Caesars Sportsbook Latest Illinois Operator to Add Surcharge

Caesars Sportsbook will begin charging a $0.25 per-wager fee on online sports bets in Illinois starting September 1, 2025. The operator notified Illinois customers this week, stating the charge will show up in the bet slip and transaction history. Bonus bets and reward credit wagers will not be affected.

This makes Caesars the latest online sportsbook to pass on Illinois' new per-wager tax to users. The state imposed a $0.25 tax on every bet beginning July 1, which rises to $0.50 after 20 million wagers annually. Operators are now shifting strategies to handle this additional tax burden.

Illinois Sportsbook Operators' Mixed Responses: Surcharges and Minimums

Several operators have already announced direct surcharges. DraftKings and FanDuel are both adding a $0.50 per-wager fee starting September 1. Fanatics Sportsbook is applying a $0.25 surcharge this fall, matching Caesars' new policy.

Other sportsbooks have instead chosen to set minimum wager thresholds. BetMGM requires a minimum of $2.50 per bet. ESPN Bet and BetRivers set their minimum at $1 earlier this month. Hard Rock Bet raised it to $2. Circa Sports set the highest threshold, imposing a $10 minimum bet.

Illinois' per-wager tax has forced sportsbooks into tough decisions. Caesars' new surcharge aligns it with Fanatics, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Others like BetMGM and Circa Sports introduced minimum bets to cover costs. 

One major exception remains bet365, which has not imposed any surcharge or minimum bet requirement.

Here's a snapshot of Illinois operator policies:

Illinois Operators With Surcharges

DraftKings — $0.50 per wager

FanDuel — $0.50 per wager

Fanatics Sportsbook — $0.25 per wager

Caesars Sportsbook — $0.25 per wager

Illinois Operators With Minimum Bet Requirements

BetMGM — $2.50 minimum bet

ESPN Bet — $1.00 minimum bet

BetRivers — $1.00 minimum bet

Hard Rock Bet — $2.00 minimum bet

Circa Sports — $10.00 minimum bet

Illinois Online Sportsbooks Without Fees

Not every sportsbook is charging users per bet. Bettors can still find options that offer flexibility and avoid extra costs. One online sportsbook without per-wager surcharges highlights platforms like bet365, which continues to operate in Illinois without passing along fees. 

That said, more prominent online sportsbooks like BetOnline and Bovada do not have surcharges and minimum bet requirements. Moreover, they also offer an assortment of promotions that help players get the best competitive odds.

For bettors, comparing online sportsbooks is now more important than ever in securing the best value. If you're looking for other alternatives, check out our latest list of the best online sportsbooks.