US Online Sports Betting Sets Records In August 2020

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The unprecedented rescheduling of major US sports leagues in 2020 saw the NBA and NHL playoffs, as well as the first full month of MLB regular season play, happening concurrently in August.

After months of hiatus, August marked the first full month of “normalcy” for US sports leagues. Sports betting revenue figures across the US reflect the return of sports, as several states set all-time records in monthly earnings.

New Jersey set the single-month record for online and overall betting handle, while Pennsylvania, Indiana and Colorado all saw new benchmarks reached for their respective mobile sports betting industries.

New Jersey Online Sports Betting Revenue August 2020

Retail OperatorOnline SkinsAugust 2020 RevenueMonth-Over-Month ChangeYTD RevenueYear-Over-Year Change
New Meadowlands RacetrackFanDuel Sportsbook, PointsBet$17,596,486


+44.8%


$79,309,684


+28.5%


Resorts Digital GamingDraftKings Sportsbook, FOX Bet, Resorts$10,019,360


+22.8%


$51,465,692


+29.1%


Borgata Hotel CasinoBorgata Sports, BetMGM$3,279,970


+42.4%

$11,362,443


+1831.1%


Darby Development (Monmouth Park)Monmouth Park Sportsbook by William Hill, SugarHouse, TheScoreBet$1,677,896

+4.9%


$9,459,856


--9.8%

Ocean Casino ResortWilliam Hill Sportsbook at Ocean Casino$1,171,710

-16.9%


$6,570,503



-13.4%
Hard Rock Atlantic CityHard Rock, Bet365, Unibet$530,136


-36.8%

$2,698,077

+1208.7%


Tropicana Casino & ResortWilliam Hill Sportsbook Tropicana Atlantic City$51,948+35.4%$240,559+182.3%
Golden NuggetGolden Nugget, BetAmerica$41,851

-50.8%


$508,193


1.5%


Bally’s Park PlaceCaesars Sportsbook, 888 Sport-$41,648



N/A


$1,056,072

-45.4%



Totals$34,327,709
+27.4%
$162,671,079
+32.3%

All-Time Monthly Betting Handle Records For New Jersey

With a full month of NBA and MLB action on the menu, New Jersey’s online sportsbooks set an all-time US record with just under $602 million in betting handle for August. The state’s mobile sportsbook realized a 5.7% hold, bringing in $34,327,709 in August revenue according to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

August 2020 marked the third-highest revenue earning month in the history of New Jersey’s online sports betting market. With the NFL returning in September, along with the NBA, NHL, and MLB all in action, next month’s numbers could show all-time handle and revenue records for New Jersey.

Online sportsbooks gained 27.4% month-over-month versus July. The top three operators in the state (New Meadowlands Racetrack, Resorts Digital Gaming, Borgata Hotel Casino) all gained big over the previous month.

New Jersey’s combined online and retail betting handle ended up at just under $668 million for August, another US record. With 90 percent of that figure coming from mobile sportsbooks, New Jersey’s online sports betting market set a new ceiling for the industry in August. Find out about all the latest NJ sports betting promos here.

Pennsylvania Online Sports Betting Revenue August 2020

Retail OperatorOnline SkinsAugust 2020 RevenueMonth-Over-Month ChangeYTD Revenue
Valley Forge Casino ResortFanDuel Sportsbook$8,865,958+518.6%
$35,269,856
Parx CasinoParx Sportsbook$1,501,578+82.5%$7,656,973
Rivers PittsburghBetRivers Sportsbook$1,267,294+78.1%
$6,957,169
Rivers PhiladelphiaSugarHouse Sportsbook$1,236,042

+37.9%


$8,136,566
Mount Airy Casino ResortFOX Bet$1,166,132

+20.8%
$5,958,483
The MeadowsDraftKings Sportsbook$1,156,515


-37.1%


$17,674,067


Mohegan Sun PoconoUnibet Sportsbook$156,051

+2.2%




$1,683,691


Harrah’s PhiladelphiaCaesars Sportsbook$55,060+121.7%$80,928
Presque Isle DownsBetAmerica$33,642
+5.4%



$219,771


Totals$15,438,272
+124.5%
$83,637,504

PA Posts Record Mobile Sports Betting Numbers

Total combined handle from retail and online sports betting came in at just under $365 million for the month, which set a new record for Pennsylvania.

Online sportsbooks posted $15,438,273 in August revenue, accounting for nearly 85% of overall sports betting earnings. Mobile revenue was driven by a big month for FanDuel Sportsbook, which brought in more than $8.8 million for the Valley Forge Casino Resort license.

DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook (licensed to The Meadows) stand as the top two revenue-earning mobile sportsbooks in the state. The two brands account for 63.3% of all online sports betting revenue for 2020.

The August 2020 figures from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board showed several skins competing for the No. 2 spot in monthly revenue. Overall mobile sports betting revenue realized a 124.5% gain over July in month-to-month comparison.

Indiana Online Sports Betting Revenue August 2020

Retail OperatorOnline SkinsAugust 2020 RevenueMonth-Over-Month ChangeYTD Revenue
Ameristar CasinoDraftKings Sportsbook$5,181,163

+134.7%

$24,403,648


Blue Chip CasinoFanDuel Sportsbook$3,541,166


+215.7%


$13,159,516

Belterra CasinoBetMGM$634,599

+43.6%




$1,763,982

French Lick ResortBetRivers Sportsbook$327,687


+65.8%




$2,251,150

Hollywood LawrenceburgPointsBet$274,923


+125.6%


$565,561


Horseshoe HammondCaesars Sportsbook, Unibet$57,151


+113.9%


$90,278


Rising Star CasinoBetAmerica-$599


N/A

$18,595


Totals$10,016,090+143.3%$42,252,730

Indiana Posts Best Numbers Yet For Monthly Revenue

The pattern of surging August numbers held in Indiana, as the Hoosier State realized a record $169 million in combined retail and online sports betting handle.

Online sportsbooks took in more than $10 million in gross receipts for August, setting a new benchmark for mobile sports betting in the state. Single bets on basketball and baseball accounted for more than half of overall handle according to numbers released by the Indiana Gaming Commission.

DraftKings Sportsbook brought in nearly $5.2 million under the Ameristar Casino license, while FanDuel Sportsbook earned more than $3.5 million for the Blue Chip Casino license. Between the two brands, DraftKings and FanDuel account for 89% of online sports betting revenue in 2020.

West Virginia Online Sports Betting Revenue August 2020

Retail OperatorOnline SkinsAugust 2020 Revenue*Month-Over-Month ChangeYTD Revenue**
The GreenbrierFanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM$603,237
+77.2%
$3,678,995
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town RacesDraftKings Sportsbook$602,471+38.7%$3,076,788
Totals$1,205,708
+55.6%
$6,755,783

*total revenue figures for weeks ending in July 2020

**total revenue figures for weeks ending in 2020

Upward Climb Continues For WV Mobile Betting

August 2020 marked the fourth straight month of increasing revenues for West Virginia’s online sportsbooks. The state’s two online operators went nearly 50/50 in monthly revenue earnings, with both eclipsing the $600k mark for August.

The Greenbrier license, which includes FanDuel Sportsbook and BetMGM, has a slight edge in 2020 revenue over Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. With just one skin under its license (DraftKings Sportsbook), Hollywood Casino is almost equal to the Greenbrier for 2020 market share.

The monthly and yearly revenue reports from the West Virginia Lottery can be looked at here.

Iowa Online Sports Betting Revenue August 2020

Retail OperatorOnline SkinsAugust 2020 RevenueMonth-Over-Month ChangeYTD Revenue
Prairie MeadowsWilliam Hill Sportsbook at Prairie Meadows$585,604


+19.1%


$3,603,194

Wild Rose CasinoDraftKings Sportsbook$302,848



+14.0%


$1,052,039

Isle CasinoWilliam Hill Sportsbook at Isle Casino$249,185+27.4%$1,464,444
Elite Casino ResortsElite Sportsbook$242,250

+7.0%


$1,234,166


Catfish Bend CasinoPointsBet$93,220

+106.6%



$244,278


Q CasinoQ Sportsbook$71,835


+33.0%
$250,569


Lakeside Hotel CasinoWilliam Hill Sportsbook at Lakeside Hotel Casino$63,912


+308.0%$187,353


Hard Rock CasinoHard Rock Sportsbook$29,689


-12.9%


$238,230

Totals$1,638,543+23.3%$8,274,273

More Good News For Iowa Sports Betting

Yet another state posting upward trending numbers, Iowa’s mobile sports betting apps drew in more than $1.6 million in revenue in August. William Hill owns the two top spots in 2020 revenue, with separate licenses for Prarie Meadows and Isle Casino.

DraftKings Sportsbook continues to gain ground in the Hawkeye State, going over the $1 million mark for 2020. DraftKings Sportsbook launched in February under the license of Wild Rose Casino.

The August revenue numbers reported by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission can be viewed here.

Colorado Online Sports Betting Revenue August 2020

August 2020 Online Sports Betting HandleMonth-Over-Month ChangeAugust 2020 Online Sports Betting RevenueMonth-Over-Month ChangeYTD HandleYTD Revenue
Colorado Online Sportsbooks$126,666,238
+116.15%


$7,275,870
+44.62%
$249,025,754
$18,356,652

Best Month Yet For CO Online Sports Betting

Colorado launched online sports betting on May 1, but August marked the first month that offers a glimpse at what the market could look like in a normal sports year.

Online sports betting reached new highs in both betting handle and revenue in the Centennial State. Mobile betting handle more than doubled versus July, and Colorado’s online sportsbooks took in $7,275,870 in revenue.

Both retail and online sports betting are live in Colorado, with online wagers accounting for 98.5% of overall betting handle in August. The Colorado Division of Gaming report for August can be found here.

About the Author

Geoff Fisk

Geoff Fisk

Geoff Fisk is a San Diego-based freelance writer, specializing in the poker and gambling industries. He’s written for numerous platforms and has traveled the globe as a live poker tournament reporter. Geoff is an avid sports fan, but poker is his passion.
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