Illinois Sports Betting

Illinois online sports betting law allows customers 21 or older to bet on sports with licensed sportsbook apps and betting websites.

Bettors can register, deposit, and bet online from anywhere in state lines. Illinois sports betting apps welcome new users with large welcome bonuses as they compete for customers in one of the nation’s most competitive markets.

In addition, retail sportsbooks in Illinois are available at casinos, race tracks, and professional sports stadiums.

Legal Illinois Betting Sites

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21+ and present in IL. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Other Illinois online betting options include horse racing betting, lottery ticket purchases, and daily fantasy sports for customers 18 or older.

Pro-gaming lawmakers have also begun pushing for legalizing online casino games and poker, but progress on that front has been slower.

Illinois Sports Betting Apps

Illinois is home to 16 casinos, two race tracks, and nine professional sporting venues, all of which are eligible for sports betting licenses.

Bettors have the following sports betting apps to choose from in Illinois today:

Illinois Sports Betting Bonuses

The competitive nature of the Illinois online sports betting market benefits bettors who like to take advantage of bonuses and promotions.

With many sportsbooks already available in Illinois, new player welcome offers continue to play a major role in the marketing efforts of most operators.

Most Illinois sports betting bonuses for new customers fall under these categories:

  • Bonus bet: This is the most common type of new player offer. Players place their first wager with cash, and if it loses they receive a full refund up to a certain specified amount. The refund is usually issued via bonus bets or site credit, with site credit being preferable.
  • First deposit match: Players make an initial deposit and Illinois sportsbooks match part or all of the deposit with bonus funds. The bonus is always subject to a wagering requirement, usually ranging from as little as 1x up to 25x.
  • First bet match: This works similarly to first deposit matches, except instead of receiving a bonus, the deposit is matched with a matched bet, capped at a certain amount. In most cases, the matched bet is equal in size to the initial deposit. Matched bets are only subject to a 1x turnover. However, winning wagers made with matched bets only return profits, not the upfront stake.

Illinois Sports Betting Promotion Regulations

Neither the Sports Wagering Act of 2019 nor additional regulations adopted by the Illinois Gaming Board specifically address promotional offers.

However, licensed sportsbook operators are obligated to provide a reasonable level of transparency and fairness to customers.

Additional regulations directly related to promotional offers may be issued at some point as is the case in other states, but currently, Illinois law simply expects licensees to conduct themselves in a “transparent and fair” manner and to promote responsible gambling habits.

Illinois Sports Betting Locations

Casinos, race tracks, off-track betting facilities (OTBs), and qualifying sports stadiums may launch on-premises sportsbooks under IL law.

Retail Sportsbooks at Illinois Casinos

Eleven Illinois casinos have opened retail sportsbooks to date, with two more coming soon:

  • BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino Des Plaines
  • Sportsbook at Argosy Casino Alton
  • DraftKings Sportsbook at Casino Queen
  • FanDuel Sportsbook at Par-A-Dice Casino
  • Caesars Sportsbook at Grand Victoria Casino
  • Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Metropolis
  • The Sportsbook at Hard Rock Casino Rockford
  • The Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Joliet
  • Penalty Box Sportsbook & Bar at Hollywood Casino Aurora
  • Circa Sportsbook at American Place Casino
  • Bally Bet Sportsbook & Bar at Bally’s Quad Cities
  • Bet365 Sportsbook at Walker’s Bluff Casino (Coming Soon)
  • The Sportsbook at Wind Creek Chicago Southland (Coming Soon)

That leaves three Illinois casinos with unclear plans regarding sports betting:

  • Bally’s Chicago: Bally’s Chicago has not yet committed to building a retail sportsbook when it finishes construction on its permanent location in late 2026. In March 2024, Bally’s Chicago’s General Manager told local media that the company “will continue to evaluate and plan for a retail sports betting area within the casino.”
  • Golden Nugget Danville: Golden Nugget LLC announced plans to open a retail sportsbook once it completed the construction of its Danville casino. However, Golden Nugget Danville opened in 2023, and it still hasn’t filed for an Illinois sports betting license.
  • Harrah’s Joliet: Caesars Entertainment operates retail sportsbooks at most of its properties in legal sports betting states, but it has not announced plans to offer sports betting at Harrah’s Casino Joliet.

Sportsbooks at Illinois Racetracks and OTBs

Hawthorne Racetrack is home to Fanatics Sportsbook, while Fairmount Park Racetrack rebranded to FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing in late 2020.

  • Fanatics Sportsbook at Hawthorne Race Course
  • Fanatics Sportsbook at Club Hawthorne Crestwood
  • Fanatics Sportsbook at Club Hawthorne Prospect Heights
  • Fanatics Sportsbook at Crazy Pour Sports Bar Villa Park
  • FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing at Fairmount Park

Stadium Sportsbooks

Several operators have announced plans to open retail sportsbooks at stadiums, but the Illinois Gaming Board has been slow to issue the final authorizations necessary for stadium sportsbooks to begin accepting wagers.

To date, just one sportsbook has opened at a stadium:

  • DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field

FanDuel and BetRivers have also considered opening retail sportsbooks at stadiums:

  • In February 2022, FanDuel announced a partnership with the United Center to build a retail sportsbook in the stadium. While awaiting approval, FanDuel constructed a non-betting lounge at the stadium, which is home to the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks.
  • BetRivers and the Chicago Bears have been marketing partners since 2021 but haven’t yet committed to opening a retail sportsbook. However, the Chicago Bears have expressed interest in constructing a sportsbook at their proposed future stadium.

Illinois sports betting law allows for up to seven licenses to be issued to sports venues with a seating capacity of at least 17,000. Sports arenas that obtain licenses may also offer mobile betting within a five-block radius if they don’t already have statewide online betting licenses.

Separate legislation approved in 2021 provided an exception for Wintrust Arena, home of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. With a seating capacity of just under 10,400, Wintrust Arena did not qualify under Illinois’ original sports betting law.

Nine Illinois stadiums qualify to apply for one of the state’s seven stadium licenses based on seating capacity:

  • Wrigley Field
  • Guaranteed Rate Field
  • Soldier Field
  • United Center
  • SeatGeek Stadium
  • Chicagoland Speedway
  • World Wide Technology Raceway
  • AllState Arena
  • Wintrust Arena

Chicago Sportsbooks

Sports betting has been available near the Chicago area since Indiana’s first sportsbooks launched in September 2019. Two casinos with sportsbooks on the shores of Lake Michigan just over the Indiana border are an easy drive from much of Chicago.

On the Illinois side of the border, BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino Des Plaines and DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field are the most centrally-located Chicago sportsbooks.

Moving outward from there are sportsbooks at Grand Victoria Casino, two Hollywood Casinos, and American Place Casino.

In addition, sportsbooks at stadiums are on their way following a vote to end Chicago’s retail sports betting ban.

Sportsbooks on the Illinois Side of the Border

  • DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field
  • Fanatics Sportsbook at Hawthorne Race Course
  • BetRivers Sportsbook at River Casino Des Plaines
  • Caesars Sportsbook Kiosks at Grand Victoria Casino
  • The Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Aurora
  • The Sportsbook Hollywood Casino Joliet
  • Circa Sportsbook at American Place Casino in Waukegan

Sportsbooks on the Indiana Side (South of Chicago Proper)

  • The Book at Horseshoe Hammond
  • Sportsbook at Ameristar East Chicago

Mobile Betting in Chicago

Online sports betting came to Chicago in June 2020 with the launch of BetRivers IL, followed by DraftKings, FanDuel, and others. Each mobile sportsbook in Illinois is tied to a land-based casino for licensing purposes, but customers may place wagers online from anywhere in Chicago.

Illinois Sports Betting Law

Illinois legalized sports betting with the passage of SB 690 in June 2019.

The bill established the Illinois Sports Wagering Act (230 ILCS 45), authorizing the state to issue licenses to casinos, race tracks, off-track betting facilities, and qualifying sports venues to operate retail sportsbooks.

Licensed casinos and race tracks may also offer online sports betting, and licensed stadiums may accept wagers in-person or via mobile devices within a five-block radius.

Licensing fees for casinos and race tracks are priced according to a percentage of the previous years’ revenue up to a maximum of $10 million.

Online operators may either partner with a local land-based casino operator or wait for one of the three online-only licenses that can be issued 18 months after the launch of IL sports betting.

That “penalty box” period has since passed, and BetMGM has already claimed the first online-only license.

Key Illinois Sports Betting Rules

  • Are in-person sportsbooks authorized? Yes
  • Are online and mobile sports betting authorized? Yes
  • Where may sports betting take place? Casinos, race tracks, and sports stadiums may apply for licenses to operate in-person sportsbooks and offer online betting. Each licensed venue is permitted just one mobile skin.
  • Minimum age to bet on sports in IL: 21
  • Restricted Events*: Minor league events and K-12 events; no bets on in-state college teams and sportsbooks may not offer in-play betting or player props on games involving in-state teams
  • Restricted Wagers: Pro sports teams may ask the Illinois Gaming Board to prohibit certain types of wagers if they are concerned such wagers will impact the integrity of their games; see “prohibited wagers” section below for details
  • Data Mandate: Licensed operators must purchase official data from the leagues for settling in-play wagers
  • Licensing fees: Between $3 – $20 million. Pro sports leagues will pay $10 million for a license, and online only operators must pay $20 million.
  • Tax rate**: 20-40% on adjusted gross sports wagering receipts
  • Additional local tax: An additional 2% tax to be collected from operators located in counties with a population above 3 million. Money collected from this tax is earmarked to support that county’s criminal justice system.
  • Self-exclusion: The Illinois Gaming Board and Department of the Lottery maintain a voluntary self-exclusion program for people who wish to restrict themselves from wagering

*In December 2021, Governor Pritzker signed a bill to legalize betting on Illinois colleges with two caveats: bettors may only place wagers on Illinois college sports in-person at retail sportsbooks, and sportsbooks may only offer pregame wagers – no individual player props or in-play betting.

**Illinois increased its sports betting tax rates in 2024 to a graduated rate based on operators’ adjusted gross revenues:

  • $0 to $30 million: 20%
  • $30 million to $50 million: 25%
  • $50 million to $100 million: 30%
  • $100 million to $200 million: 35%
  • $200 million and above: 40%

Authors of the Illinois sports betting law included a provision requiring customers to register in person at a casino for online betting accounts for the first 18 months of the market’s launch.

However, the arrival of coronavirus in 2020 resulted in all Illinois casinos closing their doors indefinitely and officials rethinking the in-person registration provision.

This in turn led to Gov. J.B. Pritzker signing multiple executive orders to waive the in-person registration requirement for much of 2020 and the early part of 2021.

In-person registration returned in April 2021 and remained in place until early 2022.

On March 5th, 2022, remote registration returned permanently, allowing bettors to sign up for betting accounts from anywhere within state lines.

Illinois lawmakers also included a provision in the law intended to delay the entry of former daily fantasy sports operators FanDuel and DraftKings.

Neither operator was specifically named in the law, but as the Chicago Sun Times reported, local gambling interests lobbied lawmakers to craft the legislation in a way that would impose a waiting period on FanDuel and DraftKings.

While it is commonly referred to as a “penalty box,” supporters of the provision called it a “regulatory waiting period” designed to give local operators a chance to play catch up to the major DFS operators that have accumulated large player databases.

Rivers Casino legal representative Paul Gaynor explained his client’s position this way:

We just think that if someone has engaged in an illegal anti-competitive behavior, and hasn’t benefited the state at all, and has thumbed their nose at the regulators, they shouldn’t get the benefit of that illegal conduct.

Lawmakers partially acquiesced and wrote the law in a way that would allow land-based casinos to begin offering online betting upon approval.

Meanwhile, three online-only sports betting licenses would only be up for grabs 18 months after the first license was issued to a casino operator, at a cost of $20 million each.

However, FanDuel and DraftKings both managed to avoid the penalty by partnering with local casino operators and leaning heavily on those operators’ brands.

Regulations issued later in Illinois require casino operators that launch online betting sites to prominently feature the casino’s brand but do not preclude online operators from co-branding.

As a result, DraftKings partnered with Casino Queen East St. Louis, and the facility agreed to rebrand itself as DraftKings at Casino Queen.

FanDuel partnered with Par-A-Dice Casino and featured Par-A-Dice branding prominently on its app until it moved its sports betting license over to Fairmount Park.

One of the Illinois Gaming Board’s duties is to approve operators to accept wagers on specific sports leagues and events.

The IGB permits wagering on a broad range of domestic and international leagues, but licensed sportsbooks may request permission to offer betting on events not already approved by the IGB.

The IGB maintains a list of approved sports wagers on this page.

Illinois sports betting law initially prohibited wagers on games involving in-state college teams, but lawmakers partially relaxed the restriction by adding Amendment 2 to HB 3136 in October 2021.

Governor Pritzker signed the bill in December 2021, and it took effect on March 5th, 2022.

The newer rules allow sportsbooks to take wagers on games involving in-state Illinois college teams, but there are some restrictions:

  • Bettors may only place wagers on games involving Illinois colleges in-person at retail sportsbooks
  • Online sportsbooks may not offer wagers on games involving Illinois college teams
  • Sportsbooks may not offer in-play betting or player props on games involving Illinois colleges

Sports Wagering Rule 1900.1130(a) allows professional sports teams, leagues, or associations, sports governing bodies, master sports wagering licensees, and the Illinois Gambling Board Administrator to request the Board to ban certain types of wagers.

If the Board determines the wager presents integrity risks, is contrary to the public’s interests, or is unfair to the public, it may adopt a rule banning sportsbooks from offering that type of wager.

The Board has received and granted several requests to date. As a result, licensed Illinois betting sites and sportsbooks may not offer the following types of wagers:

Prohibited NFL Wagers

  • Player injuries
  • Fan safety
  • Player penalties or misconduct
  • Replay results
  • Officiating assignments
  • Roster or personnel decisions
  • First play of the game
  • First pass to be incomplete
  • Player to miss a field goal or extra point
  • Any other wager that is predetermined or 100% determinable by one person in one play

Per NFL Request

Prohibited Major League Soccer Wagers

  • Whether a player will receive a yellow or red card penalty during a soccer match
  • Whether a yellow or red card will be shown during a soccer match

Per MLS Request

Prohibited Russian and Belarusian Sports Wagers

  • Wagers on any sports league, event, or competition held in Russia or Belarus
  • Wagers on any Russian or Belarusian sports team or individual player on a Russian or Belarusian team

Per Administrator Request

Illinois law allows online sportsbooks to offer their services to customers who are 21 or older and located within state lines.

Bettors do not need to be residents to participate; merely being of legal age and inside Illinois is enough.

  • Sportsbooks shall not accept wagers greater than $500 without first verifying the identity of the bettor against the self-exclusion list
  • Sportsbooks shall not redeem a wager for greater than $2,000 without verifying the identity of the bettor against the self-exclusion list
  • Mobile sports betting apps must prevent individuals on the self-exclusion list from opening new sports wagering accounts
  • Sportsbook licensees may not directly advertise or promote sports wagering to minors
  • Online and mobile sportsbooks must allow bettors to place limits or restrictions on: types of wagers, subjects of wagers, frequency of wagering, dollar amount of wager, prohibiting new deposits and prohibiting all wagering

The legislation that eventually legalized sports betting in Illinois was not the first of its kind. Illinois lawmakers had been considering the issue even before the Supreme Court overturned the federal sports betting prohibition.

Lawmakers introduced two bills in 2018 that sought to legalize sports betting pending the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling on PASPA:

  • HB 4214: A simple placeholder bill to create the Legalization and Regulation of Sports Betting Act
  • SB 2478: Would have created the Sports Betting Consumer Protection Act. This bill was also short on details but did discuss “electronic” sports betting, presumably in reference to mobile/online betting.

Illinois Daily Fantasy Sports

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Illinois law does not address daily fantasy sports, but many DFS operators are active in the market and accept customers 18 or older.

A 2020 Illinois Supreme Court decision ruled daily fantasy games are a contest of skill and not subject to state laws on gambling, which is heavily regulated.

As a result, daily fantasy sports apps are legal in Illinois despite the lack of legislation. Illinois sports fans can play fantasy sports online with many operators, including the most prominent DFS brands.

Readers can learn more about Illinois daily fantasy sports and see BettingUSA’s top-rated picks below:

Illinois Horse Racing Betting

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Online horse racing betting is legal and licensed in Illinois.

Lawmakers formally authorized horse racing betting by passing the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Later, Illinois legalized advance deposit wagering and established a licensing process for ADWs.

Today, Illinois is home to a robust horse racing industry with two permanent race tracks and numerous OTBs.

Most popular online horse racing betting operators (ADWs) are licensed in Illinois, providing fans with many options to bet on horse races throughout the state.

Illinois Online Gambling

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Illinois lawmakers have introduced numerous bills to legalize online casinos, but opposition from existing gambling interests has stymied their efforts so far. Specifically, video gaming terminal operators are concerned over the potential for online gambling to cannibalize VGT revenue, while labor organizations fear reduced employment at land-based casinos.

As a result, online gambling remains prohibited in Illinois aside from online sports betting, parimutuel horse racing betting sites, and sweepstakes casinos.

However, recent legislative efforts show that proponents are determined to pass a bill and bring legal online casinos to Illinois. Read more about the Illinois online gambling market and its future prospects here:

Responsible Gambling in Illinois

Numerous resources are available in Illinois for anyone concerned they or a loved one may have a gambling problem:

Illinois Sports Betting and Gambling Self-Exclusion

Individuals may self-exclude from all licensed Illinois sports betting sites, retail sportsbooks, and casinos through the Statewide Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (SEP).

Gamblers can visit the IGB office at any Illinois casino or any of the enrollment sites the SEP maintains throughout the state. In addition, the IGB has several enrollment sites across the border in Iowa.

The SEP only offers lifetime self-exclusion periods, but gamblers may request removal from the self-exclusion list after five years. However, removal is very difficult.

First, the removal request requires an affidavit from a mental health professional certified in gambling addiction. Of course, anyone who has permanently self-excluded from gambling is unlikely to convince a licensed problem gambling expert to sign such an affidavit.

Additionally, individuals seeking removal from the list must provide extensive documentation detailing their past gambling problems, treatment, treatment providers, and much more.

Important Illinois self-exclusion points:

  • Friends, family, and spouses may not submit self-exclusion requests on behalf of others; only the person seeking self-exclusion may enroll
  • Some Illinois casinos automatically extend self-exclusion requests to all of their properties nationwide
  • Self-excluded individuals who enter Illinois sportsbooks and casinos may face trespassing charges and the confiscation of any tokens, chips, and betting slips in their possession
  • It is the responsibility of self-excluded individuals to stay out of all Illinois sportsbooks and casinos, inform the IGB of any change of address, and inform the IGB if they receive any letters or brochures from an Illinois sportsbook or casino
  • Self-excluded individuals may still visit stadiums with sportsbooks, but they may not enter the venues’ sports wagering areas

Illinois Sports Betting FAQ

Yes. Illinois legalized online sports betting and retail sportsbooks in June 2019.

Illinois residents and visitors may bet on sports from anywhere within state lines via licensed sports betting apps or in-person at sportsbooks. State law permits retail sportsbooks at casinos, race tracks, OTBs, and qualifying stadiums if licensed.

In-person sports betting registration ended permanently on March 5th, 2022. Under current law, bettors may register remotely from anywhere and place wagers when located within state lines.

Customers must be 21 or older to place sports wagers in Illinois.

Yes, but there are limitations. Illinois sportsbooks may offer college betting in-person and online with the following exceptions:

  • Wagers on games involving Illinois college teams must be placed in-person at licensed retail sportsbooks
  • Sportsbooks may not offer live betting or player props on games involving local universities

Not yet. Illinois law does not prohibit esports betting, but sportsbooks must request permission from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) to offer wagers on sports other than mainstream professional and college sports. As of this update, the IGB has not yet added esports competitions to its list of events approved for wagering.

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) oversees all gambling and sports betting throughout the state. IGB responsibilities include issuing licenses, drafting regulations, and providing oversight to ensure safety, integrity, and adherence to responsible gambling practices.

No. Illinois law only requires that customers be located within state lines when placing wagers.

Yes. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that fantasy sports are contests of skill and not chance. Lawmakers could still pass legislation to regulate fantasy sports or even prohibit it outright, but as it stands right now, DFS is legal in Illinois.

Yes. The Illinois Lottery website offers instant win games and tickets for major draw games.

Customers physically located in Illinois can visit IllinoisLottery.com to play online or purchase individual tickets or subscriptions to Mega Millions, Powerball, IL Lotto, Lucky Day Lotto, Pick 3, and Pick 4. Customers must be 18 or older to buy Illinois Lottery tickets online.

IL sports betting regulations (Section 1900.1250) require all licensed legal sports betting apps to provide tools by which customers may limit the amount of money wagered, prohibit new deposits, or stop all wagering entirely.

In practice, most online sportsbooks exceed these minimum requirements by allowing Illinois sports bettors to restrict the amount wagered.

Customers can also set deposit limits and overall time spent logged in.

Illinois law requires sportsbook operators to collect the last four digits of each customer’s Social Security number to verify their identities.

BettingUSA.com only recommends licensed IL online sports betting sites and mobile sportsbook apps. Any sportsbooks recommended here are safe and legal.

Additionally, the Illinois Gaming board maintains an up-to-date list of licensed operators.

The first Illinois sports betting apps launched in June 2020.

Article 28 of the Illinois Criminal Code prohibits participating in unlawful gambling in broad terms. Illinois criminal law does not specifically mention online gambling, but it could be interpreted to apply to bets on games anywhere with the following text:

(a) A person commits gambling when he or she:

(1) knowingly plays a game of chance or skill for money or other thing of value, unless excepted in subsection (b) of this Section;

(2) knowingly makes a wager upon the result of any game, contest, or any political nomination, appointment or election;

Illinois has not shown an appetite for prosecuting players who visit offshore sportsbooks, but there is some legal risk. Additionally, offshore gambling sites are unregulated, and players have no recourse if they suspect an unfair game or are refused payment.

Yes, DraftKings Sportsbook is legal in the state of Illinois. In fact, it’s the state’s marketshare leader. DraftKings also offers daily fantasy contests to Illinois players.