Sports betting platform ESPN Bet imposes lower betting threshold in Illinois
In the heart of Colorado, a writer named Michael Savio spends his days exploring the great outdoors when he's not immersed in the world of sports betting. With over four years of experience under his belt, Michael has become a trusted voice in the industry, sharing his insights with readers at Casino.com [3].
Recently, a significant change has swept through Illinois sportsbooks. Due to the implementation of a new state "per-bet" tax, effective from July 1, 2025, sportsbooks like ESPN Bet, BetMGM, BetRivers, and Hard Rock have raised their minimum bet amounts [1][4][5].
This tax charges sportsbooks 25 cents per bet on the first 20 million bets annually, followed by 50 cents on each additional bet. This new tax structure significantly increases the cost of accepting many small wagers [1][4][5].
To offset this additional cost and remain profitable, sportsbooks have chosen to raise their minimum bet amounts rather than charge bettors a direct per-bet fee. This strategy reduces the total number of bets placed, lowering the overall tax burden per customer.
For instance, ESPN Bet increased its minimum bet from 10 cents to $1, effective from August 8, 2025 [4][5]. BetMGM raised its minimum bet to $2.50 from July 16, 2025 [1][4]. BetRivers set a $1 minimum, while Hard Rock Bet opted for a $2 minimum [4].
Other operators like Circa Sports have chosen even higher minimums ($10) as an alternative to charging explicit per-bet fees. This approach aims to protect bettors from additional transaction fees while still managing the tax impact [2][3].
In summary, the increase in minimum bets by Illinois sportsbooks is a strategic response to the state's new tax structure, which targets each wager placed. This move is designed to mitigate the financial impact of the per-bet tax by encouraging larger individual bets instead of many small bets [1][2][4].
As always, Michael Savio remains dedicated to providing accurate and easy-to-understand information for his readers, helping them navigate the ever-changing landscape of the sports betting industry.
[1] https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-illinois-sports-betting-tax-20210701-7g6f6l5k5nfwx575qe756x2x7m-story.html [2] https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/illinois-sportsbooks-raise-minimum-bets/ [3] https://www.casino.com/us/sports-betting/michael-savio/ [4] https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20210701/BUSINESS01/210709995/illinois-sportsbooks-raise-minimum-bet-amounts-to-offset-new-tax [5] https://www.espn.com/chicago/story/_/id/32218838/illinois-sportsbooks-raise-minimum-bet-amounts-offset-new-tax
- Michael Savio, an expert in sports betting with over four years of experience, has noted that many Illinois sportsbooks, including ESPN Bet, BetMGM, BetRivers, and Hard Rock, have increased their minimum bet amounts due to a new state per-bet tax, first implemented on July 1, 2025.
- In response to this tax, sportsbooks like Circa Sports have also increased their minimum bet amounts to $10, a strategy aimed at managing the tax impact without charging explicit per-bet fees, as reported by Michael Savio at Casino.com [3].
