Illinois sportsbooks continued a lengthy streak of strong wagering activity in July, surpassing the $1 billion handle mark for the 12th consecutive month. According to figures released by the Illinois Gaming Board, bettors wagered approximately $1.05 billion during the month, representing a 21.7% increase compared to July 2025.
The latest results demonstrate the continued strength of one of the largest legal sports betting markets in the United States. July is traditionally a quieter sports betting month due to the absence of NFL and college football games, but the FIFA World Cup helped generate significant betting activity across the state.
A combination of international soccer and Major League Baseball provided sportsbooks with more wagering opportunities than a typical summer month. The World Cup, hosted across North America, attracted global attention and increased betting interest among both casual and regular sports bettors.
The month’s betting volume was accompanied by a strong revenue performance for sportsbook operators. Illinois sportsbooks reported approximately $116.5 million in adjusted gross revenue, an increase of 30% from the same month one year earlier.
Operator win rates also improved compared to June. Sportsbooks posted an 11.1% hold in July after a more challenging June in which bettors enjoyed greater success across several major sporting events. Industry hold percentage refers to the portion of wagers retained by sportsbooks after paying winning bets.
The World Cup played a significant role in those results. Several heavily backed international powers advanced deep into the tournament, while bettors faced the added challenge of predicting outcomes in soccer’s three-way betting markets. Those results contributed to stronger revenue figures despite an already competitive Illinois market.
The July report also marked one year since Illinois implemented its per-wager tax structure. Under that framework, sportsbooks pay additional fees on individual wagers placed by customers.
More than 21 million bets were placed during July, representing a 13.2% increase from the same month last year. The continued growth suggests bettors remain engaged despite regulatory and tax changes that have altered operating costs for sportsbooks.
The state’s per-wager tax generated an additional $5.4 million in revenue during the month. Illinois has now collected at least $5 million from that tax mechanism in each of the past 12 months.
Total tax revenue from sports betting reached nearly $29.6 million, while Cook County received more than $1 million from its local share. The figures highlight the growing role sports wagering revenue plays in state and local government funding.
The Illinois market remains dominated by DraftKings and FanDuel, which once again generated the largest betting volumes in July. DraftKings handled roughly $382.7 million in wagers and produced $42.5 million in adjusted gross revenue. FanDuel followed with approximately $286.1 million in handle and $36.9 million in revenue.
Several other operators also reported solid results, including Fanatics Sportsbook, BetMGM, bet365, and BetRivers. Together, those brands accounted for a significant portion of the market’s remaining betting activity.
Mobile wagering continued to account for nearly all sports betting activity in Illinois, with online platforms responsible for the overwhelming majority of wagers placed during the month. That trend mirrors broader national patterns as consumers increasingly favor mobile betting options over retail sportsbook visits.
Illinois’ latest monthly report reinforces the market’s position among the nation’s largest sports betting jurisdictions. While football season is expected to generate even larger betting volumes in the coming months, July’s results show that major international events can still provide meaningful growth during traditionally slower periods.
