Arizona also edged out Nevada for the highest handle of any state in the first month of operations in the post-PASPA era that began in June 2018. While the Silver State had long conducted legal sports wagering prior to the U.S. Supreme Court striking down PASPA, it generated US$286.5 million the month other states were also permitted to begin accepting bets. Maryland began accepting its first wagers in December.
Arizona’s strong start, aided by the popularity of NFL wagering in general and the Cardinals in the thick of the NFC West race as well as the reigning NBA Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns entering the new year with a 27-8 record, makes it a near certainty the Grand Canyon State will be the fastest to US$1 billion in handle when the Department of Gaming releases its November numbers.
Arizona’s handle of $486 million for October ranked seventh among the 24 states accepting wagers that contributed to a record national monthly handle of more than US$7.5 billion. While the number was aided by October having 10 weekend days as opposed to the normal eight, it was still a staggering 37.8% increase from the very short-lived record of nearly US$5.5 billion wagered in September — the first US$5 billion handle month of the regulated era.
DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM stake out share
Top 10 October Sports Betting GGR by state:
1 - NewJersey: US$84.15M
2 - Illinois: US$52.6M
3 - Nevada: US$48.31M
4 - Pennsylvania: US$42.28M
5 - Arizona: US$36.33M
6 - Virginia: US$30.16M
7 - Colorado: US$28.62M
8 - Indiana: US$27.68M
9 - Michigan: US$26.95M
10 - Tennessee: US$22.9M
Unsurprisingly, DraftKings and FanDuel ranked 1-2 in online handle through the first two months of action, with DraftKings accounting for nearly one-third of the US$767.4 million online handle at US$249.1 million. FanDuel represented nearly one of every four mobile dollars wagered at 22.7% (US$173.9 million). BetMGM, though, emerged as a relatively strong No. 3 with US$151 million, good for just shy of 20% of all online handle.
Source: Sports Handle
