Illinois Sports Betting Market Performs Well in November

The Illinois sports betting market performed well in November 2024, setting multiple records for the second consecutive month. The Illinois Gaming Board reported a staggering handle of $1.53 billion, while operator revenue soared to a record $154.6 million, surpassing the previous high of $137.2 million set in September 2024.

The performance came during a particularly active sports month featuring NFL, college football, NBA, NHL, and college basketball events. Compared to November 2023, betting activity increased by 11.3%, while revenue more than doubled with a 112.6% jump. The industry maintained a strong 10.1% hold rate, marking the fourth time in 2024 that operators achieved double-digit holds and nearly doubling the previous year's win rate. This means that if you have plans on joining the industry, now is the best time to learn how to start a bookie business.

Illinois Sports Betting Numbers

Online betting dominated the market, accounting for $1.49 billion of the total handle with a 10.1% hold. Thus, if you want to put up an online sportsbook, check out the 9DollarPerHead pay per head software.

Retail operations contributed a more modest $39.2 million in wagers and $3 million in revenue. The success translated into significant tax benefits, generating $48.2 million for the state and $1.5 million for Cook County from Chicago-area betting.

What this Means for Sportsbooks in Illinois

The November surge represented a dramatic turnaround from October's performance, when unprecedented NFL favorite victories had caused a 27.8% year-over-year revenue decline. Bookies rebounded strongly, with profits jumping 90% month-over-month on a 6% handle increase. Football wagers yielded an impressive 61% hold, contributing $25.2 million to total revenue, while parlays generated $93.7 million with a nearly 20% win rate.

With just December left to report, Illinois has already eclipsed its 2023 performance. The state has processed over $12.5 billion in wagers through November 2024, surpassing the previous year's total by nearly $1 billion. Meanwhile, revenue has grown 27% year-over-year, driven by 22% more wagers and improved hold rates. State tax collection through November has exceeded $228 million.  And if you want to earn as good as these operators, then check out this pay per head service. They can give you the software you need to manage a sportsbook without breaking the bank.

How to Earn Money as a Football Bookie

 

Thanks to modern technology, earning how to become a football bookie is a straightforward process. Not only is it easier, but it is also more affordable. Gone are the days when you need to be a millionaire to put up a sportsbook. Nowadays, anyone can become a bookie. By utilizing a reliable Bookie Pay Per Head software, setting up a football sportsbook becomes not only simple but also cost-effective. Especially for those of you who want to earn from America’s most popular sport.

There are a lot of guides, such as this one, that explains what is pay per head software. You can use this to understand how you can create your very own sportsbook in minutes.

How to Earn Money as a Football Bookie

The journey to becoming a successful football bookie begins with immersing yourself in the sport. Knowing everything you can about football gives you a significant advantage as a bookie, enhancing your ability to understand betting lines and predict outcomes more accurately. For this sport, you mostly just have to keep track of the NCAA football league, and the National Football League (NFL).

Familiarize yourself with popular football leagues, from college football to professional leagues like the NFL, from the structure to the schedule, to how the postseason runs. Understanding the structure and rules of each league is essential for navigating the betting landscape effectively. It will also help you plan out your months wisely.

Next, try to gain a better understanding of the intricacies of football betting. While you don't need to be an expert oddsmaker, knowing the basics of how football betting odds are formed and when they should be adjusted is crucial. It will help to explore various bet types, including point spreads, moneylines, over/unders, futures, and prop bets.

Create Your Own Football Sportsbook Easily

A pay per head software simplifies the process of opening a football sportsbook with a user-friendly platform. Pay per head bookie software is specially designed for bookies, so it will have all of the tools that will help you, from line management to player management. You will need to look for one that fits your preferences, as well as your budget.

If you still do not have one provider in mind, you can look at these betting software reviews to give you an idea of what to look for. Now, when you find one, sign up for their services.

Once you do, you can now customize your sportsbook by adding players, setting limits, and creating promotions. The software includes comprehensive sports betting lines, providing access to hundreds of betting options for football leagues and tournaments worldwide. As soon as your first player signs in, your sportsbook goes live. The entire setup process can be completed in less than a day, with the software automating many tasks. From there, your primary responsibilities include monitoring and adjusting lines as needed, and processing deposits and payouts for your players.

 

Create Your Very Own Football Sportsbook without Hassle withEasy Pay Per Head Here!

 

Turkish Athlete Goes Viral for Shooting Pose

People always find humor in everything. The Olympics is not exempt, with many scenes capturing the attention of audiences across the world. These moments gave birth to quite a few memes, viral videos on tiktok, and other social media sites. But these events also bring attention to unique athletes that bring pride (and laughs) to their country. And one of the most viral events in the Olympics was in the shooting event, as a Turkish Athlete goes viral for his pose and lack of gear in the competition.

This is a welcome break from the hectic Olympic calendar. Even with your sportsbook pay per head software automating your sportsbook, you'll still be spending time managing lines on hundreds of events happening daily.

Who is the Viral Turkish Athlete?

The athlete that caught the world’s attention is none other than Turkiye’s Yusuf Dikec. Dikec won a silver medal in the mixed team 10-meter air pistol shooting event in Paris. Dikec is a 51-year old veteran and has competed in the Olympics. But we bet (pun intended) that he did not anticipate that he would be plastered across media sites all over the world.

When you hear about athletes competing in target shooting, you would immediately think of serious people, with complete gear, such as visors and lenses to help them see better. But what walks out is a man, wearing a simple t-shirt, wearing just his normal glasses. He tucks his hand in his pocket and lifts the gun with the other. With a very casual manner, takes aim, and makes his shot. Its comparable to a guy in a bar, walking to the darts section and taking a shot in a random manner.

Betting on him was probably not an option for many, especially when you compare him with his opponents in full gear. But everyone knows that an underdog win is sweeter. You can win big from people betting on athletes in Paris, too. Just offer a great promotion and set your sportsbook rollover requirements. That way, you get more players to join and bet on your sportsbook. Meanwhile, your players will enjoy a good welcome bonus. 

Dikec’s Viral Popularity

He has gone viral since, and even has a nickname in Japan. Fans in Japan call him Free User Ojisan, which means free user old guy, or a casual gamer who wins in freemium games without spending money.

When interviewed by the Turkish media about him not using special gear to compete, he said: “I did not need special equipment. I'm a natural, a natural shooter.” This statement further encouraged more memes and jokes about Turkiye sending in a hitman or a spy to the Olympics.

The joke’s on them, because he does come from a military background. He is a retired non-commissioned officer of the Turkish gendarmerie. He started sport shooting back in 2001. Since then, he has competed for the military national team as well as national team. He also set a new world record back in 2006. This was for the 25m center-fire pistol event at the CISM Military World Championships in Norway. He also competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics. 

The Olympics is far from over, and we may still see more entertaining moments happen. There is also still time for you to open an Olympic betting website. With so many events left, you can still earn from betting on events like basketball, swimming, gymnastics, and more.