Illinois first launched legal sports betting back in March 2020, and things didn’t exactly go as planned right away. Since that time, Illinois has emerged as one of the top online sports betting markets in the United States, and there continues to be plenty of growth.
The Illinois Gaming Board is in charge of the sports betting industry, and there have been some complaints made by both sports bettors and operators. There are some interesting laws on sports betting in Illinois, but it hasn’t stopped bettors from flocking to the sportsbooks.
There are still just seven online sportsbooks that are active in Illinois, but that number is expected to continue to grow.
Initially, operators had to be tied to a casino or race track, but that is no longer the case.
Illinois has been able to attract some of the biggest operators in the United States, and that has created plenty of competition in the industry. This is a state with plenty of professional teams to help drive sports betting, and that has helped boost the numbers.
TOP 3 ILLINOIS SPORTSBOOKS
Active Illinois Online Sportsbook Operators
Barstool Sportsbook: Barstool Sportsbook officially launched in Illinois in March 2021, just days before the start of the NCAA Tournament. Barstool is a product of Penn National Gaming, and it has partnered with three different casinos in Illinois.The Barstool Sportsbook brand is known for having unique odds boosts and Barstool exclusive bets.
BetMGM Sportsbook: BetMGM Sportsbook launched in Illinois in March 2022 after it received the first online-only sports betting license in the state. This did allow BetMGM to wait until remote registration was available to help it attract customers. BetMGM is one of the biggest online sports betting options in the United States, and it has a great loyalty rewards program.
BetRivers Sportsbook: BetRivers Sportsbook was the first online option in the state after it went live in June 2020. At the time, BetRivers was actually the only sports betting option in Illinois as casinos were shut down due to COVID-19. The Rivers Casino Sportsbook in Des Plaines, is the retail partner, and this sportsbook is known for having great daily odds boosts.
Caesars Sportsbook: Caesars Sportsbook actually launched as William Hill in Illinois, but it was officially rebranded in March 2022. There are three retail partners in Illinois, and Caesars Sportsbook has a big following throughout the United States. This sportsbook is known for having great promotions for both current and new customers.
DraftKings Sportsbook: DraftKings Sportsbook went live in Illinois in August 2020, and it’s one of the two biggest operators in the state. In order to get into Illinois, DraftKings partnered with the Casino Queen in East St. Louis, and it has a massive sportsbook on-site. DraftKings continues to offer DFS options to Illinois residents, and those platforms can be found on the same app.
FanDuel Sportsbook: FanDuel initially partnered with the Par-A-Dice Casino in Illinois but then switched to a deal with Fairmount Park. Even with all of the competition in Illinois, FanDuel is the clear leader in online sports betting. FanDuel launched in August 2020, and it has great betting options for customers.
PointsBet Sportsbook: PointsBet Sportsbook launched in September 2020, and this operator provides a unique sports betting experience. This is a company that is based out of Australia, and it brought points betting to the United States and Illinois. Hawthorne Race Course is the retail partner of PointsBet in the state of Illinois.
TOP 3 ILLINOIS SPORTSBOOKS
Illinois Sportsbook Welcome Offer
Since the Illinois sports betting industry is extremely competitive, every sportsbook has to battle it out for customers. Having better betting odds and lines is one way that this can be done, but the sportsbooks also offer welcome offers as a way to attract customers.
A welcome offer can really be whatever the sportsbook wants to give out as a bonus, but most either feature a deposit bonus or a risk-free bet. Those are extremely common, and both options can unlock a great offer to help bettors get off on the right foot.
Welcome offers do change from time to time as well, but this is where you will find the latest offers.
- Barstool Sportsbook Welcome Offer: Barstool Sportsbook offers a “New Player Bonus” that is worth up to $1,000. If the first wager at the sportsbook loses, then the site will credit the account up to that amount.
- BetMGM Sportsbook Welcome Offer: New customers that sign up for an account at BetMGM Sportsbook will receive a risk-free bet worth up to $1,000.
- BetRivers Sportsbook Welcome Offer: BetRivers Sportsbook still has the same welcome offer that they originally came out with. New users can receive a 100% first deposit bonus of up to $250 when creating an account.
- Caesars Sportsbook Welcome Offer: Caesars Sportsbook changes up welcome offers frequently, but they are typically big offers. New customers currently receive a risk-free bet worth up to $1,500 on the first wager that is placed.
- DraftKings Sportsbook Welcome Offer: DraftKings Sportsbook has a first deposit bonus worth up to $1,000, but it’s only a 20% match for new customers on that first deposit.
- PointsBet Sportsbook Welcome Offer: PointsBet Sportsbook offers a pair of risk-free bets that are worth $2,000 total. There is a $1,500 risk-free bet for the first points betting wager, and the first fixed odds wager is risk-free up to $500.
- FanDuel Sportsbook Welcome Offer: FanDuel Sportsbook has a “No Sweat First Bet” that is worth up to $1,000. If the first wager at the sportsbook is a loss, then that account will be refunded up to that dollar amount.
Illinois Sportsbook Promo Codes
A promo code is usually attached to a welcome offer, but not every sportsbook will require the use of one. A promo code is put out there as a way for customers to enter that code, and then the top offer will be unlocked.
It’s not uncommon for a promo code to change up monthly, especially if a new welcome bonus is being featured. Again, if you are looking for the latest promo codes from Illinois sportsbooks then you have come to the right spot.
- Barstool Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- PointsBet Sportsbook
TOP 3 ILLINOIS SPORTSBOOKS
Deposit/Withdrawal Methods Available in Illinois
Before you can even place a bet at an online or retail sportsbook in Illinois, you will have to fund your account. Not only do you have to fund your account by making a deposit, but you also will want to know the possible withdrawal methods if you win some money.
There used to be very limited banking options at online sportsbooks, but that is no longer the case. Not only has the list of options grown, but there are now safer and more efficient ways to send money back and forth as well.
Deposit Options
PayPal has become one of the most popular deposit options to use at online sportsbook because it is easy to link accounts and then send money back and forth quickly. Other companies such as Neteller and Skrill work in the same way, and they are all extremely safe. You can still use a debit/credit card to fund a sportsbook account, but it’s not as popular as it used to be. Another good deposit option is an online bank transfer, as the money will go straight from your bank account to the sportsbook. Most of the sportsbooks in Illinois also offer a prepaid card that can be reloaded, and then that money can be sent to the sportsbook. New online options will likely emerge in the future as well to get money into your sports betting account. Since most of the online sportsbooks in Illinois are also attached to a casino, you can visit the retail sportsbook and make a deposit with cash as well. This will require some traveling, but it can be one of the safest options to use.
Withdrawal Methods
There aren’t as many withdrawal methods that will be available to you, but you should still be able to find one that meets your needs. Typically the way in which you fund your sportsbook account will dictate how you are able to receive the funds that you win.
If you link your bank account or PayPal account when making a deposit, then money can be sent back to you in that manner. You can also request an ACH/echeck to be sent, but that process could take a couple of days before you receive your winnings.
The prepaid card that is available at some sportsbooks can also be used as a withdrawal method as the sportsbook can put the money directly back on the card. You can also visit the casino cage of the retail sportsbook partner and ask to be paid in cash if this is available.
Regardless of the withdrawal method that you choose, you won’t have to wait long for the funds to arrive, and this will be a pretty painless process.
Pros & Cons of Betting Online in Illinois
Pros
- Illinois has some of the top sports betting operators in the industry
- Great bonuses/promotions from available sportsbooks
- Bets can be placed quickly through a mobile device
Cons
- No betting on Illinois college teams at online sportsbooks
- In-person registration was required through March 2022
- Mobile apps can’t have online casino gambling also