Betting Volume Drops While Wager Amounts Increase

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.