Illinois Sports Betting — Best Sportsbooks and Apps | Outkick

Illinois sports betting has been live since June 28, 2020, when the Illinois Gaming Board licensed its first online operators. Bettors in the state can now choose from 10 legal sportsbook apps.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Illinois?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Illinois and has been since June 2020, when mobile sports betting launched. It is regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board, and bettors must be 21 or older. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Illinois Sports Wagering Act into law on June 28, 2019.

Best Illinois Sportsbooks and Betting Apps

Illinois has a wide variety of sports betting apps, and choosing which you like best can be a fun experiment. There is no limit to the number of apps you can use, so feel free to download as many as you’d like and try all of them. We’ve provided a few highlights for each and some things you might want to be on the lookout for. 

FanDuel Sportsbook Illinois

• FanDuel Sportsbook provides users with pre-made bets and profit boost bets as soon as you log in.
• The bet builder on FanDuel Sportsbook is one of the best in the industry, with quick odds displayed and plenty of options for playing your wager.
• The player prop market on FanDuel is one of the best in the industry and often has better odds than competitors.
• Withdrawals are simple, quick, and easy on FanDuel, getting money to you in a hurry.
• There are reports that winning bettors are quickly limited by FanDuel.

BetMGM Sportsbook Illinois

• If you want competitive odds, BetMGM is one of the best in the business and offers great lines for all the major sports. 
• You can customize your interface so that you can see your favorite teams and sports when using BetMGM Sportsbook.
• Edit My Bet is a feature from BetMGM that allows you to swap or add legs to an active wager.
• The in-game and live betting offered by BetMGM is one of the better in the industry.
• If you’re starting to have a streak of winning wagers, BetMGM will often give you less appealing promotions or provide them less often. 

bet365 Sportsbook Illinois

• The international market is a prime spot to find great lines and games, and bet365 provides some of the best coverage of any sportsbook.
• The early payout promotion from bet365 gives you a cash out if your team goes up before the game is over.
• You can often use bonus bets from bet365 in various amounts instead of set bonus bet tokens like other apps.
• The bet365 app is not exactly a clean app, it can be a bit text-heavy and the UI isn’t always the smoothest.

Fanatics Sportsbook Illinois

• Fanatics Sportsbook is built with a mobile-first identity, and therefore is one of the best interfaces in the industry.
• If a player is injured early in the game, the bet is typically voided by Fanatics Sportsbook.
• When something odd happens, Fanatics will often void the bet for all users, such as when Trevor Lawrence downed the ball at the 1-yard line instead of scoring with eight minutes to go in the Jaguars vs. Patriots, Week 3, 2026 game.
• The FanCash rewards system allows you to gain points for every wager, and then use that to make bonus bets or purchase team apparel from Fanatics.com
• It is a mobile-only app, so if you prefer using a desktop version, Fanatics Sportsbook is not the sportsbook for you.

theScore Bet Illinois

• Backed by PENN Rewards, theScore Bet gives you points for every wager that can be used on perks at PENN Casino properties.
• Some of the best lines on tennis and niche markets are available at theScore Bet.
• theScore Bet offers users frequent odds boosts for users to use, and reduced lines on certain spreads.
• There are some really exciting options for live betting and in-play coverage from theScore Bet.
• theScore Bet offers a nice rewards program, but it can be difficult to accumulate points and move up tiers.

Hard Rock Bet Illinois

• Hard Rock Bet provides one of the best sports betting mobile apps in the industry with fast load times and quick navigation.
• The Unity Rewards integration from Hard Rock Bet is among the best loyalty programs offered by any sports betting app.
• Getting paid for your win on Hard Rock Bet is often one of the easier processes from Hard Rock Bet.
• Users praise the weekly rewards drop that allows users to get bonuses and boost options from Hard Rock Bet.
• It can be rather difficult to get ahold of customer service on Hard Rock Bet to solve any problem or dispute.

Illinois Sportsbook Welcome Offers

Illinois sportsbooks provide new users with a few primary types of welcome promotions, most notably profit boosts, bet-and-get offers, and deposit matches. Profit boosts increase your potential payout on a qualifying wager, sometimes doubling your profits if the bet wins. Bet-and-get promotions award bonus site credits after you deposit and place a small initial wager (often as low as $5). Deposit matches aim to boost your starting bankroll right away by matching a percentage—or the full total—of your first deposit with promotional funds.

How to Sign Up for a Sportsbook in Illinois

1. Download the Illinois sportsbook app of your choice.
2. Enter your personal information.
3. Go through account verification and location checks.
4. Deposit funds into your account.
5. Claim the welcome offer. Note: This step may be completed during the sign-up process.
6. Place your first wager. (You must be within the state limits to wager, and note that being by the border of a state could fail the geolocation check).

Illinois Sports Betting Laws and Timeline

Illinois sports betting was first signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker via the Illinois Sports Wagering Act in 2019. By 2020, Rivers Casino in Des Plaines launched the first retail sports wagering site. On June 18, 2020, BetRivers was the first online sportsbook. By March 2022, there was a permanent lift on in-person mobile registration requirements, meaning residents could register completely remotely. 

Teams and Markets to Bet On in Illinois

Having a major city in your state always helps provide users with plenty of sports betting options. The Chicago Cubs and White Sox are professional baseball teams. The Blackhawks, Bulls, and Bears are options for the NHL, NBA, and NFL, respectively. They also have a diverse group of college teams, like the University of Illinois. 

College Sports Betting Rules in Illinois

You can bet on college sports in Illinois; however, you cannot wager on an in-state school. Even if they are playing in a different state, you cannot put a wager on them ever. You also cannot bet on college player props. 

Retail Sportsbooks in Illinois

There are multiple retail sportsbooks in Illinois. There are some standalone operations, but there are also some located within casinos, racetracks, and off-track betting facilities.

Licensed Retail Locations:

Rivers Casino Des Plaines (BetRivers Sportsbook) – Des Plaines

Grand Victoria Casino (Caesars Sportsbook) – Elgin

Hawthorne Race Course (Fanatics Sportsbook) – Stickney / Cicero

Hard Rock Casino Rockford (Hard Rock Bet) – Rockford

Hollywood Casino Aurora (ESPN BET / Penalty Box) – Aurora

Hollywood Casino Joliet (ESPN BET) – Joliet

Argosy Casino Alton (ESPN BET / PENN) – Alton

Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino (FanDuel / BetMGM Sportsbook) – East Peoria

Fairmount Park / FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing (FanDuel) – Collinsville

The Temporary by American Place Casino (Circa Sports) – Waukegan

Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel (Bally Bet) – Rock Island

Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort (bet365) – Carterville

Harrah’s Metropolis Casino (Caesars Sportsbook) – Metropolis

Responsible Gambling Resources in Illinois

• 1-800-GAMBLER
• 1-800-MY-RESET
• National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700
• Gam-Anon and Gamblers Anonymous
• Illinois Gaming Board – 312-814-4700

Illinois Sports Betting FAQ

Is sports betting legal in Illinois?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Illinois both online and in-person. 

What is the best sportsbook in Illinois?

Illinois has 10 different mobile sportsbooks available, so choosing the best one is really up to you. Try as many as you’d like and see what you like best about each app. 

How old do you have to be to bet in Illinois?

You must be 21 years of age and physically located in the state to bet on sports. 

Can you bet on college sports in Illinois?

Yes, you can bet on college sports in Illinois, but you cannot wager on player props or in-state colleges. 

Do you have to live in Illinois to bet there?

You do not need to be an Illinois resident, but you need to be physically located in the state when the wager is placed. 

How many sportsbooks are legal in Illinois?

There are 10 legal online sportsbook apps in Illinois. 

Can you bet on sports in Illinois without an app?

Yes, you can bet in-person at a variety of locations in Illinois, including casinos, racetracks, off-track betting facilities, and even some standalone locations.