Chris Boline
The betting landscape in Illinois is in flux. The Tribes, state governor, and private companies are all pushing for their share of the pie. This can make it difficult to stay up to date with and digest all the latest Illinois betting news
Really the most important thing you have to know is that offshore sportsbooks are currently available to Illinois bettors on the internet, and none of the bills or ballot measures would affect this. While college sports may soon become available, in the meantime you can continue to use any of these verified online sports gambling sites.
Let’s take a look at the current state of betting laws and how things are unfolding.
A Big Tax Revenue Despite April Slowdown
Sports betting in Illinois is big business. In April it was the second state in terms of total sports betting handle. The Illinois Gaming Board reported $536 million in sports betting within the state. This humongous figure actually represents a 15% decrease from March 2021.
These are no small potatoes. Illinois came in second behind only New Jersey, with a total sports betting handle of $748 million. The big difference here is that many offshore bookies are not allowed in New Jersey. Bettors in Illinois can use and often prefer any of the legit online sportsbooks that happen to keep their servers out of national territory.
Will Legislators Open Up In-State Collegiate Betting?
One of the biggest remaining restrictions for Illinois sports bettors is the prohibition of betting on in-state collegiate sports. This restriction is meant to eliminate the possibility of conflicting interests and to project athletes who are almost all of age, but still rather young.
State lawmakers in June advanced a bill that would allow in-state bettors to wager on collegiate sports. College officials generally oppose this legislation. Many bettors simply travel to Indiana to make these wagers, or visit the offshore betting sites. Lawmakers argue that they are losing out on tax revenue without much reason.
This would mean that March Madness would be available, as well as the big NCAAF bowl games, such as the Rose Bowl. These sports leagues have many fans in Illinois hoping to be able to bet legally on these games.
Illinois Sports Bettors Can Use Offshore sportsbooks
In the state of Illinois, given current laws, bettors residing there have access to online betting sites. In fact, these are often much better, given their freedom from regulation allowing them to offer better bonuses than locally operated bookies.
Illinois bettors can access and enjoy the offshore online sports wagering sites that we recommend. It is important to use only verified, trusted, and legit online gambling sites.
Not only can you trust these sites, but we have also selected the best online gambling sites to recommend. They will have all the deposit and payout options, as well as betting lines that are relevant to bettors in Illinois. You will be able to bet on the Chicago Bears, the Saint Louis Cardinals, the Chicago Cubs, and many more NFL teams odds based in Illinois.
