Horse Racing

How to bet on the Kentucky Derby in Illinois – IL Online Sports Betting Sites

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The horse racing event of the year is here again and if you’re looking to bet on the Kentucky Derby in Illinois, then we’ve found the best sports betting offers for you.

There’s one thing better than betting on the Kentucky Derby, and that’s betting on the Kentucky Derby for free. Our recommended Illinois sports betting sites are offering hundreds of dollars in completely free bets and the best horse racing odds you can find too. Read on for how you can get in on the action.

Best Kentucky Derby Sports Betting Sites In Illinois

$1000 Welcome Bonus
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$750 Welcome Bonus (3 x $250 Bonuses)

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150% Welcome Bonus Up To $300
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50% Welcome Deposit Bonus up to $1000

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Get a Welcome Bonus of up to $750

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200% Deposit Bonus Up To $10,000
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  1. BetOnline – Kentucky Derby bettors in Illinois can access up to $1000 in free bets
  2. Everygame – A trusted sports betting site for horse racing fans with a nice welcome bonus
  3. BetNow – Claim a 150% bonus on deposits from as little as $20 in this quality sportsbook
  4. MyBookie – Ever-popular with Illinois sports bettors with a great welcome bonus
  5. Bovada – Top-notch all-round sports betting site with fab horse racing coverage

Latest Illinois Sports Betting Update

Although sports betting is already legal in the state, you will get much better value at our recommended Illinois sports betting sites than you would from traditional bookies.

While regular bookies are restricted in terms of age-limits, registrations and other betting boundaries, these online sportsbooks are not.

Sign-up literally takes seconds, with no KYC checks, and if you’re 18-years-old or older, you can join the fun too. Once registered you can make the most of other benefits such as a wider range of betting markets and more competitive odds for the Kentucky Derby than you will find elsewhere.

But the biggest advantage of these Illinois sports betting sites to the traditional ones is the customer rewards. Not only will you be able to access hundreds of dollars in free bets when you join, but they continually reward loyal customers with on-going bonus offers and promotions making your wagers go further.

If you want to make the most of betting on the Kentucky Derby in Illinois, then our recommended sites offer the best value in terms of generous odds, bonus offers and overall customer experience.

How To Bet On the Kentucky Derby In Illinois

  1. Create a BetOnline account
  2. Deposit up to $2000
  3. Receive your free bet of up to $1000
  4. Place your Kentucky Derby wagers

Kentucky Derby Betting Options in Illinois with our Recommended Sportsbooks

The Kentucky Derby has been called the ‘The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports’ and it’s easy to see why.

The most prestigious US horse racing event of the year is also the most-watched horse racing event in the world and carries with it a lot of excitement, anticipation, and speculation.

Only 20 horses will line up on May 6 to run the 2km race on dirt-track which is the first race in the American Triple Crown.

The event has taken place without interruption since 1875 and is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds. This means that horses have only once chance to run the race in their careers, and this is why it attracts only the best.

If you want to place a bet on the Kentucky Derby in Illinois, then you can take your pick from the horse racing markets at our selected sports betting sites.

The three basic wagers are the most popular bets in Illinois – the win, the place, and the show.

The win is a simple one-horse bet on who will cross the line first. You can find lots of advice from tipsters, study the form or simply pick the name of the horse you like best. To get the best odds for this and the chance to make the most money, stay away from the favorites.

The place and the show are similar, again you pick one horse, but with the place it can finish first or second and with the show it can finish in the top three. This improves your chances of winning, but the odds are significantly reduced so the overall amount you win will be less.

For those who are a bit more informed on the horses or who enjoy a long-odds punt, you can choose more detailed bets such as the exacta, where you pick two horses to finish in first and second place in the correct order.

Other options are the trifecta, superfecta or the super high-five where you can choose which horses will place in the top three, four or five respectively.

Whichever bets you choose to place for the Kentucky Derby in Illinois, make sure you get the best value from them. Don’t restrict yourself to traditional bookies as they don’t offer the best customer experience.

For the quickest sign-up, the best odds and the incredible offers, our recommended sites should be your first stop.

How To Get A Kentucky Derby Free Bet In Illinois

Getting free bets for the ‘Run for the Roses’ in Illinois is actually easier than you might think. Just follow these quick steps below and enjoy placing your Kentucky Derby wagers.

  1. Select your offers from our comprehensive list below
  2. Click the link to go to the sportsbook’s sign-up page
  3. Sign up to the sports betting site with your key details
  4. Deposit and bet the qualifying amount for the offer
  5. Claim the free bets to use on their sportsbook for Kentucky Derby betting

1. BetOnline Kentucky Derby Illinois Sports Betting Offer: $1000 Welcome Bonus

Make the most of this incredible BetOnline welcome bonus when you join up and bet on the Kentucky Derby in Illinois. This much-loved sportsbook has been providing a quality betting experience for sports fans for almost two decades. The welcome offer gives you 50% back in free bets when you sign up and make a deposit of anything between $55 – $2000. Deposit according to your budget and then enjoy placing your Kentucky Derby free bets.

2. Everygame Kentucky Derby Illinois Sports Betting Offer: $750 Welcome Bonus

Everygame is the original online sports betting site that everyone knows and loves. The fact they are still so popular three decades on proves what a quality experience they give their sports betting customers. For great odds on the Kentucky Derby, check them out and don’t miss out on their incredible welcome bonus giving 100% deposit match on your first three deposits up to $750.

3. BetNow Kentucky Derby Illinois Sports Betting Offer: 150% Welcome Bonus Up To $300

With a 150% bonus on deposits over $20, BetNow is accessible to all, and knows how to look after its customers. Not everyone can bet with high stakes so it’s great to see a sports betting site that caters for all budgets. This user-friendly site has excellent horse racing markets so is a great choice for Kentucky Derby betting in Illinois.

4. MyBookie Kentucky Derby Illinois Sportsbook Offer: 50% Deposit Bonus Up To $500

For a quality all-round Illinois sports betting site MyBookie are a top choice. With great customer service, excellent range of markets and competitive odds for all sports including horse racing, you’ll find everything you need when betting on the Kentucky Derby. Sign up and enjoy a 50% deposit bonus up to $500 on your first deposit.

5. Bovada Kentucky Derby Illinois Sports Betting Offer: $750 Bonus For New Customers

Bovada are hugely popular in Illinois for their vast range of sports markets and exceptional customer service. They are prop bet specialists so are a favorite of many, and they have all the Kentucky Derby markets you could want. You can deposit in both USD and crypto and benefit from one of their welcome offers such as 75% match bonus up to £750 when you deposit with crypto.

Kentucky Derby Outright Odds

Florida Derby winner Forte is the current favorite to win, he is in excellent form winning all five of his previous races.

However, as we have seen before, being the favorite does not guarantee a win and there is plenty of competition in the field of 20 horses.

The Blue Grass Stakes winner Tapit Trice is fancied by many, as is the undefeated Kingsbarns, however his usual jockey will be riding a different horse this time, Angel of Empire.

A long shot that might be worth a bet is Two Phil’s, who has been picked out by a number of respected tipsters. As we saw just last year, an outsider can take the glory, when late-entry long shot Rich Strike unexpectedly took the 2022 win.

This is how the odds currently stack up at BetOnline.

  • Forte +250
  • Tapit Trice +650
  • Angel of Empire +900
  • Verifying +1000
  • Practical Move +1000
  • Derma Sotagake +1000
  • Kingsbarns +1200
  • Mage +2000
  • Two Phil’s +2500
  • Rocket Can +3300
  • Hit Show +3300
  • Confidence Game +3300
  • Continuar +3300
  • Disarm +4000
  • Reincarnate +4000
  • Lord Miles +4000
  • Blazing Sevens +5000
  • Raise Cain +6600
  • Sun Thunder +6600
  • Wild On Ice +10000

Odds are taken from BetOnline and are correct at time of writing but subject to change.

Charlie is an accomplished journalist with a fervent interest in basketball, but with extensive knowledge across every and all sports, and their intersection with the betting industry. Bearing a keen eye for detail, and considerable experience encompassing news, long-form content and betting, he has previously been published on leading brands such as www.90min.com and www.footyaccumulators.com as well as worked alongside former Goldman Sachs executives on a peer-to-peer fintech trading start-up.

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