Sports Gambling Handle
September 2020 produced record-breaking numbers for combined legal sports betting handle in the US. The nation’s 18 legal sports betting jurisdictions (17 states plus Washington D.C.) saw nearly $3 billion in wagers come in for September.
The return of NFL and NCAA football bolstered the surging US sports betting industry to its biggest month yet. Since the overturn of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018, legal sports betting in the US shows an upward trend with seemingly no sign of a slowdown in sight.
Six US states brought in more than $200 million in betting handle for Septemeber:
The online sports betting handle alone of more than $206.4 million was up 1.3% from September’s $203.9 million and also set a record for Colorado, according to the Colorado Department of Revenue’s monthly figures. As far as the state government’s coffers are concerned, that took the biggest boost yet from sports betting. World Sports Network reports Indiana's November handle jumped 8.86% from October to November. The handle report, which is published monthly by the Indiana Gaming Commission, shows a third straight. Since introducing sports betting shortly after the fall of PASPA, New Jersey has overtaken Nevada as the sports wagering capital of the US. December 2019 marks the last time Nevada topped the list in monthly sports betting handle among US states, New Jersey brought in nearly $750 million in bets in September, breaking its own record for US.
September 2020 Sports Betting Handle
| Overall Betting Handle | Mobile Betting Handle | % Handle From Mobile | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $748,588,349 | $678,745,374 | 91% |
| Nevada | $575,069,930 | $315,472,779 | 55% |
| Pennsylvania | $462,787,394 | $414,100,359 | 89% |
| Illinois | $285,240,209 | $264,448,304 | 93% |
| Colorado | $207,655,942 | $203,882,793 | 98% |
| Indiana | $207,450,106 | $167,323,391 | 81% |
1. New Jersey ($748,588,349)
Powered by the biggest mobile sports betting market in the nation, New Jersey has topped the overall sports betting handle list every month for 2020. Since introducing sports betting shortly after the fall of PASPA, New Jersey has overtaken Nevada as the sports wagering capital of the US.
December 2019 marks the last time Nevada topped the list in monthly sports betting handle among US states, New Jersey brought in nearly $750 million in bets in September, breaking its own record for US states set just one month earlier.
Online sportsbooks in the Garden State took in 91% of all bets for the month, as the appeal of mobile sports betting continues to result in record-breaking handle and revenue numbers. The trend toward mobile wagering will likely continue for the foreseeable future, even after Atlantic City casinos are allowed to operate at full capacity.
2. Nevada ($575,069,930)
Once the undisputed epicenter of sports betting in the US, Nevada has ceded that title to New Jersey in 2020. The home of the Las Vegas Strip still took in more than $575 million in sports bets for September, however.
Mobile wagering accounted for 55% of overall bets, the lowest percentage of any state on this list. The appeal of betting in person at a Las Vegas sportsbook clearly still offers massive viability for the Nevada sports betting market.
Like the other states on this list, mobile betting in Nevada can be conducted from anywhere within state borders. Nevada operates with an in-person registration requirement, however.
3. Pennsylvania ($462,787,394)
Pennsylvania continues to emerge as a contender for the No. 2 sports betting state in the US. The launch of Barstool Sportsbook in Pennsylvania took the Keystone State to new heights in September, with a state record $462.7 million in betting handle coming in for the month.
Like New Jersey, Pennsylvania’s wagering handle is dominated by online betting. Mobile betting produced 89% of that $462.7 million figure in September.
Barstool Sportsbook joins one of the most competitive markets in the US with the Pennsylvania launch. FanDuel Sportsbook enjoys status as the No. 1 mobile sportsbook in the state, but Barstool will likely contend for that spot soon.
4. Illinois ($285,240,209)
Just four months into its journey as a legal online sports betting state, Illinois leapfrogged Indiana and into the No. 4 spot on the US sports betting handle rankings.
September proved the biggest month yet by far for the fastest-growing sports betting market in the US. Revenue reports from the Illinois Gaming Board showed over $285 million in overall handle for the month.
Of that figure, 93% of overall handle comes from mobile sports betting. FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetRivers run close as the top handle-producing mobile sportsbooks in the state.
Ilinois law requires in-person registration for an online sports betting account, but that mandate is currently waived through Dec. 12.
5. Colorado ($207,655,942)
Colorado and Indiana are neck-and-neck for the No. 5 spot in the US. Colorado’s mobile sportsbooks take in more than 98% of total bets.
With retail sportsbooks restricted to three small mountain towns in the Centennial State, online betting will likely continue to power Colorado’s booming sports betting industry. The state’s online sports betting license holders include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, FOX Bet, BetRivers, and several other big brands in the sports wagering industry.
6. Indiana ($207,450,106)
Sports Gambling Legality
Can Indiana surpass the surging sports betting markets in Illinois and Colorado? The sports wagering business is big in the Hoosier State, as September’s $207.4 million betting handle figure set a new record for the state.
Sports Gambling Statistics
DraftKings and FanDuel dominate the Indiana market share. Mobile wagering accounted for 81% of overall bets in September for Indiana.