Circa Sports Skips Surcharges and Minimum Bets in Illinois, Keeps Options Open

Illinois’ Tax Squeeze

 Jeffrey Benson, Circa’s COO, told the outlet, “We don’t have any plans at the current moment. We are still evaluating what, if anything, we’d be doing. It’s too early.” With Illinois’ tax landscape squeezing operators, Circa’s wait-and-see approach stands out.

Starting July 1, 2025, Illinois imposes a $0.25 per-bet tax on the first 20 million wagers annually, jumping to $0.50 per bet beyond that.

Coupled with a 2024 shift to a 20-40% progressive tax rate, top operators like DraftKings and FanDuel face effective tax rates of 57-60%, the highest in the U.S.

Unlike those giants, Circa Sports expects to stay under the 20-million-bet threshold, keeping its per-bet tax at $0.25. This lower volume gives Circa room to avoid passing costs to bettors, at least for now.

Competitors’ Moves

Other operators are reacting differently. BetMGM set a $2.50 minimum bet starting July 16, 2025, covering all wager types. Hard Rock Bet enforced a $2.00 minimum, already in effect. DraftKings and FanDuel plan $0.50 per-bet fees from September 1, expecting to exceed the 20-million-bet cap.

Fanatics Sportsbook, like Circa, anticipates staying below the threshold and will add a $0.25 fee this fall, its first surcharge anywhere.

Bet365, BetRivers, Caesars, and ESPN BET haven’t announced changes, potentially eyeing market share gains.

Circa’s Derek Stevens previously warned that low-margin operators might struggle with small bets under the new taxes, questioning Illinois’ market profitability.

Yet, Benson’s cautious stance suggests Circa’s keeping its powder dry, monitoring the market before committing. “We are evaluating the market,” he reiterated to Sports Betting Dime.

This flexibility could help Circa attract bettors frustrated by rivals’ fees, especially smaller-stake players hit hardest by the 25-50% tax burden on modest bets.