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Is Sports Betting Legal in Illinois?
The Illinois State Legislature legalized sports betting in 2019, making it the fifteenth state overall. You have to be 21 to do any legal gambling in Illinois.
In addition to online sports betting, Illinois will also allow sports venues such as Wrigley Field to become betting kiosks. Additionally, over twenty casinos operate in Illinois. The majority of them are on the Mississippi River, though there are some in the Chicagoland area as well.
Something that makes sports betting in Illinois slightly different is the ban on collegiate sports. While in Illinois, bettors cannot bet on any Illinois collegiate sport. The opportunity for mixed interests was too big. Other than that, the books are open!
Now that the options have moved beyond riverboat casinos, you can sign up at any number of Illinois sports betting sites without a problem!
Top 5 Illinois Online Betting Sites
While Illinois offers access to legal sportsbooks, many savvy bettors are still turning to trusted offshore sites—and for good reason. Offshore sportsbooks offer better odds, more flexible betting limits, fewer restrictions, and often faster payouts. Whether you’re into major league sports, niche markets, or casino games on the side, these sites give you the freedom to bet your way.
Here are our top 5 offshore sportsbooks trusted by Illinois bettors in 2025:
Bovada – The All-Around Favorite
Bovada has long been a go-to for U.S. players thanks to its smooth interface, fast payouts, and wide variety of betting markets. From NFL Sundays to obscure international matchups, Bovada makes it easy to wager with confidence. They also offer an impressive live betting section and a casino stocked with everything from poker to blackjack.
Why Illinois bettors love it:
- Excellent mobile experience
- Quick Bitcoin payouts
- One of the best reputations in the industry
BetOnline – Best for Sharp Bettors
BetOnline is a sportsbook that takes betting seriously. Known for its competitive odds, especially in early lines and props, it’s perfect for bettors who like to jump on value fast. They also have one of the best welcome bonuses in the game and support a wide range of crypto payments.
Why Illinois bettors love it:
- Early odds and deep prop markets
- High betting limits
- Great bonus offers for crypto users
Bookmaker.eu – Where the Pros Play
If you’ve heard the phrase “sharp action,” chances are it leads back to Bookmaker.eu. This site doesn’t limit winners and welcomes all types of players—from casual to professional. It’s not flashy, but it’s highly reliable and has stood the test of time.
Why Illinois bettors love it:
- No-ban policy for winning players
- Super reliable and secure platform
- Fast, no-hassle withdrawals
Xbet – Best for New Bettors
Xbet is beginner-friendly without sacrificing features. The layout is clean, the lines are competitive, and their customer service is quick to respond. Whether you’re betting your first parlay or trying out live wagering, Xbet makes the experience simple and enjoyable.
Why Illinois bettors love it:
- Easy-to-use platform
- Fast customer support
- Great promotions for new users
BetNow – Simple, Straightforward Betting
BetNow strips away the noise and focuses on what matters—solid lines, fast deposits, and reliable payouts. It’s a smaller book compared to others on this list, but it delivers where it counts and is perfect for players who want a no-fuss betting experience.
Why Illinois bettors love it:
- Fast registration and deposits
- Great referral bonuses
- Clean, easy-to-navigate interface
Legal Online Sportsbooks in Illinois
Illinois has legalized sports betting, and residents can place bets online through a handful of state-regulated sportsbooks. Below is a list of all the licensed operators currently available in Illinois.
However, despite the legal options, many bettors still prefer using our recommended offshore sportsbooks. Why? Better odds, more flexible limits, fewer restrictions, and access to betting markets you simply won’t find on local apps.
| Sportsbook | Available in Illinois |
| FanDuel | ✅ |
| DraftKings | ❌ |
| Caesars | ✅ |
| FoxBet | ❌ |
| BetRivers | ✅ |
| BetMGM | ✅ |
| PointsBet | ✅ |
| Unibet | ❌ |
Illinois Quick Facts
Here’s a snapshot of everything you need to know about sports betting in Illinois. From launch dates to legal age and tax rates, this table covers the key details at a glance.
| State | Illinois |
| Sports Betting Law Passed | Yes ✔️ |
| Launch Date | 2020 ✔️ |
| Minimum Gambling Age | 21 ✔️ |
| Online Sports Betting | Yes ✔️ |
| Mobile Sports Betting | Yes ✔️ |
| Retail Sportsbooks | Yes ✔️ |
| Tribal Casinos | No ❌ |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | Yes ✔️ |
| Online Casinos | No ❌ |
| Horse Racing | Yes ✔️ |
| Dog Racing | No ❌ |
| Esports Betting | No ❌ |
Why It’s Better To Use Offshore Betting Sites Over the Legal Ones
Illinois has a handful of legal sportsbooks—but they often come with frustrating limits, fewer betting markets, and red tape that turns many bettors away. That’s why more and more players in Illinois are using our trusted offshore sportsbooks instead.
Here’s why offshore betting sites are often better:
- More Betting Options – From political markets to esports and entertainment props, offshore sites offer wagers that legal books often restrict.
- Better Odds & Lower Juice – You’ll often find more favorable lines and higher potential payouts compared to state-regulated books.
- Fewer Restrictions – No need to verify geolocation every time you log in, and no in-person registration requirements.
- Faster & More Flexible Payments – Deposit and withdraw using crypto, Zelle, or other fast methods with fewer limits.
- No Interference or Geo-Blocking – Bet from anywhere in the U.S., not just when physically located in Illinois.
If you want more freedom, higher value, and less hassle—our recommended offshore sportsbooks deliver.
What Can’t You Bet On In Illinois?
Even though Illinois has legalized sports betting, it still places several restrictions on what you can actually wager on.
You can’t legally bet on:
- In-state college teams (e.g., University of Illinois or Northwestern)
- Political elections (including presidential or local races)
- Entertainment awards (Oscars, Emmys, etc.)
- High school sports
- Certain esports competitions
With our offshore sportsbooks, none of these restrictions apply. You can bet on your favorite Illinois college teams, U.S. politics, or even who wins the next Academy Award—all from the comfort of your home.
Who Can Legally Bet In Illinois?
Illinois law has specific requirements for anyone who wants to place a legal sports bet. Here’s what you need to qualify:
Age Requirement
You must be 21 or older to legally place a sports bet in Illinois.
Location Requirement
You must be physically located within state lines to place a bet—even if you’re just passing through. Your device must verify your location via GPS.
Eligible Participants
You do not have to be a resident of Illinois, but you must be physically in the state when placing bets with licensed operators.
Who Is Restricted from Betting?
- Athletes, coaches, and referees involved in the sport they’re betting on
- Employees of sportsbooks or organizations directly influencing outcomes
- League officials and sports governing body personnel
- Anyone on a self-exclusion list or banned due to gambling issues
Retail Betting Restriction
You can bet online in Illinois, but only through approved platforms. Offshore sportsbooks remove the need for state-based restrictions or GPS verification—you can bet from anywhere, anytime.
Illinois Sports Betting – Recent Updates
- October 16, 2024 – Heading into their Week 7 bye with a 4-2 record, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams trails only Washington’s Jayden Daniels in the NFL Rookie of the Year odds.
- April 5, 2024 – Fanatics Sportsbook launches in Illinois, taking the place of PointsBet.
- February 13, 2024 — In December, the sports betting handle in Illinois decreased to $1.31 billion, marking a 4.4% decline from November. However, revenue reached a record high of $126.3 million for the month.
- February 9, 2024 — Two iGaming bills, namely HB 2239 and SB1656, are currently active in the state’s legislative session, which commenced on January 16.
- January 23, 2024 — Bally’s Chicago casino is reportedly required to redesign its planned 500-room hotel tower due to foundation issues. The facility is expected to be completed in 2026.
Six Reasons to Bet on These Illinois Betting Sites
We took our time to pick out these Illinois sports betting sites. These recommendations are the result of years of experience in sports betting, combined with research we have done to apply our knowledge to bettors in Illinois. Our expert knowledge is at your service.
We know what to look for in a good online sportsbook. We aren’t tricked by a sleek-looking site if it’s not easy to use and full of great odds. To get a better idea of how we choose these Illinois sports betting sites, read about our top five qualities that we look for.
Don’t forget to check out these Illinois betting apps.
Available to Illinois Sports Bettors
First comes first. In order to make our list of the best Illinois sports betting sites, the site must obviously be available to residents in Illinois. With so many options available, this is not a difficult criterion to fulfill by any means.
Being available in Illinois is also not nearly enough to make the list. It is a prerequisite, but insufficient for us to recommend it. All the sites on our list will be available to bettors in Illinois.
Top-Notch Security
These sports betting sites are designed to keep you safe. You can see the security features from the first steps of the sign-up process. The verifications are important measures to protect your identity from potential hackers.
Your banking information is safe on these websites. That is an important part of our review process. We have scoured the forums and blogs for complaints and evidence of insecurity, and these Illinois sportsbooks pass the test!
Great Customer Service
Illinois bettors deserve great customer service. This is especially true given the recent passage of legalization. So, with so many new bettors joining sportsbooks, many Illinois bettors will need customer service even more.
But we all need customer service every now and then. And when it comes to sports betting, especially live betting, every minute can count. So when you run into a bump, it is important to have quick access to solutions.
The best Illinois sports betting sites will have a lot of the following options:
- Phone numbers
- Live chat
- Emails
- Community forums
- FAQs
Big Bonuses
Exceptionally generous welcome bonuses are one of the most important things we look for when finalizing our list of Illinois sports betting sites. That is because they can get you started on the right foot. Some of them will double your initial deposit.
For example, BetUS has a great welcome bonus. Whatever your deposit method is, they will match your initial deposit at 100%. So if you put in $100 bucks, you will be able to make $200 worth of bets before worrying about any winnings!
Outstanding Reputation
When we are making sports bets, we are doing it to have fun, of course, but also to win big. That means we have to trust sportsbooks to process our payouts quickly and fairly. This is not generally a problem, but some fly-by-night operations have done some shady things.
We have used these sportsbooks for years. We have researched their reputation online. Our experience, and the community, in general, knows and trust them. Betting safe is vital to having fun while betting.
On Top of the Latest Odds
Sports bettors in Illinois deserve to be at the forefront. That means having access to the latest odds. We do not want to see odds from last week, rather we want to be abreast of the latest changes.
The smartest bettors will be following sports news closely. So, it can be a bummer if you go to make a bet based on the happenings, and they are still not reflected in the odds tables. It is a sign of an irresponsible bookie and a definite red flag. All the sites we recommend will update their odds regularly and quickly.
List of Casinos in Illinois
Illinois has a number of casinos, and they are spread throughout the state. There are a total of eleven in both up and downstate. Here is a full list of Illinois casinos, in addition to the online casinos that are available at the Illinois online sportsbooks we recommend here!
- Argosy Casino
- Bally’s Quad Cities
- Casino Queen
- Grand Victoria Casino
- Harrah’s Joliet
- Harrah’s Metropolis
- Hollywood Casino
- Hollywood Casino
- Par-A-Dice Casino
- Rivers Casino
Illinois Betting Timeline
2023
New Ventures in Illinois Sports Betting
Illinois’ sports betting scene flourished, setting a new monthly record with a $1.16 billion handle in October. The year was marked by significant entries and expansions, including ESPN BET’s launch and Circa Sports’ debut, alongside the opening of Bally’s temporary casino in Chicago. This period of growth, however, also saw challenges, such as Betway withdrawing its online sports betting license application.
2022
A Year of Sports Betting Success
Illinois is experiencing a surge in online sports betting. The state ended the in-person registration requirement, allowing bettors to conveniently register remotely. The removal of this restriction had an immediate impact, with the first full month of remote registration resulting in a record-breaking handle of $971.3 million. April saw the introduction of a new sportsbook, Caliente, qualifying to launch in Illinois.
2021
Sports Betting Continues to Grow
October saw a record handle in the state with $840 million in sports bets placed in the state in the month. The state also saw the opening of its sixth licensed sportsbook, Barstool Sports. The State Assembly also rescinded the requirement to register in-person.
2020
First Retail Sportsbooks Open
In March, River Des Plaines and Argosy Casino Alton opened their sportsbooks. These are only opened for a short time before the COVID pandemic closes them. The first online sportsbook with an Illinois license then opens, and the governor suspends the in-person registration requirement.
2019
Illinois Sportsbook Regulatory System Signed into Law
The Illinois General Assembly passes the bill to authorize local sportsbooks, and Governor Pitzker signed it into law enthusiastically.
Responsible Gaming in Illinois
For information and tools to address problem gambling in Illinois, visit:
- Illinois Gaming Board – Self-Exclusion Program: Provides access to the Statewide Casino Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (SEP), the Problem Gambling Registry, and the Responsible Gambling Database for online betting self-exclusion. Individuals can voluntarily enroll in these programs at any IGB office or Illinois casino to prohibit themselves from gambling activities.
Best Betting Sites 
