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FanDuel has reinstated its 50-cent transaction fee on qualifying Illinois sports bets after suspending the charge in April 2026. The fee returned in October and mainly affects customers placing smaller wagers.
Good to Know
The flat FanDuel betting fee makes smaller wagers more expensive. For example, customers placing a $1 bet pay another $0.50, effectively adding 50% to their stake. Meanwhile, a $20 qualifying wager carries an additional cost of just 2.5%.
However, FanDuel offers three exemptions. Customers avoid the transaction fee when placing straight bets of at least $25, parlays worth at least $10, or wagers funded entirely through Bonus Bets.
The return comes despite continued growth in the Illinois sports betting market. Illinois Gaming Board figures show sportsbooks handled approximately $1.05 billion in July 2026, up 21.7% year over year. Adjusted gross revenue reached $116.5 million, an annual increase of roughly 30%.
Illinois introduced its per-wager sports betting tax in July 2025. Operators pay $0.25 for each of their first 20 million online wagers during the fiscal year, followed by $0.50 for every additional bet.
FanDuel, owned by Flutter Entertainment, now charges qualifying customers $0.50 after exceeding that threshold. However, state law places the tax obligation on sportsbook operators, while FanDuel independently determines which customers pay its transaction fee.
Unlike conventional sports betting taxes, which depend on operator revenue, the Illinois per-wager tax applies regardless of whether a bet wins or loses.
Furthermore, Illinois collects a separate graduated tax on sportsbook revenue. Rates start at 20% and reach 40% on annual adjusted gross receipts exceeding $200 million. Combined with the per-wager tax, the system creates two separate costs for licensed Illinois sportsbooks.
FanDuel initially introduced the surcharge in 2025 but temporarily suspended it in April 2026. Its October return ends several months of fee-free qualifying wagers for Illinois customers.
No. The $0.50 transaction fee applies to qualifying wagers. Straight bets of at least $25, parlays of at least $10, and bets funded entirely through Bonus Bets remain exempt.
FanDuel reinstated the charge to offset the Illinois per-wager tax, which reaches $0.50 per bet after an operator processes 20 million online wagers in a fiscal year.
FanDuel restored the fee in October 2026 after suspending it in April.