Illinois Passes Sports Gambling Milestone
Sports betting has become increasingly popular in the United States since the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on the activity in 2018. This has allowed states to legalize sports betting if they choose to do so, and many have taken advantage of the opportunity. Research by Sportsbook Review analyzed data on sports betting handle (total dollars wagered) and gross gaming revenue (total dollars won by a sportsbook) in order to determine which states have spent the most on sports betting since 2018.
According to the research, New Jersey has spent the most on sports betting, with a total of $31.5 billion wagered since legalization. Nevada, which has had legal sports betting for decades, comes in second with $27.7 billion wagered. Pennsylvania, which legalized online sports betting in 2019, comes in third with $17.3 billion wagered. Illinois, which has seven live sportsbooks, has seen a total of $16.6 billion wagered since 2018.
It's worth noting that these totals include both in-person and online betting. Online betting has become increasingly popular in recent years, as it allows for convenient and accessible wagering from anywhere. Many states, including Illinois, have seen significant growth in online sports betting in particular. In Illinois, residents have wagered a total of $7 billion in 2022 alone, up from $5 billion the previous year.
Overall, sports betting has seen significant growth in the United States in recent years, with the total amount wagered increasing from $44 billion in 2021 to $74 billion in 2022 – an increase of 70%. It will be interesting to see how the industry continues to evolve and grow in the coming years.
| Rank | State | Total Wagered Since 2018 | Wagered in 2021 | Wagered in 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | 31,570,491,826 | 7,572,075,666 | 8,787,414,017 |
| 2 | Nevada | 27,723,080,786 | 6,042,573,006 | 6,898,552,881 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 17,348,076,597 | 5,040,145,825 | 5,707,348,213 |
| 4 | Illinois | 16,597,597,363 | 5,452,309,352 | 7,693,214,546 |
| 5 | New York | 15,019,150,749 | 176,346,682 | 14,655,604,152 |
| 6 | Indiana | 10,071,140,268 | 3,366,396,374 | 4,036,459,030 |
| 7 | Colorado | 9,144,348,841 | 2,910,637,299 | 4,111,067,122 |
| 8 | Michigan | 7,917,820,319 | 2,950,754,391 | 3,821,150,517 |
| 9 | Virginia | 7,114,851,026 | 2,392,572,691 | 3,893,060,312 |
| 10 | Tennessee | 6,013,390,107 | 2,022,900,000 | 2,970,645,584 |