March Madness is expected to drive Illinoisans to wager around $400 million this year, building on last year’s $394 million in college sports bets, which totaled 5.7 million. In March 2024, the average day saw nearly 184,000 wagers. With the new progressive tax structure for sportsbooks, which ranges from 20% to 40%, the state government anticipates increased betting revenue. Currently, sports betting contributes over $150 million annually to state funds.
Additionally, March is recognized as Problem Gambling Awareness Month, highlighting concerns as over 1.1 million Illinois residents are estimated to be at risk of problem gambling. Illinois ranks as the second-largest sports betting market in the U.S., making this a significant issue for the state.
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