Looking for the best Illinois sportsbooks? Check out our experts' detailed guide to Illinois sports betting to find great deals at top sportsbooks.
| IL Sportsbook | Our Overall Rating |
|---|---|
| 1. FanDuel | 9.1/10 |
| 2. DraftKings | 8.9/10 |
| 3. bet365 | 8.9/10 |
| 4. BetMGM | 8.6/10 |
| 5. Fanatics Sportsbook | 8.15/10 |
| 6. Caesars Sportsbook | 7.1/10 |
Since Illinois betting launched in June 2020, Illinois residents have been given access to some of the US sportsbooks.
The best platform for you depends on what you're looking for. If you're a big fan of the MLB, you may want to sign up with FanDuel for its generous betting lines on these events. Meanwhile, a budget player looking for a high-value welcome bonus might consider DraftKings Illinois the best choice.
Use our expert guidance on this page to choose a legal Illinois sports betting site, and click the links to sign up and get your welcome offer.
| Launch Date | Aug. 28, 2020 |
| Licensing Partner | Par-A-Dice Hotel & Casino |
| Retail Locations | FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing, Par-A-Dice Sportsbook |
FanDuel, a prominent daily fantasy sports provider, has established itself as a top player in the legal online sports betting arena, including in Illinois. In fact, it was named the Online Sportsbook of the Year at the American Gambling Awards in 2024.
Our experts graded it as one of the best-designed sports betting sites in Illinois. The site is simple to use, with upcoming live events displayed at the top and an A-Z sports tab for specific searches
| Launch Date | Aug. 5, 2020 |
| Licensing Partner | Casino Queen |
| Retail Locations | DraftKings at Casino Queen Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field |
DraftKings has been named the official sports betting partner of the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Blackhawks with a dedicated retail sportsbook at Wrigley Field. Our experts have graded it as a top Illinois sportsbook for its overall functionality and ease of live betting.
| Launch Date | March 16, 2024 |
| Licensing Partner | Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort |
| Retail Locations | N/A |
bet365 is a relatively new sportsbook in Illinois, offering elite live betting, extensive market depth, highly competitive odds, and top-tier streaming capabilities. While the interface can feel dated and the platform lacks a loyalty program, its unmatched breadth of betting options, early-payout features, and strong app performance make it one of the most complete and user-friendly sportsbooks available in the state.
| Launch Date | March 5, 2022 |
| Licensing Partner | Par-A-Dice Hotel & Casino |
| Retail Locations | N/A |
As part of MGM Resorts International, BetMGM Sportsbook has quickly risen to prominence among U.S. legal operators since its launch in 2018. With a strong presence across multiple states, BetMGM offers a unique user experience and a wide range of betting markets.
Our experts love using the BetMGM mobile app because it provides a seamless betting experience with excellent mobile functionality and live streaming features. Plus, you can instantly start earning MGM Rewards points with every bet.
| Launch Date | April 5, 2024 |
| Licensing Partner | Hawthorne Race Course |
| Retail Locations | N/A |
The Fanatics Illinois app is available for both Android and iOS users, delivering a seamless experience across all devices. Fanatics does not have a desktop site, so the mobile app is the only way to play.
Fanatics offers a FanCash loyalty program, which allows gamblers to earn points on their sports betting activities. In Illinois, users can redeem their FanCash for various rewards, including exclusive merchandise for Illinois teams, game tickets, and dining experiences.
| Launch Date | March 9, 2022 |
| Licensing Partner | Grand Victoria Casino |
| Retail Locations | Grand Victoria Casino; Harrah's Metropolis |
Caesars Illinois offers an array of exceptional features and diverse betting markets. You can enjoy a substantial welcome bonus, ongoing promos, and a rewarding loyalty program in Caesars Rewards.
In Illinois, Caesars is a sports betting partner of the Chicago White Sox.
| IL Sportsbook | Partner | Retail Location |
|---|---|---|
| BetRivers | Rivers Casino Des Plaines | BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino |
| Circa Sports | Full House Resorts | Circa Sports Illinois Sportsbook at The Temporary by American Place Casino |
| Hard Rock Bet | Hard Rock Casino Rockford | Hard Rock Sportsbook at Hard Rock Casino Rockford |
| theScore Bet (formerly ESPN BET) | Hollywood Casino Aurora | ESPN BET Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Joliet |
It is essential to choose a reputable legal sportsbook in Illinois to ensure a safe and secure betting experience. These regulated platforms offer numerous advantages compared to unlicensed or offshore operators. They contribute to maintaining the integrity of sports by detecting and preventing illegal activities such as match-fixing.
The account verification process required at Illinois sports betting sites is another measure to keep players safe, preventing underage gambling and identity theft.
That's why every sportsbook we recommend has been licensed through the Illinois Gaming Board and correctly verifies accounts.
We register with every legal Illinois betting site, assessing each platform's features, markets, bet types, customer support, and payments. This enables us to evaluate its overall user experience and determine whether we should recommend it to our users.
Our experts have selected the six best Illinois sportsbooks and compared them across various categories using our fair and unbiased review process. Using the trust factors detailed below, in addition to some other key criteria, we average each sportsbook's grade to get the final ratings you saw above.
Each platform offers its own unique range of wagering options. We explore every platform's betting markets and menus to ensure depth and breadth across all the sports you care about.
Sports betting promotions and sign-up bonuses are essential. Illinois sports betting promos include a variety of bonuses. We claim welcome and ongoing offers to ensure you can take full advantage of the sportsbook promos offered by each platform.
We check each sportsbook's limits, transactions feeds, and processing times. The best sportsbooks should offer a variety of payment methods, secure transactions, and prompt withdrawal times.
The best sportsbooks should prioritize protecting your funds, ensuring fairness, and offering robust customer support. We ensure that all our recommended Illinois sportsbooks adhere to these standards by evaluating their reputation in the industry and among their current users.
Mobile sports betting apps offer convenient, on-the-go betting with user-friendly interfaces, live updates, and secure payment options for Illinois bettors. We download every app in Illinois to test the betting experience on mobile.
Each platform sets its own odds, and they can vary from site to site. We compare the most competitive betting odds and assess each sportsbook's odds value.
Getting started with sports betting in Illinois is a simple procedure. Here, you'll find a clear and concise step-by-step manual to assist you:
| Is IL Sports Betting Legal? | Yes |
| Launch Date | June 18, 2020 |
| No. of IL Sportsbooks | 10 |
| Legal Betting Age | 21+ |
| Sports Betting Bill | Senate Bill 690 |
| Total Licenses | 20 |
| Sports Betting Revenue | $4,375,873,069 (through June 2025) |
| Regulatory Body | Illinois Gaming Board |
| IL Population | 12.7M (2024) |
Sports betting has been legal in Illinois for individuals 21 years of age and older since Governor J.B. Pritzker signed SB 690 in 2019. This legalized both online and retail sports betting. Betting is permitted on professional, collegiate, and international sports, but restrictions apply for IL collegiate teams online.
The Illinois Gaming Board oversees gambling in the state. The Board is comprised of five members whom the State Governor appoints. The Board's purview includes sports betting, video gaming, and the regulation of any online casino Illinois in the future. The Board's primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and integrity of gaming in the state.
Over time, IL has developed into one of the biggest sports betting markets in the country. As with most other states, the IL market is led by DraftKings and FanDuel. These two sportsbooks account for almost 70% of bets in Illinois, followed by BetRivers and Caesars.
Senate Bill 690, also known as the Illinois Sports Wagering Act, was signed into law in June 2019.
Initially, the law's language required users to register in person for an online sportsbook account at a land-based casino. This requirement was criticized at the time SB 690 was signed, and the COVID-19 pandemic only made this requirement more problematic as the world was placed in lockdown soon after sports betting was launched. The Illinois Department of Revenue recognized the significant cost to the state in tax revenue due to this requirement, and as a result, in-person sign-up for online accounts was removed in late 2021.
Here are some more critical guidelines bettors in Illinois should know:
Sportsbooks launching in Illinois can apply for a land-based or online sportsbook license. If you apply for a land-based permit, you can only operate in partnership with a land-based casino or racecourse. While most operators choose to partner with a land-based location, Illinois sportsbooks can launch online without an agreement with a local gambling location. A land-based sportsbook license requires an initial license fee of $10 million. An online sports betting license in the Prairie state costs even more, with a $20 million license fee required, followed by a $1 million renewal payment every four years.
After SB 690 was passed, the Board was responsible for implementing the framework and infrastructure that brought legal sports betting to Illinois. Any prospective online sportsbook in Illinois must undergo thorough vetting by the Illinois Gaming Board to obtain a license.
The Illinois Sports Wagering Act permits both mobile and retail wagering. Retail sportsbooks offer a fun atmosphere where you can bet and watch sports alongside hundreds of other sports fans. You can also get speedy payouts through the casino cage cashier at retail sportsbooks.
Knowing where you can bet at retail sportsbooks is extra important in Illinois, considering there are some bets that can only be placed in person.
| Name | Features |
|---|---|
| Bally Bet Sportsbook in the Quad Cities | 20-ft. LED video wall, 25 big-screen TVs, 3 betting windows, 5 kiosks |
| BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino | Hi-def LED TV wall, TV screens, 26-seat bar, bartop poker, kiosks, betting windows |
| Caesars Sportsbook at Grand Victoria Casino | Kiosks, seating, TV screens |
| Circa Sports Illinois Sportsbook at The Temporary by American Place Casino | Kiosks, betting windows, live odds board, 36 TVs |
| DraftKings at Casino Queen Sportsbook | 6K-sq-ft, 60-ft. video wall, 28+ LED TVs, live odds board, 5 betting windows, 38 betting kiosks, food & bar |
| DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field | 2K-sq-ft HD LED display with directional sound, 300 seats, food & bar, private rooms available |
| Fanatics Sportsbook at Hawthorne Race Course | TVs, leather seats & couches, bar |
| FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook | Betting windows |
| FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing at Fairmount Park | 30+ TVs |
| Hard Rock Sportsbook at Hard Rock Casino Rockford | LED TV wall, food & bar, 5 kiosks, 2 betting windows |
| Sportsbook at Argosy Casino Alton | 35 HDTVs, individiual viewing stations, live odds board |
| Penalty Box Sportsbook & Bar at Hollywood Casino Aurora | 20+ big-screen TVs, 10 kiosks, betting windows, luxury seating, food & bar |
| ESPN BET Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Joliet | 42-ft video wall, betting windows, food & bar |
Illinois is the sixth most populous state in the U.S. and is represented by a Chicago team in every major sports league. The fact that all five major league teams have won a championship in the past 40 years further fuels the desire for more success and championships. Chicago sports will forever be synonymous with Michael Jordan and the Bulls, but the Bears, Blackhawks, White Sox, and Cubs also receive massive support.
IL natives love to back their Illinois professional sports teams, and it’s no surprise that Illinois is one of the biggest sports betting markets in the U.S.
The Chicago Bears are a beloved NFL team in Illinois, and betting on them is a tradition for many. You can bet on overall game outcomes or even make prop bets on standout players.
The Chicago Bulls, with their rich history, are a favorite for Illinois bettors.
The Chicago Cubs, one of the oldest teams in Major League Baseball, offer numerous betting opportunities. Along with game outcomes, you can make prop bets on key players, such as predicting a star pitcher's strikeouts.
The Chicago Blackhawks are a popular choice for NHL betting in Illinois. Various betting options exist, including predicting game outcomes or prop bets on a star player's performance, such as the number of goals scored.
Soccer fans in IL often place bets on Chicago Fire FC games. Alongside typical game outcome bets, prop bets on players are also popular, such as predicting the number of goals or assists a top player will score.
Always remember to bet responsibly and understand the nature of the bet you're placing.
Like many US states, the Illinois Gaming Board has strict regulations in place to ensure that gambling platforms keep players safe. All Illinois sportsbooks provide responsible gambling information, including tips on how to stay in control. Each platform also provides account tools, such as time-outs, deposits, bets, and spend limits, to help bettors manage their betting.
The Illinois Gaming Board assists individuals struggling with problem gambling. The Board also operates a state-wide self-exclusion program that players can join to prohibit themselves from gambling. Details of support groups and problem gambling tools are available, as well as instructions on how to self-exclude from all Illinois betting sites.
Additionally, most Illinois online sportsbooks will provide links to responsible gambling organizations that offer professional help to players.
Yes, you can bet on sports legally in IL. There are some of the top online sportsbooks you can bet on in Illinois, which you can sign up for using the links on this page. To bet in person, you can also visit retail sportsbooks at a land-based casino.
Yes. You must be 21 or older to use Illinois betting sites, as well as physically located within the state lines. Whether you play online or visit Illinois retail sportsbooks, you must prove your age.
Illinois sports bettors can find loads of online betting markets for a range of professional and college sports, including betting lines for Illinois teams. You can place bets on major league teams anywhere in the state, but you must visit a retail sportsbook to wager on Illinois college teams.
Yes. Illinois sports betting apps are legal, and you can choose from seven different sports betting apps. You must allow your Illinois sports betting site to access your geolocation services to prove your location.
The best sportsbook in Illinois will always depend on the person. There are several top-quality Illinois online sportsbooks, each offering benefits for new sign-ups, but FanDuel is graded as our No. 1 sportsbook in Illinois.
Find out more about which sites provide the best odds, bonuses, and features by reading our reviews.
Yes, you can bet online on college sports in Illinois, but there are some restrictions. Online sportsbooks are prohibited from offering bets on Illinois college teams. This means that while you can bet on college sports, you cannot place these bets online if the teams are from Illinois.
You also cannot place prop bets on any NCAA players.