Illinois rolls out per‑wager sports betting tax amid surge in handle
In Illinois, online sports wagering hit a key milestone in August 2025: the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) reported a total handle of about $1.03 billion, up 17.3% from the year‑prior month. SBC Americas
Meanwhile, the state’s new per‑wager tax regime is already yielding results: two major operators — FanDuel and DraftKings — paid upwards of $3.9 million each in the first two months of the tax’s implementation, contributing to more than $10.5 million in per‑wager tax revenue for the state. SBC Americas
The tax structure, introduced July 1, charges an initial $0.25 per bet, with the fee doubling to $0.50 for operators exceeding 20 million wagers in a fiscal year. With Illinois’ online sportsbook market dominated by a few firms, these fees are expected to grow significantly — and raise debate about customer surcharges, operator burden, and state revenue strategy. SBC Americas
💥 TRI‑STATE HEAT
New York — No verified updates in the last 48 hours.
New Jersey — No verified updates in the last 48 hours.
Pennsylvania — No verified updates in the last 48 hours.
🌍 GLOBAL GAMBLING BUZZ
Estonia’s online casino market remains resilient despite tax hikes — A recent report shows that the Estonia remote‑gambling tax was raised to 6% of gross revenue in 2024 (rising to 7% in 2026), yet the online casino sector continues to grow, with 29 licensed operators now active and self‑exclusion registrations rising 36% in five years. Reuters
U.S. online gambling sector sees narrative shift toward regulation and trust — A broader industry overview highlights that digital‑casino platforms are adopting features such as AI‑driven fairness audits, transparent bonus terms and secure payment systems. The report noted the U.S. online gaming market remains ambitious even as regulators demand higher transparency. Reuters
🔮 HOROSCOPE HUSTLE (entertainment only)
Pick 3 & Pick 4 numbers — purely for fun.
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Aries — P3: 2‑9‑5 | P4: 4‑1‑7‑3
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Taurus — P3: 7‑6‑0 | P4: 8‑3‑2‑1
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Gemini — P3: 4‑0‑8 | P4: 5‑9‑6‑2
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Cancer — P3: 1‑3‑7 | P4: 0‑4‑9‑8
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Leo — P3: 5‑8‑1 | P4: 2‑6‑4‑0
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Virgo — P3: 3‑4‑2 | P4: 7‑0‑5‑9
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Libra — P3: 6‑1‑9 | P4: 3‑8‑7‑4
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Scorpio — P3: 0‑7‑3 | P4: 1‑5‑9‑6
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Sagittarius — P3: 8‑2‑4 | P4: 6‑3‑0‑7
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Capricorn — P3: 9‑5‑6 | P4: 1‑2‑8‑3
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Aquarius — P3: 1‑0‑7 | P4: 4‑9‑2‑5
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Pisces — P3: 3‑6‑8 | P4: 7‑1‑4‑9
