Betting options at DraftKings Sportsbook
Every bettor is different, and DraftKings recognizes that with a great list of available options. Here’s a list of the most popular betting types at the Illinois sportsbook.
- Point spread betting: Make a bet on the outcome of a game, and how big the spread in the final score will be. Wager on a specific number, and whether your chosen team will exceed it or fall behind.
- Totals: Also referred to as the over/under, totals focus on the number of points, runs, or goals you think will be achieved in any event. DraftKings offers totals for individual quarters or halftimes of games, as well as for the end result.
- Futures: Take a shot at the long-term outcome of a particular league. These bets can last for months, and DraftKings will change the odds of futures as the sporting event plays out.
- Moneyline: Predict who will win or lose a particular sporting event, and choose your odds based on what the sportsbook offers. Different payouts will be offered based on the sportsbook’s perception of which team is most likely to win.
- Live Betting: Place a bet during a live game with odds that are updated in real-time.
- Early Cash Out: DraftKings will give you the chance to cash out on your bets before they have fully played out for a smaller prize pot.
- Props: Wager on events that run alongside the main game, such as whether a certain player will hit a home run or not. Proposition bets are a fun alternative to betting on the full-time outcome of an event.
Sports available at DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings offers an extensive list of sports for Illinois bettors. As well as your favorites, you’ll also be able to find a few underdogs to keep your betting interesting. Sports available at DraftKings are as follows:
Illinois sports teams you can bet on
Obviously, you can bet on teams across all sports, but betting on your local favorites can be the most fun as those are the teams you likely know the best. So here’s a look at the top pro teams from Illinois!
First up is Major League Baseball and a rivalry that divides Chicago between North and South sides. The Chicago White Sox are the South-siders, while the Chicago Cubs are the North-siders. Both teams ended their long World Series droughts within the past generation, the Cubs in 2016 vs. the Cleveland Indians and the White Sox in 2005 vs. the Houston Astros. You can bet on both teams and the other 28 MLB teams at DraftKings Sportsbook in Illinois.
In the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks are one of the league’s Original Six and have won three Stanley Cup titles since the 2009-10 season. At DraftKings, there are plenty of wagers on the Blackhawks and the rest of the NHL, including live betting.
The NFL’s Chicago Bears were made even more famous thanks to a Saturday Night Live skit, earning them the nickname Da Bears. The team also had a rap song, The Super Bowl Shuffle, that reached No. 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1985, the season the Bears won their lone Super Bowl title. DraftKings online sportsbook has a plethora of bets you can place on the Bears and all NFL teams each week of the regular season and postseason.
Despite such historic teams as the Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, and Bears, the Chicago Bulls might be the most iconic Illinois team thanks to one player, Michael Jordan. Jordan led the Bulls to six NBA titles — a pair of three-peats — in the 1990s and is widely regarded as the best basketball player in history. During the season you can bet on the Bulls and other NBA teams on DraftKings.
DraftKings has soccer fans covered as well, which means betting on the Chicago Fire FC of the MLS couldn’t be easier. The Fire kicked off their inaugural season in Major League Soccer by winning the MLS Cup back in 1998, but have not won the title since.
Rounding out the Illinois pro sports teams you can bet on at DraftKings Sportsbook is the Chicago Sky of the WNBA. The Sky are currently in rebuilding mode around burgeoning star Angel Reese after winning their first WNBA Championship in 2021. That squad was led by all-pro guard Kahleah Copper and basketball legend Candace Paker. The Sky’s first season was in 2006, and they reached the WNBA Finals in 2014 but were promptly swept in by the Phoenix Mercury. You can bet on the Sky and the other 11 WNBA teams at DraftKings.
DraftKings futures betting
For those unaware, futures betting is more of a long-term approach to betting. Instead of wagering on just one game, you could be placing a bet on something that will play out over the course of an entire season. With that being said, we put together a roundup of the futures markets you are able to bet on at DraftKings for teams from the great state of Illinois.
First up, let’s tackle DraftKings Sportsbook’s NFL futures markets because it is massive. At DK you can wager on the Chicago Bears, and every NFL team for that matter, to win the Super Bowl and so much more. There are futures for the AFC and NFC winner, each division winner, and season win totals. You also can bet on teams to make the playoffs and whether someone will go 0-16 or 16-0. On the player side of things, DraftKings has futures markets for the MVP winner, as well as Defensive and Offensive Player of the Year. You also can bet on who will lead the league in passing, receiving, and rushing yards. Fingers crossed that the Bears’ offense gets rolling so we can have some local flavor to wager on.
Moving to the NHL and the Chicago Blackhawks, at DraftKings online sportsbook you can place futures on the team you believe will win the Stanley Cup as well as the teams you think will win the Western and Eastern Conference titles. When it comes to player-specific futures, expect to be able to bet on the winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the regular season MVP, and the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the playoff MVP.
If you’re hoping to place futures bets on the Cubs, White Sox, or any other MLB team, DraftKings’ futures market has you covered. You can put money on the team you believe will win the World Series, as well as the American or National League pennant. There also likely will be futures for the AL and NL MVP and Cy Young Award winner. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a market for the overall home run leader, too.
As for the Chicago Bulls and NBA, there are futures for the NBA Finals winner and conference champions, but also for the NBA draft. Near the start of the season, you will be able to bet on who will win the regular-season MVP award.
While you can bet on both the WNBA and MLS on DraftKings, the futures markets for those leagues are hit or miss. There’s a chance you won’t be able to place futures on the Sky, Fire, or any other teams in the leagues, but if you can, it’s likely all you will be able to bet on would be the eventual champion.