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Illinois sports betting is fully legal online and in person. Online wagering launched in June 2020, following retail openings earlier that year. You can bet through licensed apps statewide or at approved retail locations. As of January 2026, the Illinois Gaming Board lists 10 legal online sportsbooks operating in the state. This guide covers IL sportsbook promos, the best sportsbook apps, how to start betting, local sports teams to know, and key legal facts so you can get set up quickly and safely.
Illinois Sports Betting Overview
- 📆 Online Launch Date: June 18, 2020
- 📱Online Sportsbooks Available: 10
- 🏬 Retail Sports Betting: ✅Legal (casinos, racetracks, and arenas)
- 🎂 Legal Betting Age: 21+
- 🏈 College Sports Betting: ✅Some Restrictions (no in-state teams, no player props)
- 🎰 Online Casinos: ❌ Not Legal
Is Illinois Sports activities Betting Authorized?
Sure. Sports activities betting has been authorized in Illinois since June 2019, when lawmakers handed SB 690. Retail sportsbooks opened in March 2020, and on-line betting started in June 2020. The market is regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board. You may wager on-line or on cellular with licensed operators, and in individual at accepted retail sportsbooks and casinos. You should be 21 or older and bodily positioned inside Illinois, and sportsbooks use geolocation to confirm your location.
Faculty Sports activities Betting in IL: No In-State Groups or Participant Props
- No betting on in-state college teams
- Player props for college athletes are prohibited.
Prime Illinois Sportsbook Apps Ranked & Reviewed
Illinois’ on-line market is aggressive, with a number of main nationwide operators dwell statewide. Whereas extra sportsbooks could enter over time, this part focuses on the highest 5 primarily based on market share, app high quality, promotions, and betting options.
DraftKings Illinois
- Best known for: deep market depth, fast live pricing, and one of the most polished apps.
- DraftKings launched in Illinois in August 2020 via DraftKings at Casino Queen, and it is a national market leader known for deep markets and fast live pricing.
- Welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $200 if your bet wins
- App experience & notable features: iOS rating 4.8/5 (847K+ ratings); live betting hub, SGPs, wide prop catalog
- Final take: choose DraftKings if you want the broadest menu and fast, reliable live markets on IL teams.
FanDuel Illinois
- Best known for: the most intuitive Same Game Parlay builder and strong live markets.
- FanDuel went live in Illinois in August 2020 (originally tied to Par-A-Dice) and is a top national operator recognized for an intuitive app and elite same-game parlay tools.
- Welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets if your first bet wins. No code required.
- App experience & notable features: iOS rating 4.8/5 (847K+ ratings); live betting hub, SGPs, wide prop catalog
- Final take: pick FanDuel if you value a slick app and elite parlay tools with instant payout previews.
BetMGM Illinois
- Best known for: Frequent profit boosts and broad SGP options and MGM Rewards integration for hotel and resort perks.
- BetMGM launched online in Illinois on March 5, 2022, as in-person registration ended, and it is a well-known national brand backed by MGM Resorts with broad market coverage.
- Welcome offer: “First Bet Offer” up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if your first bet loses with FOXSPORTS
- App experience & notable features: iOS rating 4.8/5 (~240K ratings); live betting, cash-out, wide sport coverage.
- Final take: if you value boosts and MGM Rewards status, BetMGM is a strong secondary book in IL even when a first-time promo isn’t running.
Fanatics Sportsbook Illinois
- Best known for: FanCash rewards that convert to bonus bets or merchandise and steady football-season promos.
- Fanatics Sportsbook launched in Illinois in 2024 after acquiring PointsBet’s U.S. business, and it is growing nationally with its FanCash rewards model and clean, modern app.
- Welcome offer: Sign up at Fanatics Sportsbook and get up to $2,000 in FanCash back on losing bets for up to 10 days.
- App experience & notable features: iOS rating 4.8/5 (138K+ ratings); clean UI, live betting, responsible gaming tooling.
- Final take: a great add for rewards hunters, especially during football season, with daily FanCash value.
Caesars Illinois
- Best known for: daily “Super Boosts” and frequent promos and Caesars Rewards credits on eligible wagers.
- Caesars has operated in Illinois since 2020 through the former William Hill platform, and it is a prominent national book known for Caesars Rewards and regular odds boosts.
- Welcome offer: FOX250BM unlocks a first bet match up to $250 as a bonus bet, win or lose.
- App experience & notable features: iOS rating 4.7/5 (89K+ ratings); SGPs, live betting, simplified navigation.
- Final take: if you want steady boosts and a national rewards program that ties into Vegas stays, Caesars is a solid rotation book in IL.
bet365 Illinois
- Best known for: elite in-play betting, early-payout features, vast global menus, and very robust alternate totals/spreads.
- bet365 launched in Illinois on March 16, 2025, and is a globally respected sportsbook known for elite live betting, streaming, and deep alternate lines.
- Welcome offer: choose Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets with code FOX365 or a First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000.
- App experience & notable features: iOS rating 4.8/5 (189K+ ratings); strong live betting hub with rapid markets and useful in-game stats.
- Final take: stands out for best-in-class live betting with fast odds updates, deep markets, and integrated live streaming that makes in-game wagering seamless.
All Authorized IL Sportsbooks
- Caesars Sportsbook (Grand Victoria Casino Elgin/Harrah’s Joliet/Harrah’s Metropolis)
- BetMGM Sportsbook (Par-a-Dice Casino)
- BetRivers Sportsbook (Rivers Des Plaines)
- FanDuel Sportsbook (FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing, formerly Fairmount Park)
- Hard Rock Bet (Hard Rock Casino Rockford)
- DraftKings Sportsbook (DraftKings at Casino Queen)
- bet365 Sportsbook (Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort)
- Fanatics Sportsbook (Hawthorne Race Course)
- theScoreBet (formerly ESPN Bet)
- Circa Sportsbook (The Temporary by American Place Casino in Waukegan)
Finest IL Sportsbook Promos & Welcome Provides (January 2026)
New Illinois customers can unlock tons f immediate worth proper now by stacking the most important Guess & Get fashion offers. Declare the welcome promos first, then resolve which app you want finest for dwell betting, parlays, and props. All the time examine the in-app phrases for minimal odds, settlement timing, and expiration earlier than inserting your qualifying wager.
DraftKings Sportsbook IL Promo – Guess $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets If Your Guess Wins
Supply Abstract:
- Bet $5, Get $200 if your bet wins
- Who’s Eligible: New customers, 21+ (18+ in DC/KY/NH/WY), in eligible states (AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WY, WV).
- Qualifying Bet: $5+ cash bet at -500 odds or longer using the New Customer Token.
- Bonus: Get $200 in Bonus Bets (12×$25) if your bet wins.
- Expiration: Bonus Bets valid for 7 days.
- One per customer; void/cashed-out bets don’t qualify.
Key Particulars:
- Minimum deposit $5, qualifying bet $5+.
- “Bet and Get” structure, bonus credits paid instantly after placing the qualifier.
- Bonus bets expire per in-app terms.
Standout Perk:
- The instant $200 you get if your bet wins.
Fast How-to-Declare:
- Sign up for a new DraftKings Sportsbook account.
- Deposit funds (minimum $5).
- Select the New Customer Token.
- Place a $5+ cash bet (-500 odds or longer).
- Win to get $200 in Bonus Bets.
FanDuel Sportsbook IL Promo – Guess $5, Win, Get $250 in Bonus Bets
Supply Abstract:
Key Particulars:
- Minimum deposit $5, first cash wager $5+.
- “Bet and Get if you win,” bonus credits post after settlement of a winning first bet.
- Bonus bets typically issue within 72 hours and expire per terms.
Standout Perk:
- Cleanest SGP builder in the market, and the welcome pairs well with small first plays. (See FanDuel’s IL page for current terms.)
Fast How-to-Declare:
- Create your IL account, deposit $5+, place your first $5 cash bet, get $250 in bonus bets if that wager wins.
BetMGM IL Promo – As much as $1,500 Again in Bonus Bets
Supply Abstract:
Key Particulars:
- Minimum deposit typically $10, first bet qualifies.
- “First-bet insurance,” only pays if the first wager loses.
- Bonus bets are split per terms and carry an expiry window.
Standout Perk:
- High ceiling on protection, useful if you want to take a bigger first swing.
Fast How-to-Declare:
- Register in IL, opt in on the promos page, deposit, place your first cash bet, receive bonus bets up to $1,500 if it loses.
Fanatics Sportsbook IL Promo – Get $2,000 in FanCash
Supply Abstract:
Key Particulars:
- Minimum deposit $10, qualifying cash bet $10 at odds of −500 or longer.
- “Bet and Get” in FanCash, not bonus bets.
- FanCash converts to bonus bets or merchandise, must be used within the app per terms.
Standout Perk:
- FanCash can be converted to bonus bets or used on merch, and IL is an eligible state for this national promo.
Fast How-to-Declare:
- Sign up in IL, deposit $10+, toggle the promo in your bet slip, place a $10 cash bet at eligible odds, receive $50 in FanCash.
Caesars Sportsbook IL Promo – $250 First Guess Match with Code FOX250BM
Supply Abstract:
Key Particulars:
- Minimum deposit usually $10, qualifying first bet $1.
- Not a traditional Bet-and-Get or insurance. This is a bundle of 100 percent profit boosts.
- Boosts are issued over 10 days and have per-token max stakes and expiry.
Standout Perk:
- Twenty 100 percent boosts give flexible value on straight bets, parlays, and many SGPs during your first 10 days.
Fast How-to-Declare:
- Create a Caesars IL account, deposit, place a $1+ qualifying bet, receive two 100 percent profit boosts per day for 10 days and apply them on eligible markets.
bet365 IL Promo – Guess $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
Supply Abstract:
- New users can bet $5 and receive $150 in Bonus Bets, regardless of the outcome.
Key Particulars
- Minimum deposit of $10 and made in the seven days prior to you claiming the offer.
- Consists of: Getting $150 in Bonus Bets. It doesn’t matter if the bet wins or loses.
- Bonus Bet expiration: 30 days after registering your account.
Standout Perk
- Includes $150 of Bonus Bets regardless of whether your bet wins or loses.
Fast How-to-Declare
- Sign up, deposit $10+, place your first $10 wager, and get Bonus Bets.
Minimal $10 deposit required. Minimal odds -500 of better. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New prospects solely. T&CS, closing dates and exclusions apply.
How one can Begin Betting on Sports activities in Illinois
1. Select a Authorized IL Sportsbook
Examine welcome bonuses, odds high quality, and app UX. Verify for Bulls, Bears, White Sox, Cubs, and Hearth promos.
2. Register On-line
Illinois permits distant sign-up. You’ll usually enter: full title, e mail, date of beginning, final 4 of SSN, and bodily deal with. Confirm location and age (21+).
3. Declare a Welcome Bonus
Click on the “declare” button on this web page to decide in. Learn the phrases and circumstances for minimal odds, qualifying wager, and expiry.
4. Deposit Funds
Frequent IL strategies: credit score and debit card, on-line banking/ACH, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Play+ pay as you go.
5. Place Your First Guess
Instance: wager $5 on the Bears to win at DraftKings to unlock bonus bets. You may also attempt a easy whole or moneyline.
6. Withdraw Winnings
Payout choices normally embody on-line banking/ACH, PayPal, Venmo, and Play+. E-wallets typically pay quickest, whereas financial institution transfers can take longer. Verify processing occasions within the app’s cashier.
Illinois Sports activities Betting Deal with
The betting deal with is the entire sum of money wagered with authorized sportsbooks over a given interval. It counts each greenback staked earlier than any winnings are paid out. Deal with just isn’t the sportsbook’s income. Income equals deal with minus payouts, and the maintain (or win price) is income divided by deal with.
Fast instance: if bettors place $200 million in wagers and sportsbooks pay out $188 million, income is $12 million and the maintain is 6%.
| Year | Handle | Revenue | Hold | Taxes |
| 2020 | $1.88B | $137M | 7.3% | $20.2M |
| 2021 | $7.02B | $534M | 7.6% | $84.7M |
| 2022 | $9.75B | $806M | 8.3% | $127M |
| 2023 | $11.6B | $1.01B | 8.7% | $161M |
| 2024 | $14B | $1.2B | 8.6% | $276M |
Accountable Gaming in Illinois
Sports activities betting ought to be satisfying and suit your price range. If playing is affecting you or somebody you realize, confidential assist is accessible in Illinois and nationwide. Most sportsbooks additionally supply deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion that can assist you keep in management.
Assist and sources:
- Illinois Council on Problem Gambling – ilcpg.org – 📞 217-652-9611
- National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) – ncpgambling.org | 📞 1-800-522-4700 | 📱 Text “HELP” to 800-522-4700 | 💬 Live Chat: ncpgambling.org/chat
- Gamblers Anonymous – gamblersanonymous.org | 📞 1-855-222-5542
Playing disclaimer: Solely people aged 21 and over are permitted to gamble. In the event you or somebody you realize has a playing drawback and desires assist, name 1-800-GAMBLER. Playing is topic to native state regulation and is against the law in some states. Please gamble responsibly – info referring to accountable playing could be discovered right here.
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