SECOND STRAIGHT MONTH OF DECLINING ILLINOIS SPORTS BETS

Illinois is seeing a sharp decline in sports betting activity, with the Gaming Board’s latest report revealing 6.4 million fewer bets placed statewide in October 2025 compared to the same month last year. This marks the second consecutive month of a fifteen-percent drop, following the new per-wager tax introduced in September. Industry advocates, including the Sports Betting Alliance, caution that Illinois’ high sports betting taxes may be driving bettors away from regulated platforms. This trend raises questions about the state’s long-term strategy and potential impact on tax revenue as more bets are diverted from legal, taxable markets.