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.
Latin America
THE WINNING BET: NAVIGATING BRAZIL’S EVOLVING SPORTS BETTING MARKET
BETBY, a leading provider of sports betting solutions, is pleased to announce the release of a comprehensive industry report titled “The Winning Bet: Navigating Brazil’s Evolving Sports Betting Market”. This insightful report provides a deep dive into the intricacies of Brazil’s dynamic sports betting landscape, offering valuable insights for businesses looking to capitalize on this burgeoning market.
The report covers various key aspects, including:
· Historical background of sports betting regulations in Brazil;
· The state of digital connectivity in Brazil, including internet usage and mobile connectivity;
· In-depth analysis of player betting behavior, revealing trends and preferences among Brazilian sports bettors;
· Market potential and growth projections for the Brazilian sports betting industry;
· Recommendations for businesses aiming to succeed in the Brazilian market.
With Brazil’s recent regulatory changes opening up new opportunities in the sports betting sector, understanding the nuances of the market has never been more critical. This report equips businesses with the knowledge and insights needed to navigate Brazil’s evolving sports betting landscape successfully.
For businesses seeking to establish a presence or expand their operations in Brazil’s sports betting market, Betby offers tailored sportsbook solutions and expertise to meet their needs.
Latest News
Hacksaw Gaming Scores Again in New Market – Another Exciting Launch with Betsson Group to Fire Up Buenos Aires!
Following a long standing partnership formed in 2021, Hacksaw Gaming and Betsson Group have surpassed some major milestones together. Showcasing our vibrant portfolio of games in markets such as the UK, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Denmark, Estonia and Mexico, our relationship with Betsson is an ever developing one.
Buenos Aires is a vibrant regulated market with significant potential for growth within the digital online gaming community. Players can now enjoy unique and innovative games such as Wanted Dead or a Wild, Le Bandit and R.I.P City for the first time ever, and we can’t wait for them to immerse themselves in the Hacksaw experience.
Impressively, this is our third expansion with Betsson in the last 4 months, having gone live with many fan favourites in both Croatia, Spain and now Buenos Aires. Equally noteworthy, looking at Betsson’s multiple brands Nordicbet, Betsafe, Europebet, Starcasino.IT and Casinoeuro to name a few, it’s not difficult to see why they’re one of the biggest fish in the vast online gaming ocean.
Founded in 1963 and starting off their industry leading operations with just a humble slot machine, Betsson Group is now an industry pioneer with licences in 23 jurisdictions. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to mark another pivotal moment in our partnership with Hacksaw Gaming.” Kevin Saliba – Commercial Director, Business Development went on to say, “This latest launch not only strengthens our bond but also promises to elevate the gaming experience for our players in Buenos Aires, who are in for a treat with Hacksaw’s exceptional portfolio of games.”
Marcus Cordes, Hacksaw Gaming CEO is just as delighted with the growth – “Expanding on what Betsson has stated, we’re elated to extend our game offerings to yet another jurisdiction of their esteemed players. Looking toward the journey ahead, we’re eager to further enrich their gaming experience in the days to come.”
Looking forward we can only imagine the possibilities ahead with Betsson.
Latin America
Elevating Colombia’s iGaming: Amusnet Partnership with WPlay
Amusnet, is enhancing its presence in Colombia through a strategic partnership with WPlay – the country’s highly recognized online casino and sports betting website. The collaboration represents a synergy of expertise and resources, combining innovative gaming solutions with established presence and market knowledge.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with one of the leading operators in Colombia. Together, we aim to deliver unparalleled gaming experiences to players in Colombia and beyond, setting new standards of excellence in the industry. This new partnership signifies a mutually beneficial agreement to all stakeholders, particularly our valued players,” Daniel de los Ríos, Commercial Manager Latam of Amusnet.”
The CEO of WPlay, Julio Cesar Tamayo, comments: “We are pleased to have Amusnet’s games on WPlay. We understand the importance of this provider on an international level and the interest it generates among Colombian players. Looking forward to achieving great results together!”
Currently, Amusnet has over 40 live games available at wplay.co. The company anticipates expanding this number to 70 by next month to reach 100 live games by the end of the year. Players can enjoy some of our most popular and well-performing online casino slots. 40 Super Hot, Burning Hot and Shining Crown are only a few examples of the continuously growing portfolio of Amusnet games offered on the WPlay website.
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