Press Releases
PlayIllinois.com: Sports betting drops, but Illinois still claims nation’s No. 2 market in April

Illinois became the nation’s No. 2 market despite suffering the steepest month-over-month decline in sports betting volume in the young market’s history, joining New Jersey as the only states with an April handle of more than $500 million. The decline in wagering was in line with a typical seasonal slowdown in sports betting that affected nearly every U.S. market, and less than expected with the return of in-person registration on April 4, according to analysts from PlayIllinois, which tracks the state’s regulated online gaming and sports betting market.
“Without the NFL or a major sports betting holiday like March Madness a decline in April was a near certainty,” said Joe Boozell, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “The Illinois market faced a double-whammy with the return of in-person registration, which will eventually eat away at the market’s ceiling even if it hasn’t dramatically impacted handle yet. And there is no easy solution to that without a legislative fix.”
Betting at Illinois’ retail and online sportsbooks fell 15.2% to $537.2 million in April from the record $633.6 million in March, according to official data released Wednesday. Betting volume in April dropped to $17.3 million per day over the 31 days of the month from $20.4 million per day in March.
April’s handle created $43.6 million in adjusted gross revenue, down from $44.3 million in March, yielding $6.5 million in state taxes and more than $527,100 in local taxes. The state has now produced $4.1 billion in wagering since sports betting launched in 2020.
All but one U.S. legal sports betting jurisdiction reported a month-over-month decline in April wagering, including the 10 largest markets. Illinois’s decline was more than New Jersey (-13%), Tennessee (-13.6%), and Pennsylvania (-14.4%), but shallower than Colorado (-18.8%), Virginia (-22.1%), Indiana (-25.4%), Iowa (-26.7%), Nevada (-29.1%), and Michigan (-30.5%).
Despite the decline in April only New Jersey took in more wagers, making Illinois the No. 2 market in the U.S. Nearly all of those declines can be explained by the expected seasonal drop in sports betting, which typically begins in April and continues until the football season. Illinois’ handle, though, also faced the return of in-person registration requirements, and the impact came swiftly.
“Illinois is proving to be remarkably resilient as a market, overcoming the inconvenience of in-person registration at least temporarily,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for the PlayUSA.com network, which includes PlayIllinois.com. “A concerted push before in-person registration went into place likely helped lessen the short-term effects, but it will be difficult for Illinois to keep pace with the nation’s top markets over the long term.”
The NBA easily generated the most action in April with $171.4 million, which was down from $365.7 million. Baseball was the second-most wagered-on sport, generating $121.2 million in bets.
Online wagering accounted for 95.5%, or $513.2 million, of all bets in April.
With the partial removal of the ban on wagering on in-state college teams — allowing retail sportsbooks to take bets on Northwestern, Illinois, Northern Illinois, and others — the state legislature did give retail books something to look forward to when college football returns. But the ban will remain for online sportsbooks, which will mute the importance of the change.
“The change is a positive one, but it won’t make a significant difference in the short-term,” Boozell said. “Illinoisans overwhelmingly place their bets online. So, any change that only affects retail betting will be limited in its impact. Hopefully this will be an incremental step toward lifting the ban entirely.”
FanDuel/Fairmont’s online and retail sportsbooks attracted $177.8 million in bets, the first time FanDuel has topped the market. DraftKings/Casino Queen was second with $169.6 million in combined handle. BetRivers/Rivers Casino fell to $84.3 million in combined handle. Barstool/Hollywood Casinos was fourth with $51.4 million, in its first full month of online operation.
“FanDuel catching DraftKings is a seismic shift in the dynamics of the market, and a credit to FanDuel’s campaign to register bettors ahead of in-person registration,” Welman said. “Barstool’s push to register customers before in-person registration took effect made a difference, too. But it will be difficult to make significant inroads on the market leaders, which all had months of being able to register customers unencumbered.”
Latest News
WSOP® PARADISE 2025 REVEALS FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE WITH NEW EARLY-BIRD PACKAGES

The record-breaking poker festival in the Bahamas adds fresh events and exclusive perks for players booking early
The World Series of Poker (WSOP®) today unveiled the complete schedule for the highly anticipated WSOP Paradise 2025, which will take place at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas from Dec. 4 through Dec. 18. This announcement also introduces two new, limited-availability early-bird packages, designed to provide players with unmatched value and exclusive benefits.
This year’s festival expands on its commitment to high-stakes action with a full slate of 15 WSOP gold bracelet events:
Event |
Date |
Buy-In |
#1 Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty NLH – $5M GTD |
Dec. 4 |
$2.5K |
#2 Triton PLO 6-Handed |
Dec. 4 |
$75K |
#3 Triton PLO Main Event |
Dec. 5 |
$100K |
#4 High Roller Turbo NLH |
Dec. 6 |
$50K |
#5 Triton Invitational – NLH |
Dec. 7 |
$250K |
#6 Super COLOSSUS NLH |
Dec. 7 |
$5K |
#7 Super PLOSSUS PLO |
Dec. 8 |
$10K |
#8 Triton NLH 7-Handed |
Dec. 8 |
$125K |
#9 Triton NLH Main Event |
Dec. 9 |
$100K |
#10 Triton NLH 8-Handed |
Dec. 10 |
$150K |
#11 Super Main Event NLH – $60M GTD |
Dec. 10 |
$25K |
#12 8-Game Mix 6-Handed |
Dec. 11 |
$10K |
#13 High Roller PLO |
Dec. 13 |
$50K |
#14 GGMillion$ NLH – $10M GTD |
Dec. 15 |
$25K |
#15 The Closer NLH Turbo Bounty |
Dec. 16 |
$10K |
This year’s WSOP Paradise features an expanded partnership with Triton Poker, the leading high-stakes tournament operator. In 2024, two gold bracelet events were curated by Triton; the number increases to six in 2025, with WSOP bracelets going to the winners of Event #2 Triton PLO, Event #3 Triton PLO Main Event, Event #5 Triton NLH Invitational, Event #8 Triton NLH 7-Handed, Event #9 Triton NLH Main Event and Event #10 Triton NLH 8-Handed.
To reward early registrants, WSOP is introducing two new early-bird packages for players looking to secure their seats, with both offering massive added value:
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The $100K Paradise Package – limited to just 500 packages, includes a 13-night stay (Dec. 5 to Dec. 18), complimentary access to the WSOP buffet and a $500 food & beverage room credit. The deposit to secure is $10,000.
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The $300K VIP Package – includes a 15 night stay (Dec. 3 to Dec. 18), complimentary access to the WSOP buffet, a $1,000 food & beverage room credit plus one á la carte meal from the Triton menu per day. The deposit to secure is $15,000.
For the first time at WSOP Paradise, resort fees are included in the package price, and the room credit is also provided for use throughout the resort. The full package amount must be played in WSOP Paradise events.
GGPoker will once again serve as the exclusive international satellite partner, aiming to send more than 1,000 players to the Super Main Event. WSOP Express and Road to Paradise qualifier tournaments are already underway in the GGPoker tournament lobby. Additionally, over 500 players are expected to qualify for the Circuit Championship through WSOP Circuit gold ring events (running from Jul. 1 through Dec. 2, 2025, both live and online), and ClubGG plans to send more than 400 players to the same event.
In an exciting new partnership, PokerStake will cover up to 50% of the unsold action for Circuit Package winners who choose to list their Super Main Event action on the platform.
“I said last year that a $50M guarantee was crazy, but adding another $10,000,000 on top is absolutely insane! The WSOP is bringing the biggest high rollers and the best poker experience possible back to paradise,” said Daniel Negreanu, GGPoker Global Ambassador. “With the new Super Mystery Bounty event and the expanded partnership with Triton, this is a can’t-miss festival for players of all levels. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
“With the WSOP Paradise at Atlantis Paradise Island tournament schedule now set, the countdown to The Bahamas IS ON! This year’s lineup delivers an unbeatable mix of world-class events, record-breaking guarantees, and unforgettable poker moments in one of the most iconic destinations on the planet. From seasoned pros to newcomers, players from around the globe will find their place in paradise, and their shot at history,” added Joe Brunini, Chief Gaming & Customer Development Officer, Atlantis Paradise Island.
WSOP Paradise 2025 will feature a daily live stream from Dec. 12 through Dec. 18 on the WSOP YouTube channel, with CBS Sports Network television coverage planned for distribution in early 2026.
Further details on event structures and schedules will be available on the WSOP+ app. The WSOP reserves the right to cancel, change, or modify the tournament or any tournament event, in part or in whole, without notice. Entry fees will be added to all events, and up to 3% of tournament buy-ins will be withheld for staff and operational costs. Guaranteed events are paid out after deducting the percentage for costs from the total prize pool.
Please follow @WSOP on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram or check WSOP.com for more event news and updates: wsop.com/news/2025-wsop-paradise.
For more information on WSOP Express, please visit: ggpoker.com/tournaments/wsop-express/.
To book your Atlantis stay at exclusive WSOP rates starting from $199 per night, please visit: atlantisbahamas.com/wsop-in-paradise
eSports
Fighting Game GOAT Justin Wong Joins BASILISK, Science’s Esports Team

Nine-time Evo Champion and Guinness World Record Holder Brings Legendary Status to Captain New Team, Recruit Talent, and Advance Science’s Role in Competitive Gaming
BASILISK, the global esports organization built to champion science, today announced the signing of legendary fighting game competitor Justin ‘JWong’ Wong as captain of its newly formed Fighting Game Community (FGC) Division. Wong will lead BASILISK’s entry into the FGC by recruiting players, developing community events, and creating FGC – science crossover content.
“Justin isn’t just a competitive genius – he is a cultural icon and humble leader within the FGC,” said BASILISK co-founder Christopher Bothur. “We are incredibly proud to have him leading our FGC division and support the amazing work he already does for the community.”
A nine-time Evolution Championship Series (Evo) Champion and Guinness World Record holder, Wong brings unparalleled FGC credibility and expertise to BASILISK. His reach extends across the entire FGC fandom of millions, and he was immortalized in Evo Moment #37 which has over 100 million views.
As Captain of BASILISK FGC, Wong will leverage BASILISK’s data analytics to scout and train the next generation of FGC pros.
“Math is super important to fighting games. I’m excited to join science’s esports team,” said Wong upon joining BASILISK. “I’m passionate about finding promising players with a positive mentality and shaping them into the next big thing. I want to see somebody else in the spotlight after me and help them reach their potential. If we can discover the next world champion, that would be fantastic.”
The signing comes on the heels of BASILISK’s new partnerships with The Planetary Society and Caltech’s Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQIM), announced in July. These collaborations create a powerful bridge between renowned scientific institutions and gamers, which Wong will amplify to his millions of followers and fans.
“Justin is a dream addition to our organization,” added BASILISK co-founder Hans Kassier. “He exemplifies the dedication and analytical capacity required to be an esports champion or great scientist.”
Wong becomes the second “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) to join BASILISK, alongside Finnish StarCraft 2 legend Joona ‘Serral’ Sotala, who just captured the SC2 Esports World Cup Championship in July 2025. The signing also creates opportunities for cross-over content with BASILISK’s diverse roster, including chess Grandmaster Vincent Keymer and award-winning science communicator Kyle Hill, who brings over 2.5 million followers and a vast network of science enthusiasts to the organization.
Latest News
Win Systems to showcase the future of connected gaming at the Southern Amusement & Entertainment Expo

Win Systems, a leading provider of technology for the gaming and entertainment industry, will participate in the Southern Amusement & Entertainment Expo (SAEE), which will take place on August 19–21 in Georgia, USA. This event, a benchmark for the distributed gaming market in the region, will serve as the ideal platform for Win Systems to showcase its comprehensive and cutting-edge ecosystem of solutions.
At SAEE Expo, the company will present WIGOS One, a flexible and scalable casino management system that can be seamlessly adapted to the specific requirements of the distributed gaming market in Georgia. WIGOS One enables operators to monitor and manage multiple venues and gaming terminals under a single, centralized platform, allowing real-time tracking of player activity, integration of loyalty and bonusing programs, and access to advanced analytics for strategic decision-making. The system supports the transition from anonymous play to a fully connected environment, enhancing operational control and opening new opportunities to boost player engagement and retention.
Additionally, Win Systems will present Win Up Wallet, a secure mobile solution that allows players to connect to gaming machines, access rewards, and manage their funds directly from their smartphones — eliminating the need for physical tickets or cash. In line with its digital-first approach, and in partnership with LoopPay, the company will also introduce a feature that enables players to redeem their winnings digitally through gift cards, without requiring TITO tickets or kiosks, while still offering the option to redeem traditional physical gift cards.
“We’re excited to bring our latest innovations to the SAEE Expo,” said Hunter Kampf, Country Manager USA & CANADA. “Georgia is a strategic market for distributed gaming, and WIGOS One precisely meets its unique requirements. Our connected solutions will enable operators to simplify management, reduce operational costs, and strengthen relationships with their players through real-time data and seamless digital tools.”
With a focus on integration, data-driven decision-making, and digital transformation, Win Systems continues to lead the way in offering robust and scalable solutions for today’s dynamic gaming landscape. The company’s presence at SAEE underscores its strong commitment to the U.S. distributed gaming market and its ongoing efforts to support local operators with the most advanced tools available.
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