New Jersey nearly produced the first $1 billion betting handle month in the history of US sports betting in December. Driven by the strength of its mobile sportsbook apps, the Garden State ended 2020 in its familiar spot atop the domestic sports betting industry.

10 hours ago  But betting per day in the 28 days of the month was a record $5.1 million, which was up from the $4.8 million per day bet in the 31 days of January. February's handle pushed Iowa's lifetime handle to $1.1 billion, surpassing an eye-catching milestone.

Five of the top six US sports betting markets realized significant month-to-month betting handle gains. Indiana (24.5% month-to-month increase) and Colorado (23.1% increase) represented the biggest gainers in this month’s Gaming Today betting handle roundup.

Record

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, and Colorado all achieved new all-time monthly betting handle records in December 2020. December marks the latest month that offers full sports wagering handle data, so this roundup takes a look at mobile vs. retail betting handle in the top six US sports betting markets for December 2020.

  1. More states legalized and launched sports betting. Tennessee, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia, and more opened the doors to sports betting. Many other states, like Iowa, also expanded online sports betting to make it easier to wager. We saw record-breaking amounts of sports handles in just about every single state in 2020.
  2. Warren Sharp has got you covered with betting recommendations across the NFL Playoffs & the Super Bowl, tallying a 15-year NFL playoff record of 142-84 (63%) and 21-10 (68%) in the Super Bowl.
  3. Unless you have a phenomenally good memory with which to store and recall such information, you should keep detailed betting records. Initially, you should record as much information as possible; you can always discard superfluous information in future versions of your records. Some suggested items that you record are: Date and time of bet.
  4. The total sports betting handle for January was $326.9 million, easily eclipsing the previous high of $284.6 million. The previous record was set in December 2020, and there was an increase of more than 14 percent, setting the stage for what should be a huge year.

December 2020 Betting Handle (Top Six US Markets)

Overall Betting HandleMobile Betting Handle% Handle From MobileMTM Handle Change
New Jersey$996,300,794$929,331,84193.3%+6.9%
Nevada$588,014,493$352,182,66359.9%-3.5%
Pennsylvania$548,590,065$535,209,73997.6%+11.5%
Illinois$491,720,536$491,720,536100.0%+9.5%
Indiana$313,112,474$263,072,90584.0%+24.5%
Colorado$284,551,472$280,443,91098.1%+98.6%
Totals$3,222,289,833$2,851,961,59488.5%+8.7%

1. NJ Sports Betting ($996,300,794 overall, 93.3% from mobile)

New Jersey topped the US in monthly betting handle in all 12 months of 2020. The nation’s biggest sports betting market realized month-to-month handle gains in each of the last eight months of the year.

December marked another new all-time high for New Jersey, with state sportsbooks taking $996.3 million in bets. The first $1 billion betting handle month in US history will likely happen soon, and will come from New Jersey.

December’s numbers took New Jersey over the $6 billion betting handle mark for 2020. Of that total, 91.9% of wagers came from online sportsbooks, including 93.3% in December.

Betting

Powered by mobile sports betting apps from FanDuel and DraftKings, New Jersey stands to rule the US sports betting market for the foreseeable future. New York online sports betting legalization notwithstanding, New Jersey could go wire-to-wire and lead the US sports industry across all of 2021.

New Jersey betting handle reports from the Division of Gaming Enforcement can be seen here.

2. Nevada Sports Betting ($588,014,493 overall, 59.9% from mobile)

Of the top six US sports betting markets, Nevada was the only state to see a dropoff in month-to-month betting handle. Betting handle declined in Nevada for the third consecutive month, with a 3.5% drop from November to December.

Nevada still hosts the most viable retail sports wagering market in the US by far. Land-based casino sportsbooks produced $235.8 million in bets in December and $1.86 billion total in 2020.

Dave

Despite the strong influence of Las Vegas sportsbooks, mobile wagering still accounted for 56.5% of overall betting handle for Nevada in December. Nevada requires in-person registration for online sportsbook accounts, and major players like DraftKings and FanDuel are absent from the state’s sports betting market.

Nevada stands as a perennial force in US sports betting, but the mobile-dominated markets of other US states continue to chip away at Nevada’s market share. The sports betting revenue breakdown from the Nevada Gaming Control Board is available here.

3. PA Sports Betting ($548,590,065 overall, 97.6% from mobile)

Pennsylvania hit a new monthly betting handle high, bolstered almost entirely by mobile wagering. Pennsylvania sportsbooks generated $548.6 million in wagers in December, with 97.6% of bets coming from mobile sports betting apps.

The Keystone State hosts one of the most competitive mobile wagering markets in the US. Barstool Sportsbook emerged as a force in the second half of 2020, while brands like BetRivers and FOX Bet hold their own in the Pennsylvania market.

Pennsylvania gains on Nevada for the No. 2 spot in the US sports betting industry with each passing month. Pennsylvania functions as the nation’s second-largest mobile sports betting market, but the strength of Las Vegas retail sportsbooks makes Nevada the No. 2 overall US market in the December rankings.

Batting record

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s monthly betting handle reports can be viewed here.

4. Illinois Sports Betting ($491,720,536 overall, 100% from mobile)

Illinois casinos were shuttered for the entire month of December, but that didn’t stop Illinois’ sports betting industry from reaching a new monthly betting handle high. With 100% of bets coming from online sportsbooks, Illinois generated $491.7 in betting handle in December.

Since launching mobile sports betting in June, Illinois experienced month-to-month betting handle gains in every month of 2020. December’s betting handle reports from the Illinois Gaming Board showed a 9.5% betting handle gain over November.

Illinois could contend for the No. 3 or even No. 2 overall sports betting market in the US at some point in 2021. Despite only five operational mobile sports betting brands, the Land of Lincoln has surged into status as one of the nation’s most important sports betting hubs.

Sports Betting Record Keeping Spreadsheet

5. Indiana Sports Betting ($313,112,474 overall, 84.0% from mobile)

Indiana marks yet another state that achieved new sports betting heights in December. Sportsbooks in the Hoosier State crossed the $300 million mark for the first time, taking $313.1 million in sports wagers.

Indiana’s land-based casinos make up more of the state’s overall betting handle than some of the other state’s in this month’s Gaming Today roundup. Mobile sports betting apps still generated 84% of all bets taken in Indiana in December, however.

The 24.5% month-to-month gain stands as the highest increase in any of the top six US sports betting markets in December. You can view the monthly revenue reports from the Indiana Gaming Commission here.

6. Colorado Sports Betting ($284,551,472 overall, 98.6% from mobile)

Colorado’s sports betting industry continues to expand steadily each month. With 16 different online sportsbooks to choose from, Colorado bettors put down $284.5 million in December wagers.

Similar to Illinois, Colorado’s sportsbooks have generated a month-to-month handle increase every month since launching in May. With retail sports betting confined to only a few areas in the state, Colorado should continue to operate as a mobile-driven sports betting state for years to come.

The Colorado Division of Gaming’s monthly report can be viewed here.

US sports betting records don’t stand a chance in New Jersey as the state set the all-time high for handle in any state for the fourth straight month.

Sportsbooks in New Jersey took $931.6 million in bets in November. That’s up:

  • 16% from October‘s $803.1 million
  • 24.4% from September‘s $748.6 million
  • 39.4% from August‘s $668 million

Sports betting revenue hit $50.6 million for a hold of 5.4%, according to the state report. That shook out to $6.2 million in taxes paid to the state.

That’s the third-highest total for the state behind October’s $58.5 million and January 2020‘s $53.6 million.

November’s results pushed New Jersey sports betting handle above the $5 billion mark for the year, which is another first. The $5.02 billion in handle is up 9.6% from 2019‘s $4.58 billion total.

That’s quite the impressive feat considering major US sports were shut down from mid-March through late July because of the coronavirus pandemic.

‘Other’ category still hot for New Jersey sports betting

As it was November, there should be no surprise which sport took the top spot for handle.

Betting on football accounted for $433.3 million in completed-event handle last month. Prior to November, sportsbooks in New Jersey had taken $599.5 million in completed-event handle for football.

Mattress mack betting record

The “other” category is still hot, though, with $221.5 million in completed-event handle for the month. The category that dominated betting throughout the pandemic includes everything outside of football, baseball, basketball and parlays.

The parlay category ranked third with $194.3 million in completed-events handle, followed by basketball with $88.5 million and baseball with $1.2 million.

Thanks, New York

New Jersey’s sportsbooks are certainly glad their northern neighbor continues to drag its feet on mobile betting.

Record.betting Partners

New York bettors wagered an estimated $837 million in New Jersey last year, according to consultancy Eilers & Krejcik Gaming. That’s equivalent to 18.3% of 2019’s total handle.

Betting Record

If that share remained the same in 2020, New Yorkers have already wagered $918.8 million in New Jersey so far this year.

Betting Record App

Legislators are still working to get mobile sports betting in New York legalized before the end of the year.