Illinois gamblers bet $286 million on March Madness

Illinois gamblers bet $286 million on March Madness

Article brief provided by Chicago Sun-Times
  • Mitchell Armentrout, Chicago Sun-Times
April 13, 2022 9:52 PM
  • Mitchell Armentrout, Chicago Sun-Times

Illinoisans wagered a cool $286.2 million on March Madness, according to state revenue figures released Tuesday.

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That includes $278.4 million wagered on about two and a half weeks’ worth of games in the men’s NCAA basketball tournament, and another $7.8 million bet on the women’s tourney, the Illinois Gaming Board reported. That’s the state agency that polices legal gambling in the state, including sports betting, which became a legitimate operation in Illinois two years ago.

The casino sportsbooks came out ahead by more than $14.3 million collectively on the college hoops action, but one saw its bracket bankroll go bust. The Hollywood Casino Aurora closed out the NCAA tourneys in the red by $6,795, Gaming Board records show.