Illinois Sports Betting Sites - Top IL Sportsbooks December 2024

Best Illinois Sports Betting Sites

The best Illinois betting sites BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, and ESPN BET are the top Illinois sportsbook operators and IL betting apps to make bets with for any of your favorite sports.

Top Illinois Sportsbooks & Betting Apps Guide

Illinois betting sites offer sports fans great welcome bonuses and offers. Lets look at the best Illinois betting sites like BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel, and others to show what perks they offer for signing up.

BetMGM Illinois Sportsbook

BetMGM IL is a market leader and offers great perks thanks to its reputation as an international entertainment brand. Its signature welcome offer in other states is a Get $1500 Paid Back In Bonus Bets if your first bet loses.You can use the bonus code BOOKIES to claim this offer. BetMGM is now live in Illinois now that the in-person online sign up requirement has expired. It has partnered with Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria. Par-A-Dice is owned by Boyd Gaming, which already has a partnership with BetMGM, so this was an obvious marriage from the start.

• Claim the BetMGM Illinois Bonus Code

Caesars Sportsbook Illinois

Iconic gambling name entered the Illinois online market after purchase of global sportsbook giant William Hill, which was partnered Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin. Caesars Illinois offers a $1000 First Bet Bonus. Use the Caesars promo code BOOKIES1000 to take advantage of this offer. Also you will be enroll in the industry’s most popular loyalty rewards program.

• Claim the Caesars Illinois Promo Code

FanDuel Illinois

Offering one of the most popular sports betting apps in the industry, the FanDuel Illinois betting app has an interface that is player-friendly and easy to navigate. FanDuel offers betters a wide range of deposit options, fast payouts and plenty of in-game wagering options. A national leader in online sports wagering and daily fantasy sports. Fanduel IL current offer is Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets

• Read our FanDuel Illinois Sportsbook Review

Fanatics Sportsbook Illinois

Fanatcis Sportsbook is offering Illinois residents its customary welcome offer of Bet and get up to $1000 in Bonus Bets. Fanactics Illinois betting app also offers some of the industry’s more interesting promotions, including Good Karma Refund (for bad beats) and Premier League soccer games in which you cash if your team leads by two goals. Players can also specifically request a bet on any market.

• Read our Fanatics Illinois Sportsbook Review

BetRivers Illinois

In addition to an industry-low bonus money playthrough requirement, BetRivers Illinois app offers plenty of live in-game betting options and live streaming. The BetRivers app offers a huge menu of sports to bet on, with a great offer of a second chance bet up to $500 when you sign up.

• Read our BetRivers Illinois Sportsbook Review

DraftKings Illinois

One of the most recognized and top-performing names in sports betting has an agreement with the Chicago Cubs to build a sportsbook at Wrigley Field. Partnered in Illinois with Casino Queen in East St. Louis. DraftKings Illinois betting app is one of the highest rated of all Illinois sportsbooks apps and offers new users a Bet $5, Get $150 In Bonus Bets Instantly and a useful stats hub to help make selections.

• Claim the DraftKings Illinois Promo Code

Illinois betting sites are currently operating, all of which offer mobile sports betting apps for Android and iOS mobile devices and can be downloaded for free.

Illinois Sports Betting Updates

What's more, even with the in-person requirement in place, Illinois online sports betting's online handle (wagered amount) on Super Bowl 56 amounted to roughly $55 million, according to number released by the Illinois Gaming Board. The overall handle of about $61 million , which was the first time Illinois bettors could legal wager on the Super Bowl.

As you can see, the ability to sign up online for betting apps and sites is a game changer for Illinois sports betting. The change was introduced with House Bill 3136.

In-stadium sports betting in Illinois is also on the way, while the law that prohibited betting on college sports has been repealed. In fact, FanDuel will open a retail sportsbook at the United Center, which is home to the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks. FanDuel will open a non-wagering space until it gains the necessary approvals.

FanDuel's move is capitalizing on the fact that the Chicago City Council approved in-stadium sports betting. This development means that, in addition to the United Center, sportsbooks are now eligible to open at Wrigley Field (Cubs), Soldier Field (Bears), Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox) and Wintrust Arena (Sky).

The Chicago Tribune reports there will be a 2% tax on stadium sports betting, which had long been opposed by casino operators who claimed it would hurt business. Meanwhile, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill the same week that lifts the ban on in-state college sports betting. Bets on college sports can only be placed in person, however, and won't include props on college players. Another bill will need to be passed in two years, or the ban on college sports betting will be reinstated.

How Do We Pick the Best Illinois Betting Sites?

Bookies.com reviews sports betting sites from every state with legal sports betting. Our experts know what Illinois sports bettors want and sign up for betting accounts to determine which of them offer the best mobile IL betting apps and overall experience. Among the key factors of the best Ilinois betting sites and apps we consider:

• Safety: We only review top Illinois betting sites that are legal, regulated and licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board. We do not review or recommend any offshore sports betting sites.
• Pricing: Bettors should always be looking for the best betting odds and prices, which can vary significantly between Illinois sportsbooks.
• Bonuses and promotions: Illinois sports betting sites offer a variety of bonus offers and promotions for betting. We read the fine print to determine which offers are the most lucrative in the growing Illinois sports betting market.
• Mobile options: Most sports wagers are placed through mobile devices. We test Illinois sportsbooks apps for ease of use and speed to determine which provide the best overall mobile experience.

Bonuses & Promotions at Illinois Betting Sites

Illinois sportsbooks offer huge bonuses and promotions in an attempt to entice bettors to sign up and stay on the betting site or app, and those bonuses could get even better as more operators join the Illinois online sports betting market. You can check out the best Illinois sportsbook promo codes here.

Among the most popular sign-up offers are deposit matches and first bets. With a deposit match, the online operator matches up to 100% of your initial deposit. Some Illinois betting apps have a one-time playthrough requirement, while others have more gonerous requirements. Be sure to read the terms and conditions.

First bets remove the risk of our first bet with the promise of refunding the full amount of that wager - almost always as side credit - should your first wager lose. If your first bet is a winner, there is no betting credit given. Some operators will also give out a small "no-deposit" bonus in the neighborhood of a $25 free bet for those who sign up. If you win that wager, you keep the winnings (unless there is a playthrough requirement) but not the free bet stake.

The most popular Illnois sports betting site promotions are odds boosts, parlay insurance and free bets as a reward for regular customers. An odds boost provides more favorable odds on a specific team, game or prop bet.

How to Sign Up and Place a Sports Bet at Illinois Betting Sites

Residents can now sign up for an Illinois sportsbook account on their phones or computers. The in-person registration requirement expired on March 5, 2022, making Illinois sports betting fully mobile.

To register for an online Illinois sportsbook account:

1. Choose the best Illinois online sportsbooks. Spend time on several of the Illinois betting sites or apps and select the one that best fits your needs.
2. Click on ‘Register’ or ‘Join Now’ and fill out some personal information, such as name, address, contact number and last four digits of social security number to verify identity and age.
3. Fund your account. You can choose from among multiple deposit options, such as credit/debit card, E-wallet such as PayPal, online banking, prepaid cards and PayNearMe.
4. When the funds appear in your account balance, you can begin wagering. Find the betting line of the game you want, enter a selection and the amount you want to wager. Click ‘confirm bet’ and your wager is completed.

Deposits and Withdrawals

The best Illinois sportsbooks want to make transactions as easy as possible, but some methods work better than others. Deposits can be processed in minutes; withdrawals usually take longer.

Credit/debit cards: These are the most popular deposit option, though some financial institutions will not process gambling transactions. Few online casinos permit credit card withdrawals.

Play+: A great option created for just this purpose. You can sign up for a Play+ card from a link on the operator website, then fund the card via a credit card or bank account. Use Play+ to fund your account, then withdraw winnings back on to the account and access the cash at an ATM. You can use one Play+ card with multiple operators, too. Play+ is a highly recommended method for its ease of use and reliability.

PayPal/other e-wallets: Setting up an account with e-wallets such as PayPal and Neteller allow players to easily make deposits and withdrawals to and from their online sportsbooks in IL for low fees. Bank transfers do the same, though transactions take longer.

PayNearMe: This is a cash-only deposit option available at an Illinois 7-Eleven, Family Dollar or CVS Pharmacy, with the money transferred to your account through a barcode.

Bank transfer/ACH: Transfers allow the Illinois online sportsbook to withdraw funds from a player’s checking account for an instant transaction.

Cash: You can fund your account by visiting the cashier cage at the affiliated IL casino/sportsbook. You can also make withdrawals from the cashier cage.

Paper checks: These remain a viable method for withdrawals at most operators. If time’s not a factor, request a check and one will be mailed to you.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Illinois?

Yes, Illinois online and in-person sports betting was signed into law in 2019. BetRivers accepted the state’s first online sports wager in June 2020. Six Illinois sportsbooks are currently operating.

Mobile betting is expected to flourish now that the in-person sign up requirement no longer is in effect as of March 5, 2022. Illinois was one of the few states in the U.S. to require in-person registration, meaning bettors had to first visit an Illinois casino or racetrack before signing up for an online sports betting account and accessing Illinois sports betting apps. Under Illinois law, the in-person registration requirement expired on March 5, 2022. This change was introduced with House Bill 3136

The online-only betting licenses are untethered, meaning they do not require a partnership with any Illinois casino, horse track or pro sports venue. But those licenses come at a cost – $20 million. That’s at least twice the price paid by the state’s six current online sportsbook operators – Barstool, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings IL, FanDuel and PointBet IL.

It’s generally believed the law was written this way to penalize Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) operators DraftKings and FanDuel for operating DFS games in Illinois despite an opinion from the state’s former attorney general that the games violated state law. To save money and avoid the 18-month “penalty box” period, DraftKings instead struck a deal with Casino Queen, allowing the DraftKings sportsbook to immediately offer retail and online wagering. FanDuel gained access by purchasing an interest in Fairmount Park.

Benefits of Legal Online Illinois Sports Betting

Online and mobile wagering isn’t only the future of sports betting in IL, it’s the present. About 80% of legal sports wagers in the U.S. are made on computers or smartphones, and it’s predicted that number will increase to 90% within the next decade. Among the benefits:

Convenience and access: Online sports wagering in Illinois allows bettors to wager from the comfort of their home or on their smartphone or tablet from anywhere in the state, rather than making a potentially long trip to a casino.

Value: Having multiple online accounts allows sports bettors to shop and compare the best odds and prices in minutes.

Bonuses and promotions: Online operators offer sign-up bonuses and valuable promotions such as odds boosts and parlay insurance, none of which are offered at in-person Illinois sportsbooks.

Payment options: Illinois allows a wide range of banking options to deposit and quickly withdraw funds from your account.

Features of an Illinois Sports Betting Site

Most Illinois sports betting sites and apps utilize the latest state-of-the-art technologies. Among the features you should expect to see when betting on Illinois betting sites or apps:

Intuitive User Interface

Your Illinois sports betting apps should have a player-friendly, clutter-free interface that is easy to navigate and becomes more intuitive the more you use it. Menus make it easy to find the sports and betting lines you want. The Illinois betting app should be compatible with all of your mobile devices.

List of Betting Odds

Illinois bettors should find continually updated odds on a wide range of sports. Betting lines are similar for each Illinois sportsbook but not identical. Signing up with multiple operators allows bettors to shop for the best odds on every wager.

Live Betting and/or Live Streaming

All Illinois sportsbooks offer live betting, with wagers placed during the games and odds continually updated. That includes pread, over/under, player props and other types of bets. The number of betting options for each pro game can be enormous and the action moves fast.

Safety and Security

Illinois bettors want to know they are placing safe, legal wagers and their personal information remains secure. Your sportsbook should have a reputable and trustworthy history in Illinois (and elsewhere) and operate on a secure and encrypted connection.

Top 5 Illinois Sports Teams to Bet On

Chicago is home to teams in all of the major U.S. sports leagues, giving Illinois bettors plenty of options.

Chicago Bears

One of the NFL’s original franchises, the Bears won Super Bowl XX in 1986 and lost Super Bowl XLI in 2007. The Bears, who play their home games at Soldier Field, haven’t won a playoff game since 2010. The team has been in search of a franchise quarterback for years and Bears fans hope former first-round pick Justin Fields will eventually be the answer.

Chicago Cubs

The National League team, which plays its home games at iconic Wrigley Field, won the World Series in 2016, ending a 108-year drought, the longest in MLB history. That was the second of six consecutive winning seasons for the Cubs, who are now back in rebuilding mode after a dismal 2022 season.

Chicago White Sox

Dominant winner of the MLB American League Central Division in 2021, the team’s first division title since 2008. The White Sox play their home games on the city’s South Side at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Chicago Bulls

The Michael Jordan-led Bulls won six NBA championships during an eight-year span in the 1990s but haven’t reached the NBA Finals since. With no playoff series victories since 2015, the Bulls brought in new coach Billy Donovan in 2020. Guard Zach LaVine is one of the NBA’s most prolific scorers, averaging at least 23 points per game for four consecutive seasons.

Chicago Blackhawks

One of six original NHL teams, the Blackhawks share the United Center with the Bulls. The Blackhawks have won six Stanley Cups, most recently in 2014-15, but have failed to win a playoff series since then. Always a hot ticket, the Blackhawks sold out more than 500 consecutive home games.

Most Popular Illinois Sports Betting Types

All of the popular sports betting options are available in Illinois, including:

What Sports Leagues Can I Bet on in Illinois?

You can bet on all the major sports leagues and leagues from around the world at Ilinois betting sites and apps. Illinois sports betting law allows wagering on college sports, but not on games involving Illinois-based teams. While the in-person registration requirement is lifted, that bill did not directly address eSports betting.

All of the major sports leagues with Chicago teams have signed partnerships with sportsbooks or casinos. For example, the NBA, NHL and MLB are partners with MGM Resorts and FanDuel IL; the NBA and NHL with William Hill Sportsbook IL; and the NFL with Caesars IL. Several individual teams have also struck deals.

Most of Chicago’s pro sports teams will be involved in IL sports betting in some form. The state’s betting law allows up to seven betting licenses at sports venues with capacities over 17,000, or within a five-block radius of those facilities. That means Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, the United Center and Chicagoland Speedway could be Illinois sports betting sites in the not-too-distant future, provided they are approved for a license and pay the $10 million license fee.

The state’s three racetracks are also eligible to receive a sports gambling license and Hawthorne Race Course was awarded one in late July.

IL Major Sports Events to Bet on - 2024

The Bears did not make it to Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13, 2022, but the annual game was a huge wagering event in Illinois. Illinois bettors wagered $46 million on Super Bowl LV in 2021. Of that total, about $43 million was bet online.

Chicago is home to two teams in MLB. The playoffs (which includes the White Sox in 2021) and World Series will be major wagering events in Illinois. The NBA and Stanley Cup Finals also attract plenty of action. Chicago has teams in the WNBA (Sky) and MLS (Fire FC), and Illinois hosts annual events on the PGA Tour, NASCAR Cup Series and IndyCar.

Why Place Bets Online?

The most obvious answer is convenience. Online wagering gives Illinois bettors access to betting lines and legal sports wagering 24/7 on their smartphone or home computer from anywhere in the state. Online sports wagering eliminates the need to drive hours to a casino or racetrack to place a sports bet.

Online wagering means sports betting is no longer limited to standard pre-game bets. Instead, Illinois bettors have access to hundreds of in-game wagers on pro sports games, alternative lines and early cash out options.

Online players are eligible for multiple bonus offers and daily promotions when betting in Illinois, such as odds boosts and reduced or no-juice games. Those bonus offers and promos are generally not available at in-person sportsbooks.

Latest Illinois Online Casino News

Bookies.com provides the latest updates and developments on Illinois online casino betting as well as sports betting information, including any changes in state law. Bettors can also find up-to-date odds, game selections, helpful wagering tools and recommendations and reviews for all Illinois sportsbooks.

Illinois Responsible Gambling

The state’s Sports Wagering Act requires that the Illinois Gaming Board offer a self-exclusion program for sports betting. That allows players to self-exclude from sports betting for specific periods of time or permanently. Players can also set daily, weekly or monthly limits on the amount of money wagered and time spent on any Illinois sports betting site.

Problem gamblers in need of support or assistance can contact the Illinois Gaming Board or click on WeKnowTheFeeling.org, a website developed by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery.