Best Illinois sports betting sites in September 2024

Map of USA, where state of Illinois is pinned.

Placing bets on sports is legal with remote registration so, if you`re looking for the best Illinois betting sites, you are at the right place. You can sign up and claim bonuses for new players, earn some useful tips on how to gamble responsibly, and a lot more from this page. Whether you want to use mobile sports betting on the go, online or in person, this is all easily accessible. Learn how.

Best sportsbooks Illinois Legal betting Important laws Legal age Our criteria Popular betting sports Popular IL sports teams FAQ

The best sportsbooks in Illinois

Last updated: 12.09.2024

Online casino	Expert rating	Welcome Bonus	Distinctive features	Payment Methods	Read full casino review	Significant Terms
Betway	4.9/5	Up to $200 if your first bet loses	Live casino Daily tournaments Mobile friendly	ecoPayz Flexepin iDebit Instadebit Interac Mastercard MuchBetter Paysafe Visa	Claim Bonus!	Terms & Conditions apply
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BetMGM SportsBook	4.9/5	Up to $1,500 Paid Back in Bonus Bets	Live Sports betting Mobile app available MGM Rewards Loyalty program	American Express Apple Pay Bank Wire Transfer Cash at Casino Cage Discover Game On Mastercard PayNearMe PayPal Play+ Skrill TAPP VIP Preferred Visa	Claim Bonus!	Terms & Conditions apply
Blaze	4.8/5	CAD200 and 40 free rounds	Trusted payment methods Mobile friendly Live customer support	Interac Mastercard Neteller Skrill Visa	Claim Bonus!	Terms & Conditions apply
Legiano	4.7/5	100% up to $150	Live Casino & Betting Live Chat support VIP Levels	Bitcoin Cash to Code Dogecoin Interac Jeton Litecoin Mastercard Mifinity Neteller Paysafe Skrill Tether	Claim Bonus!	Terms & Conditions apply

Sports wagering in the Land of Lincoln is legal, live, and available online and in gambling venues. You can choose from the best Illinois sports betting apps and legal sports betting platforms. The Prairie State has become one of the most successful and competitive spots for online sports wagering since its legalization in 2019 and the opening of the first legal Illinois sportsbooks, later in 2020.

What forms of betting are legal in Illinois?

The Illinois Gaming Board regulates and enforces the laws in all aspects of casino gambling, video gaming, and sports wagering in the state. The IGB also administers a self-exclusion program for problem gamblers and consists of five bord members. The Illinois Gaming Board`s administrator is the chief executive that manages all daily agency operations.

Remote registration was permanently introduced in March 2022. Those who want to use mobile Illinois sports betting apps must be at least 21 years old and be physically located in Illinois. They must also have geolocation settings enabled on their mobile devices for safe betting in Illinois, according to the law. Online sports betting in Illinois is legal only within state lines as is the policy in the rest of the US states. Geolocation software of the best Illinois sports betting apps blocks users who try to place wagers from neighboring states. All sports gambling profit of over $600 is considered personal income and therefore taxed at a rate of 15% at the state level. After the increase of the sports betting tax that the Illinois House enacted on May 29, 2024, local Illinois sportsbooks pay a 35% tax rate. Here are the sports betting types that are green-lighted by the Prairie State authorities:

Retail sportsbooks
Illinois has fifteen retail sportsbooks, eleven of which are located inside casinos and three at off-track betting locations under the license of Hawthorne Race Course. This various distribution allows for widespread access to wagering across the whole state, contributing to the state’s significant sports betting handle. DraftKings at Wrigley Field recently opened in March 2024, adding to the growing list of Illinois retail sportsbooks.
Illinois has 15 retail sports betting locations inside brick-and-mortar casinos. Here are the top venues:

Most popular land-based sportsbooks in Illinois

Verified by:Declan WillisAuthor at Online-Gambling.io

Last updated: 28.07.2024

Sportsbook	Location	Owner	Launch date	Online betting / Gambling website
Caesars Sportsbook – Grand Victoria Casino	250 S. Grove Avenue Elgin, IL 60120	Caesars Entertainment	October 6, 1994	Yes
Harrah’s Metropolis	100 E Front St, Metropolis, IL 62960, United States	Vici Properties, operated by Caesars Entertainment	1993 (Originally opened as Players Island)	Yes
Harrah’s Joliet	151 N Joliet St, Joliet, IL 60432	Vici Properties, operated by Caesars Entertainment	May 4, 1993	Yes
Rivers Casino Des Plaines	3000 S. River Road Des Plaines, IL 60018	Churchill Downs Inc. and Rush Street Gaming	July 18, 2011	Yes
Casino Queen	DraftKings at Casino Queen 200 Front Street East St. Louis, Illinois 62201	Gaming and Leisure Properties; operated by The Queen Casino & Entertainment, (an affiliate of Standard General)	June 23, 1993	Yes
Prospect Heights Off-Track Betting	1200 W Palatine Rd, Prospect Heights, IL 60070	the Carey Family	May 2023	Yes
Crestwood Off Track Betting	13148 Rivercrest Dr, Crestwood, IL 60445	Hawthorne Race Course	February 17, 1992	Yes
FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing (Fairmount Park)	9301 Collinsville Rd, Collinsville, IL 62234, United States	Flutter Entertainment, the parent company of FanDuel and the horseracing network and advance deposit wagering company TVG	April 27, 2021	Yes
Crestwood Off Track Betting	13148 Rivercrest Dr., Crestwood, IL 60418, USA	Hawthorne Race Course	February 17, 1992	Yes

Mobile sports betting
IL Residents can use not only desktop computers and laptops, but Illinois sports betting apps on mobiles phones and tablets as well. The Illinois Gaming Board is the regulatory body that operates all online and casino gambling in the state. Residents have access to the best IL sportsbooks and the legal sports betting apps remotely from anywhere within the state.
Online sports betting
Wagering with real money through desktop and mobile devices using Illinois online sportsbooks has been legal in the state since the end of June 2019 and is just a few clicks away. Sports fanatics have a great variety of sportsbooks and platforms they can use. BetMGM Sportsbookis an excellent choice since it is a legal sports betting operator licensed bythe Illinois Gaming Board.
The best Illinois sports betting platforms offer a variety of markets and bet types. If you use BetMGM, Fanatics, Bet365, DraftKings or other prominent sportsbooks, you will be pleased with the betting options and your overall experience.
Horse racing
Illinois has three licensed racetracks — Arlington International Racecourse, FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing, and Hawthorne Race Course. They all offer sports betting action to the residents, who can also use the services of the best sportsbooks in Illinois.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
Although the legality of DFS has been discussed in courts for many years, the Illinois Supreme Court finally declared that some daily fantasy sports contests are skill games and thus not illegal gambling under state law. The Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2019 legalized daily fantasy sports. The major DFS sites DraftKings, FanDuel, and other DFS providers operate for Illinois residents who love these contests.
Popular types of sports bets in Prairie State
There are lots of legal Illinois sportsbooks, but certain limitations exist such as betting on local college teams is prohibited. This means that residents of IL state cannot wager on the University of Illinois Fighting Illini or Northwestern Wildcats, for example. Here, we outline the popular types of sports bets that are lawful:
- Fixed-odds bets: The most common type of sports wager, which allows you to bet on a specific outcome of events. This may be which team will be the winner of a game, what the total score will be, etc.
- Parlays: It combines many bets into a single wager. Parlay bets have lesser odds of success since all your individual bets within the parlay must be successful for you to win.
- Teasers: Similar to parlays, they let you adjust the point spread or totals in your favor. The potential payouts are lower with them.
- Futures bets: As their name suggests, these are wagers on events about to happen in the future (which team will win the championship, etc.)
- In-game betting: With them you can wager on events happening during a live game (the next player to score and the like).

History of Illinois sports betting

Illinois has a long and winding road with its betting industry. Most of the 20th century was dominated by organized crime, but a recent shift has brought legal sports betting to the state. Dive in to explore how the Land of Lincoln went from backroom bets to booming Illinois online sportsbooks and retail hubs, starting with the regulation of riverboat gambling.

Legalization of riverboat gambling – Feb.1990

Illinois was the second state in the USA to allow riverboat gambling thanks to the passage of the Riverboat Gambling Act in February 1990. The first riverboat casino opened in Alton in September 1991, while the most recently launched facility was in Chicago on September 9, 2023. Today, there are 15 authorized land-based casinos operating throughout the state.

The 2019 Illinois Sports Wagering Act legalizes land-based and online gambling

A bunch of legislative activities in 2019 produced several bills but agreement in the Illinois General Assembly was still missing. Rep. Bob Rita played the mediator of the process and negotiated a few compromises with stakeholders. Governor J.B. Pritzker passed Bill SB 690 at the end of June, that effectively legalized Illinois sports betting.

The most important event in gambling in the Prairie State was namely the enactment of the Illinois Sports Wagering Act. It took place on June 28, 2019, as part of the landmark 2019 gaming expansion law. The Act made sports betting at Illinois casinos, horseracing tracks, and online betting lawful once and for all. Illinois sports wagering launched a bit later, in March 2020. It has ever since evolved into one of the largest sports betting markets in the United States.

2021 – Betting on state-based Illinois college teams allowed

The legalization process continued in 2021 when Illinois governor J.B Pritzker signed legislation that permitted limited betting on in-state college teams. In October the same year, the Illinois General Assembly voted to annule the physical registration requirement and allowed in-person pre-game betting on intrastate teams.

The same year in March was launched Barstool, the sixth online sportsbook in Illinois state. The handle and revenue continued to grow during the year. Illinois sports bettors did a record $840.4 million in wagers in October 2021.

2022 – Remote registration for betting allowed

In 2022 year on March 5, online remote registration returned to Illinois after the state had removed the in-person requirement. The first full month after this change in laws resulted in a record of $971.3 million in handle. Caliente, a brand-new sportsbook qualified to launch in Illinois in April, while Fubo did not pass the check. At the same time, DraftKings and the Chicago Cubs planned their opening of a retail sportsbook at Wrigley Field in 2023.

March – June 2020 regulated retail and online sports betting in Illinois

After sports betting got the green light via the Sports Wagering Act in June 2019, on June 4, 2020, the Illinois Gaming Board made more permanent regulations. Land-based sports betting at retail venues started on March 9, 2020, online wagering – on June 18, 2020. In 2024 two iGaming bills were introduced: HB 2239 and SB 1656. Both would create the internet gaming act.

DraftKings get a 4-year license for in-person and online wagering

The DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field opened for bets. After having previously been operating under a temporary license, the company had been approved by the Illinois Gaming Board for a four-year retail and online sports betting at Wrigley Field. Fanatics Sportsbook replaced PointsBet, launching in April.

The most important Illinois sports betting laws

Let`s make a round-up of the most significant moments in Illinois sports betting development. Legalization started with riverboat gambling, thanks to the passing of the Riverboat Gambling Act in February 1990. The Video Gaming Act permitted the installation of Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs) in licensed retail establishments and other places. Illinois had more than 46,400 VGTs in 8,400+ licensed video gaming spots. This is the largest video gaming network of its kind globally.

The most significant event in gambling in the state was the coming into force of the Illinois Sports Wagering Act on June 28, 2019. It regulated sports betting at brick-and-mortar Illinois casinos and horseracing tracks and online. Illinois sports betting started in March 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor allowed gambling with remote registration in 2020. The first-ever sportsbooks Rivers Des Plaines and Argosy Casino Alton launched in March 2020, but they had short life. In June 2020 was launched the first online sports betting platform in Illinois – BetRivers Sportsbook opened as well as four more by the end of the year.

The Illinois Gaming Board set more permanent laws regulating land-based sports betting at retail venues since March 2020 and online betting since June. Illinois Governor J.B Pritzker permitted limited betting on in-state college teams later in 2021. Next year, online remote registration gambling was allowed once again. DraftKings finally got a permanent 4-year betting license at Wrigley Field.

Illinois sports betting handle and revenue had consistently continued to increase from 2021 to 2023. In October 2021 bettors made wagers that totaled a record $840.4 million. The first full month of remote registration in 2022 hit another record of $971.3 million in handle. In 2023, Illinois sports betting market reached new highs in revenue, handle, and taxes: over $1 billion in handle in each of the last winter months of 2023, with November record at $1.375 billion in bets.

Sports betting legal age in Illinois

What is the legal online sports betting age in Illinois? All bettors, 21 years and older, can create sportsbook accounts on the Internet and use Illinois sports betting apps. The same age restriction is valid for land-based casinos, racetracks, and off-track betting facilities. Remote registration has been an option since March 5, 2022, when it was introduced permanently. In other words, you need to be at least 21 years old for legal sports betting in Illinois, whether online or in person at one of the state`s casinos or racetracks.

To place wagers with Illinois online sportsbooks, you must:

be at least 21 years old
be located within Illinois
have geolocation settings enabled on your mobile phone/tablet

Residents of the state can play the lottery, engage in pari-mutuel betting, bingo and horse racing in person and online if they are at least 18 years old. The legal gambling age for different betting activities is as follows:

Legal sports betting age

Betting type	Legal age at land-based establishment	Legal age online	Legal since
Lottery	18	18	June 2019
Pari-Mutuel wagering	18	18	June 2019
Horse Racing	18	18	June 2019
Bingo	18	18	June 2019
Casinos gambling	21	21	June 2019
Poker	21	21	June 2019

How to find the best Illinois betting sites

You can wager through one or more sportsbooks but in order to find the best Illinois betting sites, here`s what to look for. The criteria below will help you decide which platforms and betting apps to try first. The Illinois sportsbooks on this page rate highly in our list and you can`t go wrong with any of them. While many Illinois sports betting sites may look similar to the casual sports bettor, our picks differ significantly. They have checked all of the following boxes to earn a spot on our top-rated list.

Live betting

Live betting`s interest and popularity increase all the time. Sports enthusiasts want the best Illinois sportsbooks that offer to make live bets placed as fast as possible. If a gambling platform takes too long to load or place a live bet, you miss out on competitive odds.

Welcome bonuses and other promotions

Ideally, you`ll want Illinois online sportsbooks with worthwhile deals, including a good welcome offer and recurring promotions for existing users. The best betting sites in Illinois offer generous welcome bonuses such as second chance bets and bonus bets. Be vigilant and diligent to make sure you fully understand the terms and conditions of sportsbooks` offers to avoid problems when you cash out your winnings.

User experience

Usability should be one of the main priorities for sports betting operators. The best sportsbooks in Illinois ensure smooth registration and banking, great navigation and loading times. We recommend you try mobile casinos that offer sports betting from browsers and Illinois sports betting apps to see how different platforms function on different devices and which ones best suit your needs. Check out our top online casino reviews to find out which sites offer sports betting options.

Make sure the IL sports betting sites you have chosen work the way you want them to. Are the apps and desktop platforms laggy? Are the interface and functionality buttons intuitive and pleasant to use? The best Illinois sports betting user experience is achieved through a smooth operating website, intuitive design, and functionality, and focus on the players` needs.

Variety of bet types

Ordinary bettors prefer to have the option to bet on NFL money lines, point spreads, and Over/Unders (totals). Many sports aficionados want to be able to build same-game parlays, enjoy live, in-game betting on every play, and place futures bets besides the bets mentioned above. The variety that sportsbooks offer is paramount.

The best Illinois sports betting operators you choose should have all the markets you are interested in. While licensed Illinois sports betting sites have odds on all major US sports, the specific markets and bet types vary by operator. Pay attention to how competitive the odds of the sportsbooks you have chosen are. If you bet frequently or place substantial wagers, small differences in odds add up in the long run and translate to the whole quality of the sports betting services you get.

Banking options

The more banking options available, the better. The best betting sites in Illinois offer not only common methods like online banking, credit/debit cards and digital wallets, but they ensure additional ones. The seamless deposit and payout processes let you quickly confirm your bets and access your winnings. Make sure the sportsbooks you use offer the payment methods you prefer to use.

The top-rated sports betting sites in Illinois offer quick payouts via PayPal, Play+, and other common withdrawal methods. With them you can have your funds released in as little as one day.

Customer support

Reliable customer service is important especially when you have any issues with your online sports betting account. At some point you may have questions about the markets, the withdrawal process, or the terms and conditions of a new promo. In such cases, you need the help of the sportsbook’s customer support team. The best IL sportsbooks offer a combination of live chat, phone, and email support.

Best overall sports betting platform	BetMGM
Range of bets	Borgata
Excellent bonuses	BetRivers
Top events	DraftKings
Safe and reliable online sportsbook	Caesars
Responsive and kind customer service	BetMGM
Great payment methods	DraftKings
Best browser and app user interface	Caesars

The most popular sports for betting in IL

Below, we outline the top sports you will find in the best betting sites in Illinois, which have an immense betting. These are ordered by popularity starting from the sport preferred by the majority – football. Check them out:

Football

Football undoubtedly is the most popular sport for Illinois online sports betting. The local team, the Chicago Bears, a popular franchise with a loyal fanbase is the residents` favorite. The NFL season gathers immense betting interest during the regular season games, the playoffs and in major events like the Super Bowl.

Basketball

Basketball is the second most wide-spread sport in the Prairie State. The Chicago Bulls are another iconic team with a long history that ensures significant betting activity. The NBA’s fast-paced nature and high-scoring games make it an exciting league for bettors.

Baseball

Baseball may not be as dominant as football and basketball, but it still enjoys a strong following in IL. Both the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox teams have dedicated fanbases, which also contribute to the popularity of baseball betting. The peak times for wagering are during the MLB season and the World Series.

Other betting sports on high demand in IL

Here are a few other sports also heavily sought after and preferred by Illinois bettors:

College football: While you can place bets on college sports like football in Illinois, there are some limitations. For example, you cannot wager on in-state college teams on your mobile phone, you can bet only in person at a retail sportsbook. But college football betting in Illinois is fully legal for out-of-state teams, which is another reason why college football is so widespread and preferred.
College basketball: Illinois has a strong college sports culture, so it`s no surprise that betting on such sports is so common. Just like college football betting as described above, college basketball wagering in the State of Illinois operates similarly. To bet on in-state colleague teams, you must be physically at a retail sportsbook. You cannot place these bets on your device at Illinois sports betting sites. On the other hand, wagers on out-of-state teams are allowed.
Hockey: Thanks to the Chicago Blackhawks, there is a solid hockey fanbase that ensure massive betting interest. Hockey, represented by the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL, has a dedicated following and attracts interest throughout the whole hockey season. The sport’s popularity is thanks to the team’s loyal following.
Soccer: The Chicago Fire has helped increase soccer’s popularity, leading to massive betting on MLS matches. Soccer is in high demand for betting in the Land of Lincoln, driven by the sport`s global appeal and the presence of the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Overall, Illinoisians have a wide range of leagues and tournaments they can choose to bet on sports.

Popular sports events you can bet on

Sports fans have a good selection of Prestigious Sporting Competitions to place bets on popular events. Here are the most attention-grabbing sporting spectacles Illinoisans can legally bet on:

National Football League (NFL)
Major League Baseball (MLB)
National Basketball Association (NBA)
College Sports (Out-of-State teams)
Major League Soccer (MLS)
National Hockey League (NHL)
Kentucky Derby (Horse racing)
Grand Slam (Tennis)
Formula 1 Grand Prix (Motor racing)

NFL logo

MLB logo

NBA logo

College Sports logo

MLS logo

NHL logo

Kentucky Derby logo

Grand Slam logo

Formula 1 logo

Most important Illinois sports teams from Prairie State

Here are the top Illinois sports teams that attract the most attention in the state. These are the NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLS champions: Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bears, Chicago Fire, and Chicago Cubs.

Chicago Bears logo

Chicago Bears (NFL)

Prairie State bettors ensure strong support for their home team, the Chicago Bears that competes in the NFL. The team has won nine NFL championships so far and is a member of the National Football Conference North Division. Their last appearance in the playoffs was in 2018. The Chicago Bears were one of the expected winners of the NFC in 2020, but they were defeated by the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round. Betting on them is a tradition for many Midwesterners.

The best betting sites in Illinois offer various bet types, including point spreads, money lines, and over/under totals. You can place prop bets on specific players (like the team’s star quarterback), predict the number of passing yards or touchdowns, etc.

Chicago Bulls logo

Chicago Bulls (NBA)

The Chicago Bulls are the world-famous team of Michael Jordan from the 90s that currently compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Eastern Conference’s Central Division. The Bulls may be a firm contender for their conference, but their chances in the next round are unclear.

You can bet on the Bulls to win their conference or choose them for the championship. Residents of IL state can wager on regular game outcomes or specific player performances with prop bets. The latter might involve whether a player (the team’s leading scorer, for example) will exceed a certain number of points in a game.

Chicago Blackhawks logo

Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

The state`s local ice hockey team the Chicago Blackhawks are one of the original six NHL teams that compete in the Western Conference. The six-time winners of Stanley Club (awarded to the playoff champion club each year) had their latest victory in the 2014-2015 season.

You can place your futures bet on the Chicago Blackhawks at sports betting sites in Illinois. Apps also offer futures as well as diverse other betting options. You can predict game outcomes, place prop bets on a player’s performance, such as goals scored if you understand the odds.

Chicago Fire FC logo

Chicago Fire FC (MLS)

Chicago Fire is a member of the Major Soccer League`s eastern conference, winners in the first MLS Cup in 1998. Despite the team`s lack of further cup wins, they boast a firm fan base across Illinois. Soccer fans often place bets on Chicago Fire FC games. Apart from typical game outcome bets, popular bets among locals are prop bets on players, such as the number of goals or assists a top player will score.

Chicago Cubs logo

Chicago Cubs (MLS)

The Chicago Cubs are one of the oldest teams in baseball that offer numerous and some of the best Illinois sports betting options. You will find lots of game markets for betting on the Chicago Cubs, including unique player props, as well as futures markets like the NL Cy Young award winner. Besides game outcomes, you can make prop bets on central players, like predicting a star pitcher’s strikeouts. Some of the best IL sportsbooks allow parlay bets on the same game.

What other types of gambling are legal in Land of Lincoln?

Illinois is home to 15 casinos, three racetracks, and a plentiful live and online poker rooms. The Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2019 legalized daily fantasy sports as well, but real money online casinos are not currently legal in Illinois. The state has legalized online sports betting, but it has not yet taken the same steps for online casinos.

While you cannot play real money casino games online, there are some alternatives:

Land-based casinos: 15 land-based casinos operate, offering traditional casino games.
Online sports betting: You can legally bet on sports on the Internet in Illinois since June 2019.
Sweepstakes casinos: They offer games similar to casino games you play for virtual currency. You can win real prizes, but you can’t deposit money to play with.

Riverboat and land-based casino gambling

Historically, Illinois has been known for its riverboat casinos, the unique feature of the gambling landscape of the state. In recent years, the IL laws have allowed local riverboat casinos to transition to land-based operations. This led to the expansion of their services and attracted more players. Currently, the state has a limited number of casino licenses.

For now, Illinois gamblers can enjoy lots of table games and a variety of slot machines at the state`s riverboat locations. Reel slots, progressive slots, and video poker are all available at each of these casinos.

The retail casinos in Illinois state include riverboat and land-based. Plans for the $1.7 billion investment Bally`s Chicago project include a 500-room hotel, entertainment center, and a casino with 3,400 slot machines and 170 table games.

Sweepstakes casino gambling

Sweepstakes casinos are the only online casinos allowed in the state. The sweepstakes model is allowed in many locations where gambling is prohibited abiding by gaming laws, since it lets players enjoy casino games, similar to the traditional ones, and earn real money using virtual currency.

Online poker at Global Poker and land-based poker gambling

Illinoisians can play poker in person at many of the state`s major casinos. Online poker was not planned in Bill SB 690 and the only legal online option you can use is Global Poker. After visiting it, you can gamble with virtual cash.

Allowed types of gambling	Minimum legal age	Subtypes of gambling allowed
Casino Gaming	21	Slot machines (including progressive slots), table games (blackjack, roulette, craps, etc.), poker
Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs)	21	Electronic slot machines and video poker
Horse Racing	18	Pari-mutuel betting
Sports Betting	21	Betting on various sporting events
Lottery	18	Instant scratch-off tickets, draw games (Powerball, Mega Millions), online lottery
Bingo	18	Charitable gaming
Pull Tabs and Jar Games	18	Charitable gaming
Raffles	Varies by event	Charitable gaming

The best Illinois betting sites – the Conclusion

Given the size of the state`s population, we would have expected more online operators to be available for betting in Illinois. But the $20 million licensing fee has made some operators consider whether to invest.

The return of fully remote registration was a massive boost to bettors and sportsbooks. Illinois removed the in-person registration requirement in March 2022, but wagering on in-state college teams is limited to pre-game bets made in person at an Illinois casino or racetrack. These limitations on college sports betting could prove costly.

Illinois online sports betting is a growing market. The legalization of Illinois sportsbooks is a great step in the right direction. Sports enthusiasts have embraced the access they have to IL sports betting. We look forward to seeing what further developments are about to happen.

Declan WillisAuthor at Online-Gambling.io

Illinois sports betting FAQ

Is betting legal in Illinois?

Yes, Illinois sports betting is legal. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed SB 690 bill on June 28, 2019, that made sports betting lawful in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois’ first legal in-person sports bet was at Rivers Casino Des Plaines on March 9, 2020. BetRivers introduced the state’s first online sportsbook on June 18, 2020. Check out which forms of sports betting are legal in Illinois state here.

How old do you have to be to be able to bet on sports?

Overall, the legal gambling age in the state is 21 for using both sports betting sites in Illinois and land-based venues. More on the topic you can read in the section sports betting legal age in Illinois.

Which are the best betting sites in Illinois?

The best Illinois sportsbooks stand out among the rest and can meet the needs of every sports fan and expert. More about the top brands in sports betting you can check in the section here.

Can I place online bets on college sports in the state?

Yes, you can, but there are certain restrictions. Sports betting sites in Illinois cannot offer bets on IL college teams. This means that you can wager on college sports, but you cannot place online bets on local teams.