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ILLINOIS SPORTSBOOKS HIT $400 MILLION IN WAGERING IN AUGUST Sports betting volume rises in August, foreshadowing what will be a busy fall, according to PlayIllinois

Published

4 years ago

October 13, 2021

Illinois sportsbooks began to emerge from a summer slowdown in August with an 8.5% gain in betting volume from July, the first month-over-month gain in wagering since March. The boost to more than $400 million in wagering was welcome ahead of a critical time of year for the industry, according to PlayIllinois, which tracks the state’s regulated online gaming and sports betting market.

“Interest in baseball, particularly the White Sox, coupled with the return of football in August, set the stage for what will certainly be the busiest four-month stretch ever for Illinois’ legal sports betting industry,” said Eric Ramsey, an analyst for the PlayUSA.com Network, which includes PlayIllinois.com. “After summer, any gain is welcome. But the gains in August should pale in comparison to what we see with a full football schedule.”

Illinois’ retail and online sportsbooks accepted $400.4 million in bets in August, up 185.8% from $140.1 million in August 2020 and up 8.5% from $369.1 million in July, according to official data released Tuesday. The per-day betting volume grew to $12.9 million over the 31 days of August, up from $4.5 million per day in August 2020 and $11.9 million per day in July.

Gross gaming revenue fell 12.3% to $32.7 million in August from $37.3 million in July, which produced $26.8 million in adjusted gross revenue. August’s profit yielded $4.3 million in state and local taxes.

Baseball garnered the most interest in August, drawing $139.6 million in wagers, up from $124.0 million of action in July. Tennis ($43.4 million) and soccer ($30.8 million) drew significant interest, too. With just a handful of college and NFL preseason games, in addition to futures betting, football attracted $17.2 million in wagering.

August’s volume helped push the industry to $4.0 million in wagers and $326.3 million in gross gaming revenue for the year. And with football projected to draw more than $20 billion in wagering across the country, the state could reach $6 billion in wagering and $500 million in gross revenue by year’s end.

“There is little question that the final four months of the year will bring an onslaught of fresh records,” said Joe Boozell, lead analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “The biggest unknown is how much will in-person registration and the ban on wagering on in-state college teams drag on betting volume. We know it will be a strong finish to the year for sportsbooks, but it won’t be as good for the industry as it could have been.”

August’s wagering included $380.2 million in online bets, accounting for 95.0% of the state’s handle. DraftKings/Casino Queen topped Illinois again with $149.2 million in combined online and retail handle, up from $122.7 million in July. The operator took in a market-best $146.6 million in online wagers, too. In all, DraftKings generated a market-leading $11.3 million in gross gaming revenue, a notable gain from $9.5 million in July after the operator began offering profitable same-game parlays.

FanDuel was second with $111.5 million in online and retail wagers, down from $118.5 million in bets in July. $110.9 million of August’s wagering came online. The result was $10.5 million in gross gaming revenue.

Stake - Best Online Casino & Sports Betting Platform

The leaders were followed by:

BetRivers/Rivers Casino ($73.5 million in wagers, including $64.8 million online; $6.1 million in revenue)
PointsBet/Hawthorne Race Course ($28.9 million in wagers, including $27.3 million online; $2.5 million in revenue)
Barstool/Hollywood Aurora ($26.4 million in wagers, including $25.5 million online; $2.1 million in revenue)
Caesars by William Hill/Grand Victoria ($6.5 million in wagers, including $5.2 million online; -$157,256 in revenue)
Argosy ($3.3 million in retail wagers; $242,700 in revenue)
Hollywood Joliet ($771,613 in retail wagers; $74,856 in revenue)
Par-A-Dice ($266,658 in wagers; $5,043 in revenue)

“The return of football brings in high betting volume, which is a motivator for every operator,” Boozell said. “But the value of football season for sportsbooks isn’t just in short-term profitability. Strong engagement offers sportsbooks an opportunity to grow their customer base by using aggressive promotions and other marketing strategies. And that can pay off even after the football season ends.”

For more revenue information, visit PlayIllinois.com/revenue.

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Century Casinos, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2025 Results

Published

1 hour ago

August 12, 2025

George Miller

Century Casinos, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2025 Results

Century Casinos, Inc. announced its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025.

Second Quarter 2025 Highlights*

Compared to the three months ended June 30, 2024:

Net operating revenue was $150.8 million, an increase of 3%.
Earnings from operations was $16.6 million, an increase of 16%.
Net loss attributable to Century Casinos, Inc. shareholders was ($12.3) million, a decrease in net loss of 70%, and basic net loss per share was ($0.40).
Adjusted EBITDAR** was $30.3 million, an increase of 10%.

“We are proud of the strength and momentum we have built across our portfolio, which has shown solid year over year growth and generated positive cash flow in the quarter. Following various inquiries from third parties about potential asset sales and strategic partnerships, we have initiated a strategic review process as part of our ongoing commitment to driving long-term value creation and optimizing our portfolio of assets and operations,” Erwin Haitzmann and Peter Hoetzinger, Co-Chief Executive Officers of Century Casinos remarked.

UPDATES

Sports Betting – Missouri – In May 2025, the Company announced that it has partnered with BetMGM to operate an online and mobile sports betting application under the Company’s license in Missouri. The agreement includes a percentage of net gaming revenue payable to the Company, with a guaranteed minimum, as well as retail sportsbook options to be exercised at the Company’s discretion. Sports betting is expected to begin in Missouri in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Caruthersville, Missouri – Since the opening of the new casino and hotel on November 1, 2024, net operating revenue and Adjusted EBITDAR** have increased 26% and 31% respectively.

Poland – The Company was awarded a second license in the city of Wroclaw in March 2025. The Company expects to open the casino in the fourth quarter of 2025. The Company was notified in June 2025 that it had not received a new license for a second casino in Warsaw and closed the casino at the Hilton Hotel. The license for the Company’s flagship casino in Warsaw at The Presidential Hotel runs through 2028.

Strategic Review Process – The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has initiated a comprehensive strategic review of its operations, capital structure and strategic growth options. The review will explore a range of potential strategic alternatives for the Company’s assets and businesses aimed at enhancing shareholder value and supporting long-term growth. These alternatives may include opportunities to unlock value within our existing property portfolio, optimize the Company’s capital structure, evaluate potential mergers, strategic partnerships, or the sale of the Company, and to analyze potential divestments of assets or other asset-level transactions. In connection with this review, the Company has engaged Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP as legal counsel and Macquarie Capital as financial advisor.

This review follows the Company’s recent substantial capital expenditure program and solid operational performance in the second quarter of 2025 and reflects the Board’s proactive approach to positioning the Company for future success in an evolving market landscape. The Board has not set a timetable for the conclusion of this review. At this stage, no commitments or decisions have been made and there can be no assurance that the review will result in any transaction or particular change to the Company’s business. The Company does not intend to make further public comments on the process unless and until it determines that further disclosure is appropriate or necessary.

Latest News

Zitro Experience Launches a New Era in Paraguay

Published

1 day ago

August 11, 2025

George Miller

Zitro Experience Launches a New Era in Paraguay

Zitro recently held its first-ever Zitro Experience Paraguay, an exclusive event that brought together top operators, clients, and industry leaders at the prestigious Hotel Casino Acaray.

Held during SAGSE, the event quickly became a must-attend gathering to showcase the company’s latest innovations and strengthen strategic partnerships in the region.

Attendees got an up-close look at Zitro’s new CONCEPT cabinet line and games, which are already transforming the gaming experience across Latin America with their striking design and high performance. The presentation featured a spectacular production that highlighted Zitro’s commitment to innovation and product excellence.

The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, designed to foster business relationships while offering a full experience with curated cuisine and unique entertainment, making the evening truly memorable. Clients, operators, and industry professionals alike agreed on the importance of this event for driving growth in the Paraguayan market and reinforcing Zitro’s position as a key strategic partner.

Alejandra Burato, Regional Director for Latin America, shared: “It was a privilege to connect with so many operators and friends at this event. I especially want to recognize Viviana Colman, our Country Manager in Paraguay, whose dedication and deep market knowledge have been instrumental in strengthening our presence and partnerships here. Paraguay is a strategic market for us, and this event reaffirms our commitment to delivering a broad and diverse offering that adds real value to operators.”

Sebastián Salat, Zitro’s International President, added: “We’re incredibly proud to bring Zitro Experience to Paraguay for the first time. As the first slot machine manufacturer to organize an event like this in the country, we want to demonstrate our commitment to this market and continue innovating with high-performance products that drive our clients’ success. As I always say, Zitro isn’t just entering Paraguay — we’re already here, with a dedicated and talented local team and office. This Zitro Experience marks the beginning of a new era where we’re more determined than ever to support the dynamic and growing gaming industry in this fantastic country.”

Latest News

Winpot names Miroslava Montemayor as brand ambassador

Published

4 days ago

August 8, 2025

George Miller

Leading Mexican online casino and sportsbook, and glamorous sports broadcaster, join forces to promote the brand to more players than ever before

Winpot, Mexico’s player-favourite online casino and sports betting brand, has signed popular sports broadcaster Miroslava Montemayor to its growing team of brand ambassadors.

Miroslava is a former beauty pageant winner who has become one of the leading sports broadcasters and TV personalities in Mexico.

Her TV career began back in 2014, appearing on TV Azteca Noreste’s sports show where she covered the 2015 Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl XLIX from Glendale, Arizona.

She then left Azteca to join ESPN, where she presented the Spanish-language version of NFL Live, as well as ESPN Mexico’s afternoon sports talk show, Los Capitanes.

In 2017, she became anchor for the Spanish version of SportsCenter and hosted a show called Otra Ronda, which aired on ESPN2 in Mexico.

Today, she hosts the Champions League and Premier League coverage for TNT Sports Mexico.

As a Winpot brand ambassador, she will promote the hugely popular online casino and sportsbook to her fans through a range of campaigns and media activations.

This includes the brand’s latest TV campaign, set to air in August, which is focused on Winpot offering the best odds, guaranteed.

Winpot, which is powered by the cutting-edge Wiztech platform, has become the go-to destination for online casino players and sports bettors in Mexico.

It offers generous bonuses, localised payment options and a vast game lobby covering slots, table games, instant wins, live dealer and more, as well as the best odds across a huge range of sports.

Yoni Sidi, CEO at Winpot, said: “Miroslava is one of the most loved sports broadcasters in Mexico, combining her deep knowledge of the game with her captivating presenting style.

“This has seen her build a large and loyal fanbase across Mexico, and through this partnership, we can introduce these people to Winpot for the first time.

“We are really excited about our upcoming TV ad campaign, with Miroslava taking centre stage.”

Miroslava Montemayor, sports broadcaster and Winpot brand ambassador, added: “Winpot is one of the most trusted betting brands in Mexico, and I’m delighted to have been announced as a brand ambassador.

“I’ve had great fun filming the TV ad campaign and look forward to seeing it hit TV screens in August.

“This partnership is the perfect fit – I have a large and loyal fanbase of sports enthusiasts, and Winpot provides the superior sports betting experience they deserve.”