As of September 1, 2025, Caesars will implement a 25-cent fee on each online wager placed in Illinois, just in time for the start of the NFL season. Parlays will be treated as a single wager within this setup. Caesars is imposing these fees in response to Illinois’ new tax structure, which is modeled on a per-bet basis.
In placing a 25-cent fee per wager, Caesars has the same rate as Fanatics, which is a lower rate than other big operators, like FanDuel and DraftKings.
| Online Sportsbook | New Policy in Illinois Betting |
|---|---|
| Caesars | $0.25 fee per wager |
| Fanatics | $0.25 fee per wager |
| FanDuel | $0.50 fee per wager |
| DraftKings | $0.50 fee per wager |
| ESPN BET | Minimum bet increases from $0.10 to $1 |
| BetRivers | Minimum bet increases from $0.10 to $1 |
| Hard Rock Bet | Minimum bet increases from $0.10 to $2 |
| BetMGM | Minimum bet increases from $0.10 to $2.50 |
| Circa | Minimum bet increases from $0.10 to $10 |
However, Hard Rock Bet, ESPN BET, BetRivers, and BetMGM have more user-friendly changes, opting to increase minimum bet size rather than placing a fee on each wager.
The reason why FanDuel and DraftKings have higher fees on each wager is because they have the largest sports betting handle (number of wagers received) in the state.
Meanwhile, Circa opted to go with a high minimum bet of $10 because its consumer base generally consists of mid-to-high-stakes bettors. This sportsbook is renowned for its higher betting limits.
This new fee structure and minimum bet policy will directly affect how Illinois bettors engage with sportsbooks. Casual bettors, who often place small wagers under $1, will feel the sharpest impact at operators like BetMGM, Hard Rock Bet, ESPN BET, BetRivers, and especially Circa.
For them, the raised minimums effectively price out micro-betting strategies that have become popular with casual players. For example, placing a $0.10 parlay on six baseball players to hit home runs would still have a nice payout at a low risk, but that’s off the table now.
Meanwhile, per-bet fees at Caesars, Fanatics, FanDuel, and DraftKings could add up quickly for users who place several small wagers, especially those who enjoy single-game or multi-game parlays throughout the NFL season.
This makes Illinois one of the most expensive states in which to bet, potentially pushing some players toward fewer bets, larger wagers, or perhaps no bets to avoid the fees altogether.
It could also shift market share dynamics. Caesars’ lower $0.25 surcharge could help it attract bets away from FanDuel and DraftKings.
Illinois became the first U.S. state to introduce a per-wager tax on sports betting, which came into effect on July 1, 2025. It includes a $0.25 fee on the first 20 million wagers and $0.50 fee on any wager placed after that. Lawmakers passed the measure as part of the state budget, aiming to generate additional annual revenue.
As a result, sportsbooks have shifted costs directly to consumers, either through transaction fees or higher minimums. Whether this approach will meet expectations in state revenue without driving bettors toward offshore sportsbooks that don’t impose such fees remains one of the biggest questions heading into the NFL season.
