Sports betting handle in Montana increased by 7.25 percent year-over-year in November, climbing to more than $7.4 million compared to $6.9 million the year prior. However, the sports betting handle dropped by 2.1 percent month-over-month, according to a report from the Montana Lottery.
NFL and college football betting took a more significant portion of the handle, rising from 57 percent in November 2023 to more than 65 percent in November 2024. Meanwhile, the portion of the handle spent on basketball wagers dropped year-over-year from 34 percent to more than 20 percent, a total of $1.5 million.
Gross gaming revenue also increased year-over-year, with nearly $1.6 million collected in November, a more than 122 percent increase from the previous year.
The positive GRG figures for most sports will come as a relief to Montana operators after the state lost nearly $27,000 in statewide revenues in October. The October numbers reflected a trend in many U.S. states like Wyoming and South Dakota, with a high sports betting handle reaching almost $7.6 million but lower than expected revenues. In October, sportsbooks posted GGR losses in football, baseball and MMA to bring the statewide total down.
