Illinois Sports Betting Handle Tops $1 Billion in August

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Fri Oct 30, 2026, 8:00 am ET

Read Time: 3 minutes

Illinois Sports Betting Handle Tops $1 Billion in August

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Illinois sportsbooks generated approximately $1.03 billion in wagers during August 2026, maintaining the state's position among the largest US sports betting markets.

According to the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB), operators recorded $1.029 billion in total handle across online and in-person wagering.

The result represented relatively flat year-over-year performance compared with August 2025. Nevertheless, online betting continued to dominate the market, accounting for approximately 98.5% of all wagers.

Professional sports also remained the primary driver of activity, generating more than $1 billion in handle.

Illinois Sports Betting Handle Remains Above $1 Billion

The IGB reported $1.013 billion in online wagers during August, compared with approximately $15.77 million at retail sportsbooks. Consequently, digital platforms continued to account for nearly all betting activity across the state.

The market's performance demonstrated the continued importance of mobile platforms to Illinois gambling. Although the overall handle remained broadly unchanged year-over-year, operators maintained substantial wagering volumes throughout the month.

Illinois also remained one of only two states to surpass $1 billion in monthly sports betting handle, alongside New York.

Online Sportsbooks Account for Nearly All Wagers

Online wagering generated approximately 98.5% of Illinois' total August handle, highlighting the dominance of digital betting platforms.

Retail sportsbooks contributed just 1.5% of all wagers, despite their continued availability across casinos and other licensed venues. This substantial difference illustrates how bettors increasingly rely on mobile platforms to access US online sportsbooks.

Professional sports accounted for most online activity, generating approximately $987.87 million. College sports followed with $16.68 million, while other events contributed approximately $8 million.

Professional Sports Drive Illinois Betting Activity

Professional sports generated approximately $1.003 billion in August handle, representing around 97.5% of all wagers.

College sports contributed another $17.10 million, making them the second-largest betting category. Meanwhile, other events generated approximately $8.08 million, followed by motor racing at approximately $808,556.

The figures demonstrate how heavily Illinois sportsbooks depend on professional sporting competitions to attract wagers.

Sports category August 2026 Handle ($)
Professional sports 1,003,122,590
College sports 17,098,813
Other events 8,077,348
Motor races 808,556
Total 1,029,107,308

Casino Queen Leads Professional Sports Handle

Casino Queen recorded the largest professional sports handle among Illinois licensees during August (Casino Queen / DraftKings).

The operator generated approximately $351.15 million across online and in-person wagering. Fairmount Park followed with approximately $285.07 million (Fairmount Park / FanDuel), while Alton Casino recorded $92.61 million.

Par-A-Dice also reported substantial activity, generating approximately $60.77 million in professional sports wagers. Walker's Bluff Casino Resort rounded out the five leading licensees with approximately $55.36 million. Elgin Riverboat Resort followed in sixth place with approximately $51.78 million.

Online wagering accounted for nearly all the activity reported by the leading operators. In particular, Casino Queen generated approximately $349.47 million through its online operations alone.

These figures combine Tier 1 and Tier 2 wagers across both wagering channels, rather than representing individual sportsbook brands.

Illinois Sportsbooks Generate $82 Million in Revenue

Beyond handle, sportsbook revenue provides another important measure of Illinois' August performance.

Operators reportedly generated approximately $82.44 million in sportsbook revenue, producing an estimated hold of 8%. The state also collected approximately $20.03 million in sports betting taxes.

Handle represents the total amount bettors wager, whereas revenue reflects the amount sportsbooks retain after paying winning bets. Therefore, the revenue figure offers additional insight into operator performance beyond wagering volume.

Overall, August's results reinforced Illinois' position as a major US sports betting market. Despite relatively flat year-over-year growth, online platforms and professional sports continued driving activity across the state.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

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