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Illinois Sports Betting

By Jake Patel 📅 Updated 31st January 2022

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Betting Sites	Score	New Customer Offer	Expert Review	Go To Site & Sign Up	Sports	iOS App	Android App	Terms
1. Bet Rivers	86%	100% up to $250	Reviewed & verified by our team "Bet on a huge range of sports with Bet Rivers - there are over 15 to choose from including all the major leagues, European sport and NCAA tournaments" Compare.bet Editor Read our review	Claim Bonus	18	Yes	Yes	New Customer Offer Grab the code 250MATCH your deposit will be matched to $250. Only 1x play through requirement. The Match Bonus is applied within 48 hours after using the code 250MATCH. Only one 250MATCH code may be utilized across all associated websites. 21+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
2. Draftkings	81%	Get Up To $1000 Bonus	Reviewed & verified by our team "With pools, you can bet on anything from football games to your favorite show. Keep an eye out for special promotions, including free bets, odds boosts and more." Compare.bet Editor Read our review	Claim Bonus	10	Yes	Yes	New Customer Offer A customer's first deposit (min. $5) qualifies the user to receive up to $1,000 in bonus funds in the form of site credits that can only be used on DraftKings. Bonus amount is equal to 20% of that deposit amount, not to exceed $1,000 (the customer must deposit $5,000 to be eligible to receive the maximum possible bonus amount of $1,000). Bonus funds will be awarded to the user according to the following play-through requirement: for every $25 played on DraftKings in DFS/Sportsbook/Casino, the user will receive $1 in bonus funds released into their customer account 21+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
3. Fanduel	93%	$1000 risk free bet	Reviewed & verified by our team "Bet with Fan Duel for some of the best promos available online - you can place same game parlays, and take part in weekly competitions like NFL Gridiron Pick'em" Compare.bet Editor Read our review	Claim Bonus	16	Yes	Yes	New Customer Offer Join FanDuel Sportsbook today and make your first bet. If you lose, you get a refund of up to $500 in site credit (within 72h). Your first bet will qualify (If you have multiple selections on one betslip, it will be the first selection you made). 21+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
4. Pointsbet	74%	2 Risk Free Bets Up To $1500	Reviewed & verified by our team "Pointsbet is home to a bunch of parlay specials - same game parlays, in-play parlays and parlay booster. Plus, no rollover requirements on free bets." Compare.bet Editor Read our review	Claim Bonus	17	Yes	Yes	New Customer Offer Eligible clients are entitled to a maximum two (2) refunds. One (1) refund worth $1,000 in Free Bets for first PointsBetting wager should it lose and One (1) refund worth $500 in Free Bets for first fixed price wager should it lose. No refund are payable for winning, void or wagers resulted as a push. Unless otherwise stated, Risk Free promotions are capped at a maximum refund amount of $500. 21+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
5. Caesars	70%	Deposit $50, Get $1500	Reviewed & verified by our team "Sign up to Caesars and get Caesars Rewards for wagering on sports through the mobile app - you can even cash them in at one of the brick and mortar casinos." Compare.bet Editor Read our review	Claim Bonus	16	Yes	Yes	New Customer Offer 21+. First deposit of $50 or more using a qualifying deposit method only. Paid as a bet credit. Bet credit must be used within 30 days of receipt. Void where prohibited. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® 21+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
6. Barstool	84%	Up to $1000 Risk Free Bet	Reviewed & verified by our team "Barstool's sportsbook combines its flair for entertainment and comedy to create a one of a kind betting experience. Take advantage of unique offers and promotions and bet on great range of markets." Compare.bet Editor Read our review	Claim Bonus	18	Yes	Yes	New Customer Offer Make your first ever cash deposit. Then, place any single wager on your betslip (ex. one parlay bet or one straight bet). If that bet wins, you will not receive any bonus cash. If that bet loses, you will receive a refund in bonus cash equal to the amount wagered (up to $1,000). 21+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.

🏆 Best Overall Score:	93%
🎁 Largest Free Bet:	$1500
🤝 Highest Deposit Match:	100%
💵 Minimum Deposit:	$5

If you are looking for a wide range of betting options, promotions and sports, we would recommend signing up to DraftKings. Discover why it currently carries a lofty score of 81%.

Best Choice for Illinois

Rated 81%

Get Up To $1000 Bonus

Get Bonus

Reviewed & verified by our team

"With pools, you can bet on anything from football games to your favorite show. Keep an eye out for special promotions, including free bets, odds boosts and more."

A customer's first deposit (min. $5) qualifies the user to receive up to $1,000 in bonus funds in the form of site credits that can only be used on DraftKings. Bonus amount is equal to 20% of that deposit amount, not to exceed $1,000 (the customer must deposit $5,000 to be eligible to receive the maximum possible bonus amount of $1,000). Bonus funds will be awarded to the user according to the following play-through requirement: for every $25 played on DraftKings in DFS/Sportsbook/Casino, the user will receive $1 in bonus funds released into their customer account

Why we recommend DraftKings for betting in Illinois

Sleek mobile betting platform:
You can download the DraftKings sportsbook on both iOS and Android devices. Use it to wager on top-tier North American sporting leagues, boost your bets or redeem any one of its bonus offers. With an easy-to-navigate interface and sleek design, the DraftKings mobile app is one of the best.
Variety of sports to bet on:
There are a plethora of sports to wager on at DraftKings. From NFL, NBA and NCAA basketball to more niche sports such as table tennis and darts there’s plenty for punters to try out. Simply pull up the DraftKings app or visit its website to place your pre-game or in-play wagers.
Handy welcome offer:
DraftKings helps new customers kickstart their time at the betting site with a solid welcome bonus. Available to all new members, this promotion comes in the form of a deposit bonus worth up to $1,000. Note that you must deposit a minimum of $5 in order to claim this bonus.

Our alternative picks:

If you’re already a member of DraftKings or you would prefer to try something else, BetRivers has a one time wagering requirement on all bonuses that allows you to cash out your bonus winnings after playing through said bonus only once. Alternatively, there’s also BetMGM which is a trusted sportsbook that boasts flexible deposit options and a rewarding loyalty program.

Illinois, also known as the Prairie State, is home to a wide number of major league sports teams including the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and the MLB’s Chicago Cubs. The state also contains one of America’s tallest buildings, the Sears Tower in Chicago. On top of this, Illinois is home to a flourishing gambling market with a variety of ways for residents to gamble. After several attempts, sports betting is legal and live in the state of Illinois.

Is it legal to bet on sports in Illinois?

Yes, sports betting is legal and live in the state of Illinois. In June, Illinois became the 17th state to legalize sports betting after Governor J.B Pritzker signed Illinois’ gambling expansion bill into law. The gambling package legalized land-based and online sports betting and allowed for the construction of six new land-based casinos and a large casino venue in Chicago.

Illinois’ sports betting market went live in March 2020 with the launch of BetRivers-branded sportsbook at Rivers Casino Des Plaines. The state has yet to outline plans for the launch of online sports betting.

In addition to traditional sports wagering, residents can bet on horse racing and fantasy sports in Illinois.

Illinois Sports Betting

IL Sports Betting

What sports can I bet on In Illinois?

Residents will be able to bet on a variety of professional and collegiate sporting events such as football, basketball, soccer, hockey, golf, tennis and baseball.

However, under the state’s sports betting laws wagering on collegiate sporting events that are held in the state will be prohibited. The sports leagues will also have the ability to place restrictions on certain types of bets in the state.

Where can I bet on sports in Illinois?

Under the state’s sports betting law, residents and visitors can bet on sports in person at land-based sportsbooks at casinos, racetracks and lottery locations in the state. Online and mobile betting is also permitted under state law.

At the time of writing, the only venue to offer legal sports betting is Rivers Casino Des Plaines. More venues are expected to launch sports betting operations in the coming months.

Illinois sports betting revenue

Illinois legalized sports betting on 28 June 2019, however, sports betting did not go live in the state until 9 March 2020. The market first went live via land-based casino sportsbooks but due to the coronavirus pandemic casinos temporarily closed their doors to the public on 16 March. In June 2020, the state’s online sports betting market went live.

Complete state reports can be accessed via the Illinois Gaming Board portal.

Last updated on 11th January 2022

Month	Handle	Revenue	Tax
March 2020	$997,739	$72,028	$12,242
April 2020	–	–	–
May 2020	–	–	–
June 2020	$8,281,803	$368,651	$59,446
July 2020	$52,524,820	$3,623,985	$585,623
August 2020	$140,065,649	$7,233,360	$1,176,754
September 2020	$305,222,938	$6,837,289	$1,107,906
October 2020	$434,567,103	$42,200,300	$6,807,284
November 2020	$449,239,162	$41,286,027	$6,618,259
December 2020	$491,720,536	$23,873,152	$3,823,629
January 2021	$581,553,300	$47,945,298	$7,670,847
February 2021	$509,794,592	$35,393,768	$5,850,897
March 2021	$633,614,957	$44,317,702	$6,647,655
April 2021	$537,158,723	$43,605,926	$7,068,029
May 2021	$507,279,761	$36,230,990	$5,854,318
June 2021	$476,517,309	$48,187,783	$7,684,748
July 2021	$369,134,820	$37,292,354	$5,641,739
August 2021	$400,359,760	$26,849,155	$4,380,802
September 2021	$596,455,694	$44,579,564	$6,450,627
October 2021	$840,440,436	$48,316,644	$8,459,764
Total	$7,334,929,102	$538,213,977	$85,900,570

Other Gambling Options

IL Gambling Options

What else can I bet on in Illinois?

A variety of gambling activities are legal in Illinois, including online lottery games and fantasy sports, betting on horse racing and a number of riverboat casinos. The casinos in Illinois offer a variety of casino games, including:

Slots
Blackjack
Craps
Roulette
Poker (Three Card, Ultimate Texas Hold’em)
Baccarat

There are 10 casinos that operate in the state.

Casino Name	Location	Contact	Email	Opening Hours
Casino Queen and Hotel	200 S Front St, East St Louis, IL 62201, USA	+1 618-874-5000	Online form	Sunday – Wednesday: 8am – 4am Thursday – Saturday: 8am – 6am
Harrah’s Joliet	151 N Joliet St, Joliet, IL 60432, USA	+1 815-740-7800	Not available	24 hours
Harrah’s Metropolis	100 E Front St, Metropolis, IL 62960, USA	+1 618-524-2628	Not available	24 hours
Hollywood Casino Aurora	1 W New York St, Aurora, IL 60506, USA	+1 630-801-1234	[email protected]	Sunday – Wednesday: 8:30am – 4:30am Friday – Saturday: 8:30am – 6:30am
Grand Victoria Casino Elgin	250 S Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120, USA	+1 847-468-7000	Online form	Everyday: 8:30am – 6:30am
Hollywood Casino Joliet	777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, IL 60436, USA	+1 888-436-7737	[email protected]	Everyday 7:30am – 5:30am
Argosy’s Alton Belle Casino	1 Piasa St, Alton, IL 62002, USA	+1 800-711-4263	Not available	Everyday 8am – 6am
Rivers Casino	3000 S River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018, USA	+1 888-307-0777	[email protected]	Everyday 9am – 7am
Par-A-Dice Casino	21 Blackjack Blvd, East Peoria, IL 61611, USA	+1 309-699-7711	Online form	Sunday – Thursday: 8am – 4am Friday – Saturday: 8am – 6am
Jumer’s Casino and Hotel	777 Jumer Dr, Rock Island, IL 61201, USA	+1 800-477-7747	[email protected]	Everyday 7am – 5am

Offshore

Are offshore gambling sites legal in Illinois?

The legality of offshore gambling sites in Illinois falls into a grey area. Article 28 of the Illinois Criminal Code appears to prohibit playing poker and wagering games, although it does not specify whether its for online or land-based games. While no one in the state has been prosecuted for online gambling, we recommend steering clear of offshore gambling and sports betting sites. These offshore sites don’t have a license to operate in Illinois, which means they aren’t subject to strict regulatory standards when it comes to protecting vulnerable players or protecting players’ funds.

You can spot offshore gambling sites by looking at the website’s domain name. If you see a domain that ends in .EU or .AG it does not hold a license to operate in Illinois and therefore should be avoided at all costs. If Illinois does choose to regulate sports betting, there could be some legal online sports betting sites available further down the line, which would be much safer than offshore sites.

Responsible Betting in IL

Is it safe to bet on sports in Illinois?

Although Illinois is fairly relaxed in its approach to gambling law and regulation, the state has managed to implement strong and effective gambling regulation. The state regulator has published strict and tight regulations for sports betting to help ensure the activity is fair and safe for bettors. However, it’s also up to punters to gamble responsibly and avoid betting more than they can afford to lose to keep gambling fun. Both the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling and the Illinois Alliance on Problem Gambling have a variety of resources available to help those who suffer from problem gambling and people who have loved ones that may need help. The National Council on Problem Gambling also has a number of resources to help those who suffer from problem gambling.

You can contact the National Council on Problem Gambling via:

Phone: 1-800-522-4700

Text: 1-800-522-4700

online chat

You can contact the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling via:

Phone: 1-217-652-9611

Email: [email protected]

You can contact the Illinois Alliance on Problem Gambling using an online form on its website.

Who regulates gambling in Illinois?

Gambling activity in Illinois is regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board. When it comes to horse racing, the Illinois Racing Board is tasked with overseeing 30 horse racing tracks and off-track betting parlors across the state.

How old do I have to be to gamble in Illinois?

The legal age to play the Illinois state lottery and wager on horse racing is 18, but you must be 21 years old to play casino games.

IL Betting Timeline

The journey to legal and regulated sports betting in Illinois

Illinois has yet to legalize sports betting and that state lawmakers are still considering legislation. We will continue to update this page as the situation develops.

1800s – Gambling in the state of Illinois was initially a very small activity but grew throughout the 1800s with an influx of illegal riverboat casinos. These riverboat casinos thrived and many still operate in the state of Illinois to this day.

1927 – The state of Illinois legalized and regulated gambling on horse racing.

1974 – In an attempt to generate some much-needed state funding, Illinois became the first US state to permit a state lottery.

1986 – Illinois passed the Charitable Games Act which permitted charity gambling games under existing lottery legislation.

1991 – The state moved to legalize riverboat casinos. Under the Riverboat Gambling Act, the riverboat casinos in the state were authorized to offer gambling activities as long as the riverboat casinos moved along the river.

1992 – Congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) prohibiting sports betting across US states. Four states were made exempt from the law: Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana. These states had legal sports betting regulations in place.

1999 – The Riverboat Gambling Act was amended, and riverboats no longer have to travel along the river. This meant riverboat casinos were docked at permanent spots across the state.

2001 – Illinois expanded its lottery offerings and became the first state in the US to offer lottery tickets online.

2009 – Licensed venues were given authorization to install video gambling terminals. However, this was met with criticism from various anti-gambling parties that argued video gambling terminals would hurt local communities where the terminals were installed. On top of this, there was also the perception that permitting video gambling terminals would contribute to social issues such as gambling addiction and higher crime rates. Once the first video gambling terminals had been rolled out some parties argued that the state regulatory body lacked the capacity to oversee the activity.

2011 – The state passed the Casinos Act SB744. This allowed land-based casinos to operate and also permitted race tracks to expand their gambling offerings to patrons.

2018 – In preparation for the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), January 2018 saw the introduction of the Sport Betting Consumer Protection Act. The bill was sponsored by Senator Steve Stadelman.

On 14 May, the Court reached a decision. In a 7 – 2 vote it was agreed that one of the clauses in PASPA violated the Tenth Amendment, as it commandeered power from states to regulate their own gambling industries. This paved the way for all US states to decide whether or not to legalize sports betting. In the weeks after the repeal of PASPA a number of US sportsbooks launched across the country.

In October 2018, Illinois lawmakers explored the possibility of legalizing sports betting in a sports betting hearing. Although sports betting was not legalized it appeared that lawmakers were intrigued and willing to explore the topic further.

2019 – In July, Governor J.B Pritzker signed Illinois’ gambling expansion bill into law, making Illinois the fifth state to legalize sports betting in 2019. As well as legalizing sports betting, the bill allowed for the launch of six new land-based casinos and a large casino venue in Chicago.

2020 – In March legal sports betting went live in Illinois with the opening of a BetRivers sportsbook at Rivers Casino Des Plaines

For more updates on sports betting in Illinois, Compare.bet has got you covered.

The people behind this page

Compare.bet's online gambling content experts helped write, edit and check the content on this page:

Jake Patel

Jake is a gambling content specialist for Compare.bet, with a focus on the regulated US market. He is responsible for producing news content for Compare.bet News, state guides for Compare.bet US and has interviewed several senior executives within the gambling industry. Jake previously wrote for Gambling Insider and LGBT+ news site PinkNews.