Sports Betting For Illinois Residents
Illinois sports betting launched in March of 2020, and it launched right as the COVID-19 pandemic started. That said, Illinois's sportsbooks have been an unmitigated success so far, and have pushed other states to look harder at legalization, lest their players visit Illinois and they lose out on those potential tax dollars. Some Illinois residents also use the offshore sportsbooks, as they have more expansive odds, and can be better for wagering on local teams.
With the evolving nature of the Illinois sports betting market, residents should keep themselves informed on what’s happening. That is where we can come in to give you the latest updates on everything related to sports betting in Illinois. This includes current Illinois sports betting laws, future locations for Illinois sportsbooks, etc. As we get more information on the state of sports gambling in IL, we will make sure you keep our readers up-to-date.
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Legal Sports Betting Sites Accepting Illinois Residents
We have tested out quite a few different sportsbooks in order to figure out where our readers should play. There are many sites that still will accept Illinois residents in spite of the changing legal climate of online gambling in the state.
We have personally tested each of these sites to make sure it is easy to join, fun to partake, and profitable for those who manage to win the event. We do not want you to worry about getting in trouble, getting ripped off, or otherwise being cheated by these wagering sites, as they are all of the highest quality. Sports betting for Illinois residents should begin at any of these reputable sites:
Bovada Sports - 50% First Deposit Match - $250 Bonus / VISA Accepted
Illinois residents have several great online sportsbook choices to legally place wagers, one of which is Bovada. This sports betting site has a ton of great features to offer its players. If a wide variety of betting lines and wager types are what you seek, this would be a good place to set up shop.
Creating a Bovada login is a simple process, with some basic information required. Then to play for real cash and bet money, a deposit will need to be made. Bovada has a section of their site dedicated to funding accounts, which is quick and efficient. Prospective players can always visit Bovada and view every betting line they have available. But to place a wager, an account is required for Illinois residents.
BetOnline Sports - AmEx Welcome, $1000 Reloads
BetOnline offers their players a couple of really great options that would certainly be enough reason for residents in Illinois to go with them. In addition to offering a ton of competitive betting lines across a myriad of sports and leagues, there are other areas BetOnline excels in as well.
One of these areas is a sportsbook bonus. Players at BetOnline can receive a 25% lifetime bonus of up to $1000 on every deposit that they make into their account. It's based on a percentage matched by the sportsbook to their deposit. This can be used to place a bet on one, or multiple games. Just use the code: “LIFEBONUS”
The legal age to bet in Illinois is 21, so players need to meet this requirement to join BetOnline despite site policies stating 18+ years can register. Whenever engaging in sports betting for Illinois residents, always pay attention to age requirements.
Depositing is made easy as any card bearing a VISA or American Express logo is accepted... whether it's a credit, debit, or prepaid version, as long as it has the Visa or Amex on it, it's good to go. If a credit card isn't what you prefer, there are also options for Bitcoin, a Western Union wire transfer, a MoneyGram, or by using cashier's check/money order. This makes it easy for an Illinois account holder to bet on the Cubs, Bears, Bulls, White Sox or any Illinois based team they choose. They can even wager on the Irish.
SportsBetting - All U.S.A. Including Illinois Allowed
Illinois sports fans can bet real money on sports at bet real money on sports at SportsBetting using several deposit methods. With the fact that American players, in general, can have a tough time depositing in some locations, SportsBetting.ag does a great job by offering more funding methods than most.
This site goes all-in on the cryptocurrency bandwagon accepting 5 different kinds. Whether you use Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, or DASH, you can enter into promotions where you receive a match from the company – as much as 100%! For your first deposit, use the code: “100CRYPTO” and you will receive a full match. On any additional deposits using crypto, use the code: “35CRYPTO” and use you see just over a third of your money be increased to your bankroll.
Is Sports Betting Legal In Illinois?
As of 2023, not only is sports betting legal in Illinois, in many places it is encouraged, as the government enjoys the extra revenue gained from legalizing sports betting. After Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed IL SB 690, sports betting began to be offered in many places across IL, with no legal problems to follow. There are eight land based sportsbooks in IL as well as five online sportsbooks, with remote registration having been available at least for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic by order of Governor Pritzker. Online sportsbooks used to be the only way fans could place their bets but now there are plenty of local sportsbooks that will welcome players with their winning sports bets.
Is Illinois Online Sports Betting Legal?
Online sports betting is available inside of Illinois in two major forms. First, Illinois itself sanctions online sports betting from the following sports betting state partners. Each of these sportsbooks made a deal with a local sportsbook in order to receive a license to operate within Illinois. These sportsbooks are subject to a 15% tax, which can impact their odds, but they are still competitive. The online sportsbooks that are located offshore will generally have slightly better odds, especially on hometown team odds like betting on the Bears and the Cubs, but it is clearly legal to use these online sportsbooks in Illinois.
Sports Betting Apps In Illinois
- BetRivers
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- PointsBet
- William Hill
Legal College Football Betting
Whether you’re a fan of betting on the Illinois Fighting Illini, like the Northwestern Wildcats odds or even – dare we say it? – the Missouri Tigers, the leading offshore sports betting sites Bovada, SportsBetting, BetOnline, and MyBookie have got something for you. These sites, which are licensed and regulated by the gaming authorities in their home nations, have better odds than any brick-and-mortar sportsbook you’ll find anywhere, and they back it up with take-it-anywhere convenience, bank vault-tier security and proven reliability with payouts. Maintaining an account at some of if not all of our top recommended picks in this hot segment of the sports betting world is a necessity if you want to get the most bang for your buck in legal college football betting. Sportsbooks that open in Illinois will also have college football odds for home teams as well as ones located outside the state.
Illinois Sports Betting & Gambling Laws
Because the recent bill signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker allows online sports gambling companies to operate in Illinois and allows sports bettors to join online sports wagering sites, there are no restrictions in Illinois. Sports bettors can feel safe and confident in putting money on a game online because they have no fear over what the Illinois government might do. The new basis for sports betting laws in Illinois is IL SB 690, As of right now, Illinois sports betting is live in both land based and online forms.
Legal Gambling Age For Illinois Residents
Whether you’re trying to place a bet in person or online, the legal gambling age for Illinois residents is 21. Because this is the law written by the state, you should abide by this age even if you are using one of the online offshore sportsbooks we’ve previously recommended. Those sites will accept bettors as young as 18 but that is only because that is the legal age set in their home territory. The safest way to make sure you don’t lose your funds is to follow the rules set by your state government. In other words, if you want to bet on teams like the Bears, or betting on horse races in Illinois, you’re going to have to be over 21, no matter what.
What Cities In Illinois Have A Sportsbook?
There are plenty of places to visit for land-based gambling in Illinois, whether you live in Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, or any other city. Many of these casinos are expected to become some of the best sportsbooks in Illinois. For example, one of the top Joliet sportsbooks maybe Harrah’s Joliet, while Grand Victoria may be among the leading Elgin sportsbooks. Some of the other cities where you can look out for the best Illinois sports betting action include:
- Alton Sportsbooks
- Aurora Sportsbooks
- Des Plaines Sportsbooks
- East Peoria Sportsbooks
- Elgin Sportsbooks
- Joliet Sportsbooks
- Metropolis Sportsbooks
- Rock Island Sportsbooks
Land Based Gambling In Illinois
You can find land-based gambling at Argosy Alton, Casino Queen and Hotel, Hollywood Casino Joliet, Grand Victor Casino Elgin, Harrah's Joliet Casino and Hotel, Harrah's Metropolis Casino, Hollywood Casino Aurora, Jumer's Casino and Hotel, Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino, Rivers Casino. To add to them, professional sports stadiums will also be able to offer sportsbooks and places such as Wrigley Field have already announced that they will be renovating for a new sportsbook lounge beginning next season.
FAQ About Online Sports Betting In Illinois
1) Do the Illinois gambling laws pertain only to those in the business of gambling?
The majority of the laws are based on those who are looking to operate sportsbooks rather that use them. Enforcement would be very difficult to seek out individual players; however, we are not lawyers and we cannot be entirely certain that they won’t.
2) How many people have been arrested for gambling online in the state of Illinois?
As far as we know, we have never heard of anyone being arrested for online gambling in Illinois. Again, the state is more focused on those who are running the books.
3) Has there ever been a federal arrest over online gambling?
We have never heard of anyone being arrested for gambling online, federal or otherwise.
4) Where can I find the laws of the Illinois gambling laws?
You can find many of the Illinois gambling laws on our page. We also have an Illinois sports betting bill tracker that will keep you up to date on the latest measures that have been proposed. Otherwise, you can visit the Illinois General Assembly website.
5) Are the federal laws available online?
Yes. All of the federal laws can be found directly on the Library of Congress's website.
6) Is Bovada legal in Illinois?
Bovada accepts residents from Illinois, and you should be safe from any state laws now that IL SB 690 has passed. The bill legalized online sports wagering and Bovada has been operational in the state for years.
7) Could Illinois actually authorize these sportsbooks?
State-licensed Illinois sportsbooks are in the works now. The only wait now is that the Illinois Gaming Board will have to draft and approve official regulations before accepting applications and issuing sports betting licenses.
8) Does It Cost Anything To Sign Up At A Sportsbook?
No. You do not have to pay anything in order to sign up with these Illinois online sports betting sites. If any site is asking you to, you should promptly close that window and use one of the recommended sites above. Check out their promotions too as most sites will pay you to sign up.
9) How Can I Receive My Winnings From This Gambling Site?
If you are using one of the online offshore sportsbooks we recommend, you can generally have your winnings shipped back to you by way of a check or a money order, but wire transfers and e-wallets are also eligible for withdrawals. For the fastest methods, consider using Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency that the site accepts. Each site has different minimums and fees so make sure to explore all of your options on their cashier page. As far as ones that are operated within the state of Illinois, they have not launched yet so it is inclusive to say how they will handle their payout methods. If they follow the path of other states, it will most likely include receiving a check in the mail or having to travel to a casino to pick it up in person.
10) How Do I Bet On The NFL?
Betting on the NFL in Illinois is pretty simple as of right now. The best thing you can do is use one of the purely online sportsbooks that are located outside of the state. These sportsbooks are easily accessible and can be used to provide wagers and lines to anyone, not just people inside Illinois. These sportsbooks also reduce the hometown hero effect, so you’ll get better odds on hometown teams like the Chicago Bears if you wager on an online sportsbook located outside of the US compared to a Chicago based book.