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 state’s regulated online gaming and sports betting market.
“Illinois 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,” said Joe Boozell, lead analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “Because 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.”
Bettors made $369.1 million in wagers at Illinois’ 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 market’s hold, which is the percentage sportsbooks keep after paying out winning bets, remains relatively high.
“July features fewer prime betting opportunities and casual bettors are more occupied with vacations and other activities, and there isn’t much sportsbooks can do about that,” said Eric Ramsey, analyst for the PlayUSA.com network, which includes PlayIllinois.com. “Illinois sportsbooks have done well by increasing their hold over the summer months, which puts operators in a good position as casual bettors return.”
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 July’s 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.
“With 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,” Ramsey said. “In the end, the traditional team sports are still by far the largest draw for bettors, which is why football is so important for sportsbooks.”
July’s 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 July’s 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 July’s 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)
“FanDuel continues to wring out an impressive amount of revenue from the bets it takes in,” Boozell said. “DraftKings 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.”
For more 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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