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FanDuel is getting challenged by its rival, DraftKings, right before the start of football season.
Michigan sportsbooks produced $345.6 million in handle and $50.5 million in revenue in August, reported the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
FanDuel Sportsbook, which has been the market leader for years, barely held off DraftKings in handle, generating $109.3 million and $103.1 million, respectively.
DraftKings Sportsbook has been closing the gap over the last few months. Can it take the lead during football season?
August sports betting by the numbers
- Handle: $345.6 million ($338.8 million online)
- Revenue: $50.5 million ($49.3 million online)
- Hold: 14.6%
- Month-over-month: Total handle decreased 19.8%
- Sports betting taxes: $2.8 million to state and local coffers
- Top online sports betting app by handle: FanDuel with $109.3 million
- Top online sports betting app by revenue: FanDuel with $18.4 million
FanDuel market share drops
FanDuel has been ceding market share handle as of late. It dropped a little bit more in August, too, the fourth straight month:
- 36% in May
- 34.1% in June
- 32% in July
- 31.6% in August
DraftKings’ market share increased from 27.4% in May to 29.8% in August. It finished roughly $6 million behind FanDuel, which has led the market in every month since December 2021.
Handle, revenue increase
The return of preseason football, along with a near full slate of college football at the end of August, boosted handle and revenue from July.
Both categories increased at 19.8% and 43.9%, respectively. Handle and revenue also increased on a year-over-year basis at 19.3% and 73.5%, respectively.
Sportsbooks have been cashing in as of late. Operators finished August with a 14.6% hold rate, increasing it from 12.2% in July.
Those kinds of rates are what platforms are hoping for during football season.
ESPN Bet increases market share
August provided some good news and bad news for ESPN Bet. The bad news is that the operator fell behind Caesars Sportsbook once again.
The good news is that ESPN Bet increased its market share percentage from July to 5.1%. Here is how the operator has fared in market share throughout 2025:
- January: 5.6%
- February: 5.3%
- March: 5.9%
- April: 5.7%
- May: 4.9%
- June: 5.2%
- July: 4.5%
- August: 5.1%
ESPN Bet and Penn Entertainment have an opt-out clause after 2026, which is three years into the 10-year deal the companies signed back in 2023.
This football season could determine the outcome of the partnership.
Michigan sports betting handle for August 2025 by operator
| Licensee | Online Brand | Handle | Revenue | Hold | Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MotorCity | FanDuel | $109,290,797 | $18,402,641 | 16.80% | $1,352,319 |
| Bay Mills | DraftKings | $103,071,698 | $15,726,906 | 15.30% | $834,388 |
| MGM Grand Detroit | BetMGM | $53,071,232 | $7,035,427 | 13.30% | $22,182 |
| Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa | Fanatics | $30,173,240 | $4,202,118 | 13.90% | $220,902 |
| Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa | Caesars | $20,023,955 | $1,280,214 | 6.40% | $82,032 |
| Greektown | ESPN Bet | $17,559,805 | $2,502,517 | 14.30% | $166,917 |
| Little River Band of Ottawa | BetRivers | $6,365,347 | $825,662 | 13.00% | $54,526 |
| Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi | betParx | $2,153,106 | $225,229 | 10.50% | $17,213 |
| Sagniaw Chippewa | Eagle | $1,763,236 | $157,221 | 8.90% | $5,631 |
| Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi | FireKeepers | $1,202,452 | $76,595 | 6.40% | $0 |
| Pokagon Band of Potawatomi | Four Winds | $944,467 | $78,440 | 8.30% | $0 |
| Total | $345,619,335 | $50,512,970 | 14.60% | $2,756,108 |
