Press Releases
PlayIllinois.com: Sports betting hits 10-month low in July

The volume of sports betting in Illinois further slowed in July, slumping to the lowest level in the state since September 2020 with $369 million in online and retail wagering. July typically marks the end of the seasonal slowdown that affects every major U.S. sports betting market, but in-person registration requirements in Illinois could dampen the football-fueled ramp up that other states will enjoy, according to PlayIllinois, which tracks the stateâs regulated online gaming and sports betting market.
âIllinois sportsbooks will not be able to take full advantage of the customer acquisition phase that comes with the beginning of every football season, which is vital for the growth of the industry,â said Joe Boozell, lead analyst for PlayIllinois.com. âBecause in-person registration was reinstated in April at the beginning of the slow season in sports betting, the industry has skirted the most severe effects of the state rule. But there will be no hiding from it during football season.â
Bettors made $369.1 million in wagers at Illinoisâ retail and online sportsbooks in July, down 22.5% from $476.5 million in June, according to official data released Thursday. The day-by-day pace of betting fell to $11.9 million over the 31 days of July from $15.9 million over the 30 days of June.
Year over year, handle was up 603% from $52.5 million in July 2020, a month that marked the relaunch of sports betting in the state after the pandemic-related shutdown of major U.S. sports. July is typically the slowest betting month of the year in the U.S., marking the low point in U.S. betting in 2018, 2019, and now in 2021. Despite the slowdown, Illinois remained No. 3 in July in terms of betting volume, surpassed only by New Jersey ($578.7 million) and Nevada ($409.9 million).
Accordingly, gross gaming revenue fell 22.6% to $37.3 million from $48.2 million in June. That produced $37.6 million in adjusted gross revenue, yielding $6.1 million in state and local taxes. At 10.1%, the marketâs hold, which is the percentage sportsbooks keep after paying out winning bets, remains relatively high.
âJuly features fewer prime betting opportunities and casual bettors are more occupied with vacations and other activities, and there isnât much sportsbooks can do about that,â said Eric Ramsey, analyst for the PlayUSA.com network, which includes PlayIllinois.com. âIllinois sportsbooks have done well by increasing their hold over the summer months, which puts operators in a good position as casual bettors return.â
Baseball was the most bet-on sport for the first time this year, drawing $124.0 million of action in July. That was down from $126.7 million in June, even with the excitement over the success of the Chicago White Sox. The NBA Finals fueled $42.5 million in basketball betting, down from $126.9 million in June. Parlay betting ($79.7 million), tennis ($43.9 million), and soccer ($34.1 million) all contributed significantly to Julyâs handle, too.
July also marked the first time Olympics betting was made possible, not just in Illinois but in most legal markets in the U.S. Although Illinois does not report bets specific to the Olympics, anecdotally, it appears that the events in Japan did not draw widespread interest.
âWith events held in the middle of the night in many cases and sports that are a bit unfamiliar to bettors, the Olympics did not appear to draw a lot of wagering,â Ramsey said. âIn the end, the traditional team sports are still by far the largest draw for bettors, which is why football is so important for sportsbooks.â
Julyâs wagering included $351.4 million in online bets, or 95.2% of the wagers made during the month. DraftKings/Casino Queen topped Illinois again with $122.7 million in combined online and retail handle, down from $160.2 million in June, and $120.5 million of Julyâs bets came online. In all, DraftKings generated $9.5 million in gross gaming revenue.
FanDuel was not far behind with $118.5 million in online and retail wagers, down from $156.3 million in bets in June. $118.0 million of Julyâs betting came online. It all resulted in a market-topping $15.5 million in gross gaming revenue.
The leaders were followed by:
- BetRivers/Rivers Casino ($68.0 million in wagers, including $58.7 million online; $6.1 million in revenue)
- PointsBet/Hawthorne Race Course ($28.5 million in wagers, including $26.9 million online; $2.7 million in revenue)
- Barstool/Hollywood Aurora ($23.5 million in wagers, including $22.7 million online; $2.2 million in revenue)
- Caesars by William Hill/Grand Victoria ($5.3 million in wagers, including $4.6 million online; $853,946 in revenue)
- Argosy ($1.7 million in retail wagers; $334,226 in revenue)
- Hollywood Joliet ($638,683 in wagers; $107,897 in revenue)
- Par-A-Dice ($287,446 in wagers; -$16,491 in revenue)
âFanDuel continues to wring out an impressive amount of revenue from the bets it takes in,â Boozell said. âDraftKings answered with Same Game Parlays, which could help bridge the revenue gap with FanDuel. That fierce competition between the two market leaders will only grow during football season, with younger operators limited in their ability to make significant gains on the leaders with in-person registration in place.â
For more revenue information, visit PlayIllinois.com/revenue.
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BMM TESTLABS PROMOTES KARINA ADDARI TO VICE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL DIGITAL SERVICE DELIVERY

BMM Testlabs (“BMM” or âthe Companyâ), the world’s original gaming test lab renowned for exceptional product compliance and certification services, today announced the promotion of Karina Addari to Vice President of Global Digital Service Delivery. In this new role, Addari will lead BMMâs global digital professional services delivery (PSD) operations, driving excellence in compliance, quality assurance, project management, and product certification across multiple regions.
Addari joined BMM in 2023, bringing over 25 years of cross-industry operations and project management experience. In her most recent role as BMMâs Director of Service Delivery for Europe and South America, she managed teams across multiple international branches, consistently exceeding revenue targets and optimizing operational efficiency.
Before joining BMM, Addari held numerous professional roles, including Adjunct Professor at the University of Kansasâ School of Professional Studies and School of Engineering; Senior Manager, Operations Strategy at Hostess Brands; and Program Manager for H&R Block.
BMM Chief Operations Officer Kara Matthew said, âKarina has made a tremendous impact at BMM. Her commitment to excellence, strategic mindset, and ability to empower diverse teams has driven impressive results. This promotion reflects her outstanding leadership and our confidence in her continued contributions as we continue to expand our global operations to meet customer needs.â
In her new role, Addari will continue to champion operational effectiveness, cultural collaboration, and customer-focused service delivery, reinforcing BMMâs position as a trusted partner to gaming suppliers and regulators worldwide.
Addari earned a PhD in Organization and Management with a specialization in Leadership, a Master of Arts in International Business, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.
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Amusnet Teams Up with Betsson to Solidify Brazilian Market Position

Amusnet Brazil has announced that its certified games are now live on Betssonâs platform in the country. This strategic launch reinforces Amusnetâs commitment to the region and highlights its continued efforts to deliver high-quality content to licensed operators in the regulated Brazilian market.
The integration is already active and features a selection of Amusnetâs most popular slot titles selected specifically for the Brazilian market, offering engaging gameplay, familiar features, and a seamless user experience.
The current lineup includes a selection of Amusnetâs certified titles for Brazil, such as Aztec Forest, 100 Golden Coins and Hot Deco, with additional releases planned in upcoming phases. The partnership is fully aligned with local regulatory requirements and supports Amusnetâs long-term strategy of sustainable growth in the country.
Amusnetâs collaboration with Betsson spans multiple regulated markets, and the recent expansion into Brazil marks another key milestone in this successful partnership.
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BGaming Enhances LatAm Presence with Betcris Partnership

Rapidly expanding content provider signs content agreement with leading operator Betcris
Popular iGaming content provider BGaming has signed a new partnership with major Latin American operator Betcris. The deal will see all of BGamingâs innovative gaming content integrated onto Betcrisâs online casino platform.
The deal will further enhance BGamingâs position as one of the leading game providers in the Latin American market. Betcris is a pioneer within the region, owning over 100 walk-in shops and providing its online casino platform worldwide.
The operator, best known for its sports betting service, has been in business since 2006, demonstrating a clear understanding of the demands of Latin American players. Betcris customers will now have instant access to BGamingâs dynamic slot portfolio, which includes titles like Wild Cash X9990, Wild West Trueways, Alien Fruits, and more.
Following the certification of its games for the Brazilian market in January, BGaming has established strategic partnerships with key LatAm operators such as Pixbet, PlayGreen, and Timeless Tech.
Olga Levshina, Chief Commercial Officer at BGaming, said: âLatin America is a major focus for BGaming in 2025, and by partnering with industry-leading operators like Betcris, we can cement our position as one of the most creative content providers in the region.
Betcris is one of the most respected names in Latin America, and this partnership is a statement of intent for our ambitions on the continent.â
Diana Navarro, Casino Coordinator at Betcris, said: âAt Betcris, we are always looking to partner with the best new names in the region. BGaming is a developer that has been on our radar for some time, and it has already made waves within LatAm. We canât wait to join them on their journey and see how our players react to their titlesâ.
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