December is still to be calculated in the final statistical analysis of 2023 sports betting. Even without the 12th month, commercial handle in the U.S. topped the $100 billion mark when Pennsylvania produced more than $934 million in November. The $100.6 billion already ranks 7.2 percent higher than the $93.8 billion handle from 2022.
October still awaits Arizona’s numbers to finish a month already known for its record handle of $12.2 billion. The final calculation of November will mark the first time figures bettered $10 billion for three straight months.
Some 14 states came in at $500 million for at least one month.
Then, there is New York. Since mobile betting launched in January 2022, the state scored $1 billion in a month by itself. New York reached $2 billion in October and again in November.
New Jersey has topped $500 million handle or higher for 42 months.
The year that just ended also included the debut of Ohio, Massachusetts, Maryland, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Heck, barring any court orders, Florida should add to the mix.
Football season boosted Ohio close to a $700 million handle in September and $750 million in October.
Boston sports fans put Massachusetts on the wagering map as they could finally stay in-state to place mobile bets starting in March, as opposed to crossing state lines into Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, or New Hampshire. Massachusetts has finished among the top 10 of monthly handle, reporting $500 million five times and hitting its stride with $654 million in November.
Kentucky debuted with a $340 million handle in September and October.
Illinois ranks third after falling behind New Jersey but should top $10 billion in handle in a year for the first time.
Virginia expects a double-digit increase in handle year-over-year, despite Maryland in the mix. Each has outdone $4 billion this year. Tennessee anticipates $4 billion in handle for its first year.
The sports betting calendar year as it pertains to handle has two seasons: the NFL and the non-NFL. The 18-week regular season provides four-plus months of extensive action in the fall, often reaching a peak in October. This November, however, most states have exceeded the prior month, boosted by the impact from ESPN BET‘s arrival.
The NFL playoffs provide a boost in January and early February then March Madness kicks in.
