Press Releases
ILLINOIS SPORTSBOOKS HIT RECORD $840 MILLION IN BETS IN OCTOBER Football, basketball betting spurs records for handle, revenue, and tax revenue as end of in-person registration requirements approaches, according to PlayIllinois
Illinois sportsbooks reached a new monthly record for wagering and revenue for the first time since the reinstatement of in-person registration. With more than $840 million in wagers, Illinois joined the top 18 legal sports betting markets in the U.S. that — using five weekends of football, the opening of the NBA season, and baseball’s postseason — set a market wagering record in October, according to PlayIllinois, which tracks the state’s regulated sports betting market.
“A calendar with an extra weekend of NFL and college football, the opening of the NBA and NHL seasons, and baseball’s postseason was always going to bring more action than a quieter month,” said Eric Ramsey, analyst for the PlayUSA.com Network, which includes PlayIllinois.com. “Regardless, a new high highlights the continued strength of Illinois’ market, and it should grow even stronger in the coming months.”
Retail and online sportsbooks combined to handle $840.4 million in wagers in October, shattering the record of $633.6 million set in March, according to official data released Tuesday. Wagers were up 40.9% from $596.5 million in September and up 93.4% from $434.6 million in October 2020, as betting in October hastened to $27.1 million per day from $19.9 million per day in the previous month.
Gross revenue rose 2.9% to $48.3 million in October from $47.0 million in October 2020 and up 8.4% from $44.6 million in September. October’s revenue still fell short of the record $49.9 million in gross revenue set in March. Taxable revenue did reach an all-time high, though, to $52.6 million in adjusted gross revenue, yielding $8.5 million in state and local taxes.
The record handle and revenue was good news for Illinois’ sportsbooks, which after the return of in-person online registration in April had not reached the highs seen in the months before. Illinois ranked No. 3 in March among all U.S. markets with $633.6 million in wagers, behind only New Jersey ($859.6 million) and Nevada ($640.8 million). Illinois still ranked No. 3 in October, but has lost ground to New Jersey ($1.3 billion) and Nevada ($1.1 billion) — the first two states to surpass $1 billion in wagers in a month.
But with HB 3136 awaiting signature, which would do away with in-person registration early next year, perhaps a $1 billion month could soon come to Illinois.
“The Illinois sports betting market is thriving in spite of the current online registration rules, so it’s exciting to imagine what it will look like when sportsbooks are untethered,” said Joe Boozell, lead analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “A surge of new operators will certainly come. And there are an untold number of Illinoisans sitting on the sidelines interested in making a bet through an online sportsbook, but not enough to make a trip to a retail sportsbook to register.”
October’s growth was a direct result of the month’s busy sports calendar. Five weekends of football, including a Chicago Bears game each weekend, attracted $330.1 million in wagers on the sport. That is up from $230.6 million in September. The opening of the NBA season, including a hot start by the Chicago Bulls, drove $93.3 million in action. Meanwhile, baseball attracted $77.6 million in bets, followed by tennis ($53.4 million), and soccer ($36.2 million).
“The Bears’ struggles are dampening bettor enthusiasm somewhat, but NFL wagering isn’t dictated as much by the success of local teams as other sports,” Ramsey said. “The early success of the Bulls, however, and the short playoff run by the White Sox, were a definite help.”
Online betting accounted for $803.4 million of the wagers in October, or 95.6% of the state’s total handle. DraftKings/Casino Queen led the state with $315.3 million in combined online and retail handle, including $308.8 million in online wagers. The combined handle was up from $236.5 million in September and produced $11.7 million in gross revenue.
FanDuel was next with $236.7 million in online and retail wagers, including $235.4 million in online wagering. The combined handle was up from $156.2 million in September and created a market-best $22.3 million in gross revenue.
The leaders were followed by:
- BetRivers/Rivers Casino ($135.7 million in wagers, including $119.0 million online; $8.0 million in revenue)
- Barstool/Hollywood Aurora ($69.8 million in wagers, including $67.9 million online; $2.4 million in revenue)
- PointsBet/Hawthorne Race Course ($62.4 million in wagers, including $59.6 million online; $2.8 million in revenue)
- Caesars by William Hill/Grand Victoria ($14.0 million in wagers, including $12.7 million online; $593,941 in revenue)
- Argosy ($4.0 million in retail wagers; $391,897 in revenue)
- Hollywood Joliet ($1.8 million in retail wagers; $120,418 in revenue)
- Par-A-Dice ($751,089 million in wagers; $43,120 in revenue)
“With only six in the state, Illinois is home to far fewer online sportsbook operators than any other major U.S. market,” Boozell said. “By next year, the number of online operators should grow well into the double-digits. An increase in competition would be hugely beneficial for bettors.”
Compliance Updates
BMM Testlabs Earns Accreditation in Maranhão, Brazil To Test Fixed Odds Betting Systems and Lottery Platforms
BMM Testlabs, the world’s original gaming test lab renowned for exceptional product compliance and testing services, today announced its official accreditation to test systems and games for the Brazilian state of Maranhão.
This new accreditation allows BMM Testlabs to test fixed-odds betting systems and lottery platforms for the Maranhão market. The Company is now authorized in every Brazilian jurisdiction that has regulated at state-level online fixed-odds betting.
The Maranhão accreditation, issued by Maranhão Parcerias SA (MAPA/LOTEMA), authorizes BMM Testlabs to work with lottery operators in the state to ensure compliance and quality standards for the gaming and lottery industry through end-to-end product compliance testing for Maranhão’s standards.
Additionally, Brazil’s Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas has federally authorized BMM Testlabs to test betting systems, live gaming studios, and online games used by fixed-odds betting operators.
BMM Testlabs’ Marzia Turrini, President of iGaming & Cybersecurity, said, “We are excited and deeply honored that the State of Maranhão’s official lottery has entrusted BMM Testlabs with the responsibility of testing products for their new online fixed odds betting program, knowing that we’ll do so with the highest levels of impartiality, technical expertise, transparency, efficiency, and, most of all, integrity.”
With the Maranhão accreditation, BMM Testlabs solidifies its position as the leading independent test lab in Brazil. BMM Testlabs is accredited in all jurisdictions that have authorized fixed-odds betting for online gaming and sports betting.
BMM Testlabs brings 44 years of global leadership in product compliance across regulated markets and is trusted by games, systems, and lottery manufacturers, suppliers, developers, and regulators worldwide.
In addition to product compliance testing, BMM Testlabs provides end-to-end cybersecurity protection solutions. Through its sister company, RG24seven Virtual Training, BMM also offers compliance-grade virtual training on responsible gaming, anti-money laundering, and other important topics – presented by industry experts and available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Conferences
Meridianbet CEO Showcases GMGI’s $163M FY2024 Revenue, USA & Brazil Entry at ICR 2025 Conference
In a packed room at the prestigious ICR 2025 Conference held in Orlando, FL, Zoran Milosevic, CEO of Meridianbet, captivated the audience of elite investors with GMGI’s remarkable growth story and series of strategic market entries that position the company for significant value creation in 2025 and beyond. The company also led the conference with the highest number of one-on-one investor meetings, signaling strong interest in its growth trajectory.
The world-class event, also known as the financial market Super Bowl, is recognized as the planet’s premier small and medium-cap conference for US listed companies. It brought together over 3,000 attendees, including institutional investors, sell-side analysts, investment bankers, and private equity professionals.
This builds on the success at the 2024 Citi Global TMT Conference, when the company shared insights alongside industry giants like DraftKings, FanDuel, and IBM.
61% Year-Over-Year Growth Positions GMGI as Gaming Industry Leader
The world’s elite investment audience found out a compelling history of growth: GMGI’s preliminary FY 2024 revenue surged 61% year-over-year to $150 million, with pro forma consolidated revenue reaching $163 million.
This exceptional growth trajectory, driven by strategic market expansions and technological innovation, showcases GMGI’s emerging dominance in the global gaming landscape.
Brazil: A Game-Changing Market Entry
In what could prove to be a transformative catalyst, Meridianbet secured a coveted federal license in Brazil – a market projected to reach $2.5-4 billion annually. With instant access to over 100 million potential customers across all 26 states, this strategic move positions GMGI to capture substantial market share in one of the world’s most lucrative gaming opportunities.
North American Expansion Accelerates
The Group’s momentum in North America exemplifies its multi-market growth strategy:
- Strategic entry into the rapidly expanding U.S. sweepstakes gaming market, leveraging proprietary content from Expanse Studios
- Pending gaming license in Ontario, Canada’s largest regulated market
- Deployment of AI-driven gaming solutions to maximize player engagement and retention
GMGI’s Unified Ecosystem: A Competitive Moat
Meridianbet CEO showcased how the Group’s six synergistic companies create a formidable competitive advantage, presenting to investors a unique ecosystem:
- Meridianbet’s presence in 18 regulated jurisdictions, powered by 1,200+ employees including 100 software engineers
- Expanse Studios’ proprietary game development driving high-margin revenue lowering the reliance on third-party content
- Strategic assets across key growth markets: Mexplay in South America, Rkings in the UK, and Classics for a Cause in Australia
2025: Multiple Growth Catalysts Ahead
The confluence of strategic initiatives positions GMGI for accelerated growth:
- Brazil market ramp-up expected to drive substantial revenue expansion
- Proprietary AI technology deployment enhancing player monetization
- First-mover advantages in newly regulated markets
- Continued margin expansion through operational efficiencies
For investors seeking exposure to the explosive growth in global gaming, GMGI represents a unique opportunity: a proven operator with proprietary technology, multiple growth vectors, and strategic positioning in the world’s most promising gaming markets.
Internet Vikings, a licensed in-state hosting provider for iGaming and online sports betting, announces the extension of its relationship with GAN Sports®, a supplier of industry-leading casino content, into Arkansas.
Following a successful multi-state collaboration initiated in 2022, Internet Vikings continues to support GAN by delivering hosting services tailored to their operational needs. Internet Vikings is continuing to grow across the United States, as Arkansas becomes the latest state to benefit from their hosting services.
GAN, a B2B supplier of internet gambling software-as-a-service solutions, initially entered into an agreement with Internet Vikings in a landmark deal covering 15 states. Since then, the relationship has grown stronger, with GAN relying on Internet Vikings’ bare metal server solutions to support their large-scale U.S. operations.
This expansion into Arkansas follows a recent deployment in Nevada, where Internet Vikings also provides hosting solutions to GAN. As GAN continues to operate across regulated U.S. markets, Internet Vikings remains a dependable resource, and has demonstrated its reliability to support long-term growth.
Rickard Vikström, CEO and Founder of Internet Vikings, shared his thoughts, “Our relationship with GAN reflects the trust we’ve built over the years. It’s not just about providing hosting solutions; it’s about understanding their vision and exceeding their expectations.”
-
Latest News6 days agoPlaza Hotel & Casino offering free stalls to temporarily rehome horses affected by the California wildfires
-
Affiliate Industry6 days agoMetaBet inks Gentoo Media partnership to enhance flagship sites
-
Compliance Updates5 days agoINCENTIVE GAMES RECEIVES FULL PAY-TO-PLAY GAMING CERTIFICATION IN BRAZIL
-
Latest News6 days agoINSPIRED TO LAUNCH 16 SLOT GAMES IN BRAZIL, IGNITING THE iGAMING MARKET IN JANUARY 2025
-
Compliance Updates5 days agoFBMDS obtains certification to operate in Brazil
-
Latest News6 days agoPENN Entertainment Announces Partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment for Market Access in Washington, D.C.
-
Compliance Updates2 days agoDigitain Group Products are Certified for Brazil
-
Latest News6 days agoEveryMatrix content live in West Virginia with tier-1 brands