Techme101.com

The per-bet tax installed on betting companies in Illinois is showing signs of real impact on the betting market.
The Illinois Gaming Board has released statistics showing that wagering decreased by 15% in September compared to the previous month, and $10.6 million was recouped through taxation.
The tax originates from the $55.2 billion budget approved and signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker in mid-2025, which included $480 million in overall tax increases to fund statewide investment.
Tax increases hit big players hard
According to the Illinois Gaming Board’s Sports Wagering Monthly Reports, there is a marked decrease in wagering. This could be attributed to millions of bets now subject to the tax increase, which could be dissuading bettors across the state.
FanDuel and DraftKings, two of the biggest operators in the state, felt the taxation pinch through partnerships with Fairmount Park, Inc., and Casino Queen, Inc., respectively.
FanDuel reported that across 11 million wagers, there was a $4.5 million tax bill, and DraftKings had a similar receipt for the 11.25 million wagers placed for $4 million in taxes.
Before the bill was signed into law, we reported that Jason Robins, the CEO of DraftKings, publicly criticized the bill, saying that, despite meeting with state leaders, the proposed budget did not include the tax hike.
“All it’s (the now approved tax legislation) going to do is drive people to the illegal market or drive people to bet more. It just makes no sense, and it was done in the dead of night. We had no warning, actually met with legislative leaders in the weeks before the budget was released, and they made no mention of this,” said Robins in July 2025.

The Sports Betting Alliance (SBA), which represents the lobbying interests of both operators, was vocal about the impact of taxation,
“It (the reporting) shows that bets plunged in Illinois after the law was put in place and is a red flag that Illinois sports fans are fleeing the legal betting market in favor of the cheaper, illegal market,” Illinois spokesperson Maura Possley told The Centre Square.
More taxes incoming for Illinois?
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposal for an additional 10.25% city gambling tax would also mean that, come January 1, 2026, major operators like FanDuel and DraftKings could be paying 51% in taxes to operate in Chicago and Illinois.
An excerpt from the budget proposal states that the tax is “a 10.25% rate on adjusted gaming receipts from online sports betting licensees—an industry that has grown rapidly, with over $48 billion wagered nationwide in the past five years. The measure ensures this expanding sector contributes to the City’s shared priorities.”
The illegal betting market was a concern, said Possley, who cited that federally appointed individuals agreed that the tax increase could lead more bettors to turn to illicit sites.
“You see agreement among all of the attorneys general across the country that the illegal market is a serious concern. It’s rapidly expanding without any consumer protections and zero oversight,” Possley said.
Featured image: PublicDomain
The post Illinois’ per-bet tax triggers sharp wagering decline, intensifying industry concerns appeared first on ReadWrite.

Global revenue in the gambling market is expected to surpass $500 billion by 2030, according to data analyzed by Statista.
The total gambling market comprises wagering activities such as sports betting, casinos and lottery games, all either online or in physical venues, and by the end of 2025, a total of  $449.7 billion is expected to be reached.
This marks a 5.5% revenue increase from 2024. Furthermore, the annual growth rate between 2025 and 2030 is expected to increase by 3.05%, thus resulting in a projected market figure of $522.6 billion in just five years.
The USA is the biggest source of revenue growth in the world, with the nation generating $121.3 billion this year alone. Despite there being many different areas of gambling revenue, the casino and casino games market is the most profitable, with a figure of $226.9 billion generated by that industry in 2025.
By 2030, the number of users is expected to reach nearly 2 billion, with one key trend contributing to this figure.
The rise of mobile gambling could explode in the next five years
The global gambling market is undergoing a major shift, and this is expected to change further between now and 2030.
Casinos and physical betting shops are still going to be available for bettors, but more and more people are using mobiles and mobile casino apps to gamble.
“One of the key trends in the online gambling market is the rise of mobile gambling. With the increasing penetration of smartphones and the availability of high-speed internet, more and more players are using their mobile devices to access online gambling platforms,” added an industry analyst following the results projected by Statista.
“This trend has opened up new opportunities for operators to reach a larger customer base and offer a seamless gambling experience on the go. Another trend in the market is the integration of social elements into online gambling platforms.
“Many operators are incorporating social features such as chat rooms and leaderboards to enhance the interactive nature of online gambling. This not only adds a social aspect to the experience but also encourages player engagement and loyalty.”
Statista may project the global gambling market to hit about US $449.7 billion in 2025 and more than US $522 billion by 2030, but there are some important caveats to keep in mind. The figures are based on Gross Gambling Revenue from B2C operators and only count users who made at least one online purchase in the past year, which naturally limits who gets included.
The market estimates are built from the ground up using company reports, third-party research, consumer surveys and country level data like GDP and internet speeds, and the forecasts rely on models such as S-curves and trend smoothing.
They also assume steady regulation and ongoing growth in internet access, mobile use and online engagement. So while the numbers give a good sense of where the market might be heading, they should be seen as well-informed estimates rather than exact predictions, especially given how easily the industry can shift with economic, political or regulatory changes.
Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram
The post Global revenue in the gambling market ‘expected to reach $500B by 2030,’ data suggests appeared first on ReadWrite.

WiFi systems are constantly undergoing development in an effort to improve performance, coverage, and network stability. Some of the latest advancements in WiFi technology include WiFi 7 and 6Ghz bands, both of which can be found in the NETGEAR Orbi 770.
By combining modern tri-band mesh systems, WiFi 7 capabilities, and intelligent hardware design, the Orbi 770 promises exceptional network coverage and performance, along with several additional noteworthy features and capabilities.
What Makes the Orbi 770 Special?
Real-world testing and research show the Orbi 770 is among the strongest contenders for tri-band mesh WiFi systems, in large part because its dedicated 6GHz is designed with next-generation devices in mind. With WiFi 7, the system can deliver speeds of up to 11Gbps while maintaining a consistent balance between speed and reliability across all bands.
Additionally, the Orbi 770’s six WiFi streams can manage heavy traffic without suffering major connectivity issues. This feature pairs well with the system’s high-performance antennas, which provide whole-home coverage.
To cap it all off, the Orbi 770 also boasts Multi-Gig Ethernet ports to match its multi-gigabit WiFi speeds. These descriptors only skim the surface of what the Orbi 770 can do; however, they necessitate a more in-depth look at how these features work and why they matter.
1. Six WiFi Streams to Handle Heavy Traffic
Modern activities like 4K streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing can be tough on a WiFi system’s bandwidth, especially when taking place simultaneously. To avoid this issue, the Orbi 770’s six-stream tri-band setup is designed to efficiently manage heavy traffic environments, giving each connected device a fair share of bandwidth for fast, uninterrupted access.
2. A Powerful Dedicated 6Ghz Band
WiFi 7-enabled systems provide powerful internet connections, but without a sufficiently strong band to support it, WiFi 7’s capabilities are limited. As such, the Orbi 770 features a dedicated 6GHz band, providing an open, interference-free channel for modern devices that support WiFi 6E and WiFi 7. The result is lower latency, smoother streaming, and a stable throughput with the capacity to support upcoming connected technologies.
3. Supporting 11 Gbps Speeds With WiFi 7
With the proper support, WiFi 7 has the potential to deliver impressive speeds, as is evident with the Orbi 770. The system offers combined speeds of up to 11 Gbps by supporting ultra-wide 320 MHz channels and 4K-QAM modulation, which enables the simultaneous transmission of more data. These features culminate in faster downloads, more responsive cloud gaming, and seamless 8K video, all of which were previously a challenge for earlier-generation systems.
4. Balanced Speed and Reliability Across All Bands
Some WiFi systems have issues with speed and reliability, resulting in inconsistent performance that depends on the distance from the system. The Orbi 770 addresses this issue through its tri-band configuration, which allocates traffic across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands to minimize congestion and maintain stability, resulting in more reliable connectivity overall.
5. High-Performance Antennas for Consistent Coverage
Through the use of its four high-performance internal antennas and powerful amplifiers, the Orbi 770 provides strong, consistent coverage and eliminates dead zones. Each satellite extends WiFi coverage up to 2,750 square feet, allowing the network to reach all corners in and outside the household.
6. Correspondent Multi-Gig Wired Connections
Featuring two 2.5 Gbps Multi-Gig Ethernet LAN ports, the Orbi 770 supports wired connections for devices like gaming consoles and work PCs without sacrificing speed, ensuring its wireless performance keeps pace with the system’s wireless capabilities.
For more information about the Orbi 770 Series and its full specifications, visit the official NETGEAR website.
The post Examining NETGEAR’s Orbi 770, a Top-Performing Tri-Band Mesh Wifi 7 System appeared first on ReadWrite.