Disclaimer: Fox Bet online sportsbook is not yet available in Illinois. This review is speculative based on what is offered in other states and will be updated post-Illinois launch.
Illinois has an embarrassment of choices when it comes to sports betting. The latest sportsbook to join the market is Fox Bet, owned by the gambling conglomerate Flutter Entertainment.
Some of Fox Bet’s biggest drawing cards include top-notch bonuses, exceptional market coverage across all major sports and first-class apps for Apple and Android users. However, we can say the same about multiple other sportsbooks in the Illinois sports betting market.
So, we raise the question: Should you opt for Fox Bet? We will have that answer and more in our detailed review. Read on.
Like its esteemed rivals, Fox Bet offers a slew of bonuses and promos to attract new customers and retain existing ones. First, the sportsbook offers a risk-free first bet worth up to $500.
To qualify for this deal, all you need to do is visit the site via one of our links and place a bet with minimum odds of -200. If your wager fails, Fox Bet will give you a refund of up to $500. The offer comes with a few terms and conditions.
You don’t need a bonus code for the Fox Bet Sportsbook welcome bonus, but you’ll have to use one of our links on this page when you go to sign up.
Online Sportsbook | Fox Bet Sportsbook |
---|---|
Bonus Code | None - Use Links |
Welcome Bonus | Risk-free first bet, up to $500 |
Last Updated | March 2021 |
After you use all the bonus credits from the sign-up offer, Fox Bet will keep throwing more promos your way. These deals may come in various shapes and sizes, from odds boosts to cash-back promos, to name a few.
Here are a couple of promotions we saw while reviewing the site:
Online sports wagering became legal in Illinois in June 2019, when Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law the sports betting bill passed by Illinois legislators.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Pritzker initially required in-person registration in the law. However, the governor continues to renew an executive order to allow Illinois bettors to sign up online from anywhere in the state.
Fox Bet has joined the Illinois sports betting market via a partnership with Penn National. The sportsbook is one of four betting sites operating under the flagship of Penn National, per the sports betting laws in Illinois.
So if you’re 21 years or older and in Illinois, you can place legal sports wagers for real money with Fox Bet.
If you want to sign up for an account with Fox Bet via the browser-based version of the website, you can do so following these steps:
If betting on the go is your thing, then you should consider joining Fox Bet. The sportsbook offers top-notch apps for iPhone/iPad and Android users. When you download the app, you’ll be able to place a wide range of bets no matter where you are in Illinois, as long as you have a stable internet connection.
The download process is easy. You merely have to use one of our links as a shortcut to Fox Bet’s betting platform and find the download links to the iOS or Android app. You may have to allow app installations from unknown sources on your mobile device.
Functionality-wise, both apps are outstanding. All the desktop site’s popular features have been integrated, including cashing out and custom bets. The apps have a modern yet responsive and clutter-free design. The layout is easy to work with and allows you to get anywhere you need to go via a few taps.
In terms of speed, Fox Bet apps perform well compared to all the other available options in Illinois. Developers have reduced the loading time to a bare minimum, and it takes mere seconds to jump from one section to another.
In terms of overall quality, Fox Bet is neck-and-neck with all the elite sportsbooks in Illinois. That said, it would be tricky to single out one particular characteristic that would give Fox Bet the edge over its competitors.
Still, there are a couple of distinctive features at Fox Bet and a handful of other betting sites. For instance, the custom bet option gives users a highly customizable betting experience. Via the custom bet feature, Fox Bet patrons can create unique wagers listed in the sportsbook’s betting portfolio.
Fox Bet also offers a cash-out option, a relatively new concept in the US betting landscape. With this option, you can get paid for a wager even before all the games from your slip are finished. If cashing out is available, your bet slip will clearly display the value of your payout.
Another strong suit of Fox Bet is the sportsbook’s bet boost promos that offer you better (boosted) odds on popular events. You’ll probably see this kind of incentive on other betting sites, just maybe not as frequently.
Although Fox Bet is undeniably great, it comes with a few downsides.
To begin with, the site’s selection of sports you can bet on is merely average. We should give credit where credit is due, as the sportsbook has a strong offer for major sports, but we would like to see it add a few more niche options like cricket, for example.
Fox Bet notably lacks a proper rewards program. The challenges are a nice touch, but they’re not as appealing and lucrative as a loyalty program.
Fox Bet offers a slew of sports betting options for in game and pregame markets.
If you’re a betting beginner, you may want to stick to betting the moneyline where you simply have to pick the team you expect to win. If you’re not a stranger to sports betting, you may want to consider some more complex options.
Depending on the competition and the game itself, you should be able to find the following bet types:
For the most high-profile events, Fox Bet usually rolls out some exclusive bets — props that aren’t available otherwise.
You can also place round robin bets that combine multiple parlays into a single bet.
Fox Bet has partnership deals with multiple NBA and NFL teams, so it’s only natural that this is where the offer excels the most. The sportsbook has equally impressive coverage of hockey, baseball and tennis.
Soccer is slowly picking up momentum in Illinois, which is why you’ll be glad to hear that Fox Bet allows you to bet on all MLS matches and top-flight European competitions like the English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Spanish La Liga and others.
Tennis offerings are also abundant, as the book covers almost all the top-tier competitions from the ATP circuit, including Grand Slams, Masters 1000s, ATP 500s and even challengers.
Other than these, you can also place bets on golf, boxing/UFC, cycling and a few other sports. Both college football and NCAA basketball are available at Fox Bet, as well, though betting on in-state college teams is prohibited in Illinois.
Illinois has a strong presence in the US sports landscape. All the major professional teams from the Prairie State are located in Chicago. The windy city has a representative in every major league — NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS and NBA.
Fox Bet thoroughly covers all NFL games, meaning that you can place wagers on all Chicago Bears games in addition to the other 31 teams in the National Football League. Available betting options include moneyline bets, spreads, totals and an array of player props.
If you’re more into the NBA, Fox Bet has bets there, too. Aside from betting on every single Chicago Bulls game, you can explore other options, too, like betting on the other 29 teams from the Eastern and Western conferences.
Fox Bet showcases an impressive assortment of MLB bets, which should be great news for baseball fans living in Illinois. There are plenty of betting markets to go around for every White Sox and Cubs fixture. You can bet on every MLB game, with pregame and live moneyline, spread, and totals odds being readily available. Plus, the sportsbook offers several divisional and World Series futures.
It’s pretty obvious why everyone loves betting futures — they’re thrilling, don’t rely on the single wager’s outcome and can deliver a monster payday. Fox Bet has assembled a good collection of futures for pretty much every sport in its portfolio.
Although the Cubs won the World Series relatively recently — in 2016 — that doesn’t mean they will fail to do it again next year. With Fox Bet, you can place a futures bet on the team that you think will win the National League pennant, the American League pennant and the World Series.
Every Illinoisan surely remembers the glory days of the Michael Jordan Bulls from the ’90s. If Fox Bet had been around back then, you could have won big from all those titles. The possibility of the Bulls winning the title anytime soon is remote, but what if someone from the roster wins a rookie of the year award? These types of futures are just as exciting and profitable. Fox Bet also gives NBA fans a chance to place futures bets on other individual awards, such as the MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year.
NFL fans will have an array of futures bets at their disposal at Fox Bet. The sportsbook also has bet boosts for some special futures markets. For instance, if certain teams all win their games, users get a boosted payout. For an accurate Super Bowl winner prediction, Fox Bet offers exceptional odds. But if you want to play it safer, you can place a futures bet on a conference winner.
Fox Bet’s banking department has a solid array of options. The easy-to-use and safe deposit methods include:
As far as withdrawals are concerned, you’ll have to use e-wallets, ACH or a PokerStars Play+ card to cash out your winnings. E-wallets are the fastest option, as they take 24 to 72 hours to process, while taking out your funds via ACH may take a bit longer, up to 10 business days.
We give major props to the Fox Bet customer support team for its professionalism and efficiency. Whether you contact the service via email ([email protected]) or live chat, you can expect your problem will be solved in a polite manner. Our only issue is with the support’s responsiveness — we’d appreciate a bit quicker response, at least via a live chat platform.
Fox Bet promotes responsible sports betting through various educational tips and self-exclusion tools. You can exclude yourself for six months, a year or even indefinitely. The sportsbook also gives you the option of limiting your daily, weekly and monthly deposits.
We’re also strong believers in responsible gambling. Sports betting should be treated as a fun pastime and not a reliable source of income. If you come across any symptoms of gambling addiction, we urge you to get professional help immediately.
Fox Bet could open a retail sportsbook in one of Penn National Gaming’s land-based properties, either Hollywood Joilet or Hollywood Aurora. We’ll keep you posted on the official launch dates right here.
It depends on your betting preferences. If you’re looking for a sportsbook with exceptional coverage of major sports, a top-notch banking section, lots of handy betting features and great apps, then Fox Bet should definitely be near the top of your list. On the other hand, there probably are a few better options for bettors who prefer niche markets and massive welcome bonuses.