Illinois Sports Betting: The Top Sportsbooks in the State

Of all the states to legalize sports betting over the past few years, none did it as fast as Illinois did in 2020.

Credit goes to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker who recognized that the state was missing out on a great opportunity for revenue and entertainment by waiting to legalize online sports betting.

In part as a response to COVID, Pritzker made the move in early June to legalize online sports betting in Illinois not by enacting an Illinois sports betting law but instead by way of an Executive order (SB 690 would come later).

It took less than two weeks for the first book to get up and running in the state and now we have nearly all of the top sportsbook apps in the US up and running in IL.

Given this all happened so fast, we have received many questions regarding sports betting in Illinois over the past few weeks.

From signing up to placing bets and everything in between, we will answer some of the most popular questions we have received about sports betting in Illinois below.

Is sports betting legal in Illinois?

Yes, sports betting was legalized in the state of Illinois on March 9th, 2020. What this means is that you can now place bets on your favorite sports teams both online and at retail sportsbooks.

Whether you’re looking to place a bet on the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bears, or any other Illinois sports teams, you can now do so without fear of breaking the law.

Illinois sports bettors are able to make nearly any type of bet that they want. Of course, you’re ot only limited to sports in Illinois, but you get the point.

This includes traditional bets such as moneylines, point spreads, and totals as well as more unique bets such as parlays, prop bets, and bonus bets.

Of course, there are also a ton of different ways to bet on sports these days including live betting and mobile betting and there are even some restrictions when it comes to betting on in-state college teams.

We won’t offer legal advice, but we’ll cover most of these topics regarding Illinois sports betting in greater detail below.

Is online sports betting legal in Illinois?

Yes, mobile sports betting is legal with any approved sportsbook that has partnered with a casino that has obtained one of the state’s sports betting licenses.

If you’re one of the many new sports bettors, you might be wondering what constitutes as mobile sports betting. In short, it’s being able to place bets on your phone or another mobile device.

So instead of having to drive out to a physical sportsbook location, you can simply download one of the many mobile sports betting apps or mobile sportsbook apps and place your bets from wherever you are.

This is extremely convenient for those that don’t live near a casino as well as those that want to bet on the go.

It’s also worth noting that you don’t need to live in Illinois to place bets through one of the state’s approved sportsbooks. As long as you are physically located within the state borders, you can bet on any of the approved IL sports betting apps.

Is there an Illinois Gaming Board?

There is now an Illinois Gaming Board and it is in charge of regulating all forms of gaming within the state. This includes both physical and online casinos as well as sports betting.

The Illinois Gaming Board, often referred to as the IGB, is made up of five members that are appointed by the governor and must be confirmed by the state Senate.

While the IGB is still new, it has already been quite busy as it was tasked with creating the rules and regulations for both casinos and sportsbooks.

It’s also worth noting that the Illinois Gaming Board is in charge of issuing sports betting licenses to both retail sportsbooks and sports betting sites. So, if you’re looking to bet with specific betting apps in Illinois, you’ll want to make sure that they have obtained a license from the Illinois Gaming Board.

Retail sportsbooks and online sportsbooks that the Illinois Gaming Board has not yet approved are not currently operational in Illinois and are not authorized to allow state citizens to participate in sports betting.

What sports can Illinois sports bettors bet on?

Sports betting is legal, but non-sport events are not. You can currently bet on any sport in the state of Illinois but are not allowed to bet on non-sporting events like award shows and politics. So, if you’re looking for some online betting for the Masked Singer, you’ll have to try in another state.

Furthermore, wagers are not allowed on in-state college teams.

For those looking to bet on the Cubs, White Sox, Bears, or Blackhawks, you’re in luck, as all four are fair game. The NHL, NFL, MLB, and NBA are all fully operational in the state as well.

If you’re looking to bet on college sports, you’ll be happy to know that you can bet on out-of-state teams but not any schools within Illinois borders. So if you’re an Illinois fan who wants to bet on the Fighting Illini, you’ll have to pass.

As for other sports, you can bet on golf, tennis, NASCAR, MMA, and just about anything else you can think of.

What types of bets are legal in Illinois?

Illinois sports bettors can place a wide variety of bets that include spreads, moneylines, parlays, teasers, and prop bets. Additionally, live betting is available with most of the mobile sportsbooks in the market, including DraftKings, PointsBet, Penn (Barstool Sportsbook), William Hill, and FanDuel Sportsbook. All of these Illinois sportsbooks offer betting on various sports, including Illinois sports.

Let’s say, for example, that you want to bet on the Cubs vs. White Sox game. If you wanted to bet on the moneyline, you would simply pick who you think is going to win the game outright. So if you think the Cubs are going to win, you would bet on them, and if they do, you would win your bet.

However, when you’re online sports betting, not all of the bets are as straightforward.

If you wanted to bet on the point spread, you would be given a handicap for each team.

So in the Cubs vs. White Sox example, let’s say that the Cubs are -1.5 and the White Sox are +1.5. This means that if you bet on the Cubs, they would have to win by 2 or more runs for you to win your bet and if you bet on the White Sox, they could lose by 1 run and you would still win your bet.

Parlays are simply when you bet on two or more outcomes at the same time. For example, you could bet that the Cubs will win and that the over/under will be 10.5. If both of those things happen, you would win your bet and get paid out at higher odds than if you had bet on just one of those outcomes.

Teasers are similar to parlays but with one key difference – the point spread is adjusted in your favor.

Using the Cubs vs. White Sox example again, let’s say that the point spread is originally Cubs -1.5 and White Sox +1.5. If you were to bet on a 6-point teaser, the new point spread would be Cubs -7.5 and White Sox +7.5. As you can see, the point spreads have been adjusted greatly in your favor, but this also means that it’s much harder to win your bet.

Prop bets are simply bets on things that will happen during the course of a game.

For example, you could bet on how many strikeouts a certain pitcher will have or if a certain player will score a touchdown.

There are too many different types of prop bets to list them all here but suffice it to say that there are plenty of options available for those that want to bet on props.

Is DFS legal in Illinois?

Yes, DFS remains legal in the state of Illinois. You will want to check with the state to see what DFS websites are currently registered and operating legally in the state, but certainly, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Yahoo are all great options.

DFS, or daily fantasy sports, is a fan favorite of Illinois sports betting. However, it is a bit different than traditional sports betting but still offers plenty of options for those who want to get in on the action.

In DFS, you are given a set amount of money to build a team of players that you think will perform well in their upcoming games. Once you have created your team, you enter it into a contest, and if your team scores more points than the other teams in the contest, you win.

It’s a great way to get in on the action of Illinois sports betting without having to worry about things like point spreads or moneylines.

What is the legal sports betting age in Illinois?

The legal sports betting age (and legal gambling age) for the state of Illinois is currently 21 years old. If you’re getting into Illinois sports betting, make sure that you are of legal age to do so.

How old do sports bettors need to be to participate in online sports betting?

Whether you’re betting online or in person, you need to be at least 21 years old to participate in Illinois sports betting. This is the legal gambling age in the state of Illinois, and it applies to all forms of gambling, including sports betting.

Keep in mind that different states have different gambling ages, so if you’re planning on betting on sports in another state, be sure to check the legal gambling age for that state before you create your online sports betting account.

What sportsbooks are available in Chicago?

If you are looking for a physical sportsbook in the Chicago area, Caesars Sportsbook is likely your best option. That being said, as we mentioned earlier, online sports betting is legal in Illinois, and you can use any of the licensed sportsbooks that currently operate in the state.

Caesars Sportsbook is one of the best options for those looking to enjoy one of the many retail sportsbooks in the Chicago area. They have a great location right on the river and offer a wide variety of betting options from college sports to the Chicago Bears football games for those that want to get in on the action.

But let’s not forget about the online options for those that don’t want to leave their home. We recommend checking out FanDuel or DraftKings sportsbook as both of these Illinois sportsbooks are currently operational in the Illinois sports betting market and offer a great user experience.

If you’re looking for Illinois sportsbooks in other places, there are several. The Par a Dice Casino in East Peoria is a great option or the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin has a great atmosphere. Both of these Illinois sportsbooks offer everything sports bettors want.

What does an online sportsbook have to offer?

An online sportsbook should offer a user-friendly interface, a wide variety of betting markets, and competitive odds. Since the sports betting law went into effect, you will also want to make sure that the online sportsbook you choose is licensed and regulated by the state of Illinois. As we mentioned, a few of the best sports betting sites include FanDuel and DraftKings sportsbook. Whether you want to place some wagers on college sports or bet on sports such as MLB or NHL, these both are a great sports betting app.

In terms of user-friendliness, you should be able to easily navigate the sportsbook’s website or app, create an online sports betting account, and find the sports betting market that you’re looking for. The best online sportsbooks will also offer live betting so that you can bet online as games are happening.

Find an online sportsbook that offers a wide variety of betting markets. The more markets that are available, the more sports betting you can do, and the more fun you can have. You should be able to find markets for all of the major sports as well as some of the more niche sports on Illinois sports betting sites.

Make sure that you compare the odds that are offered by different online sportsbooks. The sports betting app with the best odds will give you a better chance of winning your bets and make your sports betting experience more enjoyable.

Some online sportsbooks even offer promotions or promo codes that you can use to get started with Illinois sports betting. These promotions can give you a risk-free bet, a matching deposit bonus, or even free bets. Be sure to check out the terms and conditions of each promotion before you claim it so that you know what you’re getting into.

What is live betting?

Live betting is a type of legalized sports betting that allows you to bet on a game as it is happening. This is different from traditional sports betting where you would place a bet before the game starts and then wait to see if your team wins or loses.

Live betting offers a whole new level of excitement as you can react to the ebbs and flows of the game and place bets accordingly. Not all sportsbooks offer live betting, but the best ones do.

There are several Illinois sports betting apps that allow for live betting such as Caesars sportsbook. Just be sure that the Illinois sports betting site you decide to go with has its sports betting license. You’ll find an online sports betting app from time to time that is legal in other states but does not have a sports betting license in Illinois.

Where can I find promo codes for online sportsbooks?

You can find promo codes for online sportsbooks on the sportsbook’s website or app. Promo codes are usually located on the homepage or in the promotions section. These codes can be used to claim special bonuses, promotions, or the occasional risk free bet that the Illinois sports betting site is currently offering.

Here at Hello Rookie, we also build relationships with the top Illinois sports betting sites and apps in the industry and are often able to offer exclusive promo codes to our readers. So be sure to check back often to see what we have to offer. Who knows, we might have a few risk free bets up our sleeve for a particular online sportsbook. Keep checking back for more information.

A word of caution, however, ensure you read the terms and conditions of each promotion for the Illinois sports betting sites before you bet online. Some promotions will require you to meet certain criteria before you can complete their online registration or withdraw your winnings, so be sure that you understand the requirements before you opt-in.

How do I tell if I have a gambling problem and what do I do?

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, there are resources available to help. The National Council on Problem Gambling operates a 24/7 helpline that can provide confidential assistance.

You can also visit their website to find resources on how to get help and how to spot the signs of a gambling problem.

Some of the typical signs include chasing losses, borrowing money, missing work, and lying about gambling. If you or someone you know is exhibiting these signs, reach out for help before it’s too late. There are plenty of resources available to help you get your gambling under control.