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.
BETBY, an industry-leading sports betting provider, has announced a long-term partnership with CalĂmaco, a premium B2B sportsbook supplier with a strong foothold across Latin America. This collaboration aligns with BETBY’s expansion strategy in the LATAM market, reinforcing its commitment to delivering state-of-the-art sportsbook solutions in the region.
As part of the agreement, CalĂmaco will integrate BETBYâs award-winning sportsbook solution, including its proprietary esports feed BETBY Games, and comprehensive trading and risk management services. Additionally, by leveraging BETBYâs AI-driven technology, AI Labs, CalĂmacoâs partners will gain access to an unparalleled betting experience tailored to the needs of the LATAM market.
Known for its scalable and robust casino and lottery platform, CalĂmaco will significantly enhance its offering with an additional 300,000+ events, 8,000+ markets, 125+ sports, and 35+ esports provided by BETBY, cementing its position as a go-to supplier in the regionâs competitive iGaming landscape.
Stefanos Karakidis, Head of Business Development at BETBY, commented: âWe are excited to partner with CalĂmaco, a company that shares our vision for technological excellence and operator-focused innovation. Integrating our complete sportsbook solution into CalĂmacoâs platform will enable brands across LATAM to elevate their sports betting offerings and provide their users with an exceptional experience.â
Alejandro Serrano, Head of Business Development at CalĂmaco, added: âBETBYâs sportsbook technology is renowned for its flexibility, scalability, reliability, and comprehensive coverage. Incorporating their award-winning solution into our platform will empower our partners with world-class sports betting capabilities, further strengthening our presence in the Latin American market.â
To ensure the company keeps its global clients well ahead of the technology curve, Gaming Laboratories International (GLIÂź) has named Sangeeta Reddy as Vice President, Innovation. Previously, she served as Vice President of Engineering. Reddy will lead the companyâs newly formed Innovation division.
âTechnology is advancing at a breathtaking rate. Our mission at GLI is to advance with technology, while also constantly finding ways to do more to keep our clients informed and ahead of whatâs next. In her new role, Sangeeta will continue to evolve our evaluation methodologies via her passion for R&D, her extensive experience both in and out of the gaming, and her strong academic background,â said President and CEO James R. Maida.
Reddy began her gaming industry career in 2001 as a PA Engineer at IGT, specializing in VLT, Slot games. She joined GLI in 2020. Prior to joining GLI, Reddy successfully managed Software QA and Development teams at Thomson Reuters and General Motors.
She holds a certificate from the Harvard Business Publishingâs Emerging Leaders program and a certificate in Associates Computer Information Systems. Her Postgraduate certification includes Chief Technology Officer Program, Business Analytics: From Data to Insights, and Driving Strategic Innovation: Leading Complex Initiatives for Impact from the Wharton School Aresty Institute of Executive Education and certifications in Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Business Applications, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science and Business Analytics from the Texas McCombs School of Business, Postgraduate Program.
Legendary motorsport racer and SOFTSWISSâ Non-Executive Director in Latin America Rubens Barrichello is taking the stage at SiGMA Americas 2025 with an inspiring keynote speech on 8 April, the opening day of the summit.
This will be Barrichelloâs first major public engagement as an official SOFTSWISS representative at SiGMA Americas. In his speech, he will spotlight his vision of racing and iGaming â two worlds defined by speed, precision and passion. Attendees can expect a unique view of how these seemingly distant industries are more connected than it may seem.
In his keynote, Barrichello will share insights that bridge his personal racing journey with the opportunities presented by SOFTSWISS. The speech will also cover the cultural and human elements of doing business in Latin America, and the importance of timing, connections, and adaptability to achieve long-term success in this booming market.
âLatin America is a unique region filled with pure energy, emotion, and drive,” said Rubens Barrichello, Non-Executive Director in Latin America at SOFTSWISS. “The iGaming industry here is moving so fast, that for me itâs like stepping into a new race. But instead of cars, itâs technology, competition, and innovation pushing the progress forward, just like in Formula 1. I canât wait to speak at the SiGMA Americas Summit and share what it takes to grow business on this continent.â
Barrichelloâs active public engagement highlights SOFTSWISSâ strategic expansion into Latin America, one of the fastest-growing iGaming markets in the world. The company has already established itself in the region through certification in Brazil and Peru for its Game Aggregator and Jackpot Aggregator. In addition, SOFTSWISS recently partnered with rising talent Eduardo Barrichello for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship.
Rubens Barrichello will also join the SOFTSWISS team at Stand M85, where attendees can book meetings and explore how SOFTSWISS helps partners drive success across Latin America.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The companyâs product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 27,800 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.
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