Illinois, the home of legendary sports teams and even more passionate fans was quick to embrace the online sports betting trend when it became legal in 2019. Today, you can find numerous sports betting sites in IL that offer an array of markets for both major and niche sports. But with so many options, how do you know which platform is worth it?
That’s where we jump in as we’re trying to navigate this dynamic landscape by curating a list of the most reputable and feature-packed sportsbooks. Whether you’re betting on the Bulls or the Bears or even exploring new sports, we’ve made sure to deliver a carefully ranked list of Illinois betting sites. Dive in and explore the best Illinois sports betting sites.
How We Selected the Best Online Sportsbooks in Illinois
For you to have more confidence in choosing from our featured list of Illinois online sports betting sites, here is a brief overview of how we select and rate them:
Betting sites’ reputation & trustworthiness: For a sports betting site in Illinois to find itself on our lists, it must have a good record of solving customer queries and offer a hassle-free online betting process for all punters.
Security and safety: The linchpin of any betting site we review is its valid sports betting license, guaranteeing a safe gambling platform for all registered bettors. Advanced SSL encryption protocols are necessary for each Illinois sportsbook we review.
Bonuses: You can boost your sports betting bankroll and increase your winnings by accessing rewarding bonuses. Therefore, we always recommend operators with promotions for every type of bettor.
Betting markets: The available betting markets can make or break any Illinois sports betting online site. Both pre-match and in-live betting markets should be extensive, ensuring punters’ loyalty and engagement.
Illinois Sports Betting Laws and Regulations
Arguably, the question is, “Is sports betting legal in Illinois?” The short answer is—yes, online betting is entirely legal in the state. After a prolonged negotiation process, Illinois lawmakers finally legalized online sports betting through the SB 690 Bill signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker. Here is how the online gambling legislation in Illinois evolved in the past few years:
2019 – SB 690 is signed, making online sports betting legalized for residents over 21. With it, bettors needed to register at a betting shop in Illinois.
2021 – Online bets on sports in Illinois are now allowed with the HB 3136 Bill, legalizing betting on in-state college teams. However, a bet cannot be placed on an athlete’s performance, and the wager must be made in person and not online.
2023 – SB 1508 is passed, addressing problem gambling, and it states that Illinois sports betting sites must provide registered punters with hourly pop-ups with information about how much they have bet so far.
The Illinois Gaming Board regulates and oversees the entire online legal sports betting and gambling industry in the state.
Illinois Sports Betting Tax Information
The state of Illinois has a flat income tax rate of 4.95% on net income, so if you are an Illinois resident and gamble at one of the domestic operators, you must pay tax on your gambling winnings.
As for the operators, Illinois is the first US state to adopt a progressive tax rate. Illinois sportsbooks will need to pay taxes based on their annual gross revenue as follows:
20% tax on AGR over $30 million
25% tax on AGR between $30-$50 million
30% tax on AGR between $50-$100 million
35% tax on AGR between $100-$200 million
40% tax on AGR over $200 million
This is one of the freshest legislation in Illinois, and some of the leading sportsbooks in the state are worried that this new tax regime will harm their lucrative offers for punters.
Bonuses and Promotions
The very best Illinois sports betting sites frequently use bonuses and ongoing promotions to persuade new players to sign up and retain the existing ones loyally.
The importance of Illinois sports betting promos cannot be underestimated, as they boost the bankroll of punters and extend their gameplay, thus increasing their chances of landing a handsome win. Let’s look at the most common promos at our suggested Illinois sportsbooks.
Welcome Offer
A welcome bonus is available to newly registered bettors at all our recommended Illinois sports betting sites. Each operator can have a different welcome bonus structure, so it can come in various forms – from deposit match bonuses to free bets; you can expect a high-value bonus upon registration that you can use only once.
Second Chance Bet
Commonly referred to as a risk-free bet, some IL sports betting sites will give you a second chance. This bet will refund your previous wager up to a certain amount if it is lost. As a no-deposit bonus, a second-chance bet will give you a risk-free chance to wager and try your luck again.
Deposit Match
A common promotion at all prominent IL sportsbooks and a deposit match bonus will match your deposit up to a certain amount. An example of such a promotion would be you depositing $50 and claiming a 100% deposit match bonus up to the same amount. That way, you will get an extra $50 to play with.
No-Deposit Bonus
A no-deposit bonus usually shows you a free bet offer, so you won’t need to touch your real money balance to place a bet. That way, you can even test the platform and win big prizes. Note that free bet winnings will be subject to wagering requirements, which you must complete before withdrawing.
Loyalty and VIP Programs
IL online sports betting sites greatly appreciate loyal punters so that you can expect rewards for your continuous wagering on the site. You will be enrolled in a Loyalty Scheme, usually a multi-ladder one where perks and prizes will increase with each new level you climb. You can expect personalized bonuses, better cashback deals, faster payouts, etc.
Popular Sports to Bet on at Illinois Sports Betting Sites
By choosing one of the featured Illinois sports betting sites here, you will get access to various sports you can bet on. Nonetheless, naturally, some stand out in popularity, so let’s walk you through each.
NFL
Football is the most prominent sport to bet on in Illinois, particularly the NFL. Online sportsbooks in Illinois offer a variety of markets you can use for your Chicago Bears and bets on other teams.
Of course, the moneyline bet is the most widespread one, where you’ll simply need to predict who will be the winner of the game. Point spread, over/under, and futures bets are all available, so plenty of options are at your disposal.
Prop bets are also popular among Illinois punters, with the “Anytime touchdown” among the most common. With it, you must predict whether a particular player finds their way into the end zone.
NBA
Whether you are a Chicago Bulls or any other NBA team fan, you will have many bets to make on the world’s most prominent basketball league.
Besides the standard moneyline, point spreads, and over/under bets, players can choose from several enticing prop bets. These bets usually focus on individual player performances, which can be anything – from backing a player to scoring more or less a predefined range of points to head-to-head player prop bets, there is plenty to choose from.
Very few sports can match basketball’s excitement and fast-paced nature, and you can enhance the thrills of watching the sport with any of the fantastic bets at the best IL sports betting operators.
MLB
Betting on baseball will provide you with additional entertainment while watching any game you have in mind, as you will get to engage even further with every pitch, swing, and run.
As for the bets themselves, team totals are commonly used among Illinois bettors, as they will see you bet on the number of runs scored by a specific team. You must predict whether a team scores over or under a specific number, so it doesn’t matter who wins the game.
Player props are also widespread. They can include any aspect of individual players’ performances, with one notable example being the number of strikeouts by a player.
NHL
As with all other sports on this list, hockey offers an endless supply of betting options for registered bettors at IL sports betting sites. The moneyline bet is the most popular in the NHL, but a unique bet you can try out is the Puck Line, which is hockey’s version of the point spread wager.
Here, a certain range of goals will create handicaps between the two teams, but in hockey, the Puck Line is generally lower since this is one of the lowest-scoring and tightly-contested sports. Of course, you can back certain players to score a certain number of goals through the prop bets sections at bookies in Illinois.
College Sports
The situation surrounding college sports betting in Illinois is more complicated than the other sports in this list. You can only place bets on the final score of the college sports event, and you must place that before the event starts.
So, you won’t get to back your favorite athlete to hit specific milestones in a game, and you must place your wager in person at sports betting shops rather than online.
Tennis
Finally, we have tennis, an individual sport that gathers numerous bets whenever a Grand Slam begins. With tennis, you will get to try to back your player to win the game through the moneyline bet, with the over/under market here specifying the total number of games played in a match. There will always be a specific threshold for you to go over or under.
Parlay bets are also popular in the Illinois sports betting community, and they represent several individual tennis bets into one larger wager. To win that bet, you need all individual bets to be successful. Due to the bigger odds in question, you can expect bigger potential payouts here – if you guess all events correctly.
Let’s not forget player props, which can cover many possibilities – from player performances to specific game events, depending on the bookie you choose.
Local Sports Partnerships
When online betting launched in Illinois, we knew sportsbook deals with professional sports teams would pop up to create a more personal betting experience. Here are some sportsbook app deals that stand out on the local level:
Betting Site
Local Partner
Year
Description
FanDuel Sportsbook
Phoenix Suns
2021
In-arena betting lounges and exclusive fan promotions.
Caesars Sportsbook
Chicago White Sox
2022
White Sox experiences are available through Caesar’s VIP Program, TV banners, and promotions.
BetRivers Sportsbook
Chicago Bears
2021
Stadium signage, digital, social, and print assets
Daily Fantasy Sports in Illinois
Daily fantasy sports are completely legal in Illinois, and as a subcategory of fantasy sports, they represent short-term contests that can last a day or a week. This option is excellent for players who cannot endure a full-length NFL, NBA, or MLB season.
You will still get to draft fantasy teams with a salary cap and earn points based on their performances, but the tournaments are much shorter. Salary cap contests are a popular way for Illinois bettors. You should be skilled in identifying undervalued players, regardless of the sport in question, and achieving better results.
Another popular model is the Guaranteed Prize Pool. Here, each daily fantasy sports player will cover a fixed entry fee that will go to the shared prize pool. Then, it will be divided among the top-ranking players on the leaderboard.
Mobile Online Sports Betting in Illinois
Mobile sports betting has become very prevalent among Illinois sports bettors. Nowadays, the best operators offer their services via mobile apps, which hold significant advantages. Thanks to the incredible convenience of wagering on the go, Illinois betting apps provide a smooth gambling experience that resonates with modern consumer preferences.
IL betting sites will allow you to download their dedicated mobile sports betting apps via Google Play Store or App Store, depending on your smartphone type.
Convenience is the number one feature of the best sports betting apps, especially for bettors who enjoy the thrills of live betting. As you will need to wager on the event as it unfolds, placing bets via your smartphone will allow you more flexibility and control over your bets.
Some betting sites offer live streaming for sporting events, so you will have no problems keeping track of the game’s action.
Of course, you will also utilize the other perks as a registered punter – including claiming the ongoing promotions. Sometimes, for an online sportsbook to promote its mobile app, it will include a special mobile bonus valid only for players who download it.
How to Start Betting at Illinois Sports Betting Sites?
Now that you are armed with all this information, you might feel eager to kick-start your online betting endeavor at the best sportsbook in Illinois. For that, there are a few general steps you need to follow:
Choose from our sites – Look at the featured list and compare the available online betting sites in Illinois.
Sign up – The registration process may vary, depending on the bookie you choose, but you must fill out a registration form with personal details.
Verify your account – You will receive a confirmation email through which you will need to verify your account. You may need to go through a KYC process as well.
Deposit – Head to the Cashier section of your new sports betting account and choose a payment method. Deposit at least the minimum amount allowed.
Bet – You can now claim and use the welcome bonus for eligible events. Make your first bet and enjoy the thrills of the best Illinois online betting sites.
Growing Illinois Sports Betting Market for Legal & Quick Bets
Why wait to join thousands of IL sports fans who are already a part of the state’s vibrant online sports betting scene? Illinois has become a key player in the US sports betting industry since its legalization in 2019. Its growing selection of online sportsbooks offers markets on everything from the NBA and NFL to niche sports, allowing for eye-catching live betting options.
Both casual bettors and seasoned pros can find their havens on top-tier IL sportsbooks as they are designed to cater to all player types. Each platform comes packed with bonuses, innovative features, and safe and regulated betting environments. So, make sure you dive in to explore the best Illinois sports betting sites we’ve mentioned here and stay in the game!
IL Sportsbooks FAQs
Governor J.B. Pritzker signed SB 690 in 2019, which completely legalized online sports betting in Illinois.
Since Illinois has a flat tax income rate of 4.95%, you must pay taxes on any winnings you generate while betting online.
Betting on college teams in Illinois is allowed but under special conditions. You must place a bet before the game starts, so no in-play wagers are allowed. Moreover, you are not permitted to back individual performances, and you have to place a specific bet in a sports betting shop in Illinois.
Yes, all the best online sportsbook operators in Illinois optimize their websites for Android and iOS devices. Top bookies will even craft mobile apps that users can seamlessly download on their devices via Google Play Store or App Store.
No, you don’t need to be an Illinois resident to bet online in the state, but you have to be physically there to be able to access the available betting sites. Income taxes also don’t apply if you are not an Illinois resident, so you won’t have to worry about taxing your gambling winnings.
According to the current Sports Wagering Act, Illinois residents need to be at least 21 years old to participate in online gambling activities.
The exact list of payment methods will vary, depending on the operator you choose. Nonetheless, each top-class sportsbook in the state will allow you to deposit and withdraw with a wide range of options, including cards, bank transfers, e-wallets, ACH eCheck, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and so on.
The transaction speed will differ depending on the payment method you choose. As such, e-wallet transactions tend to be the fastest, with bank transfers and card payments being slightly slower in processing transactions. However, regardless of the payment method you choose, stay informed about its transaction.
Of course, you do. Your adventure with sports betting bonuses will start when you register, as the welcome offer will be there waiting for you to claim it. Once you finish it, various promotions will follow suit, including, but not limited to, bonus bets, deposit bonuses, cashback incentives, second chance bonuses, and various VIP Perks.
Thankfully, not just one sport dominates sports betting sites in Illinois, so you can wager on any event and tournament, depending on your preferences. Hockey, basketball, football, tennis, and college sports seem to stand out, all featuring rich pre-game and in-play betting options.
+2
+3
