A long list of sporting categories are covered at FanDuel, with many of the world’s most prominent leagues and competitions available to bet on. Whether you’re looking to place wagers on NFL and NHL clashes, or have a passion for European soccer or the PGA Tour, you’ll have no shortage of options at this bookmaker. The market depth is suitably eclectic too, so you can back players with prop bets, make final score predictions, and much more.
FanDuel has been a familiar name to sports fans for quite some time now. It launched way back in 2009 as a daily fantasy sports operator, and has since evolved to become one of the country’s most respected sportsbooks. So, if it’s pedigree you’re after, FanDuel has it in spades. But let’s get down to brass tacks: what does the site actually offer bettors in Illinois?
This review will take you through every aspect of this online bookmaker, from the welcome bonus to the markets offered. You can then decide whether it’s the right sportsbook for you. Let’s get into it.
Why Sign Up To FanDuel Illinois
A number of well-known sportsbooks have set up shop in the Prairie State over the last few years, so why should FanDuel be on your radar? For one thing, there’s a pretty chunky risk-free welcome bonus. We also like the great in-play coverage, the clean-looking interface and the attentive customer service. All of these attributes and more will be explored in this in-depth review.
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History of Fanduel Illinois
A report published in May by the Illinois Gaming Board reveals FanDuel to be the market leader among online sportsbooks in the Prairie State.
FanDuel becomes the third online sportsbook, after BetRivers and DraftKings, to go live in Illinois.
Sportsbooks like FanDuel are provided a pathway to operating in Illinois, when the governor passes legislation allowing legal sports betting in the Prairie State.
Fanduel Illinois Promo Code
FanDuel Illinois greets new members with a $1,000 risk-free welcome bonus. The way it works is very simple. You just have to create an account and place a bet. If luck isn’t on your side, up to $1,000 of your losing stake will be refunded to your account in the form of bet credits. Just bear in mind that the reimbursed stake must be wagered within 14 days. After this period, any unused credits will be removed.
Promotions
You’ll notice the ‘Promotions’ tab prominently featured at FanDuel. This will take you through to the deals available to existing members, which are liable to change depending on when you drop by. At the time of writing, for example, FanDuel is running its ‘Dinger Tuesdays’ promo. This gives you the chance to win free bet credits by placing a ‘To Hit a Home Run’ wager on any MLB game taking place on a Tuesday. You’ll then be awarded $5 in free bets for each home run either team hits in the game, up to a $25 max.
FanDuel is also currently running a risk-free same game parlay bet offer for the NBA Playoffs. If your same game parlay of three legs or more ends up a loser, you’ll get up to $20 of your stake back as free bets.
Whatever promos are on offer, it’s crucial to read the fine print so you’re aware of important stipulations. For example, the NBA same game parlay promo is only offered on parlays of final odds of +400 or longer.
Sports available at Fanduel Illinois
Live Betting & Streaming
FanDuel Illinois has a particularly impressive in-play betting section. Depending on when you happen to navigate to this section, you may be able to place all kinds of live bets on tennis matches, hockey games or big-ticket basketball events. What’s more, FanDuel allows its members to watch a huge array of sports live, through the on-site streaming service. Not only does this let you enjoy the action right there on the desktop or app, but actually seeing the events unfold can help you gauge the momentum and make better-informed betting judgements.
FanDuel also allows you to cash out on certain live bets. This means closing the wager before the event is done, either to minimise losses on a losing prediction, or to lock in a profit early. If, for example, you’ve backed Chicago Fire FC to beat Atlanta United, but Atlanta are three goals up by half time, you may decide to pull the plug on the bet. The cash out value will be smaller than your stake, but it’ll be better than losing the whole amount. Conversely, if Chicago Fire are ahead by a significant goal margin, you may feel like cashing out well before the final whistle. The profit won’t be as much as it would be if you stick it out, but you won’t have to worry about Atlanta making a comeback in the latter part of the match.
Odds
Whether you’re going for straightforward moneylines or more intricate player or team props, you can rely on FanDuel Illinois to provide odds that cleave to the market average. That’s not to say you can’t get also better-than-average odds at FanDuel, however. Head to the ‘Boosts’ section and you’ll see the selections that have been enhanced in your favor, meaning that a winning wager will get you a bigger return than you’d ordinarily expect.
The same game parlay tool is also handy for potentially maximizing your returns. It makes it easy to stack different bets for the same event, with the combined odds yielding a heftier profit compared to individual wagers. Just remember that the risk also increases, since all your legs have to go your way for the parlay to win.
App Review
You don’t have to dash over to your computer every time you want to place bets or manage your funds. You can simply log into FanDuel’s mobile site, or – even more conveniently – download the app.
This puts all the markets – both pre-game and live – at your fingertips, without the need to go through your browser. It’s as cleanly laid-out as the desktop version, and getting started is a cinch. Just follow our FanDuel link to set up your account, and you can then download the app from Google Play or the App Store.
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Design & Usability
If you like a no-frills interface, you’ll probably love the way FanDuel looks. The color scheme of light and dark blues is very easy on the eye, and the site is very intuitive to use. With few images to create clutter, it’s very easy to browse the sports categories, find betting markets, and manage your bet slip. There’s nothing novel or inventive about the structure: it’s just a classic sportsbook layout, done very well.
Special Features
FanDuel has the distinction of being the sports betting brand which popularized the concept of same game parlays in the US. The brand has continued to shake things up by creating ‘Same Game Parlay Plus’. This useful feature lets you combine wagers on other events with your same game parlay selections. As with any parlay, more legs equals more risk. But players who enjoy this form of betting will value this added functionality.
Cashier
As with other top sportsbooks, FanDuel ensures the vast majority of customers can make payments and withdrawals using their favored methods.
You can pay into your account using debit and credit cards, the FanDuel Play+ card and e-wallets. You can also deposit using cash via PayNearMe retailers.
The fastest withdrawals typically come via Play+ card and e-wallets, though there are other options including checks by mail.
Min deposit | Minimum Withdrawal Limit | Withdrawal Processing Time | |
Venmo | $10 | 48 hours | |
PayNearMe | $10 | N/A | N/A |
FanDuel Play+ card | $10 | 48 hours | |
Credit/debit card | $10 | N/A | N/A |
PayPal | $10 | 48 hours | |
Online banking (ACH) | $10 | 3-5 days | |
Check by mail | N/A | Up to 14 days |
Fanduel Illinois Customer Support
FanDuel has an extensive FAQ section which provides useful information on everything from bet types to account features. If you run into any problems and need direct help, you can always open up the 24/7 live chat window. Alternatively, you can drop customer support an email, with the average response time being around 12 hours. There’s also a phone number and an active Twitter account you can use to interact with the team.
Your Questions Answered
Does FanDuel have a rewards program for its members?
Unfortunately, sports bettors don’t have a loyalty scheme available to them at this betting site. There is a program known as the FanDuel Players Club, but it’s for the DFS side of things only.
Do I have to be a resident of Illinois to bet through FanDuel?
No, you just have to be located within state lines to place bets at FanDuel Illinois. Geolocation technology is utilized to ensure you’re eligible to wager.
Can I play online slots and table games at FanDuel Illinois?
No, because online casino gaming hasn’t been given the regulatory go-ahead in the Prairie State. FanDuel’s online casino games can be enjoyed if you visit other states, such as Pennsylvania and Michigan.