Illinois Sports Betting Sites

Illinois Sports Betting Overview

Sports betting in Illinois is legal and regulated. In 2019, IL state legalized both, offering in-person wagering at racetracks and casinos. Illinois residents can also continue to enjoy many offshore betting sites.

How old do I have to be to wager on sports in Illinois?

Illinois law mandates that you must be 21+ to place legal wagers in the state. This applies to both in-person and online forms of betting.

Best Sportsbooks Available in Illinois

Our team narrowed down the top Illinois betting sites to five that stand head and shoulders above the rest. Our team has strict standards, so these betting sites are truly the cream of the crop. Read the mini-reviews below to find out why each one stands out.

Best Sportsbook for Illinois Players Overall

BetOnline

100% up to $1,000 Welcome Bonus

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Casino Games: Slots, Video poker, Blackjack +5 more Craps, Baccarat, Roulette, Live dealer, Progressive jackpot.

Live Dealer: No

Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, American Express +14 more Bitcoins, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Interac e-Transfer, Person2Person Transfers, Money Order, Bank Transfer, Check, Cardano, Dogecoin, Ripple, Tether, Usdt.

BetOnline is the best Illinois sports betting option due to its competitive odds, markets on 25+ sports, special bets like Mega Parlays, and because it accepts 16+ cryptos for deposits and payouts.

You can bet on every major sport and many minor ones here. There’s action on the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and many other sports with competitive odds. For example, I got +125 for Trump to win the U.S. election, whereas a competitor site was offering +100. Check out the ‘Mega Parlays’ section for special bets with odds of +12,000.

BetOnline offers deposits and payouts by BTC and 15 altcoins, including stablecoins USDT and USDC. The cashier processes these within an hour, so fast payouts are guaranteed.

• Competitive lines on 25+ sports
• Special bets like Mega Parlays
• Fast payouts with one-hour processing by crypto

• Fees when using credit cards
• $1,000 wager caps on a few sports

Fastest Payout for Illinois Players

Betwhale

125% up to $1,250 Welcome Bonus

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Casino Games: Blackjack, Baccarat, Video poker +3 more Slots, Progressive jackpot, Roulette.

Live Dealer: Yes

Payment Options:

BetWhale is the best IL sports betting site because it offers fast payouts by Visa, bank transfers, and both Bitcoin and Tether with no extra fees.

While BetWhale guarantees payouts within 1-3 days by all options, using BTC or USDT will mean same-day processing. There are no payout fees, but credit card issuers may charge them, and all cryptos have small blockchain fees of a few dollars. Note that, in any case, KYC-verifying your account will speed payouts up significantly.

BetWhale also has a neat ‘Early Cashout’ feature. This allows you to cut your losses if the gods of the odds are against you. It also allows you to bank what’s yours when things go your way.

• Fast Visa, bank wire, and crypto payouts
• Early cashout on live wagers
• Zero payout fees

• $150 minimum payout limit

Best Sportsbook for Prop Wagers

Bovada

100% up to $1,000 Welcome Bonus

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Casino Games: Slots, Video poker, Blackjack +5 more Craps, Baccarat, Roulette, Keno, Live dealer.

Live Dealer: No

Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, Bitcoins +6 more Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Secure Voucher, Bank Transfer, Check.

Bovada is the best option for Illinois bettors looking to make prop bets because of its unbeatable odds, the sheer number of prop bets it offers, and its special prop bet builder.

The odds on most sports beat the competition unless you’re a pro bettor, in which case you’ll get sharp odds. For example, I got +160 on Isaac Romero to score at least one goal in Sevilla vs. Real Valladolid, while a competitor offered +145 on the same outcome.

Bovada offers lots of different props, too. On soccer alone, it offers odds on Total Goals, BTTS, Double Chance, Draw No Bet, Half and Full-Time Scores, Correct Score, and Total Corners. You can also use the Prop Builder to create unique bets.

• Competitive odds with frequent boosters
• Prop bets on all major sports
• Special prop bet builder

• Sharp odds for professional gamblers

Most Promotions and Sports Betting Contests

SportsBetting.ag

100% up to $3,000 Welcome Bonus

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Casino Games: Slots, Blackjack, Video poker +4 more Live dealer, Baccarat, Roulette, Craps.

Live Dealer: Yes

Payment Options: Bitcoins, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano +10 more Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Tether, MasterCard, American Express, Visa, Bank Transfer, Check.

SportsBetting.ag is the best option for Illinois sports betting if you’re competitive: it offers additional real-money contests for players with a wager on specific events.

To see these for yourself, click ‘Contests’ on the SportsBetting.ag website. Some are free if you have a wager on the event, and others cost an entry fee. For example, a free NFL Survivor contest worth $10,000 might see the prize money go to whoever can bet each week without losing for the remainder of the season.

These contests add excitement to betting on regular games, and better yet, with $100k withdrawal limits, you can cash out the prize money on most of them in one go.

• Free real money contests with active bets
• Prize pools of up to $10,000 on contests
• $100k withdrawals when you win

• $200 minimum payouts

Best Racebook for Illinois Players

MyBookie

100% up to $1,000 Welcome Bonus

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Casino Games: Slots, Video poker, Blackjack +4 more Baccarat, Roulette, Keno, Scratch tickets.

Live Dealer: No

Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, Bitcoins +10 more Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, Cardano, Dogecoin, MoneyGram, Person2Person Transfers, eCheck, Bank Transfer.

The MyBookie racebook is second to none. With competitive odds on global horse and dog races, exotic bets, and a world-class interface on all devices, it’s well worth checking MyBookie out.

MyBookie offers odds on races across North America, South Africa, Australia, and further afield. Both thoroughbred and harness races on horses are available, as well as action on greyhounds. You can make Straight, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Double, Picks, and Parlay bets.

The MyBookie site is also fantastic on both desktop and mobile devices. Fast load times, seamless interactions, and quick cashouts are features of this slick black-and-orange betting site.

MyBookie also offers a racebook rebate of up to 8% with no rollover requirements. Don’t miss out on that!

• Action on global dog and horse races
• Exotic bets with competitive odds
• Race rebates of up to 8% with no rollover

• $1,000 payout limits on some races

How We Evaluate Sports Betting Sites in Illinois

You can learn more about how we rank betting sites here. However, if you want the short version, we’ve summed it up below.

Availability in Illinois

All of our approved Illinois sportsbooks are based outside the state but accept players from it. There are no restrictions on IL residents who will have full access to all features, including live bets and extras like prop builders.

Player Protections & Safety

From encrypted connections to valid operator licenses in their jurisdictions to player-friendly terms and conditions, our IL sports betting sites put players first.

Odds Boosters + Competitive Lines on Illinois Teams

As you well know, Chicago is home to some of the top sports teams in America. Whether it’s the Bulls, the Bears, the Cubs, or any of the others, our recommended sites will offer odds boosts and competitive lines on matches and games they play.

Fast, Secure Deposits and Withdrawals

Whether you want to use credit cards or cryptos like Bitcoin, you’ll enjoy fast, secure deposits and payouts at the best Illinois sportsbooks. No matter what banking methods you use, instant deposits and fee-free withdrawals with same-day processing are available.

Illinois Betting Sites: A Comparison

The table below summarizes some of the most important things about our approved USA-friendly betting sites. Use it as a quick reference point to help you decide where to play first.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Illinois?

Yes, Illinois sports betting is legal and regulated by the state.

Like many other states, Illinois couldn’t offer legal sports betting before 2018 because of the Professional and Amateur Sports Betting Act of 1992 (PASPA). However, this legislation was struck down in 2018, and a wave of states, including Illinois, moved to legalize and regulate in-person and online sports betting.

Illinois legalized both in 2019 when it passed the Illinois Sports Wagering Act. In addition to offering in-person betting at approved racetracks and casinos across the state, the Illinois Gambling Board (IGB) also licensed a few operators like DraftKings and FanDuel to operate legally online. Finally, other forms of sports betting joined pari-mutuel wagering on horse races, which had been legal since 1975.

Along with these new, regulated offerings, offshore sites like Bovada continue to offer online sports betting in Illinois, even though they’re not based or regulated there.

Land-Based Sportsbooks in Illinois

The table below shows information on in-person betting locations in Illinois. These are all legal and regulated by the state.

Horse Racing in Illinois

Illinois has some famous tracks and has had a thriving horse betting scene since 1975. Here are some venues offering it.

Daily Fantasy Sports in Illinois

DFS is not explicitly legal or regulated in Illinois, but it’s available through regulated betting apps like FanDuel.

Who Regulates Sports Betting in Illinois?

Illinois sports betting is regulated by the Illinois Gambling Board. It is responsible for licensing both land-based and online operators, ensuring compliance with state laws, and maintaining the integrity of sports betting in the state.

The IGB also works with the Illinois Department of Revenue to collect the mandatory 15% tax on adjusted gross revenue. Like so many other states, this has been a much-needed boon for Illinois’ coffers.

Illinois’s Sports Betting Laws Compared to Neighboring States

How do Illinois’ betting laws compare to those of its neighbors in Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, and Wisconsin? Let’s take a closer look.

• Iowa – IA legalized both in-person and online sports betting in 2019. However, there are still some restrictions: betting in Minor League Sports and eSports are prohibited. A wide variety of offshore operators continue to offer Iowa sports betting without restrictions.

• Kentucky – KY legalized both online and in-person sports betting in 2023; both are regulated by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Offshore sites like BetWhale continue to offer Kentucky sports betting with zero restrictions.

• Missouri – MO has not yet legalized sports betting despite multiple attempts. For example, in 2023, a bill passed in the Missouri House but failed in the Senate due to disagreements over Video Lotto Terminals. Despite the delays, sports betting in Missouri is still available on offshore sites today.

• Indiana – IN was one of the first states to legalize and regulate sports betting back in 2019. Both online and in-person betting is legal, with restrictions on high school sports and eSports. Offshore operators also continue to offer sports betting in Indiana.

• Wisconsin – WI legalized in-person betting in 2021 but has not yet done the same for online betting. Players can bet at various tribal casinos or can continue to use offshore sites like BetOnline for online sports betting in Wisconsin.

The Future of Online Sports Betting in Illinois

Given that sports betting is already legal and regulated in Illinois expect things to stay the same. The only predictable change is that more regulated operators will offer their services in IL, and potentially, some explicit legalization and regulation of Daily Fantasy Sports will occur.

Responsible Gambling in Illinois

Illinois sports betting is supposed to be a fun pastime for betting on your favorite sports and teams. It is not a way to reliably make money or solve financial problems. If you treat it otherwise, you may have a gambling addiction. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you do.

• Gambler’s Anonymous
• National Problem Gambling Helpline

Illinois Gambling Legal Sources

• Illinois Gambling Board (IGB)
• Illinois Sports Wagering Act
• Illinois Racing Act
• PASPA 2018 Supreme Court Decision

Illinois Sports Betting Site Summary

Illinois sports betting has been legal since 2019. In addition to the regulated options in the state, offshore operators continue to serve IL players.

IL residents can place real money wagers on popular sports like baseball, basketball, and football alongside 20+ others. Competitive odds with straight bets, parlays, props, live, and other bet types are available.

BetOnline and BetWhale are two great options for Illinois bettors. With generous deposit matches to get you started, competitive lines on both pro and college sports, and fast, secure payouts when you win, these sites are worth a closer look.