Illinois Betting Sites

Residents of Illinois get pick of the litter when it comes to online betting sites, after the Prairie State moved to legalize the activity in 2019. Not sure where to start? Our in-depth guide to Illinois betting sites has you covered — from the sports and markets available to the best apps for mobile betting. Let’s dive in!

Our Top Illinois Sports Betting Sites - September 2023

Is Online Betting Legal in Illinois?

Illinoisians have enjoyed legal online betting since June 2019, roughly one year after the Supreme Court’s PASPA ruling. Of course, as part of the legislation that was passed, there are some rules to follow.

First off, you must be at least 21 to place a sports bet in Illinois. You don’t have to be a resident, but you must be within state lines to use an Illinois sportsbook. 

Bets can only be placed on sporting events — you won’t find entertainment markets like awards ceremonies on Illinois betting sites. You can bet on college sports online, but only on out-of-state teams. If you want to bet on an Illinois college team, you’ll have to do so in person at a retail sportsbook. 

Online casinos currently remain illegal in Illinois, although there are hints this could change in the near future. In the meantime, residents of the state can play at sweepstakes or ‘social’ casinos instead. 

Popular Sports to Bet on in Illinois

You’ll find immense variety at Illinois betting sites when it comes to the sports on offer, from the biggest worldwide events to the most niche. However, it’ll come as no surprise that America’s homegrown sports remain the most popular options for online betting. 

NFL

Football has a dedicated following in Illinois, thanks in part to the Chicago Bears — one of the oldest NFL franchises. Last winning the Super Bowl in 1985, their success has been patchy in recent years but their fans remain loyal nonetheless. The Packers and the Colts also garner support due to their proximity to the Prairie State. 

NBA

In major league basketball, Illinois is represented by the Chicago Bulls. Enjoying a period of strong success in the 1990s, the Bulls have a storied history, becoming the first team in the NBA to win more than 70 games in a season. They secured six championship titles between ‘91 and ‘98, led by the GOAT Michael Jordan. The Bulls are yet to return to that level of glory — if you’re looking for an alternative, the nearby Milwaukee Bucks lifted the Larry O’Brien in 2021. 

MLB

Chicago is a great place to live if you’re a baseball fan, with two teams to choose from. The iconic Wrigley Field — sitting a stone’s throw from Lake Michigan — is home to the Cubs, while the White Sox are based at Guaranteed Rate Field. Both teams have weathered record championship droughts. The Cubs ended their 108-year dry spell in 2016, while the White Sox last won the World Series in 2005. 

NHL

Another major league team located in the Windy City, the Blackhawks represent Illinois in the NHL. The Hawks have lifted the Stanley Cup six times in their career, most recently in 2010, 2013, and 2015. Other teams popular with Illinoisians include the Detroit Red Wings and the St Louis Blues, the latter of which won their first championship in 2019. 

Horse Racing

Following Arlington Park’s closure in 2021, just two horse racing venues remain in Illinois — Fairmount Park (now known as FanDuel Sportsbook and Racing) and Hawthorne Race Course, home of the Hawthorne Gold Cup. Thankfully, Illinois betting sites allow those in the Prairie State to wager on an abundance of horse racing across the US and worldwide. From the Kentucky Derby to the Grand National to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, there’s no shortage of choice.

Betting Markets Available in Illinois

With a range of markets available to Illinois bettors, there’s something to suit all tastes. When choosing a wager, you’ll want to consider things like your risk tolerance and preferred payout potential. Here’s a rundown of the most popular bets you can make at online sportsbooks in Illinois.

Moneyline

Moneyline betting is the simplest form of wager, where you’re backing the team you think will win the game. The odds are represented with positive and negative numbers — the former indicating the underdog and the latter indicating the favorite. 

Here’s a quick example of a Bulls vs Bucks game:

• Chicago Bulls, -150
• Milwaukee Bucks, +130 

The Bulls are the favorites here — a successful bet of $150 would yield a profit of $100. Conversely, a winning $100 bet on the Bucks would return a profit of $130. 

Parlay

A parlay combines multiple wagers into one, bumping up the potential payout but with the tradeoff that the bet is much harder to win. You’ll need to pick at least two separate bets or ‘legs’ to form your parlay — for example, the Cubs and the Hawks to win their upcoming games. If they both win, you’ll net a higher return than if you’d bet on both these outcomes separately. 

You can also place same-game parlays. A popular choice here is to combine a match winner with a totals bet, for example the Bears to win and over 42.5 points to be scored in total. 

Over/Under

Also known as totals, over/under bets are wagers on whether a particular match statistic will cross a set threshold. Points total is the most common over/under bet to place. Say the line is set at 168.5 points for an NBA game. If you ‘take the over’, the combined scores of both teams must be at least that amount. 

The over/under markets available depend on the sport. Illinois betting sites will include options like total passing, rushing, or receiving yards in the NFL, for example. 

Against the Spread (ATS)

Betting on the spread is a bit like a moneyline, but with a key difference — the team you back must win or lose within a certain margin. Imagine the Bears are favorites against the Packers and the spread is 1.5 points. If you back the Bears, they need to win by at least 1.5 points for the bet to succeed. Bet on the Packers, however, and they need to either win outright or lose by less than 1.5 points.

Betting Apps Available in Illinois

If you prefer to bet using your phone or tablet, you’ll want to download a sports betting app. Most sportsbooks in Illinois offer these apps for Android and Apple devices, and they can be downloaded for free from Google Play and the App Store. 

Betting apps tout a number of significant advantages. As they’re stored locally on your device, loading times are quicker. The interface is also fine-tuned to your specific handset. Biometric login like face or touch recognition makes accessing your account quicker and more secure, and push notifications can be enabled to keep you in the loop about the latest odds and promotions. 

Here’s a sneak preview of three top betting apps available in Illinois:

BetMGM

Self-proclaimed ‘king of sportsbooks’ BetMGM offers a fantastic mobile app for Android and iOS. Within a few taps, you can access top features like daily bet boosts, live betting, same game parlays, and fast withdrawals. 

FanDuel

Originally known for its daily fantasy sports offering, FanDuel’s robust sports betting app is great for betting on the go — especially for football fans thanks to its official partnership with the NFL. We’re big fans of the live prop bet tracking features. It’s also the only app where you can stream horse racing live.

DraftKings

DraftKings is another official NFL partner, offering a great range of same-game parlays and odds boosts on football. Of course, you can bet on a huge selection of other sporting events, with additional perks including fast withdrawals and 24/7 support.

Payment Methods Available at Illinois Betting Sites

Before you can place a wager at an Illinois betting site, you’ll need some funds in your account. And once it comes time to withdraw, which method is the best? Residents of the Prairie State can use a range of payment options to manage their betting budget — here are some popular choices.

Bank Cards

If you’d like to keep things simple, a debit or credit card is a familiar way to move money to and from your betting wallet. Simply key in the card details and the amount, and confirm — your deposit should complete instantly. If it’s that easy, why opt for another method? The main drawback to bank cards is their withdrawal speed, which can take several days. It’s also worth keeping in mind that some banks block gambling transactions.

e-Wallets

e-Wallets like Venmo or PayPal are compelling options for sportsbook payments. They excel in three areas: speed, convenience, and security. These services function much like a bank account, letting you hold a balance, but you can also link your various payment cards and keep all your financial details secure under one login. Useful features like two-factor authentication bolster security, while e-wallet withdrawals are fast and often take just a few hours to land.

Prepaid Cards

Illinois betting sites accept a range of prepaid cards. Play+ and Game On are two popular services, although the latter is not yet available in the Prairie State. Why choose a prepaid card? For starters, it’s a great way to keep track of your betting budget. Secondly, it’s highly secure as you won’t have to share any bank details online. However, you can’t always withdraw to a prepaid card, so you might need an alternative option up your sleeve. 

Wire Transfer

Despite a plethora of modern methods at Illinois sportsbooks, some may like to opt for a trusty wire transfer to directly deposit at their chosen site. Higher transaction limits are the main benefit here, although keep in mind there may be additional fees.

Illinois Betting Timeline

It didn’t take long for the Prairie State to permit sports betting, and the sportsbook roster continues to grow. Wondering how we got here? Here’s a step through the timeline.

2023: Circa Sports announces it’s soon to launch in the state after its partner, Full House Resorts, is approved for a retail sportsbook license. 

2022: Total sports betting handle reaches nearly $1 billion after the in-person registration requirements are removed on March 5. 

2021: The Illinois General Assembly votes to remove the in-person registration requirement, as well as allowing in-person betting on in-state college teams.

2020: The first legal sportsbooks launch in Illinois, allowing residents to place bets on various sports, including professional and college events.

2019: Illinois lawmakers begin discussions about legalizing sports betting in the state, and the General Assembly passes the Sports Wagering Act. In June, Governor J B Pritzker signs the Sports Wagering Act into law, allowing both online and in-person sports betting in Illinois. 

2018: The Supreme Court overturns the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, and Illinois begins its journey towards legalization.

Compare Illinois Betting Sites and Sign Up

Now you’re up to speed, all that’s left to do is compare the best Illinois betting sites and make your pick. Once you’ve decided, click through using our link to sign up, make a deposit, and claim your welcome bonus. From there, you can head to the sportsbook and place your bets — good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions