Illinois Sportsbooks + Sports Betting Sites
From Rockford to Marion, Illinois residents have a ton of options for online sports betting. Illinois online sportsbooks are available in two forms - online sportsbooks regulated by the state, and online sportsbooks regulated in places like Costa Rica and Canada. These two options are best used in concert - the online often have odds that the regulated books won’t, and the regulated books often have integration with banking systems that the other does not.
Best Online Sportsbooks That Accept Illinois Residents
Our top recommendation for anyone looking to wager on the Bears, Cubs or Bulls is Bovada, a sportsbook that provides great odds on local Illinois teams. Since they are international, they offer better odds than local books, which have to slant odds to account for all the local fans betting on their teams. Bovada also accepts cryptocurrency, which gives them another leg up on the regulated books.
You can bet on the Bears when you’re at Soldier Field with BetOnline, an online sportsbook that is available on almost any mobile device. Since BetOnline doesn’t require an app download, you can use it on basically any phone, and the signup process is easy and simple. BetOnline is licensed in Panama City, and has been available for more than a decade in IL.
When you’re in Chicago, you can bet with MyBookie anywhere from the top of the Willis Tower to the streets below. Bettors can use MyBookie on a variety of devices, from computers to iPhones and Androids, and they accept both cryptocurrency and credit cards. Established in 2014, and available via Costa Rica, they’re a great sportsbook for White Sox fans.
A sportsbook that has been available in Illinois since 1998, SportsBetting features a 50% bonus up to $500 when you sign up to bet on your favorite Illinois teams. Fans of Loyola and DePaul will find wagers here, as will fans of the Chicago pro teams like the Cubs and Bears. You can even bet on politics, like the upcoming Chicago mayoral election.
Operating out of sunny Curacao, XBet is also available in the Windy City. You can use the code XB100 to place wagers at XBet with a 100% matching deposit bonus that gets you up to $300. Cryptocurrency fans have a better opportunity at XBet than those that do not use it, as they get faster transaction times, higher limits, and bigger bonuses.
Barstool Sportsbook
Bet Along With Big Cat
Partnered with the Hollywood Casino brand, Barstool Sportsbook has three retail books in the state in addition to their online operation, and they share odds. They are known for offering daily odds boosts, which can be useful to many bettors, as well as a signup bonus of a $500 risk free wager.
BetMGM Sportsbook
First Fully Online Regulated Book
With no sportsbook partners in Illinois, BetMGM is a fully online sportsbook, as the requirement for in-person registration was lifted in March 2022. Backed by MGM Resorts, they have a lot of money to burn, and this is visible in their promotions, which offer a $1,000 risk free bet when you sign up with BetMGM in Illinois.
BetRivers Sportsbook
The Most Local Chicago Book
BetRivers is something of a local brand to Illinois, headquartered in Des Plaines, and heavily involved in local politics. Their sportsbook operates both online and out of the Rivers Des Plaines casino. Notably, their app has only a 3.1 rating on the Google Play store, but a 4.6 rating on the Apple App Store.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Rewards From Retail And Online
Caesars Sportsbook makes its main pitch Caesars Rewards, which can be obtained not only on their app, but at their casino partners as well. Caesars operates Caesars Sportsbooks at the Grand Victoria Casino Elgin as well as Harrah’s Joliet and Harrah’s Metropolis.
DraftKings Sportsbook
Casino Queen, But With DFS
DraftKings was originally targeted by Illinois as an unwelcome presence in the state, but a merger with Casino Queen as well as the expiration of the 18 month moratorium on their entry has allowed them to open up a sports betting operation both online and at Casino Queen. DraftKings’ DFS operation makes them a highly used sportsbook.
FanDuel Sportsbook
The Top DFS Sportsbook In IL
The most used regulated sportsbook in Illinois, FanDuel is famous for being a DFS operator as well as a sportsbook. Only DraftKings competes with them in this regard, and the two are the most popular regulated books in the state as a result. DFS players only have to download these two apps to play all they want.
PointsBet Sportsbook
$1,500 Free Bet
Partnered with Hawthorne Race Course, PointsBet is licensed to operate in Illinois with no in-person signup requirement. They offer a $1,500 free bet, which puts them above many other sportsbooks in Illinois in terms of free bet offers, but the online books are still better in terms of matching deposit bonuses.
How Can I Bet In Illinois With Bovada?
- Visit Bovada on your preferred browser. Bovada is available on desktop and laptop browsers such as Chrome, Edge and Firefox, and also on mobile device browsers such as Chrome and Safari on both iPhones and Androids.
- Sign up for an account - this process is free, and does not require any app downloads.
- Deposit money into your account. We recommend using cryptocurrency if you’re interested in speedy transactions with big bonuses.
- Once your money is in the sportsbook, it’s as simple as finding the wager you prefer and adding it to your betting slip. Once you’re happy with your slip, you can place your wagers.
What’s Going On In The Illinois Sports Betting Market?
| April 12, 2022 | The men's and women's March Madness tournaments generated a sports betting handle of $286.2 million combined, with online sportsbooks accounting for $274.4 million of that handle,according to the Illinois Gaming Board. |
| April 7, 2022 | Illinois sportsbooks had a $679.4 handle in February, which was the full month that the in-person registration requirement was active. |
| March 10, 2022 | Illinois bans betting on Russian or Belarus sporting events. |
| March 9, 2022 | Caesars Sportsbook’s Liberty platform launches in Illinois as in-person registry ends. |
| March 5, 2022 | The in-person registration requirement in Illinois comes to an end. |
| Feb. 16, 2022 | Illinois sportsbooks saw $60.5 million in wagers for Super Bowl 56. |
| Feb. 1, 2022 | Chicago’s United Center to see a FanDuel Sportsbook launch. |
| Jan. 27, 2022 | BetMGM gains its license approval to launch its sportsbook in Illinois by the Illinois Gaming Board. |
| October 2021: | The Illinois House of Representatives passed House Bill 3136, which stated that online sportsbooks would be allowed to offer online registration starting on March 3rd, 2021. |
| September 2020: | The Executive Order that allowed online sports betting registration was reinstated by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. DraftKings sportsbook partnered with Casino Queen and launched their online sportsbook. |
| June 2020: | Governor J.B. Pritzker signed an Executive Order that lifted the in-person registration mandate for online sportsbooks. No online sportsbooks were live yet, but the Executive Order paved the way for future sportsbooks launching. |
| March 2020: | Rivers Casino (BetRivers) launched the first sportsbook in Illinois. The launch was made days before the COVID-19 shutdown and was also done prior to the online operators going live. |
| December 2020: | The application process for sportsbook licenses began in Illinois. |
| June 2019: | Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signs Senate Bill 690, which regulates sports betting, but Illinois’ online-only sportsbooks must wait 18 months to enter the market. The 18-month wait was a compromised punishment towards DraftKings and FanDuel because of the feeling by some within the state that they had been operating daily fantasy sports illegally in Illinois beforehand. |
| February 2019: | Illinois lawmakers started working through the details of a potential sports betting bill. |
| August 2018: | The first legislative hearing regarding the legalization of sports betting in Illinois was held. |
Retail Sportsbooks In Illinois
There are 10 retail sportsbooks in Illinois, each of which is a physical representation of one of Illinois’ online sportsbooks. Before March 2022, physical signup for the state-regulated books was required, but now it is no longer required, and you can sign up for online sportsbooks in IL without needing to visit one of these locations.
| Sportsbook: | Casino: | City: | Address: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barstool Sportsbook | Argosy Casino Alton | Alton | US 1 Piasa St, Alton, IL 62002 |
| Barstool Sportsbook | Hollywood Casino Aurora | Aurora | US 1 W New York St, Aurora, IL 60506 |
| Barstool Sportsbook | Hollywood Casino Joliet | Joliet | US 777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, IL 60436 |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | Rivers Casino Des Plaines | Des Plaines | US 3000 S River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Grand Victoria Casino | Elgin | US 250 S Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Harrah's Joliet | Joliet | US 151 N Joliet St, Joliet, IL 60432 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Harrah's Metropolis | Metropolis | US 100 E Front St, Metropolis, IL 62960 |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | DraftKings at Casino Queen | East St. Louis | US 200 S Front St, East St Louis, IL 62201 |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Par-A-Dice Casino | East Peoria | US 21 Blackjack Blvd, East Peoria, IL 61611 |
| PointsBet Sportsbook | Hawthorne Race Course | Stickney | US 3501 S Laramie Ave, Stickney, IL 60804 |
Teams That Illinois Residents Bet On
| Chicago Bulls | October 19 – April 10 |
| Chicago Bears | September 8 – January 8 |
| Chicago Cubs | March 31 – October 31 |
| Chicago White Sox | March 31 – October 31 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | October 12 – April 29 |
| University of Illinois | (Football August 27—December 10) (Basketball November 9—April 4) |
| Loyola University Chicago | (Basketball November 9—April 4) |
| Northwestern University | (Football August 27—December 10) (Basketball November 9—April 4) |
| DePaul University | Basketball November 9—April 4 |
Chicago Sports Teams And Odds
| League: | Team: | Odds: |
|---|---|---|
| MLB | Chicago Cubs | +13000 |
| MLB | Chicago White Sox | +5500 |
| NBA | Chicago Bulls | +5500 |
| NFL | Chicago Bears | +8000 |
| NHL | Chicago Blackhawks | +50000 |
| MLS | Chicago Fire FC | +3600 |
Illinois Online Sports Betting Handle + Revenue
Illinois’ sports betting revenue peaked in November 2021, due to an extremely high hold percentage of 10.03%. However, their handle actually peaked in January 2022, thanks to the NFL playoffs. Looking at previous data, it seems clear that Illinois bettors tend to focus on the NFL and college football seasons, as total handle jumped in Sept. 2021 and spiked even higher in Oct. 2021, while beginning to decrease in Feb. 2021. Now that the in-person registration requirement is over, Illinois might see record-breaking handle numbers in the 2022 NFL season.
Past Months Of Illinois Sports Betting Revenue
| Month: | Total Handle: | Sportsbook Revenue: | Hold Percentage: | Tax Revenue: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2022 | $679,374,199 | $35,600,085 | 5.24% | $5,745,854 |
| Jan 2022 | $867,505,495 | $59,343,378 | 6.84% | $9,578,021 |
| Dec 2021 | $789,600,348 | $36,677,208 | 4.65% | $5,919,701 |
| Nov 2021 | $779,853,367 | $78,227,189 | 10.03% | $12,625,868 |
| Oct 2021 | $840,440,436 | $48,316,644 | 5.75% | $7,798,306 |
| Sep 2021 | $596,455,694 | $44,579,564 | 7.47% | $7,195,142 |
| Aug 2021 | $400,359,760 | $26,849,155 | 6.71% | $4,333,454 |
| Jul 2021 | $369,134,820 | $37,292,354 | 10.1% | $6,018,986 |
| Jun 2021 | $476,517,309 | $48,187,783 | 10.11% | $7,777,508 |
| May 2021 | $507,279,761 | $36,230,990 | 7.14% | $5,847,682 |
| Apr 2021 | $537,158,723 | $43,605,926 | 8.12% | $7,037,996 |
| Mar 2021 | $633,614,957 | $44,317,702 | 6.99% | $7,152,877 |
Deposit And Withdrawal Methods When Using Online Sportsbooks In Illinois
Illinois sportsbooks will vary their deposit and withdrawal methods depending on whether they are state-regulated or not. The international sportsbooks offer deposits and withdrawals via cryptocurrency, while the state-regulated books do not. In exchange, the state-regulated books tend to have better integration with online banking systems, as well as cash transfer apps like Paypal and Venmo.
IL Sportsbook Deposit/Withdrawal Method Comparison
| IL Sportsbook: | Deposit Methods In IL: | Withdrawal Methods In IL: |
|---|---|---|
| Bovada | VISA, Mastercard, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Satoshi Vision, Ethereum, Litecoin, Player Transfer, MatchPay, Vouchers | Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Player Transfer, MatchPay, Vouchers, Check by Courier |
| BetOnline | AmEx, VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Chainlink, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Solana, Stellar Lumens, USD Coin, Player Transfer, Money Order, Wire Transfer, P2P Transfer | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, BTC Cash, Ripple, Discover Card, MasterCard, VISA, P2P Transfer, Money Order, Bank Wire, Cashier’s Check |
| MyBookie | AmEx, VISA, MasterCard, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Moneygram | Wire Transfer, Echeck/ACH, Bitcoin |
| Sports Betting | AmEx, VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Chainlink, Dogecoin, ETH, LTC, XRP, Solano, Stellar Lumens, Tether, USD Coin, Money Order, Cashier's Check, Wire Transfer, P2P Transfer | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, BTC Cash, Ripple, Discover Card, MasterCard, VISA, P2P Transfer, Money Order, Bank Wire, Cashier’s Check |
| XBet | AmEx, VISA, MasterCard, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Moneygram | Wire Transfer, Echeck/ACH, Bitcoin |
| FanDuel | AmEx, VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card, Online Banking, ACH | Online Banking, ACH, Paypal, Check, Venmo, Prepaid Card |
| DraftKings | AmEx, VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card, Online Banking, ACH | Online Banking, ACH, Paypal, Check, Play+ |
Illinois Sports Betting News
How Old Do I Have To Be To Bet In Illinois?
The legal age for sports betting in Illinois is 21. The online sportsbooks will accept players who are 18 or older, while the state-regulated books will make you wait until you are 21. If you use an online book when you are under 21 but over 18, you do so at your own risk.