Illinois sportsbooks reported another year-over-year decrease in betting handle during April, continuing a trend that has persisted throughout much of 2026. According to data released by the Illinois Gaming Board, bettors wagered $1.21 billion during the month, marking the seventh consecutive month the state surpassed the $1 billion handle threshold. Despite that milestone, handle declined 5.5% compared to April 2025 and fell nearly 13% from March.
Betting activity was also lower from an engagement perspective. More than 24.9 million online wagers were placed during April, a drop of roughly 25% from the same period last year. The decline came despite a sports calendar that included the Final Four, the start of the NBA and NHL playoffs, Major League Baseball, and the Masters Tournament.
The latest results represent the fourth year-over-year handle decline recorded by Illinois sportsbooks in 2026. Industry observers have noted that wagering volume has trended lower since mobile operators began passing along the state’s per-wager tax costs to customers late last year.
Although fewer dollars were wagered, operator revenue moved in the opposite direction. Illinois sportsbooks generated $129 million in adjusted gross revenue during April, an increase of 18.8% compared to the same month last year. It also marked the sixth consecutive month in which operators produced at least $100 million in revenue.
A key factor behind the increase was a higher hold percentage. Sportsbooks retained 10.7% of wagers during April, the strongest win rate recorded so far in 2026. By comparison, operators posted an 8.5% hold during April 2025. A higher hold allows sportsbooks to generate more revenue from a smaller betting handle, helping offset the decline in wagering activity.
The combination of stronger operator performance and Illinois’ tax structure also produced a significant increase in state tax collections. Illinois collected $57.9 million during April, a year-over-year jump of nearly 50%.
DraftKings led the Illinois market in handle, accepting $418.5 million in wagers and producing $44.4 million in adjusted revenue during April. FanDuel followed with $333.6 million in handle and $43.3 million in revenue
While DraftKings generated more betting volume, FanDuel posted a higher hold rate of 13%, compared with DraftKings’ 10.6%. That higher win rate allowed FanDuel to produce nearly the same revenue despite handling around 20% less wagering volume.
Together, the two operators accounted for nearly 69% of all online sportsbook revenue in Illinois during the month. Fanatics Sportsbook, BetMGM, BetRivers, and bet365 also reported positive results, each generating between $6 million and $9.7 million in adjusted revenue.
Illinois’ progressive tax model remains one of the more notable factors influencing sportsbook economics in the state. Operators are subject to revenue-based tax rates ranging from 20% to 40%, along with a per-wager fee that charges online sportsbooks 25 cents per bet on the first 20 million wagers and 50 cents for wagers beyond that threshold.
During April alone, operators paid $10.9 million through the per-wager tax program, matching the previous month’s figure. Year-to-date collections from that specific tax reached $43.1 million.
The April results highlight a widening gap between wagering activity and operator profitability in Illinois. While bettors placed fewer wagers and overall handle declined again, a stronger hold percentage and the state’s tax framework helped drive higher revenue for sportsbooks and increased tax receipts for Illinois.
