Illinois Sports Betting

Illinois online sports betting law allows customers 21 or older to bet on sports with licensed sportsbook apps and betting websites. An in-person registration requirement phased out permanently in 2022, so bettors may now register, deposit, and bet online from anywhere in state lines.

The best Illinois sports betting apps welcome new users with large welcome bonuses as they compete for customers in one of the nation’s most competitive markets. See below for a roundup of the best Illinois sports betting bonuses and the latest promo codes.

In addition, retail sportsbooks in Illinois are available at casinos, race tracks, and professional sports stadiums.

Legal Illinois Betting Sites

BetMGM Sportsbook$1500 Second Chance BetBetMGM Bonus Code: BUSABONUS Get Bonus
DraftKings SportsbookNo Sweat Bet up to $1,000DraftKings Promo Code: Not Needed Get Bonus
FanDuel SportsbookBet $5 Get $150FanDuel Promo Code: Not Needed Get Bonus
BetRivers SportsbookSecond Chance Bet Up To $500BetRivers Bonus Code: BUSA Get Bonus
Caesars Sportsbook$1000 Bonus BetCaesars Sportsbook Promo Code: BUSA1000 Get Bonus
TwinSpires$200 Deposit BonusTwinSpires Offer Code: BET200Get Bonus
DRF Bets$200 Deposit BonusDRFBets Promo Code: STAKESGet Bonus
PrizePicks$100 Deposit BonusPrizePicks Promo Code: BUSAGet Bonus
Boom Fantasy$100 First Entry RefundBoom Fantasy Promo Code: BUSAGet Bonus
Underdog Fantasy$100 Deposit BonusUnderdog Fantasy Promo Code: BETUSAGet Bonus
OwnersBox$500 Deposit BonusOwnersBox Referral Code: BUSAGet Bonus
ParlayPlayFree Entry + $100 Deposit BonusParlayPlay Promo Code: BUSAGet Bonus

21+ and present in IL. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Other Illinois online betting options include horse racing betting, lottery ticket purchases, and daily fantasy sports for customers 18 or older. Pro-gaming lawmakers have also begun pushing for legalizing online casino games and poker, but progress on that front has been slower.

Best Illinois Sports Betting Apps

Illinois is home to 10 casinos, two race tracks, and nine professional sporting venues, all of which are eligible for sports betting licenses. To date, there are just seven active online sportsbooks in the state, but that number is likely to increase now that the cumbersome in-person registration requirement is gone.

Below is a look at the state’s current mobile sports betting offerings, along with previews of sportsbooks that BettingUSA projects will launch shortly.

BetMGM Sportsbook$1500 Second Chance BetBetMGM Bonus Code: BUSABONUSGet Bonus
  • Launched: March 2022
  • Partner: Par-A-Dice Hotel & Casino
  • Expert Review: BetMGM Illinois

BetMGM secured Illinois market access through one of three online-only sports betting licenses. It launched on March 5th, 2022, the same day the in-person registration mandate expired.

BetMGM is partnered with Par-A-Dice Hotel & Casino, which was originally tethered to FanDuel. However, FanDuel transferred its license to the former Fairmount Park, rebranding it as FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing.

BetMGM Sportsbook is fiercely competitive in most sports betting states and should challenge DraftKings and FanDuel for market share. Its strengths include a vast betting menu, a wealth of user-friendly features, and a deep integration with MGM Rewards Program.

However, aside from the BetMGM Illinois app welcome bonus, promotions aren’t very strong. BetMGM also places too much emphasis on its same-game parlay and other high-hold “lottery-style” wagering formats.

New customers who use the BetMGM Illinois bonus code BUSABONUS when registering claim the latest signup offer.

Caesars Sportsbook$1000 Bonus BetCaesars Sportsbook Promo Code: BUSA1000Get Bonus

Caesars Illinois Sportsbook offers statewide online sports betting for iOS and Android users and a retail sportsbook in partnership with the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin.

The Caesars Sportsbook app in Illinois provides an extensive betting menu, a busy in-play betting calendar, and frequent promotions. Caesars Sportsbook odds boosts are also featured with betting limits up to $100 and integration with one of the best gambling loyalty programs: Caesars Rewards.

Caesars Sportsbook Illinois welcomes new customers with a first bet bonus offer and regular promotions targeting major events and local sports teams. Use the Caesars Sportsbook Illinois promo code BUSA1000 for new users to claim a high-value welcome bonus.

DraftKings SportsbookNo Sweat Bet up to $1,000DraftKings Promo Code: Not NeededGet Bonus

DraftKings Sportsbook launched online sports betting for Illinois customers in August 2020 to become the state’s second online sportsbook. In Illinois, DraftKings is partnered with DraftKings at Casino Queen (formerly Casino Queen East St. Louis).

DraftKings Illinois offers a vast menu of pre-game and in-play betting markets and features solid pricing across the board.

The DraftKings Illinois app is also known for its frequent promotions, including some of the best odds boosts in the industry. DraftKings also features one of the best sports betting loyalty programs: Dynasty Rewards.

The current DraftKings Sportsbook welcome bonus in Illinois automatically applies to all new customer accounts at signup. Illinois bettors can claim the latest offer by completing the registration process and making an initial deposit.

A DraftKings Illinois promo code is NOT required to claim the latest promotions.

FanDuel SportsbookBet $5 Get $150FanDuel Promo Code: Not NeededGet Bonus
  • Launched: August 2020
  • Partner: FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing
  • Expert Review: FanDuel Illinois

FanDuel Sportsbook Illinois launched near the end of August 2020 as the state’s third online sports betting operator in partnership with Par-A-Dice Casino. It later switched its license to Fairmount Park Racetrack and rebranded the track as FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing while investing millions into a revitalization effort.

FanDuel still operates a branded retail sportsbook at Par-A-Dice.

FanDuel Sportsbook is known for its sleek betting interface, solid pre-game moneylines, and for offering tons of betting markets. FanDuel pioneered Same Game Parlays, which nearly all online sportsbooks now offer. FanDuel Sportsbook also offers some of the industry’s very best Odds Boosts promotions.

FanDuel in Illinois isn’t without major flaws. FanDuel doesn’t offer bettors a loyalty program, which is mind-boggling. FanDuel teaser pricing is considered poor by sharp bettors, and the software occasionally crashes during high-volume events.

A FanDuel Illinois promo code is NOT required to claim the latest welcome bonus. Current promotions are automatically applied to all new customer accounts.

Other Illinois Online Sportsbooks

BetRivers SportsbookSecond Chance Bet Up To $500BetRivers Bonus Code: BUSAGet Bonus

Chicago based Rush Street Interactive launched BetRivers Sportsbook in June 2020 as the first authorized sports betting app in Illinois. BetRivers manages a retail sportsbook at Rivers Casino Des Plaines and offers statewide online sports betting for iOS and Android devices.

BetRivers is generally regarded as a high-quality operator. Extensive wagering options, strong promotional offers, and the top-notch iRush Rewards loyalty program are somewhat offset by occasionally suspect betting lines and house specials, but overall, BetRivers is a viable option for serious and casual bettors alike.

Illinois bettors can claim the latest BetRivers second chance bet offer by using the BetRivers Illinois bonus code BUSA when signing up for a new account.

The BetRivers Illinois bonus provides more value than most second chance bet offers by forgoing any wagering requirements.

  • Launched: November 14th, 2023
  • Partner: Hollywood Casino Aurora
  • Expert Review: ESPN Bet Illinois

ESPN Bet operates in Illinois via a partnership with Penn Entertainment and the Hollywood Casino in Aurora for a retail sportsbook and online sports betting app.

Golden Nugget Sportsbook plans to offer online sports betting in Illinois, but the timeline for its launch is uncertain. In late 2020, Golden Nugget Online Gaming, Inc. secured market access through a deal with Danville Development, which is constructing a Golden Nugget in Danville, IL.

However, it may be a while before the Golden Nugget app launches in Illinois as the casino construction continues.

Once it launches, the Golden Nugget Sportsbook app in Illinois will provide an extensive array of sports betting markets, many in-play betting opportunities, and detailed stats and trends.

Bally’s Corporation plans to launch statewide online sports betting for Illinois customers through the Bally Bet Illinois app. Bally’s purchased Jumer’s Casino & Hotel in mid-2021, securing Illinois sports betting market access.

The Bally Bet Sportsbook app in Illinois will offer competitive betting lines and a generous welcome bonus, which should help Bally Bet establish a foothold in the crowded Illinois sports betting market.

Circa Sports launched in Illinois through its partnership with Full House Resorts, the parent company of American Place Casino in Waukegan.

Circa Sports is a unique operator among Illinois betting sites. Rather than saturating the airwaves with advertisements and throwing big signup bonuses at recreational bettors, Circa Sports entices new customers by accepting massive wagers, not limiting winning bettors, and charging razor-thin holds so Illinois bettors can keep more of their own money.

  • Launched: September 2020
  • Partner: Hawthorne Race Course
  • Expert Review: PointsBet Illinois

PointsBet launched online sports betting for Illinois residents in September 2020. With standard wagers plus the “PointsBetting” form of wagering in which bettors win more for correct predictions, PointsBet is one of the most unique Illinois betting apps.

PointsBet software is screamingly fast and the live betting juice trends toward the lower end. PointsBet Illinois also offers a two-part sports betting loyalty program. The Platinum Club is reserved for the top 5% of PointsBet customers, and the exclusive Diamond Club is invite-only.

However, PointsBet has pulled back sharply on the number of promotions it offers and tends not to post as many alternative lines and derivatives as other sports betting apps.

Some sharp bettors in Illinois have also complained that PointsBet Sportsbook is quick to limit winning players.

Illinois Sportsbook Promo Codes

The following table displays the latest Illinois sports betting promo codes for new customers:

Online SportsbookPromo CodeBonus Offer
BetMGM Illinois Bonus CodeBUSABONUSBet $5, Get $150
DraftKings Illinois Promo CodeNot NeededNo Sweat Bet up to $1,000
BetRivers Illinois Bonus CodeBUSASecond Chance Bet up to $500
FanDuel Illinois Promo CodeNot NeededBet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
Caesars Sportsbook Illinois Promo CodeBUSA1000$1000 Bonus Bet

Some Illinois betting bonuses require customers to input specific promo codes in order to claim a particular offer while others offer bonuses to all new customers by default. In cases where bonus codes are needed, readers can use the promo codes listed above to claim the associated offer.

In many cases, however, no promo code is needed at all to claim a bonus. Signing up and making a deposit or placing a wager is often all that’s needed.

For betting sites that do require bonus codes, players are usually asked to enter the code either when signing up for an account or when making a deposit.

For example, BetRivers Sportsbook asks for a promotional code upon registration as depicted below:

BetRivers IL promo code

Illinois Sports Betting Bonuses

The competitive nature of the Illinois online sports betting market benefits bettors who like to take advantage of bonuses and promotions. With many sportsbooks already available or set to launch in Illinois, new player welcome offers will continue to play a major role in the marketing efforts of most operators.

Most Illinois sports betting bonuses for new customers fall under these categories:

  • Bonus bet: This is the most common type of new player offer. Players place their first wager with cash, and if it loses they receive a full refund up to a certain specified amount. The refund is usually issued via bonus bets or site credit, with site credit being preferable.
  • First deposit match: Players make an initial deposit and Illinois sportsbooks match part or all of the deposit with bonus funds. The bonus is always subject to a wagering requirement, usually ranging from as little as 1x up to 25x.
  • First bet match: This works similarly to first deposit matches, except instead of receiving a bonus, the deposit is matched with a matched bet, capped at a certain amount. In most cases, the matched bet is equal in size to the initial deposit. Matched bets are only subject to a 1x turnover. However, winning wagers made with matched bets only return profits, not the upfront stake.

Does Illinois Gambling Law Address Bonus Offers?

Neither the Sports Wagering Act of 2019 nor additional regulations adopted by the Illinois Gaming Board specifically address promotional offers.

However, licensed sportsbook operators are obligated to provide a reasonable level of transparency and fairness to customers.

Additional regulations directly related to promotional offers may be issued at some point as is the case in other states, but currently, Illinois law simply expects licensees to conduct themselves in a “transparent and fair” manner and to promote responsible gambling habits.

How to Bet Online in Illinois

There are four key steps that bettors must take before placing their first wager on an Illinois betting app:

When selecting a sportsbook, think about the factors that are important to you. For instance, value hunters who primarily bet straights should seek out books with the best betting lines. Action players might prefer online sportsbooks in Illinois that reward high volume through loyalty program kickbacks. Low rollers should be on the lookout for sports betting sites that offer small, easy-to-clear, welcome bonuses (BetRivers is a good example), as well as small stakes promotions.

Ultimately, bettors in Illinois will want to sign up for multiple sportsbooks, since that will allow them to line shop, which is a critical component of minimizing the house edge.

Tip: Sports betting bonuses usually expire after 7-30 days. Players on a limited budget should plan their registrations accordingly. Don’t blindly sign-up for every Illinois sportsbook at once. Instead, clear one bonus and then move on to the next.

Registering for an Illinois online sportsbook is not a whole lot different than creating an account at a retail sportsbook. For the most part, the steps only vary slightly from book to book.

Illinois sports bettors can begin the registration process by visiting by downloading the sportsbook’s app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). Most online sportsbooks also allow bettors to register on their websites.

Illinois law (specifically 11 Ill. Adm. Code 1900.1220) requires sports betting sites to collect the following information from all customers who wish to register for a wagering account:

  • Legal name
  • Date of birth
  • Entire or last four digits of the patron’s Social Security number or the equivalent for foreign patrons (passport or taxpayer identification number)
  • Residential address
  • E-mail address
  • Phone number
  • Any other information as needed to verify the patron’s age and identity

Some customers may be hesitant to provide their social security number, even if it’s just the last four digits. Rest assured, this information is used for identity verification and taxation purposes only. Customer information is matched against private and public databases to ensure accuracy and to help protect other players from fraud.

Sports betting operators protect player information using bank-level encryption technology and must adhere to Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering regulations.

Tip: Be sure to enter the latest sportsbook promo codes during the registration process.

Sports bettors with verified accounts may make deposits and receive withdrawals remotely. Additional regulations adopted by the Illinois Gaming Board outline the types of sportsbook deposit methods operators can accept.

11 Ill. Adm. Code Section 1900.1220 (d) states that customers may fund their accounts by:

  • Credit or debit card in the name of the patron
  • Cash at an in-person wagering location, including through tellers and self-service kiosks (up to $3,000)
  • Reloadable prepaid cards that have been issued to the patron and that are non-transferrable
  • ACH transfer (eCheck)
  • Deposits through money transfer services licensed in Illinois (this includes services such as PayPal)
  • Comps, rewards and promotional credits
  • Adjustments or refunds authorized by the operator

To put that in simpler terms, licensed Illinois betting apps may accept all the most common types of deposit methods.

Tip: Players are under no obligation to fund their accounts immediately. However, by waiting too long they could miss out on new player bonus opportunities.

In order to place a real-money wager at an Illinois online sportsbook, bettors must be physically located within state borders. Illinois sportsbooks use sophisticated geolocation technology to pinpoint a bettor’s exact location. Be sure to enable location services on mobile, or use a WiFi-enabled desktop, before attempting to place a wager. Desktop users may also have to install a small geolocation plugin.

Placing a bet is as simple as tapping or clicking on a betting line. Major market pre-game wagers and in-play bets are often listed right on the homepage. To find more exotic bets like futures, props, alternative lines, and derivatives, bettors will usually have to click or tap into a game and then filter for the desired betting format.

All selected wagers are added to the bet slip. The bet slip is typically located on the right-hand portion of the screen (desktop), or as a pop-up accessible from the bottom of the screen (mobile and desktop). It contains information related to the wagers, including the betting lines.

Bettors can continue adding as many wagers to the bet slip as they desire, and have the option of betting them individually or converting them into a parlay or round robins. Teaser bets may also be available for basketball and football markets.

MGM BetSlip
BetMGM Illinois Bet Slip

From the bet slip, players can also input how much they’d like to wager. After selecting the desired amount, submit the bet and wait to see if it’s accepted. Sometimes the lines may change while the bet was being created. This mostly happens when placing in-play wagers. In this instance, the Illinois betting app will ask if you’d like to place the same wager at the updated odds.

Congratulations, you’ve just placed your first bet at an Illinois online sportsbook. Now, hope that it’s a winner.

Tip: Once a bet has been placed, it’s usually final. So make absolutely sure that the bet displayed in the bet slip is the one you want before submitting it for approval.

Depositing at Illinois Online Sportsbooks

The Illinois sports betting industry is still growing and the number of funding options is growing on most sports betting sites. However, Illinois state law allows sportsbooks to accept a wide variety of betting deposit methods, and in time, the options will expand across the board.

Here are the funding options we currently recommend to Illinois sports bettors:

  • Credit cards and debit cards: Customers can fund their accounts with a Visa or MasterCard credit/debit card. Be warned that some issuing banks automatically reject online gambling deposits, although many have softened their stance.
  • Online banking: Using Trustly Online Banking, bettors can log into their bank account via a secure portal, and fund their Illinois sports betting account with funds in their checking accounts.
  • ACH/eCheck via VIP Preferred: Link a preferred checking account to VIP Preferred and conduct instantaneous deposits. Weekly limits vary, but will generally increase over time as customers build up their reputations.
  • Play+: These are special branded prepaid cards that can be loaded via bank cards and checking accounts. Play+ boasts one of the highest acceptance rates and fastest withdrawal times of any funding method. Players also receive a physical card in the mail, that can used for ATM deposits and purchases wherever Discover Card is accepted.
  • PayPal: Illinois sportsbooks accept deposit through money transfer services, with PayPal being the most popular. This provision also opens the door for transaction through other eWallets, like Venmo.
  • Cash @ the cage: Most Illinois online sportsbooks are partnered with land-based casinos or race tracks in Illinois. Players are permitted to deposit funds into their online account at these retail locations.
  • PayNearMe: Players can deposit cash at nearly 27,000 convenient locations, including local CVS, 7-Eleven, Famil Dollar, Casey’s and Walgreens stores.

The most common withdrawal methods are online banking transfers, eChecks, PayPal, Play+, and cash at the cage. The minimum withdrawal amounts vary slightly from book to book but are generally in the $10 – $20 range. They may be higher for paper check transactions.

Illinois sports betting sites typically process withdrawals in 1-2 business days, and funds may reach your account within 24 hours. Play+ and PayPal tend to be among the fastest withdrawal methods, with online banking and eCheck payouts only lagging slightly behind. Paper checks may take up to 2-3 weeks to reach your mailbox.

Note: To request a withdrawal using a payout method like PayPal or online banking, players must have already used that method for a deposit. Illinois sportsbooks may also require additional documentation, such as a scanned copy of a photo ID or recent bank statement, before processing a player’s first withdrawal. After that, these requests are rare.

Illinois Online Sports Betting Details

Online sports betting is legal and widely available in Illinois.

Casinos, race tracks, and stadiums that hold sports betting licenses may operate mobile apps once approved. Casino and racetrack licensees may serve customers statewide, while stadiums have a five-block radius in which they may accept wagers in-person or through mobile apps.

In-person registration phased out permanently on March 5th, 2022. Illinois bettors may sign up, deposit, and withdraw from anywhere, but state law requires all customers to be physically located within state lines to place real-money wagers.

iOS Betting Apps in Illinois

iPhone and iPad users can download betting apps directly from the App Store by searching for their preferred sportsbook by name. Alternatively, bettors can head to the sportsbook’s website for a link to the appropriate page in the App Store.

One benefit of having an Apple device is the App Store effectively serves as a secondary security check because Apple verifies all gambling apps prior to listing them. App Store policy is to only list betting apps that are legal and licensed in each US state.

Android Betting Apps in Illinois

The Google Play Store permits real money sports betting apps if they are licensed, prevent underage users from participating, and clearly display information about responsible gambling. Additionally, Play Store guidelines require operators to successfully complete an application process to distribute their apps on the Play Store.

Bettors can search for licensed apps in the Play Store by name, but it is better to visit the sportsbook’s website for the latest download link. Google does not maintain as tight of control over its app listings as Apple, and customers will find it easier to find any sportsbook’s official app by visiting its website.

Illinois Sportsbook Locations

Casinos, race tracks, off-track betting facilities (OTBs), and qualifying sports stadiums may launch on-premises sportsbooks under IL law.

Retail Sportsbooks at Illinois Casinos

Eight Illinois casinos have opened retail sportsbooks to date. Harrah’s Joliet, Harrah’s Metropolis, and Bally’s Quad Cities have not yet detailed what plans they may have for sports betting.

In November 2020, Golden Nugget LLC announced a partnership with Danville Development LLC to construct a land-based casino in Danville that will operate under the Golden Nugget brand. Additionally, the agreement permits Golden Nugget to offer online gambling (if legalized) and online sports betting in Illinois.

Sportsbooks at Illinois Racetracks and OTBs

Hawthorne Racetrack is home to PointsBet Sportsbook, while Fairmount Park Racetrack rebranded to FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing in late 2020 after reaching an agreement with the FanDuel Group.

Stadium Sportsbooks

The IL sports betting law allows for up to seven licenses to be issued to sports venues with a seating capacity of at least 17,000. Sports arenas that obtain licenses may also offer mobile betting within a five-block radius.

Additional legislation approved in 2021 provided an exception for Wintrust Arena, home of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. With a seating capacity of just under 10,400, Wintrust Arena did not qualify under Illinois’ original sports betting law.

Nine Illinois stadiums qualify to apply for one of the state’s seven stadium licenses based on seating capacity:

  • Wrigley Field
  • Guaranteed Rate Field
  • Soldier Field
  • United Center
  • SeatGeek Stadium
  • Chicagoland Speedway
  • World Wide Technology Raceway
  • AllState Arena
  • Wintrust Arena

A couple of stadiums have already confirmed plans to build on-premises sportsbooks:

  • In September 2020, the Chicago Cubs announced a partnership with DraftKings to bring a retail sportsbook to Wrigley Field. The construction efforts to build the two-story, 22,350 square foot sportsbook are well underway, and is projected to open prior to the 2023 baseball season.
  • In February 2022, FanDuel announced a partnership with the United Center to built a retail sportsbook in the stadium. While awaiting approval, FanDuel is constructing a non-betting space at the stadium, which is home to the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks.

The Illinois Lottery has also been authorized to enter the sports betting business to a limited degree. Under the new law, the IL Lottery may place up to 2,500 sports betting terminals throughout the state over the first year of the law being in effect. After that, the lottery may place an additional 2,500 kiosks over the course of the following year to bring the total to 5,000 machines.

IL Lottery betting kiosks are not permitted to offer full-fledged sports betting; they may only offer parlay-style wagers. The details of exactly how those wagers would work have yet to be ironed out.

Additionally, the launch of sports betting kiosks is contingent on the IL Lottery finding an operator willing to pay the one-time licensing fee of $20 million in return for managing the program. That may be a tall order as the program is set to expire on 1 January 2024.

Chicago Sportsbooks

Sports betting has been available near the Chicago area since Indiana’s first sportsbooks launched in September 2019. Two casinos with sportsbooks on the shores of Lake Michigan just over the Indiana border are an easy drive from much of Chicago.

On the Illinois side of the border, River Casino Des Plaines serves as the most centrally-located Chicago-area sportsbook. Moving outward from there are sportsbooks at Grand Victoria Casino, two Hollywood Casinos, and American Place Casino.

In addition, sportsbooks at stadiums are on their way following a vote to end Chicago’s retail sports betting ban.

Sportsbooks on the Illinois Side of the Border

  • PointsBet Sportsbook at Hawthorne Race Course
  • BetRivers Sportsbook at River Casino Des Plaines
  • Caesars Sportsbook Kiosks at Grand Victoria Casino
  • The Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Aurora
  • The Sportsbook Hollywood Casino Joliet
  • Circa Sportsbook at American Place Casino in Waukegan

Sportsbooks on the Indiana Side (South of Chicago Proper)

  • The Book at Horseshoe Hammond
  • Sportsbook at Ameristar East Chicago

Mobile Betting in Chicago

Online sports betting came to Chicago in June 2020 with the launch of BetRivers IL, followed by DraftKings, FanDuel, and others. Each mobile sportsbook in Illinois is tied to a land-based casino for licensing purposes, but customers may place wagers online from anywhere in Chicago.

Illinois Sports Betting Law

Illinois legalized sports betting with the passage of SB 690 in June 2019.

The bill established the Illinois Sports Wagering Act (230 ILCS 45), authorizing the state to issue licenses to casinos, race tracks, off-track betting facilities, and qualifying sports venues to operate retail sportsbooks. Licensed casinos and race tracks may also offer statewide mobile betting, and licensed stadiums may accept wagers in-person or via mobile devices within a five-block radius.

Licensing fees for casinos and race tracks are priced according to a percentage of the previous years’ revenue up to a maximum of $10 million.

Online operators may either partner with a local land-based casino operator or wait for one of the three online-only licenses that can be issued 18 months after the launch of IL sports betting. That “penalty box” period has since passed, and BetMGM has already scooped up the first online-only license.

Key Illinois Sports Betting Rules

  • Are in-person sportsbooks authorized? Yes
  • Are online and mobile sports betting authorized? Yes
  • Where may sports betting take place? Casinos, race tracks, and sports stadiums may apply for licenses to operate in-person sportsbooks and offer online betting. Each licensed venue is permitted just one mobile skin.
  • Sports betting kiosks: Illinois Lottery may operate up to 5,000 kiosks that will accept parlay-style wagers only
  • Minimum age to bet on sports in IL: 21
  • Restricted Events: Minor league events and K-12 events; no bets on in-state college teams* and sportsbooks may not offer in-play betting or player props on games involving in-state teams
  • Restricted Wagers: Pro sports teams may ask the Illinois Gaming Board to prohibit certain types of wagers if they are concerned such wagers will impact the integrity of their games
  • Data Mandate: Licensed operators must purchase official data from the leagues for settling in-play wagers
  • Licensing fees: Between $3 – $20 million. Pro sports leagues will pay $10 million for a license, and online only operators must pay $20 million.
  • Tax rate: 15% on adjusted gross sports wagering receipts
  • Additional local tax: An additional 2% tax to be collected from operators located in counties with a population above 3 million. Money collected from this tax is earmarked to support that county’s criminal justice system.
  • Self-exclusion: The Illinois Gaming Board and Department of the Lottery maintain a voluntary self-exclusion program for people who wish to restrict themselves from wagering

*In December 2021, Governor Pritzker signed a bill to legalize betting on Illinois colleges with two caveats: bettors may only place wagers on Illinois college sports in-person at retail sportsbooks, and sportsbooks may only offer pregame wagers – no individual player props or in-play betting.

Authors of the Illinois sports betting law included a provision requiring customers to register in person at a casino for online betting accounts for the first 18 months of the market’s launch. However, the arrival of coronavirus in 2020 resulted in all Illinois casinos closing their doors indefinitely and officials rethinking the in-person registration provision.

This in turn led to Gov. J.B. Pritzker signing multiple executive orders to waive the in-person registration requirement for much of 2020 and the early part of 2021. In-person registration returned in April 2021 and remained in place until early 2022. On March 5th, 2022, remote registration returned permanently, allowing bettors to sign up for betting accounts from anywhere within state lines.

Illinois lawmakers also included a provision in the law intended to delay the entry of former daily fantasy sports operators FanDuel and DraftKings.

Neither operator was specifically named in the law, but as the Chicago Sun Times reported, local gambling interests lobbied lawmakers to craft the legislation in a way that would impose a waiting period on FanDuel and DraftKings.

While it is commonly referred to as a “penalty box,” supporters of the provision called it a “regulatory waiting period” designed to give local operators a chance to play catch up to the major DFS operators that may have operated counter to state law and procured large player databases in the process.

Rivers Casino legal representative Paul Gaynor explained his client’s position this way:

We just think that if someone has engaged in an illegal anti-competitive behavior, and hasn’t benefited the state at all, and has thumbed their nose at the regulators, they shouldn’t get the benefit of that illegal conduct.

Lawmakers partially acquiesced and wrote the law in a way that would allow land-based casinos to begin offering mobile betting upon approval. Meanwhile, three online-only sports betting licenses would only be up for grabs 18 months after the first license was issued to a casino operator and at a cost of $20 million each.

However, FanDuel and DraftKings both managed to skirt the penalty by partnering with local casino operators and leaning heavily on those operators’ brands. Regulations issued later in Illinois require casino operators that launch mobile betting platforms to prominently feature the casino’s brand but do not preclude online operators from co-branding.

As a result, DraftKings partnered with Casino Queen East St. Louis and the facility agreed to rebrand itself as DraftKings at Casino Queen. FanDuel partnered with Par-A-Dice Casino and features Par-A-Dice branding prominently on its app, or at least it did until it moved its sports betting license over to Fairmount Park.

One of the Illinois Gaming Board’s duties is to approve operators to accept wagers on specific sports leagues and events. The IGB permits wagering on a broad range of domestic and international leagues, but licensed sportsbooks may request permission to offer betting on events not already approved by the IGB. The IGB maintains a list of approved sports wagers on this page.

  • Sports leagues, governing bodies and licensees may request that the IGB consider prohibiting a certain type of wagering or wagers on a certain event if there are integrity concerns
  • Sports betting operators may request that the IGB authorize wagers on a certain type of event, sport, league or competition

Illinois sports betting law initially prohibited wagers on games involving in-state college teams, but lawmakers partially relaxed the restriction by adding Amendment 2 to HB 3136 in October 2021. Governor Pritzker signed the bill in December 2021, and it took effect on March 5th, 2022.

The newer rules allow sportsbooks to take wagers on games involving in-state Illinois college teams, but there are some restrictions. First, bettors may only place wagers on Illinois colleges in-person at retail sportsbooks. Second, sportsbooks may not offer in-play betting or player props on games involving Illinois colleges.

Illinois law allows mobile online sportsbooks to offer their services to customers who are 21 or older and located within state lines.

Bettors do not need to be residents to participate; merely being of legal age and inside Illinois is enough.

  • Sportsbooks shall not accept wagers greater than $500 without first verifying the identity of the bettor against the self-exclusion list
  • Sportsbooks shall not redeem a wager for greater than $2,000 without verifying the identity of the bettor against the self-exclusion list
  • Mobile sports betting apps must prevent individuals on the self-exclusion list from opening new sports wagering accounts
  • Sportsbook licensees may not directly advertise or promote sports wagering to minors
  • Online and mobile sportsbooks must allow bettors to place limits or restrictions on: types of wagers, subjects of wagers, frequency of wagering, dollar amount of wager, prohibiting new deposits and prohibiting all wagering

The legislation that eventually legalized sports betting in Illinois was not the first of its kind. Illinois lawmakers had been considering the issue even before the Supreme Court overturned the federal sports betting prohibition.

Lawmakers introduced two bills in 2018 that sought to legalize sports betting pending the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling on PASPA:

  • HB 4214: A simple placeholder bill to create the Legalization and Regulation of Sports Betting Act
  • SB 2478: Would have created the Sports Betting Consumer Protection Act. This bill was also short on details but did discuss “electronic” sports betting, presumably in reference to mobile/online betting.

Illinois Daily Fantasy Sports

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Illinois law does not address daily fantasy sports, but many DFS operators are active in the market and accept customers 18 or older. A 2020 Illinois Supreme Court decision ruled daily fantasy games are a contest of skill and not subject to state laws on gambling, which is heavily regulated.

As a result, daily fantasy sports are legal in Illinois despite the lack of legislation addressing the subject. Illinois sports fans can play fantasy sports online with many operators, including all the nation’s most prominent DFS brands. Readers can learn more about Illinois daily fantasy sports and see BettingUSA’s top-rated picks below:

Illinois Horse Racing Betting

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Online horse racing betting is legal and licensed in Illinois. Lawmakers formally authorized horse racing betting by passing the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Later, Illinois legalized advance deposit wagering and established a licensing process for ADWs.

Today, Illinois is home to a robust horse racing industry with three permanent race tracks and numerous OTBs. Most of the country’s major online horse racing betting operators (ADWs) are licensed in Illinois as well, providing fans with many options to bet on horse races throughout the state.

Illinois Online Gambling

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Illinois has flirted with legalizing online casinos and poker sites since 2013, but all efforts to date have failed. As a result, online gambling in IL remains prohibited, aside from online sports betting and parimutuel horse racing betting sites.

In early 2021, lawmakers introduced legislation to legalize Illinois online casinos and poker sites. HB 3142 never made it beyond the committee stage in the House, but its language provides some insight into lawmakers’ thoughts on online gambling in Illinois.

Had HB 3142 become law, it would have allowed Illinois casinos and race tracks to launch up to three online gambling sites apiece. Each gambling site would have had the authority to offer casino games and online poker, including multi-state poker.

The bill also included language to speed up implementation, with provisions calling on regulators to adopt additional rules quickly and look to other states for inspiration. Although the bill failed to progress far in the legislative process, it showed that lawmakers have a mind for legalizing Illinois online gambling and doing it quickly.

An early effort in 2013 saw lawmakers add language authorizing online gambling and poker to a larger land-based gambling expansion bill. Lawmakers ended up stripping the bill of its online gambling provisions before the bill died in its entirety. Two placeholder bills, HB 1077 and HB 1078 were also introduced in 2013 and went nowhere.

Several years passed without significant developments. Online gambling hit the radar unexpectedly in May 2017 when language legalizing online gambling was added to a daily fantasy sports bill at the behest of local riverboat casino interests.

According to local news reports, casinos in Illinois viewed daily fantasy sports as a competing business model and were originally opposed to legislation regulating fantasy sports. However, those casinos had also been interested in expanding to online gaming for quite some time. They were able to strike a deal with lawmakers and get the online gaming language added to the fantasy sports bill.

In addition to creating consumer protection regulations for IL daily fantasy sports, the modified bill sought to legalize online gaming and issue licenses to operators. Existing casinos, horse racing tracks, and ADW operators would have been authorized to apply for licenses for an application fee of $250,000 and a $10 million licensing fee.

Operators would have been permitted to offset the hefty licensing fee against future taxes collected on gaming revenue.

The bill was put to the Illinois Senate’s vote in May and passed by a vote of 42-10, but stalled in the House and eventually died there.

Responsible Gambling in Illinois

Numerous resources are available in Illinois for anyone concerned they or a loved one may have a gambling problem:

Illinois Sports Betting and Gambling Self-Exclusion

Individuals may self-exclude from all licensed Illinois sports betting sites, retail sportsbooks, and casinos through the Statewide Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (SEP).

Gamblers can visit the IGB office at any Illinois casino or any of the enrollment sites the SEP maintains throughout the state. In addition, the IGB has several enrollment sites across the border in Iowa.

The SEP only offers lifetime self-exclusion periods, but gamblers may request removal from the self-exclusion list after five years. However, removal is very difficult.

First, the removal request requires an affidavit from a mental health professional certified in gambling addiction. Of course, anyone who has permanently self-excluded from gambling is unlikely to convince a licensed problem gambling expert to sign such an affidavit.

Additionally, individuals seeking removal from the list must provide extensive documentation detailing their past gambling problems, treatment, treatment providers, and much more.

Important Illinois self-exclusion points:

  • Friends, family, and spouses may not submit self-exclusion requests on behalf of others; only the person seeking self-exclusion may enroll
  • Some Illinois casinos automatically extend self-exclusion requests to all of their properties nationwide
  • Self-excluded individuals who enter Illinois sportsbooks and casinos may face trespassing charges and the confiscation of any tokens, chips, and betting slips in their possession
  • It is the responsibility of self-excluded individuals to stay out of all Illinois sportsbooks and casinos, inform the IGB of any change of address, and inform the IGB if they receive any letters or brochures from an Illinois sportsbook or casino
  • Self-excluded individuals may still visit stadiums with sportsbooks, but they may not enter the venues’ sports wagering areas

Illinois Sports Betting FAQ

Yes. Illinois legalized online sports betting and retail sportsbooks in June 2019.

Illinois residents and visitors may bet on sports from anywhere within state lines via licensed sports betting apps or in-person at sportsbooks. State law permits retail sportsbooks at casinos, race tracks, OTBs, and qualifying stadiums if licensed.

In-person sports betting registration ended permanently on March 5th, 2022. Under current law, bettors may register remotely from anywhere and place wagers when located within state lines.

Customers must be 21 or older to place sports wagers in Illinois.

Yes, but there are limitations. Illinois sportsbooks may offer college betting in-person and online with the following exceptions:

  • Wagers on games involving Illinois college teams must be placed in-person at licensed retail sportsbooks
  • Sportsbooks may not offer live betting or player props on games involving local universities

Not yet. Illinois law does not prohibit esports betting, but sportsbooks must request permission from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) to offer wagers on sports other than mainstream professional and college sports. As of this update, the IGB has not yet added esports competitions to its list of events approved for wagering.

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) oversees all gambling and sports betting throughout the state. IGB responsibilities include issuing licenses, drafting regulations, and providing oversight to ensure safety, integrity, and adherence to responsible gambling practices.

No. Illinois law only requires that customers be located within state lines when placing wagers.

Yes. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that fantasy sports are contests of skill and not chance. Lawmakers could still pass legislation to regulate fantasy sports or even prohibit it outright, but as it stands right now, DFS is legal in Illinois.

Yes. The Illinois Lottery website offers instant win games and tickets for major draw games.

Customers physically located in Illinois can visit IllinoisLottery.com to play online or purchase individual tickets or subscriptions to Mega Millions, Powerball, IL Lotto, Lucky Day Lotto, Pick 3, and Pick 4. Customers must be 18 or older to buy Illinois Lottery tickets online.

IL sports betting regulations (Section 1900.1250) require all licensed legal sports betting apps to provide tools by which customers may limit the amount of money wagered, prohibit new deposits, or stop all wagering entirely.

In practice, most online sportsbooks exceed these minimum requirements by allowing Illinois sports bettors to restrict the amount wagered.

Customers can also set deposit limits and overall time spent logged in.

Illinois law requires sportsbook operators to collect the last four digits of each customer’s Social Security number to verify their identities.

BettingUSA.com only recommends licensed IL online sports betting sites and mobile sportsbook apps. Any sportsbooks recommended here are safe and legal.

Additionally, the Illinois Gaming board maintains an up-to-date list of licensed operators here.

The first Illinois sports betting apps launched in June 2020.

Yes. Online horse racing betting is legal and regulated in Illinois. Fans can bet on the Kentucky Derby and other high-profile horse racing events via licensed advance-deposit wagering providers (ADWs).

BettingUSA recommends the following ADWs for betting on horse races online:

Article 28 of the Illinois Criminal Code prohibits participating in unlawful gambling in broad terms. Illinois criminal law does not specifically mention online gambling, but it could be interpreted to apply to bets on games anywhere with the following text:

(a) A person commits gambling when he or she:

(1) knowingly plays a game of chance or skill for money or other thing of value, unless excepted in subsection (b) of this Section;

(2) knowingly makes a wager upon the result of any game, contest, or any political nomination, appointment or election;

Illinois has not shown an appetite for prosecuting players who visit offshore sportsbooks, but there is some legal risk. Additionally, offshore gambling sites are unregulated, and players have no recourse if they suspect an unfair game or are refused payment.

Yes, DraftKings Sportsbook is legal in the state of Illinois. In fact, it’s the state’s marketshare leader. DraftKings also offers daily fantasy contests to Illinois players.