Press Releases
PlayIllinois.com: Sportsbooks suffer first month-over-month decline, but gain ground on nation’s top markets
Illinois sportsbooks posted a month-over-month decline in betting volume for the first time since launching in late July, continuing what was a national trend in February. But the state still managed to narrowly surpass Pennsylvania to place third among U.S. states for the month. More concerning for what has been a booming industry in Illinois, though, is the return of in-person registration, which could stymie online sports betting growth for as long as it is in place, according to PlayIllinois, which provides news and analysis of the stateâs gaming industry.
âPassing Pennsylvania should be momentous but it is almost certainly going to be short-lived, as the decision to return to in-person registration will likely mean the end of growth for the Illinois sports betting industry,â said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. âOpen registration has been a key component in making Illinois one of the largest sports betting markets in the country. Forcing people to physically appear in a retail sportsbook is a counterproductive measure, which should be apparent whenever Illinois April data is released.â
With open registration still in place in February, Illinois retail and online sportsbooks attracted $509.8 million in wagers, according to official data released Friday. That is down 12.3% from the record $581.6 million in January, an expected dip with fewer days during the month and only one NFL game to bet. That game, the Super Bowl, drew $45.6 million in bets, though some of those bets were accepted prior to February.
Bettors placed $18.2 million per day in the 28 days of February, which was down slightly from $18.8 million per day in January. Illinoisâ relatively modest pullback made it the third-largest U.S. market in terms of money wagered, gaining ground on leaders New Jersey ($743 million) and Nevada ($554.1 million), while topping Pennsylvania ($509.5 million) for the first time.
Februaryâs handle also produced $30.3 million in operator revenue, down 38.7% from the record $49.4 million in January. But the monthâs win produced $35.4 million in taxable revenue, which yielded $5.3 million in taxes for the state and another $541,832 in local taxes.
âFebruaryâs results in Illinois actually compare well to the other major markets in the U.S., showing that the state had yet to reach its ceiling,â said Joe Boozell, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. âEven with the return of in-person registration, operators have set a good foundation of bettors that will sustain the industry, even as the rules stunt the marketâs growth.â
For the first time in months, retail sportsbooks were open for a full month, attracting $19.6 million in bets. But online betting still drove 96.2%, or $490.2 million, of the stateâs handle. That is down from 98.9%, or $575.2 million, in online betting in January.
DraftKings/Casino Queen remained the market leader by accepting $199.8 million in online and retail wagers in February, which was down from the operatorâs $244.2 million handle in January but still represented 39.2% of the stateâs total handle. $196.5 million of Februaryâs bets came online.
FanDuel/Par-A-Dice Casino was second with its $158.9 million handle, $158.4 million of which came online. The operatorâs overall handle was down from $173.5 million in January. BetRivers/Rivers Casino was third with $86.9 million in online betting and $96.4 million overall, down from $112.7 million in January.
The market has also gotten more competitive, most notably from the March 11 launch of Penn Nationalâs Barstool-branded app, which is partnering with Hollywood Casinos. But Barstoolâs launch came just weeks before the end of open registration, hamstringing what has been a popular operator in both Pennsylvania and Michigan.
âBarstool had just three weeks to build a customer base in an open environment, which should put it at a permanent disadvantage against the market leaders,â Welman said. âThat said, their brand is popular and should draw significant interest, helping to grow the market. It could be the last hurrah, of sorts, as new operators might be deterred by in-person registration.â
In February, Super Bowl betting drove more action than any other single event, of course. But the NBA and college basketball continued to be a popular bet, drawing $256.7 million, or 50.4% of the stateâs total handle, even as college basketball betting is slowed by the ban on wagers on in-state college teams. And bettors placed $45.3 million on tennis, a surprising surge for what is a fringe betting sport in much of the U.S.
âIllinois has grown in ways that are typical of most major markets, with an overwhelming preference for major U.S. sports and driven less by single events,â Boozell said. âBut tennisâ popularity shows that the state is unique in some ways, too. We will now see how operators adapt to the stateâs regulatory decisions, which have created challenges that sportsbooks will have to overcome to grow in the future.â
For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Illinois, visit PlayIllinois.com/news.
- Â The sponsorship agreement between CONMEBOL and Betano reinforces their commitment to the development of football, as part of organising one of the continentâs most important tournaments.
- The CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina 2025⹠will be held in Ecuador from July 12 to August 2.
CONMEBOL (ConfederaciĂłn Sudamericana de FĂștbol) and Kaizen Gaming are proud to announce the laterâs premium sports betting and online gaming brand, Betano, as the Official Sponsor of CONMEBOL Copa AmĂ©rica Femenina 2025âą.
Hosted in Ecuador from July 12th to August 2nd, this yearâs tournament is especially significant as it marks the 10th anniversary of the CONMEBOL Copa AmĂ©rica Femeninaâą. Bringing together South Americaâs 10 womenâs football teams, the tournament is a celebration of both football in the continent and womenâs sport. At the end of each game, Betano will present the top-performing player with the âMVP Betanoâ award.
Alejandro DomĂnguez, President of CONMEBOL, said: âWomenâs football is gaining unprecedented momentum across South America. At CONMEBOL, we are focused on promoting the sport, encouraging young women to get involved and fall in love with our beautiful game, and creating better conditions for those who want to pursue a career in football. There is still much work ahead, but having partners like Betano by our side will enable us to elevate womenâs football across the continent to new heights. I am confident that our collaboration for the CONMEBOL Copa AmĂ©rica Femenina 2025âą will be as successful as the one we had during the CONMEBOL Copa AmĂ©ricaâąïž2024â.
Julio Iglesias Hernando, Chief Commercial Officer of Kaizen Gaming, commented: “We are proud to be once again collaborating with CONMEBOL for what promises to be an exciting tournament for all football fans to enjoy. Sponsoring CONMEBOL Copa AmĂ©rica Femenina 2025âą is very important for us, as we continue supporting the development of football globally and womenâs football in particular. It is amazing to see how the competition has grown in size and strength, while showcasing the skills of some of the worldâs best female footballers.â
The sponsorship of CONMEBOL Copa AmĂ©rica Femenina 2025âą is part of Betano and CONMEBOLâs broader partnership, which started with the CONMEBOL Copa AmĂ©ricaâąïž 2024 and extends through 2028. In addition to supporting CONMEBOL Copa AmĂ©rica Femenina 2025âą, the partnership also sees Betano as the Official Sponsor of the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic tournament, CONMEBOL Copa AmĂ©rica Futsal Men and Women and CONMEBOL Copa AmĂ©rica Beach Soccer.
BETBY, a leading sportsbook supplier, has announced a new partnership with prominent LATAM-focused esports provider Mobadoo, in a move that will see its Betby.Games portfolio fully integrated into Mobadooâs product lineup.
This collaboration enables Mobadoo â which has an established presence and deep market understanding across Latin America â to incorporate BETBYâs proprietary and award-winning esports offering, delivering dynamic and fast-paced betting content to its growing user base. Among Betby.Gamesâ titles are eSoccer, eBasketball, eFighting, eCricket, eShooter, eHorse Racing, eTennis, and the Brazil-relevant eVaquejada.
As one of the most comprehensive and high-frequency esports betting solutions in the industry, Betby.Games offers access to more than 70 tournaments, over 350 betting markets, and more than 300,000 live matches each month. This collaboration will not only enhance Mobadooâs offering but also reinforce BETBYâs position as a leading esports supplier in the LATAM region, a key pillar in the supplierâs global expansion strategy.
âMobadoo has an excellent reputation and strong regional expertise, making them an ideal partner for us. Their commitment to innovation in esports and the rapid growth of this vertical in the region made our partnership only a matter of time,â commented Kirill Nekrasov, BETBYâs Head of Sportsbook Product. âThis agreement not only expands the reach of our unique Betby.Games content, but also aligns perfectly with our global strategy of delivering flexible, high-performance esports solutions to next-generation operators. Together, weâre set to further strengthen our leading position in the LATAM region.â
JosĂ© AnĂbal Aguirre, Chief Marketing Officer at Mobadoo, added: âWeâre thrilled to integrate Betby.Games into our offering. The depth and quality of their esports content is unmatched, and this partnership gives us a powerful new edge in catering to LATAMâs passionate esports fanbase. With BETBYâs support, weâre confident we can elevate the player experience and unlock new growth opportunities across the region.â
There is a new hero in Mexico as FBMÂź launches the thrilling Crocâs Lockâą. This slot game merges an engaging storyline with a disruptive game mechanic based on the Lock feature and two accumulators, taking players into a cartooned adventure with Super Croc full of golden coins to collect.
Crocâs Lock is a 30-line slot filled with adrenaline and great prizes. Super Croc is the character around all action happens. Working with 15 independent reels, Crocâs Lock offers gaming sessions where Super Croc exploits lead the player through an entertaining journey with three new features. The surprise element is always present, as the big prizes can come on the main game or bonus free spins modes.
Extra Coins and Extra Spins unlock extra fun!
The central reel is the focus of the Crocâs Lock game mechanic. Every time players obtain a Super Croc on this position, the Lock Feature is activated. Super Croc liberates all the existing lock symbols and may open the bonus with Extra Coins, Extra Spins or both accumulators combined.
If the bonus mode starts with one chest open, players get five free spins. This number increases to ten free rounds when Super Croc triggers Extra Spins and Extra Coins at the same time. Each accumulator of the Crocâs Lock slot game presents a different feature:
- Extra Spins â Super Croc releases thunders from its fingers, increasing the free spins counter during the bonus rounds.
- Extra Coins â Super Croc changes the reels by shooting flaming coins to introduce more lock symbols on each free round.
The character stays on the central reel during the bonus plays. The features attached to each accumulator appear in the first free spin and can be repeated several times during the bonus rounds.
When players get into the bonus with one of the accumulators active, Super Croc keeps contributing with coins for the unopened chest. These contributions can lead to the opening of the other accumulator, allowing players to benefit from the combined effect of Extra Spins and Extra Coins.
Four jackpots, reel rewinds, and Luck Has Arrived to collect bags of coins
The Lock feature is just a part of Crocâs Lockâs adrenaline injection. This FBM slot offers a complete feature set, including four Progressive Jackpots and two game features ready to keep the players engaged on the screen: Rewind and Luck Has Arrived.
- Progressive Jackpots – Crocâs Lock offers access to four different prize levels â Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand – through a jackpot vault that can appear on the reels during the main game or bonus rounds.
- Rewind – part of the Super Croc special powers, this feature changes the game round outcome. When Crocs hits the paw, one or more reels will change the symbol displayed and deliver a winning round to the player.
- Luck Has Arrived â the lasers coming from the eyes of the Super Croc pre-announce this feature, anticipating a big win for the player.
A villain, a hero and great graphics engage players in a disruptive FBM slot!
Several factors contribute to the immersive game experience offered by Crocâs Lock. Besides the rewards included in the productâs feature set, this FBM slot involves casino players and operators through a compelling narrative with the traditional duel âhero vs villainâ.
On one side, the Lock represents the evil force of the game and is visible on all lock symbols landed on the 15 independent reels, bringing challenges to the game hero on each spin. On the other side, Super Croc embodies the superpowers of the good forces on a joyful character, who guides the player on all relevant moments of the game with entertaining animations like the dances, the paw hit, the Extra Spins thunders, the Extra Coins flaming coins or the Luck Has arrived lasers.
The sound effects of Crocâs Lock add an extra layer of enthusiasm, completing the visual effects and animations of the game with sounds that keep on the playerâs mind with catchy rhymes and melodies.
Available for the Galaxy II, Auria and Shadow III casino cabinets, Crocâs Lock starts its expansion journey in Mexico. Designed for players looking for significant prizes in durable and long-lasting gaming sessions, this title promises to enchant slot fans spread all over the country.
Following the releases of Jin QiĂĄn Link Spiritsâą and Xing FĂș Fortune Money Treesâą, FBM continues renovating its slots portfolio with an innovative, reliable, high-performing casino game. Crocâs Lock is compatible with different casino floor layouts and ready to add value to the casino operatorâs portfolio with an exciting narrative and compelling aesthetics, features, and game mechanics.
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