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