The U.S. sports betting world moves quickly and unpredictably in 2025. In order to properly take stock of it all, we offer InGame’s “EndGame,” an end-of-week compilation of the top storylines, some overlooked items, and all the other news bits from this past week that we found interesting.
More wagering taxes coming in Chicago?
The city of Chicago proposed adding a per-wager tax on online sports betting at a Chicago City Council Committee on Finance meeting Monday. Operators in Illinois have already absorbed two significant sports betting tax increases in the last two years, making Illinois one of the most expensive states in which to do business. The effective tax rate for digital betting is as high as 51%, depending on operator revenue. The latest proposal would add a city tax in addition.
Chicago already collects a 2% tax on in-person bets, and they collected about $20,500 in revenue from the in-person tax in 2024. The only retail sportsbook within the city limits is DraftKings’ Wrigley Field location. Council staff shared that the new proposal comes after a 2024 survey determined that 98% of bets in Illinois are made online. “That’s not something that the city is capturing revenue from,” the council said. Staff estimated that adding the new tax for online betting would generate $40-$41 million for the city over the next three years.
Raising the sports betting tax has been common in Illinois over the past few years. In 2024, Illinois raised the flat 15% rate to a 20-40% scale. The FY 2026 state budget, which went into effect July 1, implemented a per-wager tax — $0.25 on the first 20 million bets, and $0.50 for anything above. Larger operators like DraftKings and FanDuel are most likely to be affected, and both promised to pass the cost onto their customers through a surcharge. Chicago’s proposal would apply a similar per-wager tax — $0.50 for every wager placed in the city — meaning that the biggest operators would be on the hook for a $1 surcharge (state and local) per bet.
Ella Gorodetzky
Another ‘Caitlin Clark Effect’
The new face of the WNBA, Caitlin Clark, wasn’t able to play in last weekend’s All-Star Game, and Hard Rock Digital projected a 40% decrease in WNBA ASG betting ahead of the weekend.
On Tuesday, Hard Rock told InGame that it experienced a “roughly 30% decrease” in betting against 2024. Other sportsbooks contacted by InGame said they saw a decline, but wouldn’t characterize it as “significant.”
Particularly by July standards, last Saturday was a full sports day — in addition to the WNBA All-Star Game there was the third round of golf’s Open Championship, and a key UFC event featuring Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier in the main bout. A Hard Rock Digital spokesperson told InGame that the UFC card was the “fourth busiest” since the company came online in Florida in late 2023.
In the WNBA, Clark’s presence — or lack thereof — continues to shape WNBA betting. According to Hard Rock Bet, there is a 40% increase in WNBA wagering handle when Clark is on the court, and 28.6% more bets on Indiana Fever games when she is in the lineup. In terms of futures, Clark dominates WNBA betting for league MVP and for the scoring title at Hard Rock Bet. In addition, as of July 14, bets on the Fever represent 73.3% of the handle, and 45.2% of all WNBA futures placed on Hard Rock Bet for who will win the 2025 WNBA title.
Jill R. Dorson
ACC to issue injury reports
The ACC Tuesday joined the SEC, Mid-America Conference, and the Big Ten in requiring its member schools to issue injury reports ahead of college football games. The other conferences began doing so last year, in response to the rise of sports betting. According to a conference press release, ACC coaches will release injury reports 48 hours in advance of conference games.
ACC coaches will be required to categorize players as “available,” “questionable,” “doubtful,” or “out,” and will also have to update the initial report the day before and two hours ahead of a game. Teams will be fined if they do not provide the reports.
For basketball and baseball, the ACC will now require teams to release an availability report the day before and two hours ahead of a game.
Study: 25% of bettors missed a payment
A U.S. News & World Report study released Wednesday revealed that 25% of sports bettors surveyed said they had missed a bill payment due to placing wagers, and 30% said they have debt caused by wagering. U.S. News & World Report surveyed 1,200 Americans July 7-9, and asked 23 questions about betting debt. 52% of respondents said they carry credit card debt. According to a Bankrate survey in June, the national average is 46%.
Other results of note:
- 38.6% of respondents said they have bet to pay off a debt
- 24.9% of respondents said they have missed bill payments to bet
- 81.2% of respondents said they bet on digital platforms
- More than 900 of the 1,200 respondents said football is the sport they “bet most often” on
- Nearly one-quarter of respondents said parlays are the bet they most often make, followed by moneyline and over/under bets
Kalshi, xAI announce partnership
Kalshi this week became the second prediction market to partner with xAI for its Grok chatbot, the company announced via X Thursday. xAI is already partnered with Polymarket.
That’s a cold play, man
More than $7 million was wagered on the Kalshi and Polymarket prediction markets speculating whether suddenly infamous Astronomer CEO Andy Byron would leave his post after his apparently adulterous embrace with a co-worker was exposed during a “kiss cam” moment at a Coldplay concert in Massachusetts.
Byron resigned Friday, allowing Kalshi to trumpet its truth-telling ability, with 99% of the market on “Yes” at one point. At Polymarket, $5.3 million was invested on Byron leaving, with $2.4 million flowing into Kalshi.
Brant James
Hard Rock Bet launches in Colorado
Hard Rock Bet launched its online platform in Colorado on Monday, the first sportsbook operator to go live in the state this year. Hard Rock Bet, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, is now live in nine states.
Hard Rock Bet is partnered with Johnny Nolan Casino in Colorado.
Ella Gorodetzky
Circa opens Kentucky’s biggest sportsbook
Circa Sportsbook opened at The Mint Gaming Hall at Kentucky Downs in Franklin Wednesday, the company announced. The new book is the largest sportsbook in the state, and includes an 80-foot-wide screen. Circa announced the revamp in early June. In addition to the viewing screen, the venue will display an odds board with live updates and will offer stadium-style seats, five staffed betting stations, and a Vegas Stats & Information Network (VSiN) live broadcast studio.
Ella Gorodetzky
ICYMI on InGame
California’s Tribes Call On AG To Issue Cease-And-Desist Letters To DFS Providers
Why Fantasy Sports Ruling Could Cost Democrats Young Male Voters
D.C. One Vote Away From Amending Loss Recovery Act, Making Lawsuit Irrelevant
The Fanatics Difference? It Doesn’t Need Sports Betting
Red Sox’s Giolito: ‘My Worry Is A Player Gets Assaulted Or Killed’
Quintenz Senate Committee Nomination Vote Shelved At Last Minute
Three California Tribes Sue Kalshi And Robinhood For ‘Illegal Sports Betting’
