Illinois Sports Betting Sites: How to Bet in Illinois in 2026
Online sports betting is legal and available in Illinois, following the Illinois Sports Wagering Act that was passed in June 2019. Thanks to this, the Illinois sports betting industry has a diverse range of options for online bettors.
Residents of the state still find value in offshore sportsbooks, which offer an alternative to regulated in-state sites that restrict college betting, for example. We’ll also cover regulations and laws that impact in-state sports betting, and highlight the top bonuses and promotions available to Illinois bettors who choose to use offshore options.
Our Favorite Sites
Wondering why we don’t recommend popular brands like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM?
Our team prefers to highlight offshore sportsbooks to give bettors info on lesser-known options that offer competitive bonuses, wager types, and the ability to freely bet in other states. However, because sports betting is legal in Illinois, these popular brands are still available for in-state residents if you prefer them.
Top Online Betting Sites Available in Illinois
Here are seven of the top IL sports betting sites located outside the Prairie State that still welcome local players:
- Lucky Rebel — Best Sports Betting Promos for Illinois
- BetUS — Best Overall Sportsbook for Illinois
- MyBookie — Best for VIP Betting
- BetOnline — Best for Live Betting
- Bovada — Top IL NCAA Sports Betting Site
- SportsBetting.ag — Best for Early Lines
- Everygame — Best for Payment Options
- BetNow — Best Sportsbook Rebate Program
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Best Sports Betting Promos for Illinois: Lucky Rebel
For parlay lovers, Lucky Rebel regularly runs parlay promos, including pre-built same‑game parlays and odds boosts. When cheering for the Bears, White Sox, or any of your favorite Illinois sports teams, these promo boosts can add serious value to your multi‑leg bets.
Illinois bettors will find plenty more to like at Lucky Rebel too. Their welcome offer gives a 125% match up to $1,250 on your first sportsbook deposit, plus 50 free spins in the casino.
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Best Overall Sportsbook for Illinois: BetUS
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Best for VIP Betting: MyBookie
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Best for Live Betting: BetOnline
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Top IL NCAA Sports Betting Site: Bovada
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Best for Early Lines: SportsBetting.ag
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Best for Payment Options: Everygame
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Best Sportsbook Rebate Program: BetNow
Compare the Best Illinois Online Sportsbooks
| Casinos | | | | | | | | |
| Bonus | 125% up to $1,250 | 125% up to $2,625 | 100% up to $500 | 50% up to $250 in Free bets + 100 Free Spins | 100% up to $750 | 50% up to $250 in Free Bets + 100 Free Spins | 100% up to $500 | Up To 125% Welcome Bonus |
| Number of Deposit Methods | 7 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 10 | 23 | 8 | 13 |
| Number of Withdrawal Methods | 5 | 7 | 11 | 20 | 9 | 20 | 5 | 9 |
| Live Betting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Horse Racing | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Read Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review |
| Sign Up | Play Now | Play Now | Play Now | Play Now | Play Now | Play Now | Play Now | Play Now |
Illinois Betting – Quick Overview
How We Choose the Best Illinois Sportsbooks
Our expert reviewers carefully review each sportsbook before recommending a betting site for Illinois. A big part of this process is ensuring sites are secure, safe, and work on mobile.
Availability in Illinois
We look for sites that are available in the Prairie State. Sites must accept users anywhere in the state, whether you’re betting in a bar in downtown Chicago or hiking through Shawnee National Forest.
Illinois Sports Coverage
We champion sites like BetUS that cover the small teams in Illinois as much as the big ones. Standard sportsbooks offer odds on the White Sox, Cubs, and Bulls. Only the best cover minor league teams like the Bloomington Bison and Chicago Wolves or college teams like the Northwestern Wildcats.
Safety and Security
High-level security is a must. We check sites for TLC encryption and 256-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. Sportsbooks must also display their player safety policies and operate anti-fraud and money-laundering systems.
Bonuses and Promotions
We don’t just tell you about the available Illinois sportsbook promotions. We assess whether they’re worth your time. For example, Bovada gives new players a 50% bonus of up to $250 and plenty of promos for existing customers.
Customer Support
We champion sites offering two or more of the following customer support options: live chat, 24/7 phone line, email, postal address, or social media. We also test each site’s customer service operators to ensure they are helpful to players.
Payout Experience
We assess sportsbooks to see if their payout speeds meet our requirements. We also check their withdrawal processes for bank transfers, crypto, checks, etc., to ensure they’re secure.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Illinois?
Online sports betting in Illinois is regulated and legal, following the Illinois Sports Wagering Act (230 ILCS 45) which was passed in 2019. It guarantees that betting on sports in Illinois is legal, both online and in-person, at retail sportsbooks. As part of the process, Illinois repealed its classification of gambling as an illegal activity. The Illinois Gaming Board regulates the industry.
You can also use offshore sportsbooks to bet on sports and lines that aren’t available on state-regulated sites. You can also bet on horse racing in Illinois and gamble at one of the state’s six casinos or 10 riverboat casinos. Prediction markets, like Polymarket and Kalshi, have been explicitly restricted, however.
Illinois imposes a 15% gross revenue tax on all sports betting operations. However, that could rise to as high as 40% for the biggest operators. Residents must declare gambling winnings as income.
Illinois Sports Betting Timeline
Betting on Illinois Sports Teams
Here are the major sports teams in Illinois. You can bet on all these teams, as well as college sports teams that offshore sportsbooks provide odds for, too:
Basketball
- Chicago Bulls — NBA
- Chicago Sky — WNBA
- Chicago State Cougars — NCAA I
- Bradley Braves — NCAA I
- Illinois State Redbirds — NCAA I
- Northern Illinois Huskies — NCAA I
- Northwestern Wildcats — NCAA I
- Illinois Fighting Illini — NCAA I
Baseball
- Chicago Cubs — MLB
- Chicago White Sox — MLB
- Gateway Grizzlies — Minor League
- Peoria Chiefs — Minor League
- Bradley Braves — NCAA I
- Illinois State Redbirds — NCAA I
- Northern Illinois Huskies — NCAA I
- Illinois Fighting Illini — NCAA I
Football
- Chicago Bears — NFL
- Northern Illinois Huskies — NCAA I
- Illinois Fighting Illini — NCAA I
- Northwestern Wildcats — NCAA I
Hockey
- Chicago Blackhawks — NFL
- Chicago Wolves — AHL
- Rockford IceHogs — AHL
Soccer
- Chicago Fire FC — MLS
- Chicago Red Stars — NWSL
- Chicago Fire FC II — MLS Next Pro
Popular Sports Betting Events in Illinois
Illinois is renowned for its baseball, basketball, and football teams. There are also other major sports events to look out for each year:
White Sox –– The Twins
The rivalry between the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins goes back decades. They play in the AL Central division and face each other many times each season. You can bet on White Sox games throughout the MLB season at BetUS.
Illinois 300 and Grant Park 165
NASCAR goes big in Illinois. The Illinois 300 runs at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois, during the NASCAR Cup Series. A few weeks later, Chicago’s Street Circuit hosts the Grant Park 165 each year. You can follow the odds on both races at BetNow.
Illinois Derby
Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois, hosts the $200,000 Illinois Derby each April. The race was relaunched in 2024 as a prep race for the Preakness Stakes. Bettors can follow all the action at top racebooks like Bovada.
Chicago Marathon
The Chicago Marathon is one of the world’s top marathon courses and runs every September. Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum set the marathon world record of 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon in 2023. You can bet on athletics from across the state at Everygame.
Retail Sports Betting in Illinois
Illinois legalized retail sports betting in 2019, and there are plenty of places to bet in-person across the state. What’s more, Illinois has a thriving riverboat casino industry offering sports betting. Here are the top seven sportsbooks in Illinois.
| Sportsbook | City | Address | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caesars Sportsbook | Metropolis | Harrah’s Metropolis, 100 East Front Street Metropolis, IL 62960 | Dedicated sportsbook pit, food and drink service, +40 screens |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Elgin | Grand Victoria Casino, 250 S. Grove Avenue Elgin, IL 60120 | Live betting, expanded multiscreen zone |
| Hawthorne Race Course | Stickney | 3501 South Laramie Ave Stickney, IL 60804 | Horse and sports betting, self-service kiosks, jumbo projections, high limit station |
| Hollywood Casino Joliet | Joilet | 777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, IL 60436, United States | 14 kiosks, wide range of props, in-play betting |
| DraftKings at Casino Queen | St Louis | DraftKings at Casino Queen 200 Front Street East St. Louis, Illinois 62201 | 38 betting kiosks, 60+ Foot Video Wall, Real Time LIVE Odds Boards, watch parties |
| Argosy Casino Alton | Alton | 1 Piasa St, Alton, IL 62002 | 36 HDTVs, individual viewing stations, Bet Builder QR tool |
| Penalty Box Sportsbook | Aurora | 1 W New York St, Aurora, IL 60506 | Riverboat sportsbook, 10x 75” HDTVs, recliner seats, extensive parlays |
You can also find plenty of offshore online casinos for Illinois players, if you want alternative gambling options.
How To Bet Online in Illinois
If you’re looking to begin your Illinois sports betting journey, it’s easy to get started. We’ll cover the various betting options available to Illinois bettors, from in-state to offshore sportsbooks and retail betting.
Here are the steps you need to take:
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Explore our top Illinois sportsbooks recommended above and pick a site that matches your betting style.
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Click on the button from our review to navigate to the correct sign-up page. Then, follow the steps to create a profile. You’ll need to enter your personal details, create a password and username, and pass any ID verification checks.
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Your sportsbook may take you to the cashier page, where you can select a deposit method and charge your account. Choose from card payments, phone payments, and wire transfers, or use a site like BetNow to deposit in Bitcoin. Remember to hit the minimum deposit level required to trigger your welcome deal.
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Your sportsbook will let you choose your bonus when depositing via a drop-down box or by entering a promo code. If you don’t have either of these options, then make your deposit and contact your sportsbook via the live chat operator to request your bonus.
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Once your account is active and charged with funds, it’s time to select your first bet. Use the top tabs or the sidebar of your sportsbook to find the game, event, or race you plan to bet on. Click on your chosen odds to add the bet to your slip.
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Finally, it’s time to place your bet. Check your bet slip again, and be sure you’re happy with your choice. Then, enter your stake in the bet slip and check how much you stand to win. Once you’re happy, hit “Place Bet” to complete the process.
Responsible Gambling in Illinois
We encourage you to gamble responsibly and consider online betting as a form of entertainment, not a source of income. Set loss limits and time limits, and don’t bet more than you’re comfortable losing.
Here are some resources to help you, or someone you care about, gamble responsibly and get help:
- AGA Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct (as supported by the NBA)
- Have a Game Plan – Complete Responsible Gambling Resource
- KindBridge Behavioral Health
Illinois Responsible Gambling Resources
Sports betting in Illinois is a fun way to enjoy a game and potentially win some money. It shouldn’t be treated as income unless you are a serious pro. The Sports Geek advises all players to gamble responsibly and seek help from these IL resources if they’re struggling:
National Council on Problem Gambling: Illinois
- PHONE: 1-800-GAMBLER
- TEXT: 800GAM
- LIVE CHAT: 1800gamblerchat.org
Illinois Council on Problem Gambling
- PHONE: 1-800-333-HOPE (4673)
- TEXT: “GAMB” TO 833234
- NEWSLETTER: Sign up at the website
- PHONE: (909) 931-9056
- LOCATIONS: See website for locations from Arlington to Evanston.
GamAnon Chicago (For Families)
- PHONE: 1-708-802-0105
Illinois Sports Betting — Key Takeaways
Illinois sports betting is thriving thanks to all the different ways to wager. Bettors in Illinois can bet at regulated and offshore sportsbooks, retail casinos, and riverboats. You can watch and bet in-play with friends.
Recent changes to Illinois’ college betting laws mean offshore sites are now the best way for players to broaden their bet choices. You can do everything from betting on the White Sox and Bulls to wagering on NCAA games at sites like BetUS and Bovada.
You’re ready to bet!
FAQs
Illinois sports betting sites include regulated in-state operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and BetRivers, all licensed under the Illinois Sports Wagering Act passed in June 2019. These apps must be accessed within Illinois state borders and restrict certain markets like in-state college games. Offshore sportsbooks like BetUS, Bovada, and BetOnline also accept Illinois bettors and offer fewer betting restrictions, though they operate outside state regulation. The best choice depends on your priorities. Regulated books offer consumer protections and legal recourse, while offshore sites provide broader betting markets and often larger bonuses.
Legitimate Illinois sports betting sites display clear licensing information. Regulated operators show Illinois Gaming Board approval, while reputable offshore books hold licenses from jurisdictions like Curacao or Panama. Check for secure payment processing (SSL encryption), transparent terms and conditions, established payout history, and responsive customer support. Read independent reviews, verify the site has been operating for several years, and confirm withdrawal processes before depositing. Avoid sites with unclear ownership, unrealistic bonus offers, poor user reviews, or those requesting unusual personal information beyond standard KYC verification.
Illinois sports betting sites use GPS and Wi-Fi triangulation to verify you’re physically located within state borders before accepting wagers. To bet successfully, enable location services on your device, connect to a stable internet connection (cellular or wifi), and ensure you’re not using a VPN, which blocks geolocation verification. Most apps request location permission during signup and before each bet placement. If geolocation fails, try moving away from state borders, restarting the app, toggling location services off and on, or switching between wifi and cellular data. Desktop betting may require additional browser location permissions.
Top Illinois sports betting sites offer varied welcome bonuses, with offshore books like BetUS providing up to 125% deposit matches (up to $3,125), and regulated operators typically offering risk-free bets or deposit matches up to $1,000-$1,500. Compare minimum deposit requirements (often $10-$100), rollover requirements (how many times you must wager the bonus), eligible bet types (some exclude heavy favorites), and withdrawal restrictions. Ongoing promos include odds boosts, parlay insurance, and loyalty programs. Offshore sites generally offer larger bonuses with higher rollovers, while regulated Illinois sportsbooks provide smaller bonuses with more consumer-friendly terms and faster withdrawals.
Illinois sports betting winnings are taxable income subject to both federal and state taxes. The federal government taxes gambling winnings as ordinary income at your marginal tax rate (10%-37% depending on total income), while Illinois imposes a flat 4.95% state income tax on net gambling proceeds. Sportsbooks issue IRS Form W-2G for winnings of $600 or more (and at least 300 times your wager), triggering automatic withholding of 24% federal tax. You must report all winnings on your tax return, even amounts below reporting thresholds, and you can deduct gambling losses up to the amount of your winnings if you itemize deductions.
