Illinois Tops $1 Billion in Wagers for July, Continuing Streak

Illinois’ sports betting market just hit an impressive milestone.

According to the Illinois Gaming Control Board, the state saw $1.05 billion in wagers during July. This marks the twelfth consecutive month that the Prairie State’s handle has exceeded $1 billion, continuing its impressive streak. 

Despite the busy month, the state only generated $30.8 million in tax revenue from regulated sportsbooks. This represents the lowest monthly total Illinois has seen since September 2026.

World Cup Drives Wagers

Like many other states, Illinois saw a massive boost in handle due to the 2026 World Cup. June’s group stage led to a high win rate for bettors, resulting in low revenue for sportsbooks. However, that changed in July once the knockout stage began. 

Bettors wagered around $150 million on soccer in July, trailing only baseball as the most bet-on sport. That was the same amount the state saw in June, but the lower win rate helped raise sportsbook revenue by $34 million. 

Tax Revenue Dips

When it comes to US sports betting tax rates in the US, Illinois is in a category of its own. It raised rates for sportsbooks twice over the last two years, which includes the addition of its controversial per-wager tax.

The system has kept Illinois’ sports market going strong, but it may have worked against the state in July.

While its tax rates are unfavorable for the industry, Illinois does allow sportsbooks to carry over net operating losses and deduct promo bet credits. This lets operators lower their taxable revenue in July through special World Cup promos. Add that in with the losses sportsbooks saw in June, and you can see why the state’s tax revenue dropped despite the busy month.

Illinois Streak Could Continue

The World Cup helped boost one of the slowest betting months of the season in the US, but that doesn’t mean Illinois’s $1 billion handle streak won’t continue into August.

The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox have been attracting a lot of bets in the state over the summer. Both teams made the playoffs and played crucial games in August, inspiring their fan bases to wager on them. Add in the first games of the NCAA football season, and another busy betting month seems likely.

Regardless of the August results, the state will be entering the busiest season of the year. With the Chicago Bears playing well and MLB teams pushing for the playoffs, sportsbooks have been active.

Illinois has yet to release its August results, though they should be available soon.