ESPN BET Raises Minimum Wager to $1 for Illinois Players

Sports bettors in Illinois logging into ESPN BET will now find a new baseline for placing wagers. As of August 8, the PENN Entertainment-owned sportsbook requires a $1 minimum bet — up from just 10 cents — in response to the state’s newly implemented per-bet tax.

Good to know

• Illinois began applying its new per-bet tax in July.
• The first 20 million wagers by an operator each year are taxed at 25 cents per bet, with 50 cents charged on every bet beyond that.
• Some sportsbooks use transaction fees instead of higher minimum bets to manage the added cost.

According to ESPN BET’s updated Illinois house rules, the higher minimum is already in place for all online sports wagers. A company spokesperson confirmed the change, noting it mirrors steps other sportsbooks have taken to offset the new tax burden.

Illinois lawmakers approved the per-bet tax earlier this year, aiming to increase state revenue from sports betting. For operators, though, the fixed fee on each wager — regardless of size — creates a direct cost pressure that’s harder to absorb on smaller bets.

Competitors have handled it in different ways. DraftKings, Fanatics, and FanDuel now charge a 25-cent or 50-cent transaction fee on every bet instead of raising the minimum wager. BetRivers, BetMGM, and Hard Rock Bet have chosen the same path as ESPN BET by increasing their minimum bet requirement. BetMGM for example upholds a $2.50 minimum bet.

This variety in operator responses may reshape the way Illinois players choose where to wager. A bettor who dislikes transaction fees might gravitate toward platforms with higher minimums, while someone who prefers smaller wagers may opt for a fee-based sportsbook.

The shift also highlights the challenge of balancing compliance costs with customer experience in one of the country’s largest sports betting markets. For now, Illinois bettors have more reason than ever to compare options — not just for odds and promos, but for how each book handles the state’s per-bet tax.