Illinois State Online Sports Getting Guide: What You Need to Know

Illinois is a state that generates a ton of sports betting interest, largely because of Chicago and the rich history of sports franchises that call the Windy City home. Whether you’re looking to bet on football from your couch, or planning to bet while on a vacation, Illinois will be accommodating for your betting needs.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Illinois?

Sports betting in Illinois is fully legal, and even more convenient than ever. Since March 5, 2022, you can sign-up and wager through a mobile sportsbook without having to register at a physical casino first. So now, you can do all the betting you want in Illinois from the comfort of your home.

What betting sites are legal in Illinois?

Illinois currently has seven sportsbooks operating, with the potential for more in the future. The seven that are actively taking bets are some of the biggest sportsbooks available in the United States.

Caesars

Caesars is one of the newest sportsbooks available in Illinois, arriving in March 2022. They have a deep catalog of sports to choose from and an extensive rewards program that is second to none.

DraftKings

One of the premier sportsbooks in America, DraftKings is one of the top options available in Illinois. They have an incredible app and will be partnered with the Chicago Cubs for the foreseeable future.

BetMGM

Another March 2022 addition to available Illinois sportsbooks, BetMGM is known for its large quantity of sports and betting types. The King of Sportsbooks is one of the most reliable options on the market.

PointsBet

Hailing from Australia, PointsBet is in Illinois, bringing their unique PointsBetting with them. PointsBet has partnered with the White Sox and the Blackhawks as their official sports betting partners.

FanDuel

FanDuel and the Chicago Bulls became partners in January 2022, amid the Bulls’ run to the postseason. FanDuel has one of the easiest apps to use and is at the forefront of the same-game parlay popularity surge.

BetRivers

With their parent company, Rush Street Interactive, headquartered on North Michigan Avenue, BetRivers has strong ties to Chicago. It should be no surprise then that they’re partnered with the Bears, the city’s NFL team.

Barstool

Available at two casinos and as an app, Barstool has brought its sportsbook to Illinois. An offshoot of the Barstool Sports brand, tie-ins with their media personalities make them an experience unlike any other.

Illinois Sports Betting Rules and Regulations

Just as in every other state in the U.S., the minimum age for bettors is 21 years old. If you're at least 21, you can register for a sportsbook by providing the following information:

Name
Email
Date of birth
SSN
Phone number
Address
Password

Once the sportsbook app verifies your location and you make a deposit, you can bet on almost anything, including:

College Restrictions

In Illinois, you can bet on in-state colleges, but only at physical locations. Placing a mobile bet on Illinois schools is prohibited. Further, you can not place any player props on any collegiate games that have a participating team from Illinois.

High School Betting

Illinois joins a long list of states that prevent bettors from wagering on any high school athletics, or any equivalents, regardless of where they are based.

Best Mobile Sportsbooks available in Illinois

These rankings are not definitive by any means, but based on reviews and features, this is how the mobile sportsbooks in Illinois compare.

DraftKings: Best design, along with an app that’s extremely smooth and convenient.
FanDuel: Great navigation and same-game parlays give FanDuel’s app an edge over competitors.
PointsBet: A ton of promos and bonuses, paired with their one-of-a-kind PointsBetting option.
Caesars: Plenty of odds boost available daily along with an incredible rewards program.
BetMGM: Large menu of sports and betting options makes it a great choice.
BetRivers: Another sportsbook with awesome rewards, they have a feed that displays big winners in sports betting.
Barstool: Offers plenty of promos and has a nice sign-up bonus.

Illinois Sports Betting Promos

FanDuel Bet $5, Get $150

Ahead of Week 1 of the NFL season, FanDuel opened a promo for new customers. Once they sign up and make at least a $10 deposit, their first $5 wager will reward users with $150 in free bets. It doesn’t matter if the bet wins or loses, FanDuel deposits $150.

Get your $1,000 No Sweat First Bet by clicking here and joining FanDuel

DraftKings First Deposit Bonus and Free Bet

At DraftKings, they’re offering a $50 free bet on top of their existing 20% deposit match on first deposits from new users. All you have to do is sign-up, deposit at least $5, and the $50 free bet is yours. The 20% deposit match bonus reaches up to $1,000 in bonuses, so any initial deposit between $5 and $5,000 will receive a full %20 match.

New DraftKings players get a deposit bonus up to $1,000

BetRivers Deposit Match

BetRivers does a deposit match, but theirs is a 100% match. Any first deposit from new customers up to $250 is eligible for the 100% deposit match.

New BetRivers players get up to a $500 free bet

BetMGM Welcome Bonus

When you register at BetMGM, they’ll greet you with an offer for a risk-free bet on your first wager with them. You can place any bet between $0.50 and $1,000, and if it loses, they’ll refund the amount as a free bet. If your first bet wins, you get to keep the money.

$1,000 Risk-Free Bet for all new BetMGM players here

Barstool 2-for-1 Bonus

While Barstool offers a risk-free bet for customers when they first sign up, they also give them $10 that can be used towards that risk-free bet. All you have to do to receive the $10 is create your account, and the risk-free bet goes up to $1,000.

Full Caesar

To welcome their new customers, Caesars offers a risk-free bet along with rewards points. Their first bet insurance is up to $1,250 if you lose. Regardless of whether your bet wins or loses, they’ll also give you 1,000 Rewards Credits and 1,000 Tier Credits.

Up to $1,250 back on your first bet when you join Caesars here

What are the sports to bet on in Illinois?

Illinois has plenty of sports to choose from when it comes to betting:

Auto-Racing: Formula One, IndyCar, NASCAR
Baseball: MLB
Basketball: NBA, WNBA, International
Boxing
College: Basketball, Football (unless it’s a mobile bet and the college is in-state)
Darts
Football: NFL and CFL
Golf: PGA, LPGA
Hockey: NHL, International
Rugby
Soccer: UEFA Champions League, MLS, Premier League,
Tennis

Illinois Sports Betting Tips

Knowing Basics

There’s no shame in encountering a word or bet that you don’t know the meaning of. If this is the case, you should familiarize yourself with the term using a guide or glossary, rather than betting on something you do not fully grasp.

Money Management

Knowing how to manage your money is another tip to betting stress-free. How much you’re wagering, how much you can afford to bet with, and how much you’re winning are all things that bettors should track.

Make Smart Wagers

Betting can and should be fun, but there is a strategy involved for being successful. While the Blackhawks may have been a sure bet in the 2012-13 season, they’re in a rebuild now and probably not the smartest Moneyline option 82 times a year. Finding smarter ways to bet pays off in the long run.

Illinois Sports Betting Tax Rates

For bettors that win over $600 through sports betting, it must be reported on your tax return. The federal government taxes money won from sports betting at a 24% rate. You can deduct losses from sports betting as an itemized deduction, but you cannot deduct more than your reported sports betting winnings.

Is DraftKings Sports Betting Legal In Illinois?

Yes, the DraftKings sportsbook is legal in Illinois, and actively accepts sports wagers from anyone eligible to bet legally.

Is FanDuel Sports Betting Legal In Illinois?

Yes, since August 2020, FanDuel has been a legal betting option within the borders of Illinois, along with their daily fantasy.

Illinois Sports Teams

Pro Teams

Chicago Bears (NFL)
Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Chicago Bulls (NBA)
Chicago Cubs (MLB)
Chicago Fire (MLS)
Chicago Red Stars (NWSL)
Chicago Sky (WNBA)
Chicago White Sox (MLB)

Colleges

DePaul Blue Demons (Big East)
Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten)
Loyola Chicago Ramblers (Missouri Valley Conference)
Northern Illinois Huskies (Mid-American Conference)
Northwestern Wildcats (Big Ten)

Latest Illinois Sports Betting News

September 3, 2022: The Chicago Fire’s second straight road game ends with their second straight 0-0 draw.
September 6, 2022: After getting swept in St. Louis to end a nine-game road trip, the Cubs begin a six-game homestand against the Reds and Giants.
September 6, 2022: The White Sox continue their series in Seattle, sitting just 2.0 games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central.
September 9, 2022: The Red Stars are in Seattle to take on OL Reign, with a chance to overtake them in the standings with a win.
September 10, 2022: Northwestern hosts Duke as they seek to start 2-0 after winning their season opener in Ireland.
September 10, 2022: The Fighting Illini are back home as they take on the Virginia Cavaliers.
September 10, 2022: After taking down Eastern Illinois in Week 1, Northern Illinois heads to Tulsa with the opportunity to begin the year 2-0.
September 11, 2022: Live from Soldier Field, the Bears are kicking off their 2022 season against the San Francisco 49ers.

Illinois Betting Laws & Guide

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