Illinois sports betting set a record with the latest numbers

Peter LewisPeter Lewis | December 20, 2021
illinois betting news

For any of the folks who had negative things to say about Illinois sports betting being made legal, what in the world do they have to say now? The stats have been unreal to see and things were only made better with the latest reports on how successful things went in October. Indeed, Illinois sports betting set a record with the latest numbers and it’s unreal to see.

So, just how great were things in October? Well, the previous record for a month came in last March when Illinois reported $633 million in total. In October, that number, according to local reports, reached a simply unreal $840.4 million for the total sports handle? You must be joking! We aren’t, even if that’s what you were thinking. These numbers show just how consistent betting has been in the state.

Things are only expected to grow in Illinois, especially with new casinos making their way both around the Chicago area and plans for a major casino to be built right in the heart of Chicago too. On top of that, we could see sportsbooks making their ways to the big stadiums for the pro teams as well. You already know that this is going to majorly have a positive impact on gambling as a whole for the state, which is exciting.

On top of that $840.4 million, some other numbers to keep in mind. This includes revenue of more than $48 million. That number alone should excite plenty of folks out there. On top of that, don’t forget about the betting handle being more than 40 percent higher than the September numbers. Such a big increase will only have local officials more excited for what’s to come this winter, plus ahead in the spring + summer.

The NFL has proven to be king for Illinois sports betting

What really should come as no surprise is that the NFL has proven to be king for Illinois sports betting and it made a major impact on the October numbers. In October, the NFL season was really starting to take off and there were some fantastic matchups that most definitely enticed people to place even more bets on the table. That’s the beauty of the NFL season for so many folks.

Obviously, in Illinois people are going to be excited about the Chicago Bears from start to finish when they suit up and play. In October, Justin Fields locked up the starting job for the team and folks were fired up. While the team has gone through some ups and down in his first season leading the offense, countless bets were made on the Bears during October. You can thank Fields for that too.

Elsewhere, people continue to check out the different NFL odds via the best rated online sportsbooks and make picks. This is only going to keep growing and growing as we get close to the Super Bowl. As things stand, teams like the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, LA Rams and others are looking like the serious contenders to compete for the Lombardi Trophy.

For people in Illinois, that’s a question they can’t wait to have answered. While the Bears have had their Super Bowl odds drop in disappointing fashion, that doesn’t mean that people are going to stop making bets during the playoffs and for the Super Bowl. It’s an exciting part of the NFL season and Illinois sports betting will only get more exciting as we inch closer to early February. More big numbers will be coming.

Multiple different sportsbooks posted big October numbers for Illinois

As you might have been able to guess, multiple different sportsbooks posted big October numbers for Illinois. Keep in mind that more than $800 million for the total handle was recorded and reported. If you take a look at the team over at DraftKings, their reported numbers were $308.8 million for the online handle. That marks for more than 30 percent of the total. You know they’re celebrating that.

Elsewhere, FanDuel Sportsbooks came in just under 30 percent, with a total of $235.4 million. These two powerhouses have long stood out for sports betting Illinois and that trend is expected to continue in the coming months. Not to be forgotten, BetRivers also recorded some promising numbers for their company, while others also celebrated plenty of big wins.

With the Super Bowl coming in February and the heart of the NBA season coming soon, more bets should be made. It’s also important to remember that the bowl games for college football is also going to draw in plenty of attention. Folks often race to make bets on these games, with the College Football Playoff odds drawing interest. Remember, the in-state ban for college betting could be gone soon too.

With all of that said, people in Illinois will be ready to check out the different odds across the board and make their wagers. It’s an exciting time for sports betting in the state. The good times really are only getting started here.

Peter Lewis

Peter Lewis Jr. comes from Mississippi where he and his family spend their days discussing college football and basketball. He's written sports journalism for years after studying journalism at a local university.