Sports betting keeps growing in Illinois.
The Play Illinois website says Illinois had the third biggest “handle” – the total amount wagered on sports – of any state in the nation during the first half of 2022, trailing only New York and New Jersey. Gamblers in Illinois wagered almost $5 billion from January through June, generating tax revenue of $344 million.
The numbers have dropped off since the end of the NCAA basketball tournament, but are expected to rebound next month when the NFL season gets underway.
