Operator News
US – More online operators needed to raise Illinois’ sports betting ceiling
By Phil - 11 March 2021
Illinois became the fourth US state to take in more than $500m in sports bets in a single month, nearly reaching $600m in January, surpassing the milestone even as retail sportsbooks remained closed for much of the month. But as rapid as the ascension of Illinois’s sports betting market has been, the state will need new sportsbook operators to come online to help raise the market’s ceiling.
“No state has come close to reaching $500m in handle in such a short time frame after launching, and to reach that mark with just five online operators and retail casinos closed for much of January is even more impressive,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “Multiple factors had to come together to make that happen. The next step for the market is to get more operators online, which will help expand the pool of bettors.”
Illinois online operators attracted $581.6m in bets in January, 98.9 per cent of which came online, according to official data released Wednesday. January’s handle was up 18.3 per cent from $491.7m in December, fourth most among legal US markets.
January’s bets pushed Illinois past $2bn in lifetime handle, but more importantly, it generated a record $49.4m in operator revenue, up 106.8 per cent from $23.9m in December. The win yielded $7.2m in taxes for the state.
January is just the opening month in a year that could bring in more than $6bn in wagers and $450m in operator revenue, according to PlayIllinois projections. But that assumes continued maturity, including the addition of new operators.
To that end, Illinois will get a boost with the addition of Penn National’s Barstool-branded app, which is scheduled to launch on Friday.
“Seeing an impactful operator such as Barstool launch is a reminder that Illinois still has so much more room to grow,” said Joe Boozell, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “A few uncertainties could slow the market, including the potential return of in-person registration. But January’s results are more evidence that 2021 will almost certainly mark a sizable leap forward for the state’s sports betting market.”
Basketball drew $229.7m in wagers, 39.5 per cent of the state’s total handle. Football brought in $158.3m bets.
With the state’s ban on betting on in-state college teams, sportsbooks did miss out on the opportunity to capitalize on the college basketball success of Illinois and Loyola Chicago. But legislation is currently proposed that could remove the ban, which would allow bettors to place wagers on local teams.
“In every legal market local teams, particularly those that are playing well, are crucial in fueling bettor engagement with sportsbooks,” Ms. Welman said. “Illinois isn’t alone in barring betting on in-state college teams, but it does artificially suppress wagering.”
DraftKings/Casino Queen led with 42 per cent of the state market share with its $244.2m combined handle in January, which was up from $195.4m in December. That included $243.5m in online bets.
“Having retail sportsbooks reopen was an important step for the state industry, even if sportsbooks weren’t as busy as they would’ve been during an ordinary year,” Boozell said. “With the retail market back in business, and the roster of online sportsbook operators growing, the coming months should offer a more trustworthy gauge of where Illinois is as a market.”
