Illinois Sports Betting Revenue Hits $1.17 Billion in February

Illinois sports betting activity reached $1.17 billion in February 2026, marking a 1% increase from the same month in the prior year, driven primarily by growth in online wagering.

Despite the rise in betting volume, adjusted revenue for the state’s sportsbooks declined by nearly 15% year over year to $109.2 million, according to data from the Illinois Gaming Board. This marks the fifth consecutive month that revenue has remained above the $100 million threshold, though it represents a drop from February 2025 levels.

The betting activity was supported by continued interest in Olympic events and a single NFL game featuring the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, following the conclusion of the football season after Super Bowl LX. Olympic betting helped sustain wagering volume high enough for Illinois to maintain a streak of six consecutive months with over $1 billion in handle.

February’s betting volume also came in well below January’s $1.4 billion handle, reflecting a typical post-Super Bowl decline in wagering activity.

The statewide hold — the percentage of wagers kept as revenue — fell to 9.3% in February, down nearly two percentage points from the same month in 2025. This weaker hold contributed significantly to the revenue decline despite the increase in handle.

Hold has remained below the 10% threshold for five of the last six months, a trend that analysts say has pressured operator profitability even as betting volume has stayed resilient.

FanDuel and DraftKings continued to dominate the online market in Illinois, accounting for the largest share of wagers and contributing the highest tax payments to the state.

As of April 17, 2026, Illinois has maintained a streak of six consecutive months with over $1 billion in monthly betting handle, a milestone supported by a mix of NFL, Olympic, and other sporting events.