Top Illinois Sports Betting Sites: Best Sportsbooks in Illinois for 2024
| Sportsbook | Bonus | Availability | Claim Offer |
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$1,000 First Bet on CaesarsTerms & conditions apply |
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20% Deposit Match up to $1,000New customers only. Deposit min. $5. Place daily first bet of min. $5 and get up to a $100 bonus bet for 10 consecutive days. Daily bonus issued within 72 hours. |
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First Bet Offer up to $1500Bonus bets expire in 7 days. One new customer offer per user. Additional terms apply. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. |
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Deposit $50 play with $100Terms & conditions apply |
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Illinois sports betting updates
Illinois legalized sports betting in 2019, allowing wagers at riverboat casinos, horse racetracks, and select sports venues. Online sports betting became available in June 2020 with the launch of BetRivers, marking a significant milestone in the state's gambling landscape. Since then, Illinois has seen rapid growth in both the number of sports betting operators and overall handle.
In August 2024, Hard Rock Bet became the ninth online sportsbook operator in Illinois. Despite a shrinking handle in June, Illinois' operators maintained an 11% hold, showcasing the market's resilience. Earlier in July 2024, Illinois extended its streak of billion-dollar handles to nine months, reporting $1.02 billion in wagers for May. The state has also solidified its position as a sports betting powerhouse by surpassing New Jersey for the second-highest handle in the U.S. for April.
However, the Illinois sports betting market is not without challenges. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a progressive sports betting tax increase into law in June 2024, raising concerns among major sportsbooks. Some operators, including DraftKings, have hinted at adjusting their Illinois presence if the tax hike, which increases the tax rate to 30%, becomes a financial burden. The tax increase is expected to generate an additional $100 million for the state's budget, but its long-term impact on the sports betting market remains to be seen.
May 2024 saw a surge in betting activity, with basketball action rising by 23% year-over-year, driving Illinois' sportsbooks to generate nearly $1.3 billion in handle. In April 2024, Fanatics Sportsbook launched in Illinois, adding further competition to the state's thriving market. Illinois continues to be one of the most competitive sports betting environments in the U.S., with a total of nine online operators and multiple retail betting venues.
With its growing market, Illinois is poised to remain a major player in the U.S. sports betting industry, despite looming concerns over tax hikes and market saturation. The state's ability to maintain a billion-dollar monthly handle streak underscores the robustness of its betting ecosystem.
Is sports betting legal in Illinois?
Yes, sports betting is legal in Illinois. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the comprehensive SB 690 bill into law on June 28, 2019, officially legalizing sports betting in the state. The first legal retail sports bet was placed at Rivers Casino Des Plaines on March 9, 2020. Illinois' first online sportsbook, BetRivers, went live on June 18, 2020, marking the state's entry into the online sports betting market.
To stay updated on the progress of sports betting in various states, you can use a USA legal tracker.
Who can partake in Illinois sports betting?
All bettors, 21 years of age and older, can create an Illinois sportsbook account online or by visiting a casino, racetrack, or off-track betting facility. Remote registration returned to Illinois on March 5, 2022.
Here are some key considerations and features that will help you to navigate the Illinois sports betting landscape:
Legal Age
You must be at least 21 years old to bet on sports in Illinois, whether you are placing a wager online or in person at one of Illinois’ casinos or racetracks.
Mobile Betting
Legal online Illinois sports betting can take place on a mobile phone, tablet, or desktop computer. The Illinois Gaming Board regulates all online and casino gambling in the state.
Remote Registration
March 5, 2022, marked the end of in-person registration in Illinois, meaning bettors no longer have to visit brick-and-mortar Illinois sportsbooks to complete the sign-up process.
From April 3, 2021, to March 5, 2022, sports bettors were unable to register remotely. A 2020 executive order by Gov. Pritzker that had allowed bettors to register without visiting a sportsbook in person was not renewed during this time.
Within State Borders
All sports gamblers must be physically present in the state of Illinois when placing a wager. While bettors are not required to be residents, Illinois sports betting sites are required to use geotagging software to verify users’ locations.
Retail Sportsbooks
Eight of Illinois’ 10 casinos currently operate retail sportsbooks. Most recently, Circa unveiled its brick-and-mortar location at The Temporary by American Place Casino in Waukegan.
FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing — formerly Fairmount Park — and Hawthorne Race Course are now licensed to offer live betting as well. Hawthorne also operates an off-track betting site in Crestwood, IL.
Taxable Winnings
Sports bet winnings over $600 are subject to a 15% tax rate in Illinois. It’s also standard procedure for casinos in Illinois to withhold 25% of winnings for federal tax purposes.
Players are able to deduct amounts wagered and lost — but may not deduct wagers on winning bets.
The pros and cons of IL sports betting
Illinois is now up to nine online sportsbooks, and the sports betting market is expected to continue to grow in the Prairie State. The return of remote registration is a huge win for sports bettors.
On the flip side, college sports fanatics may also be less inclined to get in on the betting action as wagers on Illinois college teams are still restricted to in-person only.
Fully mobile betting with the March 2022 return of remote registration- Significant growth potential
- Access to online and retail sportsbooks
- Bets on Illinois college teams placed only in person at a casino or racetrack sportsbook
- High barrier-to-entry means fewer choices for bettors
How to start betting in Illinois
Bettors in the Prairie State can now open an online sports betting account from anywhere in Illinois via legal mobile sports betting apps.
Select a sportsbook
Choose Illinois sportsbooks that best suit your betting needs. Check out some reviews and consider betting opportunities, customer service, current promotions, and the ease of financial transactions.
Register online
The registration process is both convenient and straightforward. After entering your personal information, Illinois sports betting sites allow you to confirm your identity and location from anywhere within state borders.
Claim a bonus
New players in Illinois can benefit from a number of different promotions when opening up a new account with an online sportsbook. Although there aren't many Illinois sportsbooks, bettors can still benefit from some nice bonus offers. Here are the most popular types of offers in Illinois:
- Risk-free bets: Place your first wager without risk. If you lose your bet, sportsbooks will replace your funds with site credit or cash.
- First deposit bonus match: Some Illinois sports betting sites will match your first deposit — up to a specified amount. Play-through requirements will usually be attached to this type of offer.
- No deposit bonus: This is a free credit that’s given to new users. It must be wagered before it can be withdrawn.
Choose your bet
The most popular bets in Illinois include the point spread, moneyline, Over/Under (totals), parlays, and futures. Live betting is also an option since Illinois betting sites can access real-time data and offer updated odds and new betting opportunities for sports bettors.
Deposit
Common deposit methods in Illinois include PayPal, credit cards, debit cards, and online banking. Be sure to watch for unexpected fees before confirming your transaction.
Start betting
Sports bettors should research the types of wagers that best fit their needs and goals. It’s important to understand the risk associated with each bet.
Different sportsbooks may offer slightly better odds than others, so line shopping definitely has its benefits as well.
Withdraw
Withdrawals typically take a bit longer to process, so keep this in mind when planning to access your winnings. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the terms and conditions of each Illinois betting site, as some methods may include higher fees for gambling transactions.
Odds explained
American odds are the default option for Illinois sportsbooks. Favorites are accompanied by a minus (-) sign and indicate the amount you have to wager to win $100. For example, -150 odds indicate you’d need to bet $150 to take home a $100 profit.
Underdogs are accompanied by a plus (+) sign and indicate the amount you’ll win if you bet $100. For example, +200 odds suggest you’d take home $200 in profit when placing a wager of $100. Underdogs are less likely to win, and the larger payout reflects this.
Moneyline odds are displayed for futures odds and props as well. Players who are accustomed to decimal odds may be able to view odds this way with some Illinois sportsbooks. Use our odds converter to adjust from American to decimal or fractions easily.
What you can't bet on in Illinois
In-state college betting received a big boost on Dec. 21, 2021, when Gov. Pritzker signed a law that lifted the betting ban on in-state schools.
However, despite the return of remote registration, wagers on Illinois teams can only be placed in person at one of Illinois' retail casinos or racetrack sportsbooks. Illinois sports betting sites cannot offer betting lines on college markets.
NFL Draft
The marquee offseason event has steadily increased in popularity, which applies to betting markets, too. Illinois is one of only a handful of states where you can legally bet on the 2024 NFL Draft, meaning you can cash in on all seven rounds.
Politics
The Illinois Gaming Board, similar to other U.S. states, does not permit betting on political events, including Presidential elections.
esports
The Illinois Gaming Board has not yet authorized esports betting to be available in Illinois. Esports are neither banned nor included in the state’s sports betting law, so the door has been left open for the future.
Other types of gambling
Illinois boasts nearly a dozen casinos, three racetracks, and a number of live and online poker rooms. Daily fantasy sports were also legalized with the Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2019.
