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Illinois Sports Betting & Promo Codes
Illinois Sports Betting
Legal Betting
Illinois launched its mobile sports betting operation with BetRivers in 2020, and there are several more operators that have joined the state and partnered with casinos. Here you will find everything you need to know about sports betting in Illinois, from sports betting education, the state’s local betting rules and how you can get in on the action and start placing sports bets in the Prairie State.
What To Know
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Online sports betting is legal
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Must be 21+ to bet
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Strong new user sign-up bonuses for residents
Available Sportsbooks
Today's Best Promos In Illinois
Additional Promos In Illinois
Upcoming Games To Bet On In Illinois
Sports Betting Education 101
If you are new to sports betting, don’t worry! Here at BetSided, we want to serve all sports bettors, from the experienced ones to novice bettors, in order to help them enjoy sports betting in the best way possible. We have our Sports Betting Education section of the website that includes breakdowns such as:
… and so much more. You can also check out our Youtube channel for video breakdowns on how to bet on specific sports.
Illinois Sports Betting Legalization Timeline
The Illinois General Assembly passed a sports betting law in 2019, which opened the door for legal sports betting to start in 2020.
Online-only licenses were allowed in the state beginning in 2021. However, there was an in-person registration requirement in Illinois until March of 2022. It required all sports bettors to travel to the partner casino of the app that they want to use to complete their registrations.
BetRivers was the first sportsbook to launch in the state with several others following since open in 2020.
Tax Rates in Illinois
In the state of Illinois, sports betting is taxed at a rate of 15% of gross gaming revenue. Online- only licenses for companies require a $20 million fee. However, all sportsbooks have partnered with a casino as well in Illinois.
Illinois Sportsbooks
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- PointsBet Sportsbook
- Bet365 Sportsbook
- Barstool Sportsbook
- PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook
Futures Bets To Place In Illinois
Best Sports Betting Apps in Illinois
Caesars Sportsbook App
The Caesars app is available for both iPhone and Android, and the bet slip is very interactive. The drop down menu is very easy to use, and there are several same-game parlay options available.
Grade: A
DraftKings Sportsbook App
DraftKings Sportsbook is also available for both iPhone and Android, and it offers a ton of different options for each major sport. The betslip is easy to navigate, and the odds on the same-game parlay feature make it easier to choose picks.
Grade: A
FanDuel Sportsbook App
FanDuel Sportsbook is also available for both iPhone and Android, and it is very smooth moving and quick to navigate the entire app. FanDuel’s cash out feature is also one of the best in the business.
Grade: A
BetMGM Sportsbook App
BetMGM’s mobile app is easy to navigate for betting on games, but getting to player prop screens may be a bit more difficult than options such as DraftKings. However, BetMGM is super clean to use, and the betslip is very easy to access. It is also available for both iPhone and Android.
Grade: A-
PointsBet Sportsbook App
The interface for PointsBet is really fast, which is always great for bettors looking to place a wager quickly before a game. It is also available for both iPhone and Android, and it has the dark-mode available as well. PointsBet isn’t as data dense, but it still is a solid app to use.
Grade: A-
BetRivers Sportsbook App
BetRivers has a solid betslip functionality, and it is also easy to withdraw your money at BetRivers, which is obviously important. BetRivers also offers slightly less promos to the quality of some of its competitors. It is also available for both iPhone and Android.
Grade: B+
All of these apps are great options, and I’d recommend taking advantage of several of their different promo options and testing them out to see which app best fits your needs and what you desire when betting on sports. Everyone’s preferences are going to be different, so there is no harm in testing several out.
Recent Sports betting News In Illinois
- March 2022: The state lifted the in-person registration requirement that required all sports bettors to travel to the partner casino of the app that they want to use to complete their registrations.
- December 2021: Illinois changed its rule on betting on in-state collegiate teams. Bettors can now wager in-person only on college sporting events in Illinois. Mobile betting is still not allowed on in-state college teams.
How To Place a Sports Bet in Illinois
To sign up to sports bet in Illinois, first you need to choose the desired sportsbook that you want to sign up for.
To sign up, you will need register with the following information:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Username/User ID
- Password
- Last four digits of Social Security Number
- Phone Number
- Home Address
You will then be prompted to set security questions and confirm that you are at least 21 years of age. After that, you can deposit into your account and get ready to start betting. That’s the fun part…
Step-By-Step Process for Illinois Online Sports Betting
Once you have created your account and deposited, you can navigate through the sportsbook to place your wager.
Let’s take an example from FanDuel Sportsbook:
Step 1: Select the game you would like to bet on
Step 2: Select the wager you’d like to make, in this scenario, we are taking the Celtics +3.5 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. 
Step 3: Select your bet amount and place your bet
Details of Illinois’ Sports Betting Law
Illinois has an interesting sports betting law, but some of the quirks have been lifted in the past year. The first is the in-person registration, which ended in March of 2022.
As for betting on college in the state, Illinois does permit it as long as the wager is in-person. Online/mobile betting on in-state college teams is not allowed. The Division I college teams in Illinois include Bradley University, Chicago State University, DePaul University, Eastern Illinois University, Illinois Fighting Illini (University of Illinois), Illinois State University, Loyola University Chicago, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, University of Illinois Chicago, Western Illinois University.
Bettors in Illinois must be at least 21 years of age.
Bettors can still can still gamble on the NFL, CFL, NBA, WNBA, European/international basketball leagues, MLB, NHL, international hockey leagues, MLS, English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, PGA European, IndyCar, NASCAR, Formula One, Boxing, Tennis and NCAAF and NCAAB.
Illinois Betting Markets: NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and More
Popular Illinois Sporting Events
- Super Bowl/NFL Playoffs
- NBA Finals/NBA Playoffs
- World Series/MLB Playoffs
- Stanley Cup Finals/NHL Playoffs
- NCAA Tournament
- College Football Playoff
- The Masters
- PGA Championship
Common Types of Bets/Terms
Point Spreads
The point spread in the margin of victory in a game. A team must win or lose by a specific number of points in order to cover the point spread and win the bet.
Moneyline
A moneyline bet is simply choosing the winner of a sporting event regardless of the point spread. You can choose the favorite or underdog to win the game.
OVER/UNDER and Total Bets
An over/under or total is a bet on the total points scored in a sporting event. Over/unders are also used on prop bets.
Parlay
A parlay is a bet where multiple wagers are linked together in order to increase the odds on the payout. Every leg (bet) in the parlay must hit in order for it to win.
Prop Bet
A prop bet is any bet placed on a game that is not not directly affecting the game's final outcome. This can include player props as well as game props.
Most Popular Sports to Bet On
The most popular sports to bet on in Illinois include football (NFL and NCAAF), basketball (NBA and NCAAB), baseball (MLB) and hockey (NHL).
Daily Fantasy Sports in Illinois
The Illinois Supreme Court declared that some daily fantasy sports operators are games of skill and are not illegal gambling under state law.
DraftKings, FanDuel and other DFS providers are available to people in Illinois.
Betting on Pro Sports Teams in Illinois
There are several professional sports teams in Illinois, and fans can wager on their own teams though any of the sportsbook providers in the state.
NFL Betting in Illinois
- Chicago Bears
NBA Betting in Illinois
- Chicago Bulls
NHL Betting in Illinois
- Chicago Blackhawks
MLB Betting in Illinois
- Chicago Cubs
- Chicago White Sox
MLS Betting in Illinois
- Chicago Fire FC
Statewide Restrictions
In Illinois, you cannot mobile bet on any of the collegiate programs in the state. The Division I schools in Illinois include Bradley University, Chicago State University, DePaul University, Eastern Illinois University, Illinois Fighting Illini (University of Illinois), Illinois State University, Loyola University Chicago, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, University of Illinois Chicago, Western Illinois University.
You are also not allowed to bet player props or on individual players in games featuring in-state college teams. All bettors must be 21 or older.
Other Illinois Teams to Bet On
You can bet on any of the college teams in Illinois if you place your wager in person.
Also, Illinois residents can wager on any professional or collegiate team that is located outside of the state as well as the pro teams in the state.
Betting on College Basketball in Illinois
You can bet on college basketball on Illinois as long as the wager is either:
1. Placed on a team that is not an in-state college
2. Placed in-person on a in-state collegiate team
Games that are outside of the state and don’t involve in-state teams are fair game for bettors.
Illinois Online Sports Betting FAQ
Did Illinois legalize sports betting?
Illinois legalized sports betting in 2019 and online sports betting began in 2020 with sportsbooks operating in the state partnering with casinos.
Can I bet online on my phone in Illinois?
Yes, you can bet online on your phone in Illinois using one of the following apps:
- Barstool Sportsbook (Hollywood Casino Aurora/Hollywood Casino Joliet)
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- BetRivers Sportsbook (Rivers Des Plaines)
- Caesars Sportsbook (Grand Victoria Casino Elgin/Harrah’s Joliet/Harrah’s Metropolis)
- DraftKings Sportsbook (DraftKings at Casino Queen)
- FanDuel Sportsbook (Par-a-Dice Casino)
- PointsBet Sportsbook (Hawthorne Race Course)
How old do I have to be to bet on Illinois’ legal sportsbook apps?
You must be 21 years or older to bet on Illinois’ legal sportsbook apps.
Can I bet on my college football team in Illinois?
You can bet on your college football team in Illinois if you make the bet in-person, unless the team is not located in the state.
For example, you can bet on the Illinois Fighting Illini if you bet in-person, but you could bet on the Oklahoma Sooners both through mobile and in-person options.
What payment options can I use for betting in Illinois?
You can deposit money into your sports betting account by way of credit cards, e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill, prepaid cards, and, in some cases, cash.
Illinois Casinos
- Argosy Casino Alton
- Bally's Quad Cities
- Casino Queen
- Grand Victoria Casino Elgin
- Harrah's Joliet
- Harrah's Metropolis
- Hollywood Casino Aurora
- Hollywood Casino Joliet
- Par-A-Dice Casino
- Rivers Casino
Best Sports Bars for Betting in Illinois
- Over/Under Sports Bar
- Old Town Pour House
- Public House Chicago
- The Globe Pub
- WestEnd Bar & Grille
- Murphy’s Bleachers
Common Payment Options
- PayPal
- ACH/eCheck
- Prepaid Card
- PayNearMe
- Cash @ Cage (Casino)
- Check
Sports Betting Quirks in Illinois
The biggest sports betting quirk in Illinois was the in-person registration requirement until it was lifted in March 2022.
Now, the biggest quirk may be that bettors can only wager on in-state college teams if they place the bet in person.
State-to-State Differences for Neighboring State
Indiana and Iowa are neighboring states where sports betting is legal, but Missouri, another neighboring state, has yet to go live with legal sports betting.
Final Thoughts on Betting in Illinois
Now that in-person registration is done, Illinois can allow for bettors to sign up at several different sportsbooks.
The market is going to continue to mature as more operators join the state, but the online-only fee if going to make it hard for books that don’t partner with a casino.
