Press Releases
PlayIllinois.com: Sports betting drops again, but Illinois remains nation’s No. 2

Betting volume at Illinois sportsbooks hit $507 million in May, overcoming in-person registration requirements to fall only slightly from April, according to analysts from PlayIllinois, which tracks the state’s regulated online gaming and sports betting market. May’s handle was the second-largest of any state in the U.S., joining New Jersey as the only two states in the U.S. to take in more than $500 million in sports wagers in both April and May.
“It’s been a mild surprise that Illinois has managed to fare as well as it has through the first two months of what is typically the offseason for sports betting,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for the PlayUSA.com Network, which includes PlayIllinois.com. “In-person registration requirements will cap future growth. But the results in April and May do show just how active and engaged Illinois bettors have been.”
Betting at Illinois’ retail and online sportsbooks dropped 5.6% to $507.3 million in May from the $537.2 million in April, according to official data released Tuesday. The pace of betting slowed modestly, too, to $16.9 million per day over the 31 days of May from $17.9 million per day in April.
Gross gaming revenue fell 12.9% to $36.6 million in May from $42 million in April. That produced $36.2 million in adjusted gross revenue, yielding $5.9 million in state and local taxes. Sportsbooks have now generated $53.8 million in taxes since sports betting launched in 2020.
The handle in nearly every state has fallen since March, even as combined U.S. wagering climbed slightly in May from April. Of the Top 10 U.S. markets, Illinois’ month-over-month decrease in May wagering was behind the pace of New Jersey (up 8.9%), Indiana (up 7.6%), Nevada (up 4.3%), Colorado (up 1.8%), Iowa (down 2.9%), and Virginia (down 4.0%), but outperformed Michigan (down 6.0%), Tennessee (down 6.7%), and Pennsylvania (down 6.7%). Illinois’ handle dropped 15.2% in April, but that was better than most of the nation’s 10 largest markets, which all saw at least a 13% decline in betting from March to April.
Basketball has been the favorite over the last two months, generating $154.3 million in wagering in May, down from $171.4 million in April. Bettors have found local reasons to place a bet, too, particularly with a good run of play in May by the Chicago White Sox and Cubs. Bettors placed $126.1 million on baseball, up from $121.2 million in April.
Tennis ($32.6 million), soccer ($29.3 million), and hockey ($21.1 million) all drew significant action, too.
“Successful local teams are particularly important in months without football or a major betting holiday like March Madness,” said Joe Boozell, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “Both the White Sox and Cubs won big in May, and that entices fans to place a bet on their favorite team. That helped make up for the Bulls and Blackhawks missing the postseason, lowering interest in both the NBA and NHL playoffs.”
$482.5 million, or 95.1%, of May’s bets were made online. DraftKings/Casino Queen rocketed back into the market lead with $170.1 million in combined online and retail handle, up from $169.6 million. May’s handle included $166.2 million in online bets and led to $7.2 million in gross gaming revenue.
FanDuel/Fairmont’s online and retail sportsbooks attracted $156.3 million in bets in May, down from $177.8 million in April. But the month’s bets, $155.6 million of which came online, generated a whopping $20.2 million in gross gaming revenue.
BetRivers/Rivers Casino rose to $89 million in combined handle, including $76.7 million in online wagering. That led to $5.2 million in gross gaming revenue.
The leaders were followed by:
- Barstool/Hollywood Casinos ($39.6 million in wagers, including $38.2 million online; $1.5 million in revenue)
- PointsBet/Hawthorne Race Course ($39 million in wagers, including $37.4 million online; $2.3 million in revenue)
- William Hill/Grand Victoria ($9.1 million in wagers, including $8.4 million online; -$128,245 in revenue)
- Argosy ($2.7 million in wagers; $338,081 in revenue)
- Hollywood Joliet ($1.2 million in wagers; $167,282 in revenue)
- Par-A-Dice ($327,350 in wagers; -$236,850 in revenue)
The market could get more competition in the coming months, too. That includes the Illinois arrival of BetMGM, the nation’s third-largest online sportsbook operator, as well as Unibet, Golden Nugget, theScore, and Bally’s.
“A fresh infusion of operators has the potential to eventually lift the ceiling for the market,” Boozell said. “But until online registration returns to the state, new operators will remain at a permanent disadvantage. And that will blunt any boost the market would ordinarily get from new sportsbooks.”
For more detailed revenue information, visit PlayIllinois.com/revenue.
Latest News
RG24seven collaborates with industry experts to expand landmark Sports Betting training for gaming employees

RG24seven Virtual Training, the industry-leading, free video-based virtual training system for casino and gaming employees and a BMM Innovation Group (BIG) company, is pleased to expand training offerings to include new sports betting courses. The new courses highlight the fundamentals of sports betting, the legal landscape, ethics and marketing, and responsible gaming practices.
Wendy Anderson, CEO of RG24seven Virtual Training, said, “We all play a part in upholding the reputation and credibility of our industry. We brought together top experts in the industry to create these courses and ensure that gaming employees are fully informed about all aspects of working in and around sports betting.”
Victoria Reed, CEO of Better Change and Strategic Advisor for RG24seven, added, “We also want to provide gaming employees with as much information as possible about the variables that influence the sports betting industry, such as the laws, its reputation, and why it’s important that we remain as ethical as possible. We hope learners will gain a strong working knowledge of sports betting, as well as understand the significance of the regulations, integrity in sports, and responsible gaming.”
Anderson concluded, “Sports betting is meant to be fun, and it’s even more so when you fully understand not only the terminology but also how you can protect both yourself and your customers from gambling harm. We welcome gaming company executives, managers, and other representatives to request organization-wide access to our new training.”
Latest News
Wildly popular ‘Fortune Tiger’ game among PG Soft Brazil rollout

Global iGaming powerhouse SkillOnNet has announced the expansion of its strategic partnership with award-winning game developer PG Soft bringing the studio’s acclaimed content to the regulated Brazilian market.
The move comes just months after SkillOnNet went live in Brazil with its licensed brands PlayUZU.br and BacanaPlay.br, as one of the first operators to gain approval from the brand-new licensing regime.
The integration of PG Soft’s engaging portfolio, including the wildly popular Fortune Tiger, will bolster SkillOnNet’s offering in one of the most exciting emerging markets in the world.
Fortune Tiger, known locally as Jogo do Tigrinho, has become a cultural phenomenon in Brazil. Its rapid rise has been fueled by viral marketing on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where influencers showcase big wins and gameplay tips.
PG Soft’s content is already live in over 100 countries and supports 23 languages and 100 currencies. Known for rich visuals and innovative mechanics, the studio has earned global recognition for its ability to connect with players across diverse markets.
SkillOnNet operates more than 40 brands in regulated markets globally and boasts a platform of over 7,000 titles from the industry’s top providers. PG Soft’s integration further diversifies SkillOnNet’s content portfolio, solidifying its position as a key player in Brazil’s rapidly growing iGaming landscape.
Jani Kontturi, Head of Games at SkillOnNet said: “Brazil is a market full of potential, and we’re investing heavily to ensure we become a top-tier operator here. PG Soft’s content, especially Fortune Tiger, has already made a big impact in the region. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to localising our offering and bringing world-class entertainment to the market.”
PG Soft commented: “We’re delighted to extend our partnership with SkillOnNet into Brazil, a market where our games – especially Fortune Tiger – have really resonated with players. SkillOnNet is a leading name in regulated markets, and their ambitious plans for Brazil match our own. We’re confident that this collaboration will set a new benchmark for quality and engagement in the region.”
Conferences
EGT Digital at SBC Summit Americas 2025: High-tech gaming solutions for brilliant performance

EGT Digital is ready for its first memorable participation in SBC Summit Americas. The company has prepared a fascinating range of innovative online gaming products, which will be available at booth C290.
EGT Digital will demonstrate its impressive portfolio of in-house developed slot games, including over 140 popular titles, as well as the jackpot bestsellers Bell Link, High Cash, Clover Chance, and Single Progressive Jackpot.
Visitors will also be able to learn more about the 4-level multi-denomination Gods & Kings Link, the latest member of the company’s jackpot family. Its first 2 games – Glorious Alexander and Ape of Luck, will provide players with numerous opportunities for winning and entertainment.
The newest addition to Clover Chance – the 5×6 Fruity Shots game, will also attract players’ attention. With a vibrant cocktail theme, it will offer functionalities such as the Toppling Reels feature, adding extra excitement by filling empty positions with new symbols, thus creating even more chances to win.
The company’s iGaming platform X-Nave will also be on display to provide operators with everything they need to build and grow their online business. It will demonstrate its 4 main modules: Sport Product, Gaming Aggregator, CRM Engine, and Payment Gateway. Standing out with great versatility, each of them is able to function as part of the turnkey solution or independently, as they allow seamless integration with third-party developments.
The Sport Product will introduce its rich sports and esports content across a number of markets around the world. EGT Digital’s Gaming Aggregator will reveal a vast range of over 13,000 titles from more than 130 popular providers, as well as a lot of functionalities for content personalization. X-Nave’s CRM Engine with its ever-evolving player management tools and bonus features, as well as the Payment Gateway, covering a wide variety of payment methods, will further expand operators’ capabilities to create customized and more engaging offerings for their customers.
“SBC Summit Americas is a well-established event, bringing together key players from across the LATAM region,” said Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at EGT Digital. “I am confident that our participation will provide us with numerous options to start new high-potential collaborations and strengthen our existing partnerships. We are also happy to be among the finalists in the SBC Awards Americas 2025 this year.”
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