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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

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Illinois sportsbooks

 

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.

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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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Inspired Partners with Jogo de Ouro in Brazil

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Inspired Partners with Jogo de Ouro in Brazil

 

Inspired Entertainment, Inc., a leading provider of B2B gaming content, systems, and solutions, is excited to announce a new partnership with Jogo de Ouro, a Brazilian-based sportsbook and casino operator, to bring Inspired’s acclaimed slot titles to its players.

This partnership signals a major step forward in Inspired’s growth strategy, as the market expands during its new era of regulation. With this launch, Jogo de Ouro’s players in Brazil will now have access to Inspired’s rapidly expanding catalogue of online slot content, including hit titles such as Golden Winner™ (Campeão de Ouro), Big Piggy Bank™ (Super Confrinho da Sorte), Big Fishing Fortune™ (Super Pescaria da Fortuna), alongside global fan favourites like Gold Cash Free Spins™ (Grana de Ouro Giros Gratis), Cops ‘n’ Robbers Big Money™ (Policia e Ladrao Muita Grana), and more.

Jogo de Ouro will feature regular content releases from Inspired, giving its players access to a variety of new experiences, including proven, high-performing global hits. The portfolio blends iconic classics, innovative features, and seasonal favourites, all designed with high-impact mechanics that drive both engagement and retention. The partnership with Jogo de Ouro broadens Inspired’s global footprint and brings proven content to one of the most promising iGaming markets, in the world.

Claire Osborne, Vice President of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Jogo de Ouro to bring our diverse games portfolio to Brazilian audiences. From player-favourite classics to fun seasonal titles, our games are crafted for engagement and have proven performance. This collaboration will deliver exceptional entertainment experiences to Jogo de Ouro’s players.”

Flavio Sukar, CEO at Jogo de Ouro, added: “This partnership positions Jogo de Ouro at the forefront of Brazilian iGaming, delivering top-tier casino content to our players. We’re proud to partner with Inspired, and we look forward to bringing their high-quality games and regular new releases to audiences across the country.”

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Evolution Launches First Live Casino Studio in Brazil

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Evolution Launches First Live Casino Studio in Brazil

 

Evolution has announced the launch of its first-ever live casino studio in São Paulo, Brazil, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion in Latin America. The cutting-edge facility is purpose-built to meet the unique demands of Brazil’s rapidly expanding regulated iGaming market.

Following the regulation of Brazil’s online gaming sector in January 2025, Evolution became the country’s first licensed supplier on day one of the new legal framework. The opening of this studio further underscores Evolution’s commitment and investment in the region.

The new state-of-the-art studio will initially offer multiple variants of native Brazilian Portuguese-speaking Blackjack tables, including Blackjack Clássico, Blackjack Illimitado, and Brazilian Blackjack.

Global fan-favourites such as Crazy Time, and XXXtreme Lightning Roulette will be fully localised and launched in Brazil – delivering world-class entertainment with a distinctly Brazilian flavour. Rounding out the line-up, ICE Fishing – Evolution’s flagship global release for 2025 – will also be customised for the local market and streamed from the new Brazil-based studio.

Natalia Torres, Evolution’s Head of Region Latin America, commented: “We are proud to unveil Brazil’s first fully localised live casino studio. This is a major milestone not only for Evolution but also for the future of regulated iGaming in Brazil. With our industry-proven formats, robust local infrastructure, and unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance, we’re empowering operators to go live with content that genuinely connects with Brazilian players.”

Torres added: “The new studio affords us full flexibility to customise everything – from game selection and dealer language to branding and marketing support. It sets a new benchmark for quality and localisation in Brazil, enabling our partners to deliver a premium, trusted, and highly engaging player experience from day one.”

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Kambi appoints experienced LatAm executive Mateo Lenoble as Head of Sales in Latin America

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Kambi appoints experienced LatAm executive Mateo Lenoble as Head of Sales in Latin America

 

Appointment supports Kambi’s ongoing growth strategy in Latin America, with Lenoble bringing 10 years’ experience in senior LatAm-facing commercial roles at Sportradar

Kambi, the home of premium sports betting solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mateo Lenoble as Head of Sales in Latin America. Lenoble, an established voice in Latin America’s betting and gaming industry following 10 years at Sportradar, will play a key role in driving Kambi’s commercial growth and expanding its presence in the fast-growing region.

Lenoble brings more than a decade of experience in the Latin American sports betting and gaming industry, having previously held several senior commercial roles at Sportradar, including Director of Sales and most recently Vice President of Account Management for the region. Lenoble’s deep understanding of the market landscape, operator needs and varying regulatory environments will be instrumental in further strengthening Kambi’s leadership position in Latin America.

The appointment reinforces Kambi’s commitment to expanding its footprint across Latin America and providing leading operators with premium sports betting products and services. These solutions include Kambi’s flagship Turnkey Sportsbook, the world’s leading end-to-end sports betting solution, as well as cutting-edge standalone products such as Odds Feed+, Esports and Front End.

Sarah Robertson, Kambi Chief Commercial Officer, said: “I’m very excited to welcome Mateo to Kambi, strengthening our commercial team as we continue to establish ourselves as the home of premium sports betting solutions in Latin America. Mateo’s extensive experience and strong network across Latin America will be invaluable as we continue to expand in the region.”

Mateo Lenoble, Kambi Head of Sales, LatAm, said: “I’m thrilled to join Kambi at such a pivotal moment for the sports betting industry in Latin America. The region is full of opportunity, and Kambi’s reputation for product excellence, flexibility and regulatory expertise positions us perfectly for success. I look forward to working with the team to build strong partnerships and bring Kambi’s premium sportsbook offering to even more operators in Latin America.”

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