Illinois bettors kept the money flowing in June, driven by the NBA Finals and a soccer tournament that captured national attention. Louisiana sports betting posted its tenth straight billion-dollar month, a run that shows just how deeply wagering has settled into the state's sports culture. The numbers tell a story of steady volume even as the ways people bet, and how much sportsbooks keep, continue to shift.
A Flat Month, But Still a Billion Dollars
Illinois sportsbooks took in $1.14 billion in wagers during June, according to the Illinois Gaming Board. That figure matched May's total, meaning growth stalled from one month to the next even as the overall number stayed strong. Illinois was only the second state in the country to clear the billion-dollar mark in June, trailing just New York's $2.25 billion.
DraftKings and FanDuel Lead a Low-Margin Month
Revenue told a different story than handle did. Bettors won more often in June, pushing hold down to 8 percent, the lowest rate operators have seen since last September, which left adjusted revenue at $90.9 million for the month. DraftKings still led the pack with $433.4 million in handle and $32.8 million in adjusted revenue, its best handle total since March. FanDuel wasn't far behind with $309.9 million wagered and $28.9 million in revenue, actually posting a better win rate than DraftKings despite the smaller handle. Fanatics Sportsbook, BetMGM, bet365, and BetRivers rounded out the field, each clearing at least $4 million in revenue on handles ranging from roughly $42 million to $100 million.
Comparing June 2026 to June 2025
Year over year, the growth story looked much better than the flat month-to-month number suggested. Handle jumped 20 percent compared to June 2025, and the number of individual bets placed climbed to 10.5 million from 9.4 million a year earlier, snapping a streak of year-over-year declines in wager counts that had lasted since October. Revenue moved in the opposite direction, falling 21.2 percent from June 2025, since operators kept a smaller cut of every dollar wagered this time around. That combination, higher volume paired with lower margins, made June a win for bettors and a tougher month for sportsbook profits.
What Comes Next for Illinois Bettors
With the World Cup wrapping up and football season on the horizon, Illinois sports betting apps are about to enter their busiest stretch of the year. The NFL and college football typically drive the heaviest volume of any stretch on the calendar, and operators will be looking to recover some of the margin they gave up in June. If bettors keep showing up in these numbers, Illinois should have no trouble extending its billion-dollar streak well into the fall.
