Circa Sports Sets $10 Floor for Bets in Illinois

Illinois sports bettors using Circa Sports will soon need to place wagers of at least $10. The change follows the passage of House Bill 1928, which introduces a new per-bet tax across the state.

Good to know

• House Bill 1928 sets a $0.25 tax per wager for the first 20 million bets, then $0.50 thereafter.
• Circa’s $10 minimum wager takes effect September 1, 2025.
• Other sportsbooks have responded with either minimum bet rules or per-bet fees.

Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens said the decision was made to protect customers from paying direct transaction fees:

“After thoughtful consideration, we believe the best course of action for a low-hold, high-volume sportsbook such as Circa Sports is to raise the minimum wager in Illinois. We are reluctant to compromise our best-in-class betting splits or charge our customers a per-bet fee. Beginning Monday, September 1, a $10 minimum wager will take effect, protecting the vast majority of bettors in Illinois. No one should have to pay a fee to make a wager.”

How other sportsbooks are reacting

Circa is not alone in adjusting its policies. On August 14, ESPN Bet updated its Illinois House Rules to set a $1 minimum wager for all state users.

Earlier in the summer, BetMGM and Hard Rock Bet introduced minimum bet thresholds of $2.50 and $2, respectively. Penn Entertainment, which owns ESPN Bet, confirmed its change as part of the broader operator response to the new state budget.

Meanwhile, DraftKings and FanDuel have chosen a different approach. Both will add a $0.50 per-wager transaction fee, expecting to exceed the 20 million bet limit where the higher tax applies. Fanatics Betting and Gaming will implement a $0.25 per-wager fee for its Illinois customers.

Why operators are making changes

House Bill 1928 creates a tiered per-bet tax designed to increase state revenue from sports betting activity. While the first 20 million wagers for each operator will be taxed at $0.25 per bet, any bets beyond that will be charged at $0.50. For large sportsbooks processing tens of millions of wagers annually, the second tier is almost inevitable.

Operators argue that without changes, the tax will erode margins and force them to adjust pricing, payouts, or customer fees. By setting higher minimum wagers, sportsbooks like Circa can limit the total number of bets processed while keeping their core odds and payouts intact.

Illinois bettors will begin seeing these changes roll out ahead of the September deadline, marking a shift in how sportsbooks operate under the new tax structure.