGE) to assist in developing innovative, robust, player-centric solutions for sportsbook operations, on-line/mobile social casino, and Class II mobile on-premise gaming, designed to enhance the patron experience with diverse content, and drive operational efficiency.
The ONGE, operators of seven gaming and hospitality facilities in Oklahoma, is known for providing an intimate, guest-focused gaming, service, and entertainment experience. This collaboration marks a significant step in integrating advanced technology and operational expertise to deliver innovative solutions for the evolving interactive gaming landscape.
SCCG Managed Services (SCCGMS) specializes in turnkey solutions for tribal operators to develop, optimize, and manage sports betting and interactive gaming offerings. For the ONGE, , SCCGMS will assist in sourcing and implementing customized products and services tailored to their operations, enabling patrons to enjoy casino-style games on their mobile devices while within designated areas of the casino properties. This service ensures compliance with regulatory standards while delivering a seamless and convenient gaming experience.
“Our mission is to ensure operators like the Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise can fully harness the potential of their gaming operations,” said Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management. “This partnership is about bringing cutting-edge technology and operational expertise to elevate interactive gaming experiences. We are honored to collaborate with the ONGE, a leader in tribal gaming, to pave the way for enhanced content, responsible gaming, and innovation.”
“On behalf of Osage Casinos, we are very pleased to announce our engagement of SCCG to assist us with developing these new products and services for our guests,” offered Kimberly Pearson, CEO of Osage Gaming.
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