The number of sports bets in Illinois dropped 15% after the state imposed a new tax on every wager, officials said, prompting warnings from licensed gambling operators that more bettors are fleeing to the illegal online market.
There were more than 5 million fewer bets placed in September 2025 than in the same month last year — a 15% decrease — according to statistics from the Illinois Gaming Board.
Despite the drop in the number of bets, the amount of money wagered on sports in September increased 9% from the previous year to a new record high handle of $1.4 billion. That means gamblers on average were spending more per bet, generating $10.6 million in taxes.
