Illinois Sports Betting - Best IL Sportsbooks and Promos 2026

Written by: Richard Janvrin |✅Fact Checked and Updated March 2024 by: Michael Savio

Illinois, the home to the many Chicago-based sports teams, has legal retail and online sports betting for several years. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned in May 2018, and Illinois made relatively quick work to legalize it within the following year.

The sports betting bill came in at 900 pages, which certainly didn’t help move the legislative process along, but it’s available.

Here, our USA Legal Betting expert covers the Illinois sports betting scene, including its legality, ranking the live betting sites and Illinois sports betting apps, the money generated, and more.

Is Sports Betting Legal In Illinois?

Yes. Illinois online sports betting and retail wagering are legal. The legislation, SB 690, passed on June 3, 2019. Then, on June 28, Governor J.B. Pritzker wasted little time signing it into law.

As mentioned, the bill was about 900 pages, which delayed the regulatory process. Finally, the first legal wager was placed on March 9, 2020, but of course, this was around the time that the COVID-19 pandemic happened, which took the wind out of the sail of the legal launch period.

The first online sportsbook opened in June 2020 with BetRivers, and today, there are seven legal platforms with five more on the way (two of which have their licenses approved).

The first online sportsbook that launched in Illinois was BetRivers in June 2020. Now, there are seven sites available and five more on the way.

There will be many options available, but now seven is already a high quantity of options. Below, we’ll list each site along with their best attribute.

1. DraftKings Sportsbook IL - Best for Betting on IL Sports Teams
2. FanDuel Sportsbook IL - Best for Daily Fantasy Betting in IL
3. BetMGM Sportsbook IL - Best Betting App in Illinois
4. Caesars Sportsbook IL - Competitive Odds, Including Odds Boosts
5. PointsBet Sportsbook IL - Most Innovative Betting Market for IL
6. BetRivers Sportsbook IL - Best Rewards Program for IL 
7. ESPN BET Sportsbook IL - Most Hyped Up IL Sportsbook
8. Circa Sportsbook IL - Best for High Limit Betting

Coming Soon 

As mentioned, there are five more online sportsbooks set to hit the Illinois market in the near future, including the following:

• Betway (License Approved)
• Hard Rock Bet (License Approved)
• Bally Bet
• Fanatics (Will replace PointsBet)

Above, we went over the seven live sportsbooks in IL. Below, we’ll take a closer look at each of the betting sites, including a mini-review and a table with information about each. The table includes resources for sportsbook reviews, sportsbook promos, and more.

One of the benefits of wagering online is the Illinois sportsbook promos. Below, we’ll go over the league's most common bonuses and promotions.

• Bonus Bets: These are acquired in numerous ways, including getting your first wager back if it loses or receiving them after betting a certain amount.
• Deposit Bonus: With a deposit bonus, you’ll have a percentage rate matching your first deposit. A typical amount is 100% up to $1,000. 
• Loyalty Programs: Whether a VIP or rewards program, you earn perks and benefits by wagering on games, getting points, and redeeming them.
• Odds Boosts: With odds boosts, the sportsbook artificially enhances the odds on games and contests to offer larger payouts with wins.

📰 June 5, 2026: Illinois Democrats tap into gaming revenue to help fill gaps in the state budget.

📰 February 22, 2026: Govenor Pritzker proposes increasing the tax on sports betting operators to 35% in his latest budget. 

📰 December 1, 2023: Illinois sees a record-high handle in November of $1.4 billion, the third straight month that saw the previous record broken.

📰 October 3, 2023: Circa Sports goes live in Illinois after partnering with The Temporary by American Place Casino, becoming the state's eighth online sportsbook.

📰 September 20, 2023: The sports betting handle dropped 8.1% from June to July, with July at $611.3 million.

📰 September 14, 2023: Illinois court ruled that a lawsuit against Underdog Fantasy will be dismissed unless more evidence is brought forth. September 13, 2023: Harrah’s in Metropolis opens Caesars Sportsbook, and Bally’s temporary casino at Medinah Temple in Chicago is opened.

📰 September 8, 2023: Bally’s Medinah Temple is revealed to be potentially opening in the coming days.

📰 September 5, 2023: Gaming Leisure Properties owns the land under Hard Rock Casino in Rockford. Hard Rock has a 99-year lease on the property.

📰 August 29, 2023: Carterville welcomes Walker’s Bluff Casino, which plans to open a retail sportsbook.

Following the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act getting overturned, traction for legal sports betting started making steam in 2019, and the passage got done quickly.  

• Today: Seven live online IL sportsbooks and soon-to-be 15 retail sites.
• 2022: Caesars and BetMGM launch in March 2022.
• 2021: Barstool Sportsbook launches.
• 2020: The first legal wager was made in March 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The first online sportsbooks launch in June 2020.
• 2019: SB 690 passed in June 2019, and Governor J.B. Pritzker signed it into law the same month.

The bill that passed sports betting, SB 690, was much more than a sports betting bill. Within the 900-page document was an overall capital bill, and Bob Rita and Mike Zalewski championed the sports betting parameters. The bill mandates official league data, in-person registration for the first 18 months (no longer necessary), initially banning betting on state collegiate teams (different now), branding rules, and delaying mobile launch.

Today, registering in person is no longer necessary, and betting on in-state teams is allowed only at retail sportsbooks.

Here are some other notes within the bill:

• You must be 21.
• Sportsbooks are required to purchase official data.
• Sports betting revenue was sent to the “Rebuild Illinois” fund for education, road work, and more.
• In-person registration was necessary until March 5, 2022.

In Illinois, the Illinois Gaming Board oversees and regulates sports betting while ensuring the safety and integrity of it.

While online sports betting has been legal since 2020, there are new bettors in Illinois every day. Below, we’ll go over how to get started betting on games in the state.

• Select A Sportsbook: Browse our reviews of the seven live sportsbooks in the state to see which ones make the most sense for you. Once you decide, head to the site or download the mobile app.
• Create An Account: Once there, create your account. The process at all online sportsbooks takes just a few minutes to complete. You must add personal information such as your name, address, date of birth, social security number, and more.
• Claim Welcome Bonus: Part of picking an online sportsbook should include the welcome bonus. These appear in multiple ways, including deposit bonuses, bonus bets, and more. Claim the offer using a promo code (where applicable), make the appropriate minimum deposits, and other terms and conditions.
• Make A Deposit: Head back to the homepage after making the account. You’ll typically find a link to the cashier page in the upper right corner. Once where choose your desired method and complete the process on the page.
• Select A Game To Bet On: With funds loaded into your account, return to the homepage and browse the available bets. Add what you want to wager to your betslip and wait for the results.
• Withdraw Winnings: Navigate back to the cashier page or through a dedicated withdrawal window after winning some cash. Select the method you want to use to withdraw and wait for the funds to get sent to you.

Yes. In Illinois, you can bet on games on desktop and via mobile Illinois betting apps offered to players to make bets on iOS and Android devices. Below, we’ll go over how to use sportsbook app and more.

How Do I Use An IL Sportsbook Mobile App?

Sign Up
Create an account at one of the live online sportsbooks. Here, you’ll need to provide personal information such as your name, address, phone number, and more. After this, geolocation software will confirm your presence in Illinois.
Deposit
After the account is created, it’s time to make a deposit. Navigate to the cashier page (typically found in a drop-down menu or on the homepage). Browse the available options and complete the process on the deposit page.
Betting
With funds loaded into your account, head back to the home page, browse the available leagues, teams, and games, and add them to your betslip.

Football

NFL

Regarding sports betting in Illinois, no sport is more popular than the NFL. In Illinois, the NFL team here is the Chicago Bears. They are coming off a 2022-23 season in which they earned the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft before trading it to the Carolina Panthers. When it comes to the best NFL betting sites, you can’t go wrong at any of these sites.

Super Bowl

The Bears haven’t won a Super Bowl since their all-time great defense led them to a title in 1986 against the New England Patriots. Illinois's top Super Bowl betting sites have prop bets, including Gatorade and National Anthem run time.

NCAA Football

There are several college football teams in Illinois, with the most noteworthy being the Illinois Fighting Illini. As we approach the 2026 NFL Draft, defensive tackle Johnny Newton is considered a top prospect. The best NCAA football betting sites offer futures betting markets and single-player prop bets.

Basketball

NBA

In Illinois, we have the Chicago Bulls. Of course, this is the team most known for being the place where Michael Jordan played and won several NBA championships. With this rich history, you can find all the best NBA basketball betting sites here.

NCAA Basketball

The Northwestern Wildcats reached the Round of 32 in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The best NCAA basketball betting sites not only offer March Madness betting options but single-player props throughout the regular season.

March Madness

March Madness is the term used to describe the NCAA Tournament. After the Super Bowl, the tournament is easily the most wagered-on event as it runs throughout March. March Madness betting sites will not only have betting markets but also promo offers and bracket-building opportunities.

Baseball

MLB

Illinois is home to two MLB teams, including the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs. The Cubs play at the oldest MLB stadium, Wrigley Field. With two teams in the state, plenty of fantastic MLB betting sites and offers exist.

Hockey

NHL

The NHL has an Illinois-based team, the Chicago Blackhawks, founded in the 1920s. They won the Stanley Cup in 2014-15. With this prominent franchise in the state, the best NHL betting sites have much to look forward to.

Golf

You can bet on golf in Illinois. With golf, you can bet on the tournament winner, including the PGA Championship, and top-five, 10, and 15 finishes. DraftKings and FanDuel frequently offer the best odds on golf.

NASCAR Auto Racing

In Illinois, there’s Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, a $130 million, 1.5-mile, D-shaped tri-oval where the NASCAR Playoffs are held in September each year. Like golf, there are multiple ways to bet on the races, including finishers for NASCAR betting.

Boxing

Boxing has become more popular with the rise of Jake Paul's fights and the Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury bout. Illinois is home to Ken Norton, a heavyweight, and the best boxing sites will have all of the marquee matchups with the best odds.

MMA

MMA betting is available whether it’s the UFC, Bellator, PFL, or something else. The best MMA betting sites offer betting markets on events year-round.

Horse Betting

Horse racing betting is legal in Illinois and has been since 1975 with the Illinois Horse Racing Act. In the state, there are two tracks, including Fairmount Park Racetrack.

Soccer

Soccer is a massive betting market throughout the world, and in the United States, you can bet on the Chicago Fire FC and the rest of the MLS, but there are also several international leagues.

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)

You can participate in Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) in Illinois. No legislation passed to make it legal, but it’s also not illegal. There are numerous sites to play here, including DraftKings, FanDuel, Underdog Fantasy, and more.

Tennis

Tennis betting is available in Illinois, and with this sport, you can bet on tournament winners, but also several micro bets when live betting.

College Sports Betting in Illinois

As of 2021, bettors in Illinois can bet on in-state college teams, but only in person at retail sites. Beyond this, college player props aren’t allowed, and you can bet on college games online so long as it doesn’t include an in-state team.

Prohibited Sports Betting in Illinois

In Illinois, you cannot bet on high school or youth sports.

Professional Sports Teams in Illinois

Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears last won the Super Bowl in 1986 and haven’t won the division since 2018. They’ve played at Soldier Field since 1971. Here,

• League: NFL
• When Founded: 1922
• Stadium: Soldier Field
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): BetRivers and PointsBet

Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls last had real NBA playoff success in the 1990s with Michael Jordan, winning championships in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998. Jordan and Derrick Rose combine for six MVP awards.

• League: NBA
• When Founded: 1926
• Stadium: United Center
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): Betway

Chicago Blackhawks
Between the 2009 and 2015 seasons, the Blackhawks won three Stanley Cup Finals championships. They lost and won the division in 2016-17. During the 2023-24 season, the team will wear a patch to honor Rocky Wirtz, the former owner.

• League: NHL
• When Founded: 1967
• Stadium: Wells Fargo Center
• Location: Chicago, IL
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): DraftKings

Chicago Cubs
Before their World Series win in 2016, the Cubs hadn’t won one since 1908, and before that, 1907. They won the NL Central in 2020 and made the playoffs through the Wild Card in 2018.

• League: MLB
• When Founded: 1903
• Stadium: Wrigley Field
• Location: Chicago, IL
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): DraftKings

Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox won the AL Central in 2021 and had a Wild Card berth in 2020. They won the World Series against the Houston Astros in 2005.

• League: MLB
• When Founded: 1900
• Stadium: Guaranteed Rate Field
• Location: Chicago, IL
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): Caesars

Chicago Fire FC
The Chicago Fire FC won the MLS Cup in 1998, just one year after being founded. They also won the U.S. Open Cup in 1998, 2000, 2003, and 2006.

• League: MLS
• When Founded: 1997
• Stadium: Soldier Field
• Location: Chicago, IL
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): N/A

Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky won their Conference in 2014 and their league championship in 2021.

• League: WNBA
• When Founded: 2005
• Stadium: Wintrust Arena
• Location: Chicago, IL
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): N/A

Chicago Red Stars
In 2022, the Red Stars finished sixth of 12 teams during the regular season and made the first round of the playoffs.

• League: NWSL
• When Founded: 2006
• Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
• Location: Bridgeview, IL
• Partners/ Sponsors (Sportsbooks): N/A

College Sports Teams in Illinois

Eastern Illinois Panthers

Playing in the Ohio Valley Conference, the Eastern Illinois Panthers are most known for football and basketball.  

Illinois Fighting Illini

Based in the Big Ten Conference, the Illinois Fighting Illini are known for their stout football defense.
Defensive tackle Johnny Newton is a top prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Illinois State Redbirds

A Division I FCS school, the Redbirds football team made the playoffs in 1998, 1999, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019.

Loyola Ramblers

Most known for its men’s basketball team, Loyola made it to the Sweet 16 in 2021 and Final Four in 2018.

Northern Illinois Huskies

Northern Illinois won a national championship in 1963 and the Mid-American Conference in 2021. They have 12 Conference titles in their history.

Northwestern Wildcats

The Wildcats football team has a record of 549-698-44 and is 6-10 in bowl games. They won their last Conference title in 2000. They’re most known for their rivalries with Illinois, Notre Dame, and Michigan.

Bradley Braves

The Bradley Braves made the NCAA Tournament with their men’s basketball team in 1950, 1954, 1955, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1996, 2006, and 2019. They last made it beyond the opening round in 200 with a Round of 32 appearance.

DePaul Blue Demons

DePaul’s men’s basketball team has numerous NCAA tournament appearances but vacated their 1986-1988 appearances because of recruiting violations.

SIU Edwardsville Cougars

Also in the Ohio Valley Conference, SIUE’s men’s basketball team made the Division II Elite Eight in 2006.

Southern Illinois Salukis

Southern Illinois is a Division 1 FCS school most known for Walt Frazier, an NBA Hall of Famer, playing on their team in 1967, where they won the NIT Championship.

Western Illinois Leathernecks

An FCS college football program, Western Illinois is 7-11 in the playoffs and last won a conference title in 2002.

Technically speaking, DFS isn’t legal in Illinois. However, due to a lack of legislation, they’re not illegal either. So, they’re in a bit of a grey area, but you can play without worry of legal implications.

Yes. You can bet legally on horse races in the state. You can wager in person at two tracks and several sites through legal betting apps.

There are several retail sports betting outlets in Illinois. Below, we’ll list them and provide some information on each.

• Rivers Casino Sportsbook: Located in Des Plaines, Rivers Casino Sportsbook was the site of the first legal wager on Illinois soil. Owned by Rush Street Interactive, Rivers Casino is partnered with BetRivers, and the online casinos has been live since June 2020. This was also the first online site in the state. This casino is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week. It opened on July 18. 2011.
• DraftKings at Casino Queen, East St. Louis: Residing at 200 Front St. in East St. Louis, DraftKings at Casino Queen operates between 8 AM and 3 AM Sunday-Thursday and goes until 5 AM on Saturday and Sunday. DraftKings IL announced its partnership with Casino Queen on July 23, 2020, and it went live online and in the retail setting on August 5, 2020.
• Grand Victoria: Partnered with Caesars Sportsbook, Grand Victoria is the lone retail sports betting outlet that Caesars partners with. The retail sports betting location opened on August 6, 2020, and the Caesars online mobile app came on September 15, 2020. Grand Victoria is located in Elgin and is open 24/7.
• Sportsbooks at Argosy Casino Alton: Located in Alton, Argosy operates between 9 AM and 2 AM between Sunday and Thursday and until 3 AM on Friday and Saturday. It’s partnered with Barstool Sportsbook, which became ESPN BET. The retail site opened on March 12, 2020, and the Barstool mobile app went live in March 2021. The March 12 opening date was during a soft launch period, with a grand opening scheduled on March 16, but was delayed due to the pandemic.
• FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing: Renamed to add “and Horse Racing,” this became the site of the retail FanDuel Sportsbook after FanDuel transferred the license from Fairmount Park. This site is located near the border of Missouri in Collinsville. This was also the first horse racing track FanDuel partnered with.
• Hawthorne Race Course: Owned by the Carey Family, Hawthorne Race Course is the only horse racing track in Illinois that offers retail sports betting. It’s also the retail partner for PointsBet Sportsbook, which launched on September 12, 2020. The retail sports betting at Hawthorne opened two weeks later, on September 30, 2020. There are other sites of “Hawthorne”, too, including Club Hawthorne Prospect Heights, Club Hawthorne Crestwood, and Club Hawthorne at Crazy Pour.
• Par-A-Dice Casino: FanDuel Sportsbook also has a retail sports betting site at Par-A-Dice. The retail operation here opened on September 10, 2020. Par-A-Dice is located in East Peoria. The co-branding for FanDuel (Par-A-Dice and Hawthorne) happened in August 2020.
• Hollywood Casino Joliet and Aurora: Hollywood Casino has two retail locations in the state that offer retail sports betting. These sites are also partnered with Barstool Sportsbook. These sites both opened on August 20, 2020. They’re located in the towns associated with the casinos, Joliet and Aurora.
• Bally’s Chicago: This retail sportsbook is partnered with Bally’s and opened earlier in September 2023. It’s located in Chicago.
• Harrah’s Casino: Freshly opened in September 2023 in Metropolis with a Caesars Sportsbook on site.

Below, we’ll go over some of the legal sports betting states that border Illinois, and some others that aren’t quite all the way there.

Indiana Sports Betting

Indiana sports betting marked the second Midwestern state to legalize sports betting in September 2019, just months after Illinois passed its law. However, Indiana launched before Illinois, opening later that year. There are 13 sportsbooks in Indiana, with three more on the way. WynnBET ceased operations earlier this year.

Iowa Sports Betting

While Indiana was the second, Iowa sports betting was the first taste of action that the Midwest got in this market when Iowa passed legislation in August 2019. There have been 17 online sportsbooks in the state throughout the years, but three have closed—the Score and Fubo.

Kentucky Sports Betting

Kentucky sports betting officially launched on September 28, 2023, and is the latest state to offer sports betting. Even with the start of sports betting in the state, there are seven operators with more on the way, as there can be up to 27 licenses in the state.

Michigan Sports Betting

Michigan sports betting was passed in late 2019, but it didn't launch until January 22, 2021. Today, there are 13 online sports betting sites, including many offered in Illinois.

Missouri Sports Betting

Missouri sports betting isn’t a reality, but on September 15, 2023, the Missouri Pro Sports Coalition filed multiple proposals to amend the state constitution. If passed, sports betting could become available.

Tennessee Sports Betting

DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM kicked off Tennessee sports betting on November 1, 2020. From there, the state added nine more online sportsbooks, bringing the total to 11. Two others are coming soon, while WynnBET has closed.

Wisconsin Sports Betting

Wisconsin sports betting is limited to in-person only at six tribal sites. It launched in 2021 after an agreement between the state and the Oneida Indian Nation.

While there are numerous land-based casinos in Illinois, online casino Illinois play remains illegal. As of March 2023, HB2239, which would legalize online gambling, is still in the legislative ecosystem, so it has a chance to advance.

After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a BA in Journalism, Richard Janvrin has been covering iGaming and sports betting since December 2018. His first freelance writing opportunity was with Gambling.com. Since then, Richard has covered sports and iGaming for notable outlets such as Bleacher Report, Forbes.