If you're an Illinois degen who likes to throw a buck on random player props, BetRivers just told you to get lost. The sportsbook has raised its minimum wager from $1 to $5—the second increase in under a year—as the state's per-bet tax continues to crush small-stakes bettors.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: BetRivers raised minimum bet to $5 in Illinois, up from $1
• The damage: 32% decline in bets placed on BetRivers since July's per-wager tax
• Why you should care: Other books are adding fees or raising minimums too
• The move: If you're in Illinois, shop around—some books still take $1 bets (with fees)

Death By a Thousand Taxes

Here's why this is happening: Last July, Illinois implemented a per-wager tax that charges sportsbooks 25 cents per bet. After 20 million bets, that jumps to 50 cents per bet. And as of January 1, 2026, Chicago added a 10.25% tax on adjusted revenue.

For a sportsbook processing millions of small bets, those quarters add up fast. A $1 bet that pays out $1.50 profit becomes unprofitable when you're losing 25-50 cents in taxes on top of the juice.

BetRivers' parent company Rush Street Interactive tried keeping the $1 minimum after the first tax hit, but the math finally stopped working. The 32% decline in betting volume proves that small-stakes bettors—the ones making $1-5 bets—are the majority of the action.

How Other Books Are Handling It

The Illinois sportsbook landscape looks like a patchwork of different strategies:

• Circa: Raised minimum to $10—highest in the state
• BetMGM: Set floor at $2.50
• Hard Rock: Minimum $2
• FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, Fanatics, bet365: Kept lower minimums but added per-bet fees

So you can still make $1 bets on some platforms, but you're paying a fee that essentially negates the value of small wagers. The prediction markets chaos is looking pretty tame compared to what's happening with traditional sports betting taxes.

What This Means for Degenerates

Look, we all do it. You see a random Tuesday night NBA game and think "I'll throw $2 on the under just to have some action." That mindless entertainment bet is exactly what Illinois lawmakers have killed.

The small-stakes bettors who make up the majority of volume are getting priced out. Meanwhile, the high rollers putting down thousands per bet barely notice a 25-cent tax. It's a regressive approach that punishes casual gamblers while the whales swim free.

The Bigger Picture

Illinois isn't alone in discovering that taxing sports betting to death has consequences. We've written about the 90% gambling loss cap taking effect this year and the sportsbook lawsuit against Chicago's betting tax. The industry is pushing back, but Illinois lawmakers seem determined to squeeze every penny they can.

The irony? By killing small-stakes betting, they're probably reducing overall tax revenue. People don't just bet more per wager to make up for it—they leave the platform entirely.

The Bottom Line

If you're an Illinois bettor on BetRivers, your minimum bet is now $5. If that doesn't work for your bankroll management, you'll need to shop around or reconsider how you approach recreational betting. The state wanted more tax revenue from gambling. Instead, they're getting fewer gamblers. Nice work, Springfield.