With football season well underway, New York sports bettors are betting big – really big. Online sportsbooks fielded a monthly record $2.3 billion in wagers in October, according to the New York State Gaming Commission.

This marked the second-straight month the state has reached the $2 billion handle mark and the fifth time overall. The Empire State is the only state in the country to reach that number in a single month.

“The excitement and the revenue generated by New York’s sports wagering has exceeded all expectations,” Gaming Commission chairman Brian O’Dwyer told the New York Post.

Inside The Numbers

October’s overall handle produced gross gaming revenue of $176.4 million, lower than the $204.7 million seen in September, which had a handle of only $2.1 billion. A recent report noted that bettors scoring big on NFL wagering affected sportsbooks’ financial projections for the year, including FanDuel and DraftKings, which may have helped lead to a reduced GGR for October.

Of New York’s nine legalized online sportsbooks, FanDuel is the top operator after collecting $907.6 million in October. DraftKings took the silver medal with $813.7 million in bets for the month.

The Buffalo Bills have been a favorite for NFL bettors this season, but along with the football season being in full swing, the state also saw the Mets and Yankees advance in the MLB postseason.

So far this year, online betting revenue has contributed $595.4 million to help fund public education in the state.

New York legalized mobile betting in January 2022 and has since become the largest regulated market in the country. Legislators have also made attempts to legalize online casino gaming and poker over the last two years as well, but those plans have yet to come to fruition.