Illinois Sports Betting

Yes, Illinois online sports betting is legal, live and available online throughout the state. Illinois sports bettors can now access the best sportsbook apps in the US, sign up and bet from the comfort of their homes.

There are currently seven legal, regulated Illinois online sports betting sites for those who are 21 or older.

Here at PlayIllinois, we have the latest on online sportsbooks in Illinois, and comparisons so you know what each IL sports betting app brings to the table. Check below for all of the details.

Top sports betting apps in Illinois 2023

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OPERATOR

BONUS

INFO

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1

Visit DraftKings Sportsbook

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2

Visit Caesars Sportsbook

Up to $1,250

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3

Visit BETMGM Sportsbook

$1,050 BOnus

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4

Visit BetRivers Sportsbook

$500 BONUS

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5

Visit FanDuel Sportsbook

$1,000

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How online sports betting works in Illinois

Illinois sports betting customers no longer have to visit a retail sportsbook in order to sign up for an IL sports betting app. Illinois online registration returned on March 5, 2022.

Registering online is a simple process that should take no more than a few minutes. Be sure to have any legal documents handy should you be asked to verify your age or location.

Let’s walk through the steps on how to sign up online for one of the seven sportsbooks in Illinois:

1. Register for a new account.
2. Use the sportsbook bonus/promo code.
3. Deposit funds.
4. Place a bet.

Bonuses and free bet offers

One of the most significant differences between online sportsbooks compared with retail is the prevalence of sportsbook bonuses. Because the competition is only a few clicks away, online sportsbooks have to work harder to keep customers interested, happy and loyal.

Here are some of the most common types of promotions you’ll encounter at Illinois betting sites:

• No Deposit Bonuses: One of the best types of promotions is the no deposit bonus. You don’t have to deposit a dime to take advantage, although they are most common for new players as an enticement to register for an account.
• Deposit / Match / Reload Bonuses: These bonuses all function the same and involve the sportsbook matching a portion or all your deposit amount with its own money. You will usually have to play through the bonus money to a certain degree before you can withdraw it.
• Insurance / Cash-Back: These are bonuses that compensate for losses on specific bets or during certain periods. They are usually distributed for net losses only; however, the best they can do is help you break even.
• Event Bonuses: These bonuses are specified for a player or team achievements, like goals or scores of a specific type and may pay a flat amount to you for each time they occur during a game.
• Loyalty Programs: These programs reward customers for continued patronage. You receive perks and bonuses, depending upon the aggregate total amount of wagers you make on the site.
• Free Bets: These vouchers allow a wager of a particular value on specific bets. The bonuses are often given for the completion of tasks that the sportsbook specifies.

Live Illinois sports betting odds

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What you cannot bet on in Illinois

Sports bettors 21 years or older can bet on professional and collegiate sports in Illinois, as well as on international sporting events. But the law does impose some restrictions on certain types of wagers. Some states allow the following types of bets. However, in Illinois, sports operator licensees cannot accept wagers on:

• A minor league sporting event
• A sports event involving an Illinois collegiate team (mobile-only, retail is allowed)
• A K-12th grade sports event
• A non-sports event (i.e., an event that is not “a professional sport or athletic event, a collegiate sport or athletic event, a motor race event” or other events authorized by the IGB)

That latter restriction against betting on non-sports events prohibits accepting wagers on events such as the Academy Awards (permitted in some states, like New Jersey and neighboring Indiana).

Additionally, there are some limits on the types of betting on college sports. Individual props are not allowed, nor is in-game betting on college events.

Chicago sports and teams

Illinois is home to eight major professional sports franchises, all of which are in Chicago. Illinois has been the home of several great sports teams in history. Here is a brief rundown of the major league teams that call the Prairie State home:

• Chicago Cubs (MLB)
  • Won the 2016 World Series
  • One of the original teams in the National League (1876)
• Chicago White Sox (MLB)
  • Won the 2005 World Series
  • Originally known as the White Stockings
• Chicago Fire (MLS)
  • Won the MLS Cup in 1998 in their first year of existence
  • The name recognizes the famous Chicago disaster; colors reminiscent of fire departments
• Chicago Bulls (NBA)
  • Won six NBA championships in the 1990s
  • Primary NBA team for Michael Jordan, widely recognized as the greatest basketball player ever
• Chicago Bears (NFL)
  • Won nine pre-merger NFL championships and one Super Bowl (1985)
  • Have more players in the NFL Hall of Fame than any other team
• Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
  • Have won six Stanley Cup championships, including three since 2010
  • Named after Sauk Native American warrior Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak
• Chicago Red Stars (NWSL)
  • They appeared in the first league finals in 2019
  • Name is chosen by fan vote
• Chicago Sky (WNBA)
  • Won 2014 conference championship
  • One of few WNBA teams without NBA team affiliation

Illinois sports betting history

Sports betting is legal in Illinois, both in retail locations and online. The Illinois Gaming Board regulates sports betting in the state. Casinos and racetracks can apply for a license to operate sportsbooks, but so can sports venues with a seating capacity of 17,000 or more. Since the launch in 2020, the state has grown by leaps and bounds, and that’s despite an in-person registration requirement. All-time, the state has seen more than $8 billion total bets. You can find more information about Illinois sports betting revenue here.

Read on for a brief rundown of all that has happened in Illinois sports betting since 2019:

2022

The start of the NFL season in September had a huge impact on sports betting in the state. Month-over-month, Illinois sports betting handle rose nearly $267 million or 47%. Illinois is second in the nation in 2022 revenue through September and third in handle.

In August, legal sports betting revenue in Illinois, from bets placed online only, surpassed $1 billion lifetime.

In July, Illinois surpassed $1 billion in lifetime, legal sports betting revenue and became the second-largest sports betting market in the United States.

On March 5, online sports betting registration became possible again in the Land of Lincoln. Also, BetMGM Sportsbook went live in Illinois.

2021

Illinois recorded more than $7 billion in sports betting handle in 2021, which was the third-highest mark in the US. But Pritzker brought back in-person registration in April, and that policy lasted throughout the rest of the year. Barstool was the only new online sportsbook to launch.

2020

In March, Rivers Casino accepted the first legal sports bet ahead of March Madness. Shortly thereafter, all Illinois casinos closed for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But once sports leagues started up again in the summer, a few online sportsbooks launched. Illinois would have online registration from late August through the end of the year. In December, Illinois set a then-handle record of $491.7 million in bets.

2019

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Sports Wagering Act into law in June. The law included an 18-month “penalty box” provision, which would not allow online sports betting registration. Illinois sporting venues could apply for retail sports betting licenses, but betting on Illinois college teams would not be allowed.