2024 Online Sportsbooks That Take Illinois Players
2024 online sportsbooks taking Illinois players can be found anywhere from Rockford to Marion. Illinois online sportsbooks are available in two forms - online sportsbooks regulated by the state, and online sportsbooks regulated overseas. While both offer sufficient betting opportunities, offshore sportsbooks that accept Illinois residents offer the most diverse experience. This is because these books accept a wider range of banking methods and have no college betting restrictions. Read this page for all of the information you need to use online sportsbooks from anywhere in the Prairie State.
Our top recommendation for anyone looking to wager on the Bears, Cubs or Bulls is Bovada, a sportsbook that provides great odds on local Illinois teams. Since they are international, they offer better odds than local books, which have to slant odds to account for all the local fans betting on their teams. Bovada also accepts cryptocurrency, which gives them another leg up on the regulated books.
Is Bovada Legal In Illinois?
Bovada is legal in Illinois. The online sportsbook has been accepting Illinois residents since the site itself was created, which was over 10 years. There are many benefits to using Bovada compared to other online sportsbooks (both offshore and IL-regulated), including their great odds, high industry safety rating, and no college sports betting restrictions. It is legal to use Bovada in Illinois as long as a player is 18 years old or older.
You can bet on the Bears when you’re at Soldier Field with BetOnline, an online sportsbook that is available on almost any mobile device. Since BetOnline doesn’t require an app download, you can use it on basically any phone, and the signup process is easy and simple. BetOnline is licensed in Panama City, and has been available for more than a decade in IL.
When you’re in Chicago, you can bet with MyBookie anywhere from the top of the Willis Tower to the streets below. Bettors can use MyBookie on a variety of devices, from computers to iPhones and Androids, and they accept both cryptocurrency and credit cards. Established in 2014, and available via Costa Rica, they’re a great sportsbook for White Sox fans.
A sportsbook that has been available in Illinois since 1998, SportsBetting features a 50% bonus up to $500 when you sign up to bet on your favorite Illinois teams. Fans of Loyola and DePaul will find wagers here, as will fans of the Chicago pro teams like the Cubs and Bears. You can even bet on politics, like the upcoming Chicago mayoral election.
Operating out of sunny Curacao, XBet is also available in the Windy City. You can use the code XB100 to place wagers at XBet with a 100% matching deposit bonus that gets you up to $300. Cryptocurrency fans have a better opportunity at XBet than those that do not use it, as they get faster transaction times, higher limits, and bigger bonuses.
How To Get Started With An Online Sportsbook In Illinois
- Visit The Sportsbook - Most USA online sportsbooks are available on desktop and laptop browsers such as Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, and also on mobile device browsers such as Chrome and Safari on both iPhones and Androids
- Sign Up For An Account - Fill out personal info that includes but is not limited to your full name, email address, and zip code.
- Deposit Into Your Account - We recommend using cryptocurrency for deposits at sportsbooks that take Illinois residents if you’re interested in speedy transactions with big bonuses.
- Find Your Bet – Illinois online sportsbooks make the last step as simple as finding the wager you prefer and adding it to your betting slip once the account is funded. Once you’re happy with your slip, you can place your wager(s).
Best Bonuses At Illinois Online Sportsbooks
One of the best parts about signing up for a betting site in Illinois is the ability to accept one of the many online sportsbook bonuses that are offered. When looking for sportsbooks that allow IL players, offshore sites have some of the biggest bonuses up for grabs, as they offer crypto deposit matches for all new players.
- Bovada – 75% deposit match, $750 max bonus, 5x rollover
- BetOnline – 100% deposit match, $1,000 max bonus, 14x rollover
- SportsBetting – 100% deposit match, $1,000 max bonus, 14x rollover
Making Deposits At Illinois Online Sportsbooks
Between all of the sportsbooks taking Illinois players, it takes an average of 15 minutes to get your account funded. Whether using debit cards or crypto, there are sportsbook deposit methods that will get the job done.
Online Sportsbook Payouts In Illinois
A winning mindset is crucial for successful sports betting, meaning it is important to know the different online sportsbook withdrawal options offered before making a deposit. Bank transfers are the most universally offered payout method but offshore sportsbooks offer some of the fastest transactions via Bitcoin and other types of crypto.
Sportsbook Deposit/Withdrawal Method Comparison In Illinois
| Sportsbook: | Deposit Methods In IL: | Withdrawal Methods In IL: |
|---|---|---|
| Bovada | VISA, Mastercard, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Satoshi Vision, Ethereum, Litecoin, Player Transfer, MatchPay, Vouchers | Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Player Transfer, MatchPay, Vouchers, Check by Courier |
| BetOnline | AmEx, VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Chainlink, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Solana, Stellar Lumens, USD Coin, Player Transfer, Money Order, Wire Transfer, P2P Transfer | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, BTC Cash, Ripple, Discover Card, MasterCard, VISA, P2P Transfer, Money Order, Bank Wire, Cashier’s Check |
| MyBookie | AmEx, VISA, MasterCard, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Moneygram | Wire Transfer, Echeck/ACH, Bitcoin |
| Sports Betting | AmEx, VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Chainlink, Dogecoin, ETH, LTC, XRP, Solano, Stellar Lumens, Tether, USD Coin, Money Order, Cashier's Check, Wire Transfer, P2P Transfer | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, BTC Cash, Ripple, Discover Card, MasterCard, VISA, P2P Transfer, Money Order, Bank Wire, Cashier’s Check |
| XBet | AmEx, VISA, MasterCard, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Moneygram | Wire Transfer, Echeck/ACH, Bitcoin |
| FanDuel | AmEx, VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card, Online Banking, ACH | Online Banking, ACH, Paypal, Check, Venmo, Prepaid Card |
| DraftKings | AmEx, VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card, Online Banking, ACH | Online Banking, ACH, Paypal, Check, Play+ |
Teams That Illinois Residents Bet On
| Chicago Bulls | October 19 – April 10 |
| Chicago Bears | September 8 – January 8 |
| Chicago Cubs | March 31 – October 31 |
| Chicago White Sox | March 31 – October 31 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | October 12 – April 29 |
| University of Illinois | (Football August 27—December 10) (Basketball November 9—April 4) |
| Loyola University Chicago | (Basketball November 9—April 4) |
| Northwestern University | (Football August 27—December 10) (Basketball November 9—April 4) |
| DePaul University | Basketball November 9—April 4 |
What Is The Legal Sports Betting Age In Illinois?
The legal sports betting age in Illinois is 21 with state-regulated books like FanDuel, but the age to bet on sports with offshore sportsbooks is 18. The difference in legal sports betting age for offshore and Il-governed sportsbooks is due to where they are based and the laws they must follow. So, if you’re looking for 18+ online sportsbooks in Illinois, Bovada and BetOnline are your main options to consider. If you’re 21+, Bovada and BetOnline are still your best options, but there are most sportsbooks to consider.
Is Bovada Or FanDuel Better In Illinois
FanDuel is one of the most popular online sportsbooks in Illinois, but its product and betting selection do not compare to Bovada. This is not just IL-specific, even though Bovada has the edge there because the site does not require players to place bets in person on in-state college sports teams like FanDuel. Bovada is considered better than FanDuel in other states that they both operate in, with notable markets such as Ohio online sportsbooks and Michigan online sportsbooks proof of this. The market in states that Bovada is not legal in such as with New York online sportsbooks moves FanDuel up the rankings, but even then BetOnline is higher ranked than FanDuel.
What’s Going On In The Illinois Sports Betting Market?
| April 12, 2022 | The men's and women's March Madness tournaments generated a sports betting handle of $286.2 million combined, with online sportsbooks accounting for $274.4 million of that handle,according to the Illinois Gaming Board. |
| April 7, 2022 | Illinois sportsbooks had a $679.4 handle in February, which was the full month that the in-person registration requirement was active. |
| March 10, 2022 | Illinois bans betting on Russian or Belarus sporting events. |
| March 9, 2022 | Caesars Sportsbook’s Liberty platform launches in Illinois as in-person registry ends. |
| March 5, 2022 | The in-person registration requirement in Illinois comes to an end. |
| Feb. 16, 2022 | Illinois sportsbooks saw $60.5 million in wagers for Super Bowl 56. |
| Feb. 1, 2022 | Chicago’s United Center to see a FanDuel Sportsbook launch. |
| Jan. 27, 2022 | BetMGM gains its license approval to launch its sportsbook in Illinois by the Illinois Gaming Board. |
| October 2021: | The Illinois House of Representatives passed House Bill 3136, which stated that online sportsbooks would be allowed to offer online registration starting on March 3rd, 2021. |
| September 2020: | The Executive Order that allowed online sports betting registration was reinstated by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. DraftKings sportsbook partnered with Casino Queen and launched their online sportsbook. |
| June 2020: | Governor J.B. Pritzker signed an Executive Order that lifted the in-person registration mandate for online sportsbooks. No online sportsbooks were live yet, but the Executive Order paved the way for future sportsbooks launching. |
| March 2020: | Rivers Casino (BetRivers) launched the first sportsbook in Illinois. The launch was made days before the COVID-19 shutdown and was also done prior to the online operators going live. |
| December 2020: | The application process for sportsbook licenses began in Illinois. |
| June 2019: | Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signs Senate Bill 690, which regulates sports betting, but Illinois’ online-only sportsbooks must wait 18 months to enter the market. The 18-month wait was a compromised punishment towards DraftKings and FanDuel because of the feeling by some within the state that they had been operating daily fantasy sports illegally in Illinois beforehand. |
| February 2019: | Illinois lawmakers started working through the details of a potential sports betting bill. |
| August 2018: | The first legislative hearing regarding the legalization of sports betting in Illinois was held. |
Betting On College Sports In Illinois
Betting on college sports in Illinois could get a bit tricky if you are using one of the state regulated books as there are some restrictions in place that limit what you can bet on at DraftKings and other regulated betting markets. The betting restrictions for the regulated books include not betting on any college prop odds of any kind and only being able to bet on college sports in person.
You won’t find any of these college betting limitations on offshore regulated sportsbooks in Illinois. These betting sites have their own regulations that do not conflict with any of the ones from the regulated market which allows them to offer college props odds and college betting odds online without any setbacks.
Illinois Sports Betting News
2024 Sportsbook Apps Offered In Illinois
PointsBet Sportsbook
$1,500 Free Bet
Partnered with Hawthorne Race Course, PointsBet is licensed to operate in Illinois with no in-person signup requirement. They offer a $1,500 free bet, which puts them above many other sportsbooks in Illinois in terms of free bet offers, but the online books are still better in terms of matching deposit bonuses.
BetMGM Sportsbook
First Fully Online Regulated Book
With no sportsbook partners in Illinois, BetMGM is a fully online sportsbook, as the requirement for in-person registration was lifted in March 2022. Backed by MGM Resorts, they have a lot of money to burn, and this is visible in their promotions, which offer a $1,000 risk free bet when you sign up with BetMGM in Illinois.
BetRivers Sportsbook
The Most Local Chicago Book
BetRivers is something of a local brand to Illinois, headquartered in Des Plaines, and heavily involved in local politics. Their sportsbook operates both online and out of the Rivers Des Plaines casino. Notably, their app has only a 3.1 rating on the Google Play store, but a 4.6 rating on the Apple App Store.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Rewards From Retail And Online
Caesars Sportsbook makes its main pitch Caesars Rewards, which can be obtained not only on their app, but at their casino partners as well. Caesars operates Caesars Sportsbooks at the Grand Victoria Casino Elgin as well as Harrah’s Joliet and Harrah’s Metropolis.
DraftKings Sportsbook
Casino Queen, But With DFS
DraftKings was originally targeted by Illinois as an unwelcome presence in the state, but a merger with Casino Queen as well as the expiration of the 18 month moratorium on their entry has allowed them to open up a sports betting operation both online and at Casino Queen. DraftKings’ DFS operation makes them a highly used sportsbook.
FanDuel Sportsbook
The Top DFS Sportsbook In IL
The most used regulated sportsbook in Illinois, FanDuel is famous for being a DFS operator as well as a sportsbook. Only DraftKings competes with them in this regard, and the two are the most popular regulated books in the state as a result. DFS players only have to download these two apps to play all they want.
Retail Sportsbooks In Illinois
| Sportsbook: | Casino: | City: | Address: |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN BET Sportsbook | Argosy Casino Alton | Alton | US 1 Piasa St, Alton, IL 62002 |
| ESPN BET Sportsbook | Hollywood Casino Aurora | Aurora | US 1 W New York St, Aurora, IL 60506 |
| ESPN BET Sportsbook | Hollywood Casino Joliet | Joliet | US 777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, IL 60436 |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | Rivers Casino Des Plaines | Des Plaines | US 3000 S River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Grand Victoria Casino | Elgin | US 250 S Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Harrah's Joliet | Joliet | US 151 N Joliet St, Joliet, IL 60432 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Harrah's Metropolis | Metropolis | US 100 E Front St, Metropolis, IL 62960 |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | DraftKings at Casino Queen | East St. Louis | US 200 S Front St, East St Louis, IL 62201 |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Par-A-Dice Casino | East Peoria | US 21 Blackjack Blvd, East Peoria, IL 61611 |
| PointsBet Sportsbook | Hawthorne Race Course | Stickney | US 3501 S Laramie Ave, Stickney, IL 60804 |