Illinois Sports Betting: IL Sportsbook Sites, Apps & Promos
If you are physically located in Illinois then you can legally bet online, but in-person registration is required. Sports betting in Illinois launched in Spring of 2020, and new casinos continue to be added. Check back often as more sportsbooks are added. We have partnered with the very best online sportsbooks, and you can see our recommended list below:
Best Illinois Online Sportsbooks
How to Sign Up at an Illinois Online Sportsbook
The state of Illinois requires in-person account setup at retail sportsbooks as of April, 2021. Remember to bring a form of identification for registration.
You can register first online, however, so please do that to save time before going to the sportsbook. Then it’s a simple identity verification when you drop in to your nearest retail sportsbook.
Depositing and Withdrawing
Getting money in and out of an online sportsbook account is easy. Every sportsbook is licensed in state, and to maintain their license they have to abide by every rule. Properly handling payouts in a timely manner is a big part of those rules.
The most popular payment method for depositing and withdrawing is Visa. You also have options such as Mastercard, Paypal, ACH, Skrill, Neteller and PayNearMe.
Illinois (IL) Sports Betting Laws and Background
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is online sports betting legal in Illinois?
Yes. The Illinois legislature passed a law legalizing in-person and online sports betting in 2019, though sports betting didn’t launch in the state until the spring of 2020. To bet online, bettors must register in person for the first 18 months of Illinois sports betting.
What are the eligibility requirements to bet in Illinois?
Anyone 21 years of age or older can place a sports bet in the state of Illinois. Bettors must register an account in-person and verify they are located within Illinois but do not need to be a current resident of the state.
What types of sports bets are available in Illinois?
Sports bets offered by sportsbooks in Illinois include spread, over/under, money line, futures, player props, in-play, parlays, teasers, and pleasers.
Sports offered by sportsbooks in Illinois include but are not limited to NBA, college basketball, NFL, college football, CFL, MLB, NHL, MMA, PGA, tennis, boxing, soccer, cricket, cycling, darts, rugby, motorsports, and esports. Operators can legally take wagers on college sports, but are barred from taking bets on games involving college teams from Illinois (e.g., University of Illinois, Northwestern, etc.).
Are offshore sportsbooks legal in Illinois?
No. Sportsbooks must be licensed in Illinois. Licensed businesses can include casinos, racetracks, sports venues with capacities of 17,000 or more, and companies that sell lottery tickets.
Illinois Online Sports Betting Apps
The following list is just some of the apps available for sports bettors in Illinois.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook was launched following the DraftKings daily fantasy sports site’s success. Bettors in states where DraftKings Sportsbook online betting is available are able to bet on the DraftKings Sportsbook website.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook is owned by Irish bookmaker Paddy Power Betfair and became an official daily fantasy sports and sports betting partner of the National Hockey League in 2018. The FanDuel Sportsbook website has more info about odds and how to bet.
Caesars Sportsbook
William Hill Sportsbook rebranded as Caesars Sportsbook in 2021 following the acquisition. The sportsbook mobile app has full integration with the Caesars Rewards program.
BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers Sportsbook is owned by Rush Street Gaming, located in Des Plaines, Illinois. When SugarHouse Sportsbook is approved for online betting in Illinois, bettors in Illinois will be able to bet via desktop, mobile web or by downloading the BetRivers app.
Venues Eligible for Sportsbooks in Illinois
Racetracks
Arlington Park
Located in Arlington Heights near Chicago, Arlington Park officially opened in 1927 and runs races from May through September.
Fairmount Park Racetrack
Fairmount Park is located in Collinsville, Illinois, near St. Louis. The racetrack opened in 1925 and hosts Thoroughbred flat racing.
Hawthorne Race Course
Located in Cicero, Illinois, Hawthorne Race Course launched in 1891 and is the oldest family-owned racetrack in North America. The race track features horse racing from spring through fall.
Illinois Retail Casinos
Argosy Casino Alton
A riverboat casino located on the Misssissippi River in Alton, Illinois, Argosy Casino launched in 1991 as the Alton Belle. The riverboat is currently owned by Penn National Gaming, featuring 827 slot machines and 12 table games. The sportsbook at the casino was scheduled to launch on March 16, 2020.
Casino Queen
Located in East St. Louis, Illinois on the Mississippi River, the Casino Queen is an employee owned riverboat casino that opened in 1993. The casino includes 1,100 slots and 34 table games.
Grand Victoria Casino Elgin
40 miles west of Chicago, the Grand Victoria Casino Elgin riverboat opened in 1994. Owned by Eldorado Resorts, the facility is nearly 30,000 square feet and has 1,100 slot and video poker machines.
Harrah’s Joliet
Harrah’s Joliet is a riverboat casino located in Joliet, Illinois with more than 200 hotel rooms and 1,100 slot machines. The casino launched in 1993 and is now operated by Caesars Entertainment.
Harrah’s Metropolis
Harrah’s Metropolis is a riverboat casino located along the Illinois-Kentucky border on the Ohio River. It opened in 1994 as Players Island, and is now operated by Caesars Entertainment. The hotel has more than 250 rooms, and the casino features 1,200 slot machines and 25 table games.
Hollywood Casino Aurora
Located along the Fox River in downtown Aurora, Hollywood Casino Aurora opened in 1993. The facility is now 53,000 square feet, with over 1,000 slot machines.
Jumer’s Casino & Hotel
Jumer’s is 160 miles southwest of Chicago along the Illinois-Iowa border in Rock Island, Illinois. The current casino opened in 2008 and is 43,000 square feet.
Par-A-Dice Casino
Located on the Illinois River in East Peoria, Illinois, Par-A-Dice originally opened in 1991. The riverboat casino is owned by Boyd Gaming.
Rivers Casino Des Plaines
Owned by Rush Street Gaming, Rivers Casino is located in Des Plaines, Illinois, north of Chicago. The 140,000 square foot casino is owned by Churchill Downs, Inc. and Rush Street Gaming and opened in 2011. The casino features the BetRivers Sportsbook.
Sports Venues Eligible for In-Person Sports Betting
Illinois bill SB 690 allows professional sports venues to host sports bets. These are some of the facilities that could offer sports bets in the future:
Chicago Speedway
Chicago Speedway is located in Joliet, Illinois with a capacity of 47,000 fans. The auto racing track opened in 2001 and hosts NASCAR races.
Guaranteed Rate Field
The home of MLB’s Chicago White Sox, Guaranteed Rate Field opened in 1991 on the South Side of Chicago. The venue was formerly known as Comiskey Park and U.S. Cellular Field.
Soldier Field
The historic home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears, Soldier Field opened in 1922 and now has a capacity of 61,500. Located near Downtown Chicago, the venue is the oldest in the NFL.
SeatGeek Stadium
Located in Bridgeview, Illinois, southwest of Chicago, SeatGeek Stadium hosts the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League. The stadium opened in 2006 and has a capacity of 20,000 for soccer games and 28,000 for concerts.
United Center
The home arena of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, the United Center opened in 1994. The venue’s capacity is approximately 19,000-23,000 depending on the event. The arena is located on the Near West Side of Chicago.
World Wide Technology Raceway
Formerly known as Gateway International Raceway, the current World Wide Technology Raceway opened in 1997. The racetrack is located in Madison, Illinois, just east of St. Louis. The track hosts IndyCar, NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series, and NHRA Drag Racing Series races.
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field opened in 1914 and is the home of the Chicago Cubs on the North Side of Chicago. Famous for the ivy-covered outfield wall, the stadium has a capacity of nearly 42,000.
Other Illinois Gaming Options
Riverboat gambling was legalized in Illinois in 1990, and the state was the first to legalize a lottery in 1974. Here’s a look at the various gambling options currently available in the state.
Video Gambling
Slot machines are available at many bars, restaurants, and truck stops in the state of Illinois after the passage of the Illinois Video Gaming Act. The Illinois Gaming Board oversees these businesses.
Horse Racing
Horse racing and horse race betting is legal in Illinois and launched in the 1920s. Racetracks in the state include Arlington Park, Fairmount Park, and Hawthorne Race Course.
Illinois Lottery
The Illinois Lottery is available within the state of Illinois to those participants who are 18 years or older. More information is available at the Illinois Lottery website.
Illinois Fantasy Sports
The Illinois attorney general has said daily fantasy sports are illegal under state law, but most fantasy sports game operators still accept players located in Illinois as of 2020.