Illinois Sports Betting Guide – Best Online IL Sportsbooks | $5,000+ in Bonus!
Illinois legalized online sports betting in 2020 and dozens of online sportsbooks are now operating in the state. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about online sports betting in Illinois and review the 5 best Illinois sports betting sites.
The Best Illinois Sports Betting Sites List 2022
The number of online sites for sports betting in Illinois is quickly growing. If you’re new to the sports gambling scene in IL, here are our top 10 picks for placing a wager:
- BetUS – Overall Best Illinois Sports Betting Online Site for 2022
- BetOnline – Best Illinois Sports Betting Site with Top Promos
- MyBookie – Best Online Sports Betting Illinois Site for Live Streaming
- Bovada – Top Illinois Sports Betting Site for Futures Betting
- XBet – Best Mobile Sportsbook App in Illinois
- SportsBetting.ag – An Illinois Betting Site that Broadcasts Competitive Odds
- BUSR – One of the Best Illinois Online Sportsbooks for Horse Racing
- Intertops – Among the Best Illinois Sports Gambling Sites for Hockey Wagers
- BetNow – Deeper Markets than Most other IL Sports Betting Sites
- GTBets – One of the best Sportsbooks Illinois has for Parlay Bets
Best Illinois Sportsbooks (Online) Reviewed
Let’s take a closer look at the top 5 platforms for online sports betting in Illinois.
1. BetUS – Overall Best Illinois Sports Betting Online Site for 2022
BetUS is our favorite Illinois sports betting site for players in search of the best promotions. This sportsbook offers a whopping deal for new bettors worth an enormous £3,125! This is a combined 100% sports and 25% casino bonus for you to use across any sports markets and casino games!
Another thing we like about the BetUS sports betting Illinois site is that it tends to offer more favorable odds than other IL sportsbooks. That means that when your bet wins, you can win more than you would at competing sports betting sites. Plus, BetUS offers live betting during matches and HD streaming so you can watch the action unfold.
BetUS broadcasts odds and lines on all the major US professional and college sports leagues, plus sports like rugby, soccer, Aussie rules football, and even golf betting lines. The sportsbook also has accessible customer support with a 24/7 live chat service.
Pros:
- Biggest welcome offer around
- Favorable odds for most games
- BetUS sportsbook Illinois provides 24/7 customer support
- A sports betting Illinois site that offers live betting and streaming
Cons:
- More limited payment options than other Illinois sports gambling sites
2. BetOnline – Best Illinois Sports Betting Site with Top Promos
BetOnline is one of the most reputable sportsbooks in the industry and is our #2-rated sports betting in Illinois site for 2022. This online sportsbook stands out for its enormous range of sports, generous welcome bonus, and excellent customer service support. On top of that, BetOnline offers in-game betting and live streaming for most matches. You can bet on all major sports such as NFL, MLB, college games like the NCAA, as well as UFC.
BetOnline offers new players a $1000 welcome bonus to use across your favorite sports, with no restrictions on what sports you can bet on or what odds you can take.
This top sportsbook also offers a massive range of betting contests across several sports, so if you’re looking for a new and exciting betting challenge with big prizes, BetOnline is one to check out.
Pros:
- A huge range of sports markets to wager on
- In-game betting and live streaming
- Sports betting Illinois contests run throughout the year
- $1000 welcome bonus
- Excellent customer service support
Cons:
- Unlike other Illinois sports gambling sites, no PayPal payment option at MyBookie
3. MyBookie – Best Online Sports Betting Illinois Site for Live Streaming
Since being established in 2014, this top Illinois sports betting site has proven to provide an excellent and seamless sports betting experience. You can wager on major US leagues like the NBA, NFL, and MLB, plus college sports, esports, MMA, soccer, rugby, and much more.
MyBookie makes it easy to place bets with a seamless web interface and mobile apps for both iOS and Android devices. You’ll also find support for in-game betting and live streaming of almost every match.
Like BetOnline, MyBookie offers a welcome bonus of up to $1,000 for you to enjoy across the platform. There is also a refer a friend promo worth mentioning, which rewards you 250% up to $250 for each new bettor that you refer.
Pros:
- Trusted sportsbook with an established history in IL
- Wager on more than 30 sports markets
- An Illinois online sports betting site that offers in-game betting and live streaming
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
Cons:
- Limited Esports section
4. Bovada – Top Illinois Sports Betting Site for Futures Betting
Bovada is our top pick for Illinois sports bettors who want to place futures wagers. This betting site offers NBA futures, NFL futures, and even college sports futures, this selection is unmatched by any other Illinois sportsbook. On top of this, there are a huge variety of wager options and an impressive and easy-to-use prop builder so you can add your favorite sports betting Illinois teams to your betting slip at any time.
If you’re online betting Illinois sports teams, Bovada offers a ton of tools and features for players, including full statistics for every match and live streaming in HD quality. You’ll also find a wide range of in-game bets to make matches more exciting. It also has mobile apps for iOS and Android, and these support all the same features as you’ll find on the website.
This top sportsbook offers a 100% deposit match worth up to $1000 for new players which you can claim using the Bovada promo code, BVD1000. Bovada’s Bitcoin promotion is also second to none, with a huge 75% up to $750 when you make a deposit with Bitcoin!
Pros:
- Wide range of futures betting markets
- HD-quality live streaming whilst online betting Illinois teams
- Top Bitcoin promotions at this Illinois online sports betting site
- Mobile betting apps for iOS and Android
- $1000 welcome bonus at this Illinois sports betting site
Cons:
- Lacks e-wallet payments
5. XBet – Best Mobile Sportsbook App in Illinois
XBet is one of the most impressive new betting sites available to bettors in Illinois. It has many of the same cutting-edge features as other Illinois sportsbooks, including in-game betting, live streaming, and a simple-to-use parlay builder. On top of that, this sportsbook has extremely user-friendly mobile betting apps for iOS and Android devices. The apps are among the best we’ve encountered and make it incredibly easy to add wagers to your bet slip.
This top Illinois online sports betting site offers new players a $500 welcome offer which can seem smaller in comparison to the other sportsbooks but they also offer a daily cash rebate of up to 7% when you wager across any qualifying racing tracks, making this one of the best Illinois sports gambling sites to use for horse racing wagers.
Pros:
- Top rewards on horse race betting
- Excellent mobile betting apps
- Simple parlay building tool
Cons:
- Smaller welcome offer
Best Regulated Illinois Sportsbooks:
The top 5 sites appearing in the above selection of mini-reviews are available in most states and also provide upper betting lines on college sports, which is why we favor them slightly.
There are, however, also several geo-restricted sites that are available to bettors gambling in Illinois that are well worth checking out (if you haven’t already).
As such, we’ve reviewed Illinois sports betting online and regulated sites below:
1. Fanduel – Best Illinois Sportsbook Overall
In our opinion, FanDuel Illinois is the best, regulated site available in the state. FanDuel Illinois is in partnership with major leagues like the NBA, MLB, and the odds and lines broadcast on the site are often identical to those being discussed on NBA/NFL TV broadcasts, so it’s easy to stay in the loop regarding the odds on the next Chicago Bulls/Bears game.
Where the NBA is concerned, FanDuel IL is atop the pile, broadcasting game lines for every game of the regular season and playoffs; deep prop betting markets; live betting is possible and looks great; the futures markets are open early; all the logos for the teams are present due to the aforementioned partnership with the league, and, overall, this is just the best Illinois sportsbook for betting on basketball. Plus, FanDuel also runs NBA Fantasy Tournaments where you can select your own squad and send out your best starting 5s to compete for cash prizes.
Besides all that, any newcomer to Illinois FanDuel is eligible to receive a $2,000 risk-free bet. Plus, there are risk-free $10 bets on same game parlays; there’s NHL parlay insurance and a plethora of other promotional deals that crop up in tandem with America’s biggest sporting events, so we recommend checking the site regularly to see exactly what’s on offer when you come to sign up.
Pros
- Best of the Illinois sportsbooks for Fantasy NFL, MLB, and NBA
- Very competitive odds
- Officially licensed sports betting site of the NBA, MLB, and NFL
- Excellent live betting arena
- £2,000 Welcome Bonus is one of the best available to those sports betting in Illinois
Cons
- Other sites provide a deeper selection of sports to bet on
2. DraftKings – One of the Best Illinois Sportsbooks for College Sports
Boasting 18 separate markets and tons of wagering options for all IL’s favorite sports: baseball, basketball, and football, DraftKings is an exceptional bookie to begin sports betting in Illinois with.
The proposition wagering markets almost overflow with betting options, so whether you roll up hoping to wager on how many TDs Justin Fields throws for the Bears, or how many rushing yards the Fighting Illini chalk up in their next NCAAF clash, DraftKings sportsbook Illinois has you covered.
Sticking with the college game, to demo the site we placed a few wagers down on the Northern Illinois Huskies. When doing so, we found that the DraftKings sportsbook Illinois was simple to navigate; crammed full of useful details such as all the latest stats and blog pages written by betting pros, and that it was easy to place parlay bets at competitive odds.
Live betting is also a feature of the site and it IS possible to wager on college ball live and in play. Plus, there are weekly specials on specified NCAAF games, and the player prop market is open, meaning it’s possible to wager on the number of yards Chase Brown racks up in his next game for the Illini, and so on. DraftKings boasts great coverage of a lot of sports, but we rated its on-site commitment to the NCAAF.
On top of all that, DraftKings Sportsbook Illinois regularly rewards customers with free bets, there are free-to-play pools and there’s even an exclusive VIP program to join. Also, the current DraftKings promo code Illinois is WIN, and it entitles newcomers to a $1,000 deposit bonus.
Pros
- DraftKings sportsbook Illinois is fantastic for prop bets
- Deep markets across all featured sports
- Live, in-play betting is polished
- One of the best Illinois sportsbooks for Fantasy Sports
- Easy to build Parlay bets
- One of few sportsbooks in Illinois to offer a VIP program
Cons
- Other sites broadcast better odds
3. Barstool Sportsbook – The Best Illinois Sportsbook for Betting on Baseball
Barstool Sportsbook IL is another great place to start betting in Illinois. The sportsbook has markets open for popular sports like football, soccer, and basketball, plus more niche events like cycling and cricket. No matter the sport, Barstool IL provides a plethora of betting options, including futures, live betting, and tons of proposition bets for big games in the NFL & NBA, too.
We demoed the site by placing a few wagers on the Chicago White Sox and found that, along with the highly competitive MLB odds broadcast, the layout of the bet slip makes it easy to place and edit custom-built parlay bets and Teasers. Barstool IL sports betting site also provides instant access to in-depth baseball (and other sports) stats, speeding up the research process and enabling wiser and more thought-out bets from the off. If you’re betting in a rush, the unique Barstool IL Quick Pick 6 feature is also on hand to essentially place your baseball parlays for you, too.
On top of all that, the Barstool online betting Illinois site is also a real player in the promotions game, offering Correct Score Insurance when NHL betting; $25 to spend at the casino when you wager $50 on NFL, and tons of hockey, basketball, and football shirt giveaways.
Pros
- An Illinois online sportsbook that broadcasts NCAAF odds
- Some of the deepest prop betting markets on sportsbooks in Illinois
- One of the best Illinois sports betting sites for stats and analytics
- Sports blog pages written by top analysts
- Quick Pick 6 parlay betting
- An IL sports betting site with competitive odds
Cons
- Doesn’t always broadcast the best odds available on sportsbooks in Illinois
4. IL BetRivers – One of the Best Illinois Online Betting Sites for Chicago Bears Fans
BetRivers is another regulated sportsbook that caters to sports betting in Illinois. The site boasts lines for 18 separate sports, including American favorites: NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB betting; competitive odds, and BetRivers IL is the official sports betting partner of SoldierField’s own Chicago Bears, meaning there are team specials on whether or not Bears make the playoffs and Over/Under markets open on Justin Fields and co.’s total win/loss record this year. If you’re a Bears fan, BetRivers IL is worth a look.
BetRivers IL is also one of the very best sites when it comes to live streaming and wagering in play. The Illinois sportsbook offers live video feeds of NHL games, so the hockey fans among you can generally catch the Blackhawks games on site. Plus, there were a LOT more streams than that, ranging from tennis, and German Bundesliga soccer to European basketball and the cricket 20/20 World Cup.
Live betting is of course a feature of the site and it works best when used in tandem with the streams just mentioned since BetRivers sportsbook Illinois’ live betting graphics aren’t the best. But bettors can access a plethora of stats and analyses both before and during games that provide instant access to player statistics, and there are even Genius Stats available for NHL prop bets. So, again, if you’re looking for a site to watch and wager on the Blackhawks simultaneously, BetRivers IL could be the Illinois sports betting site for you!
At present, Betrivers Illinois also offers a $500 welcome bonus to all newcomers to the site, and, for Plus, if you’re a fan of the Chicago White Sox or the Chicago Cubs, there are 20% MLB profit boosts on offer at IL BetRivers, too.
Pros
- One of the best Illinois online sports betting sites for NHL
- Great value Parlay boosts at BetRivers Illinois
- iRush VIP rewards program is one of the more lucrative found at Illinois online sportsbooks
- BetRivers Illinois is one of the best betting sites in the state for stats and metrics
- One of very few in our list of Illinois online sports betting sites to provide live NHL streaming
Cons
- Better odds than those found at BetRivers sportsbook Illinois located at other Illinois online sports betting sites.
5. PointsBet – Among the Best Illinois Sportsbooks for Betting on the NBA
PointsBet has been legally operating in Illinois since the summer of 2020 and, in that time, has gone on to become one of the state’s finest and most popular sportsbooks.
Visitors to PointsBet’s Illinois betting site will likely be greeted by a giant image of Hall-of-Fame QB Drew Brees scaling a mountain with his PointsBet app (we have no idea why but it looked cool and certainly bought our trust). We were then immediately directed to a page showcasing all the latest Illinois sports teams’ betting lines, including the upcoming Bulls vs Mavericks game (as seen above), and offered a chance to sign up and get two risk-free bets worth up to $2,000! The odds for NBA games were also highly competitive, so, the opening impressions were very good!
Upon further investigation, nothing changed: if you’re planning on online sports betting Illinois teams, this is a great IL sportsbook to start at! We uncovered Odds Boosts for the Chicago Bulls game; there’s a Build Your Own Bet feature; there’s a Name Your Bet feature which you can use to suggest your own wagers, and, because PointsBet IL is in partnership with NBC Sports, the selection of live streaming video available is unparalleled! We found streams for Brazillian football, European Basketball, International soccer, NCAAB, and NCAAF scheduled for today, so there’s likely a lot more than that, too!
On top of all that, this sports betting Illinois site doesn’t hold back on the bonuses and promos: $20 risk-free bets on Sunday’s NFL Game of the Week and weekly Parlay Boosts. PointsBet also allows users to cash out early when betting in the live market, and there’s a rewards program in which bettors are rewarded with points each time they place bets. The points can later be converted into free bets to spend on site.
Pros
- One of few regulated Illinois online sportsbooks to offer NCAAF markets
- Some of the deepest prop betting markets on sportsbooks in Illinois
- Best online sports betting Illinois site for stats and analytics
- Impressive selection of live streaming sports, including NCAAF
- $2,000 risk-free bet for sportsbook Illinois newcomers
- Licensed betting partner of NFL & NBA
Cons
- Doesn’t always broadcast the best odds available on sportsbooks in Illinois
Illinois Betting Sites Comparison
Wondering which Illinois sportsbook is right for you? We’ve put together a detailed table to help you compare the top 10 IL sportsbooks in 2022:
| Welcome Bonus | Promo Code | Live Streaming | Highlights | |
| Betonline.ag | 100% deposit match up to $1,000 | Not required | No | Large cash contests High limit betting |
| BetUS | 125% sportsbook deposit match up to $2,500 | JOIN125 | No | Tips and analysis articles Generous loyalty program |
| MyBookie | 100% deposit match up to $1,000 | Not required | No | Weekly betting contests Bitcoin boost bonus |
| Bovada | 100% Bitcoin deposit match up to $1000 | BVD1000 | Yes | Prop bet builder Live sports streaming |
| XBet | 100% deposit match up to $500 | Not required | No | Racing rebate promo Unlimited referral bonus |
| SportsBetting.ag | 100% deposit match up to $1,000 | KICK100 | No | Free live betting promos Big money NFL contests |
| BUSR | 20% deposit match up to $500 | WELCOME20 | No | Daily rebate Unlimited referral bonus |
| Intertops | 100% deposit match up to $500 | INSIDERS | No | Weekly NFL pools Monthly parlay contest |
| BetNow | 100% deposit match up to $500 | BN100 | No | Weekly $10,000 MLB contests Weekly horse rebate |
Is Sports Betting Legal in Illinois?
Sports betting is legal in Illinois as of March 2020. However, there is a catch: you have to register for an online sports betting account at a physical casino before you can start wagering online. That means that you’ll need to travel to one of Illinois’ casinos before you can start betting.
There are a few other things to know about legal sports betting in Illinois. First, you can only wager on sports, not on non-sports events like politics, the stock market, or entertainment. Second, you have to be 21 – not 18 – to wager on sports in Illinois. Finally, while collegiate sports betting is legal in Illinois, you can’t always bet on Illinois college teams at regulated Illinois sportsbooks.
In addition, it’s worth noting that the doors haven’t fully opened to online wagering in Illinois just yet. The state legislature decided to give physical casinos an 18-month head start before fully online sportsbooks would be allowed in the state. Online sportsbooks have made deals with Illinois casinos to speed up the online betting market, but you won’t see online-only sportsbooks in Illinois until 2022.
With all that in mind, let’s look at a brief timeline of sports betting legislation in Illinois:
2018: 5 bills to legalize sports betting were introduced to the Illinois legislature this year, although they were primarily intended to explore the possibility of legalizing sports wagering than to be voted on.
May 2019: Illinois Rep. Mike Zalewski introduced a bill to legalize sports betting. It included unusually high fees and an 18-month waiting period for online sportsbooks and was widely criticized by the sports betting industry.
June 2019: The Illinois legislature passed a bill that legalized sports betting and doubled the number of casino licenses available in Illinois. The bill was being amended right up until it passed, and the final language excluded online sportsbooks from receiving their own licenses for 18 months – although they could partner with existing Illinois casinos. After 18 months, 3 licenses would be available for online-only sportsbooks. In addition, bettors would be required to register for online sports betting accounts at in-person casinos.
April 2020: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker suspended the requirement for sports bettors to register in person in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The requirement was reinstated in June, suspended again in August, and then reinstated in April 2021.
August 2021: The Illinois Gaming Board published applications for the state’s 3 online-only sports betting licenses. A license costs $20 million and it is unclear if any sports betting outfit will apply for them at this time. The in-person registration requirement will be lifted if and when an online-only sports betting license is issued.
Gambling Tax in Illinois
Illinois has some of the heftiest fees for sportsbooks of any state. Casinos have to pay up to $10 million for a sports betting license, plus a 15% tax rate on all sports betting revenue. The 3 online-only sportsbook licenses that Illinois is planning to issue will also cost $20 million each, which could prove to be prohibitively expensive for many companies.
For bettors, profits from sports betting are taxed just like ordinary income. You’ll need to report your winnings on both your state and federal taxes, and you can use gambling losses to offset your winnings. Just keep in mind that you can’t use losses from sports betting to offset other types of income.
Where the betting sites in our top 5 list are concerned, however, because they are based overseas, it is up to each individual to deal with all other gambling winnings and taxes as they would any other supplementary income.
What Sports Can You Bet On in Illinois?
Illinois allows betting on all types of sports. You can bet on professional leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB, plus popular sports like MMA, boxing, soccer, and rugby. You can also bet on college sports, although Illinois specifically prohibits placing wagers on Illinois college teams. Illinois also allows betting on horse racing and daily fantasy sports.
One aspect of Illinois’ sports betting law that’s unique is that it prohibits wagering on non-sports events. So, you can’t wager on the outcome of elections or entertainment events like the Oscars.
Esports Betting in Illinois
Esports betting resides in a gray area in Illinois’ sports betting landscape. Betting on esports is legal only if the Illinois Gaming Board approves a particular tournament or event. That means that esports betting is allowed only on a case-by-case basis – something that casts a chilling effect on this type of wagering.
It’s unclear if or when Illinois will grant broader approval to esports betting.
Horse Racing at Illinois Online Sports Betting Sites:
Betting on horse races has long been legal in Illinois and there are 3 pari-mutuel race tracks within the state: Arlington Park, Fairmount Park, and Hawthorne Race Course.
You can bet on horse racing at any of these 3 racetracks, or at a number of in-person sportsbooks throughout Illinois:
- Time Out OTB (Alton, IL)
- Aurora: The Piazza (Aurora, IL)
- Trackside at Joe’s Bar (Chicago, IL)
- Corliss OTB (Chicago, IL)
- Crestwood OTB (Crestwood, IL)
- Post Time Sports Bar & Grille (Green Oaks, IL)
- Trackside at Salerno’s (Hodgkins, IL)
- Trackside at the Saddle Room (Hoffman Estates, IL)
- Bookie Magee’s (Joliet, IL)
- Black Eyed Susan (Lansing, IL)
- Salerno’s Pizzeria and R Bar (McHenry, IL)
- Stoney Point Grill (Mokena, IL)
- Blono Pizza Co. (Normal, IL)
- Oakbrook Terrace OTB (Oakbrook Terrace, IL)
- Furlong’s Sports Grill & OTB (Ottawa, IL)
- Bullpen Bar & Grill (Peoria, IL)
- Players Pub & Grill (Prospect Heights, IL)
- Don Carter Lanes (Rockford, IL)
- Route 3 OTB (Sauget, IL)
- Capital Teletrack (Springfield, IL)
- Trackside at Crazy Pour (Villa Park, IL)
If, however, you’d prefer to bet on the next track meet from the comfort of your own living room, sportsbooks such as BetOnline and BetUS boast dedicated track pages and are among the best to use when sports betting in Illinois.
Illinois Sports Betting Online: Daily Fantasy Sports
Illinois has had a complex history with daily fantasy sports. After platforms launched in the state, the state’s attorney general issued an opinion that they violated Illinois gambling laws. Despite this opinion, the platforms continued to operate in Illinois without penalty.
When it came time to legalize sports betting in Illinois, however, the final bill included a penalty against these two companies: they would not be eligible to receive online-only sportsbook licenses for 18 months, and would have to partner with existing Illinois casinos in the meantime.
Finally, in April 2020, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that daily fantasy sports do not violate Illinois sports betting laws since daily fantasy sports are games of skill.
Types of Betting Markets at IL Sports Betting Sites
When it comes to betting on sports in Illinois, there are a lot of different wagers you can place. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular types of sports bets in Illinois:
- Moneyline Bets: A moneyline bet is simply a bet on which team will win a match. You’ll find moneyline bets available from every Illinois sportsbook for virtually every game they offer.
- Prop Bets: Proposition bets, also known as prop bets, are wagers on in-game events that don’t directly affect a game’s outcome. For example, a prop bet might let you wager on which player will have the most rebounds or which team will be winning halfway through the game.
- Over/Under Bets: An over/under bet lets you wager on whether the final score will be greater than or less than a specific number set by the sportsbook. Typically, over/under bets are placed on the combined final scores of the two teams playing in a match.
- Parlays: Parlay betting allows you to combine two or more bets, including moneyline, prop, and over/under bets. To win a parlay, all of your individual bets must win. You can combine bets on the same match or bet on multiple matches in a parlay bet.
- Futures: Futures bets are bets placed for an event that will occur in the future as opposed to on the same day the bet is placed. Futures bets are often used to wager on what team will win a season championship or what player will be the league MVP.
- Correct Score: In a correct score bet, you predict the final score of a match. For your bet to win, you must get each team’s final score exactly correct.
Bonuses at Illinois Sportsbooks
Many Illinois sportsbooks offer welcome bonuses for new players and ongoing promotions for existing bettors. These help to attract new players and reward you for betting frequently.
There are several types of bonuses to know about – so let’s take a look at the most common offerings.
Deposit Match Bonuses
One common type of bonus you’ll find at sportsbooks is a deposit match bonus. When you deposit money into your account, the sportsbook will match your deposit up to a certain amount.
Free Bets
Free bets let you place a wager with zero risk of losing money. To give you an example of how a free bet works, you can place a bet worth up to a certain sum on any moneyline, prop, over/under, or parlay. If you win, you get to keep your winnings. If you lose, the bookie will simply refund the bet amount to your account.
No Deposit Bonuses
No deposit bonuses give you money to wager without requiring you to first make a deposit to your account. To get the bonus money, all you have to do is sign up for a new sportsbook account. No deposit bonuses are an extremely good deal for players, but they’re not commonly offered.
Bonus Terms and Conditions
There are a few conditions to know about when taking advantage of bonus offers. First, many have an expiration date. You have to use your bonus funds within a certain amount of time – say, 30 days – after receiving them or they’ll simply disappear.
Another thing to know is that you can’t simply withdraw bonus funds from your account right away. You’ll need to wager a certain amount first.
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that some bonus offers come with minimum odds requirements.
Welcome Bonus Comparison at the Best Sportsbooks in Illinois
Want to know which Illinois sports betting site offers the best welcome bonus? Check out the table below to compare current offers:
| Welcome Bonus | Promo Code | Minimum Odds | |
| Betonline.ag | 100% deposit match up to $1,000 | Not required | 2 |
| BetUS | 125% sportsbook deposit match up to $2,500 | JOIN125 | 2.8 |
| MyBookie | 100% deposit match up to $1,000 | Not required | 2.5 |
| Bovada | 100% Bitcoin deposit match up to $1000 | BVD1000 | 2 |
| XBet | 100% deposit match up to $500 | Not required | 2 |
| SportsBetting.ag | 100% deposit match up to $1,000 | KICK100 | 2.5 |
| BUSR | 20% deposit match up to $500 | WELCOME20 | 2.5 |
| Intertops | 100% deposit match up to $500 | INSIDERS | 2 |
| BetNow | 100% deposit match up to $500 | BN100 | 2.6 |
Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Illinois Betting
Another thing to consider when choosing an Illinois sportsbook is how deposits and withdrawals work. All of the sportsbooks we reviewed let you make payments and withdraw winnings by credit card, debit card, and PayPal.
Check out the table below to see what payment methods you can use, how much you need to deposit, and when you can expect to get paid for each sportsbook:
| Sportsbook | Deposit and Withdrawal Methods | Min Deposit | Min Withdrawal | Payout Time |
| BetOnline | Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, money order, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple | $10 | $100 | 1-48 hours |
| BetUS | MasterCard, Visa, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum | $10 | $100 | 1-24 hours |
| MyBookie | Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Ethereum | $25 | $100 | 1-48 hours |
| Bovada | Credit card, debit card, Zelle, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin | $10 | $500 | 1-24 hours |
| XBet | VISA, Mastercard, AmEx, Bitcoin | $25 | $100 | 24-48 hours |
Illinois Sports Betting Online: Mobile Betting Apps
Most online sportsbooks in Illinois offer mobile apps to let you bet from anywhere. You just need to be located inside Illinois state lines to place a bet.
Our favorite mobile betting app is from MyBookie, although Xbet also offers excellent mobile experiences. When checking out mobile betting apps, make sure you have access to the same range of sports markets and wagers. You should also be able to easily access your bet slip, stream live matches, and place in-game bets from your smartphone.
Live Betting & Streaming at Sportsbooks in Illinois
One of the most exciting ways to bet on sports in Illinois is live betting. With this type of betting, you can wager on games as they unfold. Odds are updated in real-time as it looks increasingly likely whether one team will win. You can also place live prop bets with sportsbooks like MyBookie and Betonline.
All of the sportsbooks we reviewed also offer live streaming in HD quality. That means that you can watch the games you wager on, even if you don’t have a cable subscription. This is especially useful for less popular sports like volleyball, cycling, and darts, which often aren’t available to watch anywhere else.
Our preferred sportsbook Illinois option for live streaming the game whilst you wager is BetOnline. The site has links to MLB and NHL games, and, during the offseason, we even got an HD quality link to a Chicago Bears pre-season game.
How to Compare Illinois Sportsbooks
Each of the top Illinois sports betting sites has a lot to offer. So, how do you decide which platform is right for you?
We’ll take a closer look at some of the key elements you should consider when choosing a sportsbook in Illinois.
Range of markets
The first thing to look at when evaluating an Illinois sportsbook is what sports it offers for betting. Sportsbooks like BetOnline and BetUS stand out for offering a huge range of sports, including exotic events like fencing, snooker, and beach volleyball. Of course, if you want to bet on major sports leagues like the NBA and NFL, you’ll find those at any Illinois sports betting site.
Bonuses
The welcome bonuses that different sportsbooks offer can also be a major factor in your choice of platform. First, you’ll need to decide if you would rather have a free bet or a deposit match bonus. Deposit matches can be used to bet on multiple different games while free bets can only be used all at once.
You’ll also need to check how much money you need to deposit to claim the full bonus and whether there are any terms and conditions that affect how you can wager.
Payment methods
All of the Illinois sportsbooks we reviewed accept credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal for deposits, which makes payment simple. In addition, no sportsbook requires a minimum deposit greater than $10 when you open a new account. Still, sportsbooks can differ in how long they take to payout funds, so be sure to check how payments work before signing up.
Live betting & streaming
In-game betting and live streaming are key features for top Illinois sportsbooks. They make sports matches more exciting and let you follow the action in real-time.
The good news is that all of the top 5 sports betting sites in Illinois offer live betting and streaming. Just make sure that the streams are in HD quality.
Licensing & security
All Illinois sportsbooks must be licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board to operate. Still, it’s a good idea to double-check, since there are many offshore sports betting sites that operate in Illinois without a license.
It’s also important to consider what security measures online sportsbooks have in place. Since you’re depositing real money online, encryption is an absolute must. All of the sportsbooks we reviewed have numerous measures in place to safeguard your account and defend against online threats.
Sportsbooks at Illinois Casinos
Physical casinos in Illinois were given an 18-month head start over online-only casinos. The state still hasn’t issued any mobile-only casino licenses and doesn’t plan to until at least 2022.
That means that you can place sports bets at several casinos across the state in addition to online. Here’s a complete list of retail sportsbooks at Illinois casinos:
- Rivers Casino Sportsbook (partnered with BetRivers)
- Casino Queen (partnered with DraftKings)
- Fairmount Park (partnered with FanDuel)
- Grand Victoria (partnered with Caesar’s Sportsbook)
- Hawthorne Race Course (partnered with PointsBet)
- Hollywood Casino Joliet (partnered with Barstool Sportsbook)
- Par-A-Dice Casino(partnered with BetMGM)
- Jumer’s Casino Rock Island (partnered with Bally’s Sportsbook)
- Argosy Casino (partnered with Unibet)
- Hollywood Casino Aurora
- Harrah’s Metropolis (partnered with William Hill Illinois)
- Harrah’s Joliet (partnered with William Hill Illinois)
Sportsbooks Illinois: A Conclusion
Sports betting in Illinois has never been easier and the number of sportsbooks – both in-person and online – is growing rapidly. If you’re ready to try sports betting in Illinois, sign up with BetUS today and claim your $2,500 welcome bonus, the biggest you’ll find when sports betting in Illinois!
FAQs
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