Illinois sports betting has been available since 2020, and the state has become one of the biggest in the entire country. Illinois betting got off to a very slow start during the COVID-19 pandemic, but things took off quickly. There are only a handful of Illinois sports betting apps, but the state has been able to attract the top operators in the industry.
Betting Hero reviews all of the top Illinois sports betting apps and also breaks down the promotions and bonuses that are available. Even though every online sportsbook is offering sports betting, there are differences that allow operators to stand out.
Top IL Sports Betting Apps
DraftKings Sportsbook Illinois
DraftKings was one of the first online sports betting sites to enter the state, and it has always been one of the leaders. This is a proven and trusted sports betting app, and it’s a company that has plenty of history and success in this industry.
DraftKings offers a terrific mobile sports betting experience, and that is one way in which it is able to stand out from other Illinois sports betting apps.
Be sure to take a look at our DraftKings review.
DraftKings IL New User Offer
DraftKings Sportsbook has an enticing offer for Illinois bettors, in the form of a Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets offer.
Once you sign up for a new DraftKings IL account (through the “CLAIM OFFER” link at the end of this section) and deposit a minimum of $5 into your new sportsbook account.
After that, place your first bet at DraftKings Sportsbook (minimum $1). If that bet loses, DraftKings will apply a full refund to your account up to $1,000 max.
- $5 minimum deposit
- $5 minimum bet to access offer
FanDuel Sportsbook Illinois
When it comes to Illinois sports betting apps, FanDuel Sportsbook remains the leader in the state. FanDuel has become a leader in most states with legal sports betting, and it’s because there just isn’t much that this company doesn’t do extremely well.
FanDuel has some of the best betting options in the industry, and it’s also a company with great customer service. There are some great options when it comes to Illinois sports betting, but FanDuel does a lot of things better than other options.
Be sure to take a look at our FanDuel review.
FanDuel IL New User Offer
New sports bettors at FanDuel Sportsbook have a terrific welcome bonus to take advantage of as there is a Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets Guaranteed promo available.
There are several Illinois sports betting apps that have an offer similar to FanDuel, but not all of them have as many different betting markets to look at when making a wager. Taking advantage of this deal from FanDuel is a great way to get started with Illinois sports betting.
- $20 deposit minimum
- Can bet on pregame, live, parlay, and prop bet
- -200 odds requirements
BetMGM Sportsbook Illinois
BetMGM is another of the best Illinois sports betting apps, and it’s a company that is backed by MGM Resorts International. It took BetMGM a bit longer to break into Illinois betting, but it has since emerged as a terrific option.
One way that BetMGM really stands out in the legal sports betting industry is that it has a terrific loyalty rewards program. Not only that, but BetMGM also does a great job of having daily and weekly promotions for new customers.
Be sure to take a look at our BetMGM review.
BetMGM IL New User Offer
The welcome bonus/new user offer from BetMGM Sportsbook comes in the form of a $1,500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back offer.
Make your first bet at BetMGM, and you’re eligible for a losing bet rebate worth up to $1,500 in bonus betting credits to your account.
- $20 Deposit Minimum
- Bonus Bets Expire in 7 days
Caesars Sportsbook Illinois
Caesars Sportsbook is another of the best Illinois sports betting apps, and it’s a big name throughout the industry. Caesars was able to enter the state of Illinois after agreeing to a deal to purchase William Hill.
Caesars tends to have more exciting promotions than some of the other sites, and that’s why it is considered one of the best Illinois sports betting operators. This is also an operator that has terrific betting odds and lines on a wide range of sporting events.
Be sure to take a look at our Caesars Sportsbook review.
Caesars Sportsbook IL New User Offer
Caesars Sportsbook offers a massive welcome bonus that is worth up to $1,000 for all new customers. Caesars Sportsbook calls the offer “$1,000 First Bet On Caesars,” and the bonus acts a a losing bet rebate on your first bet. Bonus bets are issued if the first bet doesn’t win, up to a max of a $1,000 match on the wager amount.
Depending on the time of year, Caesars Sportsbook is also known to have additional rewards available to new customers. You will want to check all of the terms and conditions of the Caesars Sportsbook offer when signing up.
- $20 deposit & bet minimum
- Offer applies to new users only
- Bonus Bets expire in 7 days
BetRivers Sportsbook Illinois
BetRivers Sportsbook was the first to go live after Illinois betting became a legal option. BetRivers has had plenty of success in the legal sports betting market, and it has had good numbers in Illinois.
One of the ways that BetRivers stands out in Illinois is that it has some great daily odds boosts on a wide range of sports. BetRivers also does a great job of highlighting some international betting markets, and other apps tend to focus more on U.S. sports.
Be sure to take a look at our BetRivers review.
BetRivers IL New User Offer
BetRivers Sportsbook is another that offers a risk-free bet as it’s a welcome bonus, and this offer is worth up to $500. One difference is that BetRivers doesn’t give out bonus bets, but instead offers site credit if that first bet loses.
The overall value of this welcome bonus might be a bit smaller than some of the other best sports betting apps, but the site credit is a nice touch.
- $25 deposit minimum
- First bet Insurance
- Receive Bonus Bets to cover your first bet if it loses
Top Sportsbook Bonuses in Illinois
The Sportsbooks in Illinois offer welcome bonuses for new users of their apps. Below are all of the best Illinois Sports Betting offers.
- $20 deposit & bet minimum
- Offer applies to new users only
- Bonus Bets expire in 7 days
- $20 Deposit Minimum
- Bonus Bets Expire in 7 days
- $5 minimum deposit
- $5 minimum bet to access offer
- $20 deposit minimum
- Can bet on pregame, live, parlay, and prop bet
- -200 odds requirements
- $25 deposit minimum
- First bet Insurance
- Receive Bonus Bets to cover your first bet if it loses
The Legal Landscape of Sportsbooks in Illinois
The Illinois sports betting industry is one of the best in the United States and both online sports betting and retail sports betting are available. The Illinois sports betting market isn’t one that has typically grown much either, but the sportsbooks continue to put up big numbers.
When Illinois sports betting first started, a sports betting app had to partner with a casino in the state before applying for a license. That is no longer the case as operators can now enter the mobile sports betting market by getting an online-only license.
Illinois Sportsbooks Regulations - What You Can and Can't Bet On
The Illinois Gaming Board takes requests before it approves specific wagering events, and those requests have to come from a sports betting operator. Instead of just legalizing specific sports, the IGB looks at legalizing specific leagues.
Illinois college teams are not one of the approved wagering events, at least at online sportsbooks. Here is a look at the list of approved wagering events that can be found on the IGB website.
What You Can Bet On:
- Asian Football Confederation
- Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports
- Association of Tennis Professionals
- British Darts Organization
- Canadian Football League
- Chinese Professional Basketball League
- CONCACAF - Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Association Football
- Confederation of African Football
- CONMEBOL - South American Football Confederation
- Euroleague Basketball
- European Tour/ PGA
- FIBA - Federation Internationale de Basketball Association
- FIFA - Federation Internationale de Football Association
- International Cricket Council - ICC
- International Ice Hockey Federation - IIHF
- International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)
- International Tennis Federation - ITF
- Korean Baseball Organization - KBO
- Ladies Professional Golf Association - LPGA
- Major League Baseball - MLB
- Major League Soccer - MLS
- National Basketball Association - NBA
- National Football League - NFL
- National Hockey League - NHL
- National Rugby League
- Olympic Games - Summer
- Premier Lacrosse League - PLL
- Professional Darts Corporation
- Professional Fighters League - PFL
- Professional Golfers Association - PGA
- Ultimate Fighting Championship - UFC
- Union of European Football Associations - UEFA
- Women's Tennis Association - WTA
What You Can NOT Bet On:
- eSports
- In-State College Sports Teams
Sports Betting Updates in Illinois
Stay up to date on everything Illinois Sports Betting.
Top Sportsbooks in Illinois
BetMGM
Learn More About BetMGMBetMGM New User Offer
- $20 Deposit Minimum
- Bonus Bets Expire in 7 days
DraftKings
Learn More About DraftKingsDraftKings New User Offer
- $5 minimum deposit
- $5 minimum bet to access offer
FanDuel
Learn More About FanDuelFanDuel New User Offer
- $20 deposit minimum
- Can bet on pregame, live, parlay, and prop bet
- -200 odds requirements
Caesars
Learn More About CaesarsCaesars New User Offer
- $20 deposit & bet minimum
- Offer applies to new users only
- Bonus Bets expire in 7 days
BetRivers
Learn More About BetRiversBetRivers New User Offer
- $25 deposit minimum
- First bet Insurance
- Receive Bonus Bets to cover your first bet if it loses
Popular Teams Among Illinois Sports Fans
Illinois sports betting is driven by their in-state professional teams, and there are so many terrific options. Illinois sports bettors tend to have favorite teams that they back, but there are a couple that are popular throughout the state.
Not only are there some very popular professional teams in Illinois, but there are also some that are very successful. The following sections will look at some of the teams that help drive sports betting in Illinois.
Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Bulls
Chicago Cubs
Chicago Fire
Chicago White Sox
Illinois Sportsbooks FAQ
- Are sports betting apps legal in Illinois? Yes, Illinois sports betting was first legalized in 2019, and the first retail sportsbooks launched in March 2020. The first Illinois sports betting apps were able to go live in early Summer 2020, and this state has become a major market since that time. Both online sports betting and retail sportsbooks remain options throughout the Land of Lincoln.
- Where can I bet in Illinois? There are seven Illinois sports betting apps, and the state has been able to get tons of the top operators. It can be hard to come up with the best sports betting apps in the state as all of the operators provide a terrific experience. The seven sports betting apps in the state are: Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM Sportsbook, BetRivers Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and PointsBet Sportsbook
- What are the best bonuses for Illinois sports bettors? Every sports betting app in Illinois is going to have some sort of bonus, especially when it comes to new sports bettors. Mobile sports betting apps are trying to attract the most customers, and giving out rewards is one way to get that done. The best bonus is really up for each individual bettor to decide as they are going to be much different at each sports betting app. Bonus bets, odds boosts, and risk-free bets are all of the most famous types of promotions that you will find from the top Illinois betting apps.
- Is FanDuel legal in Illinois? Yes, FanDuel Sportsbook is available to Illinois bettors, and the operator initially partnered with Par A Dice Casino to enter the state. FanDuel has moved it's online license away from Par A Dice Casino, but it continues to offer retail sports betting as well as online sports betting. When it comes to Illinois sports betting, FanDuel continues to be a leader in the state.
- Is DraftKings legal in Illinois? Yes, DraftKings Sportsbooks is legal in Illinois, and it has partnered with the Casino Queen in East St. Louis. Not only is the DraftKings at Casino Queen an extremely popular retail sportsbook, but it's also one of the top Illinois sportsbook apps. DraftKings Sportsbook helps to drive the Illinois sports betting market.
- Is college sports betting legal in Illinois? Betting on college sports is legal in Illinois, but there are some restrictions put in place as well. Sports bettors are not allowed to place bets on in-state college teams online, but retail sportsbooks can accept these wagers. The online sports betting law only allows retail sportsbooks to offer pre-game full wagers, and there are no prop bets that can be accepted.
- Do I have to live in Illinois to bet on IL sports betting apps? The sports betting law in Illinois does not require you to be a resident of the state in order to place bets. Mobile sports betting apps will accept customers from anywhere, but a location check will ensure that sports bettors are within the state before a wager is accepted.
- Is WynnBET legal in Illinois? No. WynnBET isn't currently available in Illinois, but it could launch sometime in the future. Check back with this Illinois sports betting app guide for the latest updates on a potential WynnBET Illinois launch.
Responsible Gambling in Illinois
Responsible gaming in Illinois means acknowledging when gambling becomes more than an enjoyable pastime. Warning signs of problem gambling, such as escalating time and money spent, restlessness, and strained relationships, should not be overlooked. If these signs resonate with you or a loved one, reach out for help. Illinois provides ample resources, including counseling, treatment centers, and self-exclusion programs, all accessible through the Illinois Department of Human Services.
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