Following the example of FanDuel this week, DraftKings says it will levy a US$0.50 surcharge on bets placed in the Illinois. In-person wagers will be exempt from the fee, which begins on 1 September.
The move constituted pushback against the Illinois legislature’s imposition of a tax on handle. Yearly wagers in the amount of 20 million or fewer are subject to 25% taxation. Handle above that threshold will be levied at 50%.
“We’re disappointed Illinois policymakers have chosen to more than triple our tax rate over the past two years,” DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said in a statement. The company said it would repeal the fee if the Legislature backed down from the tax hike.
