We follow stringent, time-tested criteria when evaluating Illinois betting sites to recommend only legal and reliable betting houses to you.
Having analyzed various Illinois bookmakers’ legality, security, site design, sports betting markets, odds, bonuses, and overall user experience, we can vouch for the following best Illinois sportsbooks.
An iconic sports betting brand, Caesars entered the Illinois online market after acquiring William Hill for $4 billion in 2021. Complemented by William Hills’ long-standing sportsbook expertise, Caesars has quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with on the Illinois online gambling scene.
Caesars IL sportsbook stands out with its extensive library of markets on sports and other events. It also presents competitive odds with daily boosted bets.
What’s more? Caesars’ $1,500 first-bet insurance for new users is backed by a host of ongoing promotions and a commitment to exceptional user experience.
BetMGM IL sportsbook launched in March 2022 after teaming up with Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria. Although it’s a relatively new player, BetMGM has won the hearts of many bettors in the Prairie State, thanks to its great reputation, extensive betting markets, and signature offers.
BetMGM Illinois offers new players a lucrative risk-free sign-up bonus of up to $1,000. As if that’s not enough, the operator also offers a Bet $10, Win $200 in free bet credits promo. Really, it can’t get better than this!
DraftKings IL Sportsbook went live in September 2020 in partnership with Casino Queen in East St. Louis. It is highly regarded by players who enjoy Daily Fantasy Sports. However, that’s not all DraftKings has to offer.
The operator allows users to access an impressive spread of sports and betting markets. New players qualify for a welcome package consisting of a $50 free bet and a 20% deposit bonus of up to $1,000. This is nothing short of a superb initial offering.
FanDuel IL Sportsbook started operations in March 2022 and has since earned rave reviews from thousands of customers around the state. Besides a simple, clear interface that is easy to navigate, the platform has established itself as a national provider of Daily Fantasy Sports games.
To add to its sportsbook capabilities, FanDuel offers plenty of banking methods, fast payouts, and a record-breaking range of in-game wagering options. Its welcome package includes a $1,000 risk-free bet followed by a Bet $5, Win $150 Masters Promo.
BetRivers was the first Illinois sportsbook to go live back in March 2020. The brand is the exclusive online gaming partner of the Chicago Bears.
Owned and operated by Rush Street Interactive, BetRivers enjoys the third biggest sports betting handles in Illinois, outperformed only by FanDuel and DraftKings.
Along with a 100% welcome bonus that doubles your deposit up to $250, BetRivers IL runs regular promotions including free bets.
Owned and operated by iGaming operator Carousel Group, MaximBet (formerly SportsBetting.com) first launched in Colorado in September 2020. It arrived on the Illinois betting market much later in March 2022, and it’s expected to expand to other states soon.
MaximBet IL Sportsbook covers all the major sports and leagues, so there is always something big to bet on. It also provides incredible live betting options with real-time line and prop changes. The current welcome offer is a 100% match deposit bonus worth up to $1,000.
Barstool Sportsbook became available to Illinois bettors in March 2021 following its partnership with Penn National Gaming, which owns three brick-and-mortar casinos in the state. First-time bettors can expect a 100% risk-free bet worth up to $1,000.
As well as significant odds boosts on games involving Chicago-based teams, Barstool Sportsbook IL boasts a wide array of unique promotions and offers. These include opportunities to scoop huge prizes for tailing the Barstool Sportsbook’s personality selections.
Bally Bet made forays into Illinois in early 2022 through its acquisition of Jumer’s Casino in Rock Island. Bally Bet IL Sportsbook has something for both casual bettors and pros.
With Bally’s decades-long history in the gaming industry, users get access to a huge selection of sports betting markets, competitive odds, and TWO loyalty programs: Trophy Case and Bally Rewards. More importantly, a generous risk-free bet worth $1,000 awaits new players at Bally Bet.
An official gaming partner of Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, PointsBet entered the Illinois market in September 2020, becoming the second entrant in the state after BetRivers. PointsBet IL Sportsbook has carved out a following thanks to its outstanding marketing and the excellence of its online offering.
One of the most distinguishing features of PointsBet is its unique PointsBetting system, which offers two risk-free bets worth up to $2,000. The operator offers many other can’t-miss promos, including crazy odds boosts and Good Karma Refund (bad beat refunds).
In this section, you’ll find the best Illinois sports betting promotions and what you can expect. Our process involves testing all Illinois sportsbooks promos and checking to see if they meet industry standards.
Only reliable establishments that pass all of our criteria are added to our list of recommendations.
To trigger this bonus, create your Caesars IL Sportsbook account with our promo code and deposit $10 or more using any of the available payment methods. Place your first bet on any sporting event of your choice. If your bet loses, Caesars will award you a free bet of equal value up to $1,500.
Set up a new DraftKings IL Sportsbook account and enter our promo code. Deposit at least $5 and place your first qualifying wager. You’ll receive a $50 free bet and a 20% deposit match bonus up to $1,000. The bonus cash expires 14 days after it’s been credited to your account.
Sign up with BetMGM Illinois Sportsbook and make a minimum deposit of $10 using our promo code link. Place a wager on any sport you like. If your initial bet wins, you keep the money. If it loses, BetMGM will offer a full refund of up to $1,000 in free bet credit.
To receive the offer, create a new FanDuel IL Sportsbook account and deposit a minimum of $10 using our promo code link. Place your first wager on any sport you like. If you win, collect your payout! If you lose, FanDuel will refund any losses up to $1,000.
Complete the BetRivers IL Sportsbook sign-up form and click on our promo code link when making a deposit. Place a minimum wager of $10 on any sporting event. You’ll be eligible to have your initial deposit matched up to $250.
BetRivers IL requires you to complete a 1x rollover of the match bonus amount before it’s eligible for withdrawal.
There’s nothing worse than having to deal with a poorly designed Illinois mobile sports betting app. We did a deep dive and analyzed all of the sports betting apps available in Illinois to find the five best apps that are worthy of your time.
A top-flight sports betting app, Caesars IL App boasts an excellent range of betting markets with copious odds boosts available. The app’s slick design and flashy elements are a true representation of Caesars’ preeminent brand. Download the app on the App Store or Google Play and start betting on the go.
Available for Android and iOS users, the BetMGM IL app has a huge menu of available sports and bet types. Innovations such as Edit My Bet and Easy Parlay are the strong points of this app, not to mention a smooth navigational interface that directs you to your favorite sports and betting markets in an instant.
The BetRivers app is focused on the Chicago community. The app, which is available for Android and iPhone, functions well overall, although many features are still in need of smoothing. The app’s best feature is the news feed that lists big winners in the main games lobby.
The DraftKings IL app for Android and iOS has a huge selection of sports and markets to choose from. The app highlights useful stats to help players make smarter choices. You can bet on daily fantasy contests from the comfort of the app.
Another leading fantasy sports provider in the United States, the FanDuel IL app has a simple, clutter-free design backed by a high-end navigational interface. You’re able to place your wagers quickly and easily. Download the app for your Android or iPhone and enjoy a wide selection of same-game parlays, daily odds boosts, and other promotions.
In an increasingly crowded market, choosing the best Illinois betting sites is no mean feat. Thankfully, this is where our team of specialists excels.
We scrutinize various bookmakers carefully to see if they offer a good overall experience for Illinois online gambling enthusiasts. Here’s what our team of experts looks for in a sportsbook before recommending it to you.
You can’t assume that every Illinois sportsbook is 100% legal. There’s a chance that you might get ripped off.
Odds Scanner recommends only legitimate sites that are fully licensed and regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board. On top of that, we always consider a sportsbook’s reputation and history when making our recommendations.
You want the best bang for your buck, don’t you? You need to consider betting websites that offer good bonuses and promotions as they can maximize your winnings.
Here at Odds Scanner US, we evaluate bonuses from all of the leading betting sites in Illinois. Some of the sites we recommend offer signup bonuses, free bets, and other promos that can significantly boost your bankroll.
Shopping around for the best odds before placing your bets is a good idea. The odds determine how much profit you can make from your winning bets.
An industry leader in odds comparison, Odds Scanner US directs you to Illinois betting houses with above-average odds to help you gain an edge over your sportsbook. We’d recommend opening accounts with multiple bookmakers and comparing odds before betting.
Consider betting sites that give you the opportunity to bet on a range of different sports both at home and overseas. You should be able to bet on all of your favorite leagues, such as the NFL, NBA, NCAA, and more.
Make sure the betting site offers a variety of bet types. In addition to regular betting markets (moneyline, point spread, totals), you should be able to wager on game props, player props, player awards, and more.
As long as you’ve reached the legal gambling age, you can enjoy sports betting in Illinois. The following is a comprehensive look at how to bet on sports in Illinois:
Just because there is a handful of sportsbooks in Illinois doesn’t mean they’re all licensed to operate in the state. Verify the legality of every sportsbook to find one that matches your needs.
Click “Join Now” or “Register” and fill out your personal information. This includes your name, contact number, address, and the last four digits of your SSN.
You can deposit funds into your sportsbook account using various payment gateway options. Most Illinois sportsbooks use credit/debit cards, online banking, e-wallets (e.g. PayPal), and PayNearMe.
Don’t settle for anything less than competitive odds. Compare sports betting odds with Odds Scanner US to maximize your chances of making big profits.
Each Illinois sportsbook has bonus offers. Find out which betting houses offer the most generous promotions.
It’s time to place your first legal bet in Illinois. Enter the amount you want to wager and click “Confirm Bet.” Your sports bet is on the books!
IL sports betting became legal in 2019 when Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the law that legalized it. Now, bettors can place legal wagers on almost all popular and niche sports.
Naturally, Chicago-based fans want to capitalize on teams such as The Bulls, Bears, White Sox, and Blackhawks. Meanwhile, MMA, boxing, golf, and racing are also popular.
Sportsbooks in Illinois offer much more than standard sports bets. There’s the opportunity to make straight wagers, parlays, teasers, player props, totals, and live in-game bets.
Illinois is a state with a rich history in sports. With famous teams in each of the four major American pro sports leagues and a host of excellent college programs, there is plenty to get excited about.
Nearly all Illinois online sports betting sites and apps feature dozens of betting markets on major leagues such as the NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB. The people of Illinois have, in the Cubs and the White Sox, some of the most historic names when it comes to baseball.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks enjoy massive support in the Land of Lincoln, having bagged six Stanley Cup victories since their formation in 1926.
Interest also remains high when it comes to Illinois football betting. The Bears, one of the heavyweights in the NFL, have won eight NFL championships and one Super Bowl.
From a wagering perspective, basketball is also popular in Illinois, although there’s only one team in town. The Bulls have won six NBA Finals since the early ‘90s.
Sports gambling in Illinois has been legal since 2019. However, back then, only in-person sports betting was allowed. The state officially lifted the in-person betting requirement on March 3, 2022, allowing sports bettors to register and make wagers online.
BetRivers was the first Illinois legal sports betting site to go live, but now there are more legal sportsbooks operating in the state. Keep in mind not all betting sites in The Prairie State are 100% safe.
There are some rogue operators in this state. Stick with us, as we only recommend licensed establishments that are safe.
You cannot bet on any games involving Illinois college sports teams playing at home. E-sports betting is also limited in Illinois. You can bet on e-sports only if the Illinois Gaming Board has authorized betting on a given tournament.
You must be at least 21 years old to engage in Illinois sports betting. The only exception is pari-mutuel wagering on horse races (18+ can place these bets).
Still unsure about how Illinois sports betting works? Check out these frequently asked questions.
Yes, sports gambling is legal in Illinois, meaning you can wager on a desktop, laptop, or mobile device. In-person registration is no longer a requirement.
Absolutely. There are no restrictions when betting on professional Illinois teams such as the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bears, and other pro teams.
Most college sports are available for betting in Illinois. However, betting on in-state college teams playing at home is prohibited.
You can place a sports bet online in Illinois. Just make sure you’re dealing with a licensed and trustworthy sportsbook to avoid rip-offs.
