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.
Located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, the Plaza Hotel & Casino has partnered with the Southern Nevada charity, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, to launch Stay for a Cause.
Any guest who books a room at the Plaza Hotel & Casino for check-in prior to Dec. 31, 2025, via the Stay for a Cause hotel package will have 20 percent of the room rate automatically donated to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. Established in 1966, the nonprofit organization helps provide healing and hope to abused and at-risk children in Southern Nevada.
“The Plaza has previously held toy drives to benefit St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, and we wanted to expand our partnership this year,” said Gary Vickery, vice president of operations at the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “With Stay for a Cause, guests can enjoy a great vacation at the Plaza and make a difference in our community at the same time.”
“We are grateful to the Plaza for their generous support through this innovative program,” said St. Jude’s Ranch for Children CEO Dr. Christina Vela. “By choosing to stay at the Plaza, guests are not just enjoying the wonderful accommodations, but also contributing to providing healing and hope to abused, neglected, exploited, and/or homeless children. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Plaza and all the guests who choose to make their stay count for a greater cause.”
Booming Games is excited to announce its latest collaboration with Venezuela’s leading operator, JuegaenLínea.
Booming Games, a leading provider of online casino games, has announced a strategic partnership with JuegaenLínea, one of the largest online casino operators in Venezuela and the rest of Latin America (LATAM). This partnership will allow Booming Games to distribute its portfolio of innovative and engaging games to JuegaenLínea’s extensive player base.
Booming Games has a proven track record of delivering high-quality games with stunning graphics, immersive gameplay, and exciting bonus features. The company’s games have been enjoyed by players worldwide and have received numerous industry accolades.
Daniela Parra, Senior Account Manager at Booming Games, stated: “This partnership marks a significant milestone in our expansion efforts, allowing us to reach a broader audience while strengthening our position as a leading provider of online casino games. Collaborating with one of the most respected and successful online casino operators in Venezuela and LATAM reaffirms our commitment to delivering top-tier gaming experiences across the region.”
Gerardo Alcega Founder and CEO of JuegaenLínea stated: “We are honoured to collaborate with esteemed companies like Booming Games. This partnership represents an important step in our commitment to delivering top-quality gaming experiences to our players. We are confident that this collaboration will lead to significant accomplishments and long-term success for both parties.”
IGT expands celebrated Wheel of Fortune slots portfolio with new Cash Link™ Big Money™ game at luxury Northern California casino
International Game Technology PLC and Graton Resort & Casino announced today the global debut of IGT’s Wheel of Fortune Trio cabinet featuring the new Wheel of Fortune Cash Link Big Money video slots game. Guests of the Rohnert Park, Calif. casino will be the first players in the world to experience the latest entertainment showcase from IGT’s renowned Wheel of Fortune slots brand.
“Graton Resort & Casino is thrilled to be the first property in North America to offer the newest entertainment innovation from IGT’s popular Wheel of Fortune slots brand on our gaming floor,” said Brian Green, Chief Operations Officer, Graton Resort & Casino. “Our players have a strong affinity for the Wheel of Fortune brand, and the Wheel of Fortune Trio’s community-style win celebrations and large stature are sure to drive jackpot excitement across the gaming floor.”
“Launching Wheel of Fortune Cash Link Big Money on the new Wheel of Fortune Trio cabinet with Graton Resort & Casino kicks off a year full of premier Wheel of Fortune product launches across multiple categories,” said Nick Khin, IGT President, Global Gaming. “This solution combines legendary Wheel of Fortune gameplay with compelling hardware and community-style jackpot celebrations to create something special for our customers and their players.”
The Wheel of Fortune Trio cabinet features a massive 76-inch mechanical wheel centered above three ultra-high-definition 49-inch portrait screen gaming machines with a commanding 140-inch-tall video backdrop. The cabinet will house the new Wheel of Fortune Cash Link Big Money video slots game featuring the player-preferred Cash Link coin collection feature, a Cash on Reels mechanic, a Cash Link Multiplier that can award up to 35X, and free games.
First launched in 1996, IGT’s Wheel of Fortune slots is hailed as one of the most successful slot themes of all time. Since the game’s debut, IGT has paid out nearly $3.6 billion in jackpots and minted more than 1,200 millionaires. Last year, IGT announced that it extended its licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Television to continue producing Wheel of Fortune games via a contract that extends through 2034.
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