Illinois Sports Betting Handle Surpasses $1.4B in January

Despite a 20% drop in wagers, the Prairie State's sports betting revenue remains strong.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 6:21pm

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Illinois' sports betting handle dipped slightly to $1.43 billion in January 2026, down less than 3% year-over-year, despite a 20% drop in the volume of bets placed. Adjusted gross revenue of $138.5 million also declined 6% compared to the previous January. The state's online sportsbooks generated over $137 million in taxable revenue, with FanDuel leading the market with $50.3 million in adjusted revenue.

Why it matters

The decline in sports betting volume in Illinois reflects a broader trend of sportsbooks implementing surcharges to offset a new per-wager tax instituted in July 2025. However, the state's sports betting market remains robust, with the handle exceeding $1.3 billion for the fifth consecutive month. The data provides insights into the impact of regulatory changes on the industry.

The details

Illinois bettors placed 28.9 million wagers in January 2026, down from 36 million during the same month in 2025. The volume of bets has decreased since October, with December's 25% year-over-year drop being the largest since the per-wager tax was implemented. Despite the decline in wagers, Illinois sports betting operators reported a combined adjusted gross revenue of $138.5 million, with online sportsbooks producing $137 million of that total. FanDuel led the market with a 12.2% hold and $50.3 million in adjusted revenue, while DraftKings had the highest handle at $505.6 million.

  • In July 2025, Illinois instituted a per-wager tax on online sports betting operators, leading sportsbooks to implement their own surcharges.
  • In January 2026, Illinois bettors placed 28.9 million wagers, down from 36 million during the same month in 2025.

The players

Illinois Gaming Board

The regulatory body that oversees the state's sports betting industry and reported the January 2026 data.

FanDuel

The online sportsbook that led the Illinois market in January 2026 with $50.3 million in adjusted revenue and a 12.2% hold.

DraftKings

The online sportsbook that had the highest handle in Illinois in January 2026 at $505.6 million.

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What’s next

Illinois lawmakers are considering rescinding the per-wager tax this legislative session, with House Bill 5143 aiming to end the surcharge on July 1. Another Prairie State bill wants to regulate prediction markets, giving the Illinois Gaming Board the power to penalize unlicensed trading exchanges and enforce a 50% tax rate on prediction market platforms.

The takeaway

The data from Illinois' sports betting market in January 2026 highlights the impact of regulatory changes, such as the per-wager tax, on the industry. While the volume of bets has declined, the state's sports betting handle and revenue remain strong, underscoring the resilience of the market and the potential for further growth if legislative changes are made.