Illinois Sports Betting: Top Illinois Sportsbook Apps & IL Online Betting Guide (October, 2024)

Illinois sports betting has launched, and anyone at least 21 years old and located in the state can sign up and start betting today. Keep reading for all the best IL sportsbook promos, updated bonuses, and the latest info on Windy City wagering.

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$1,000 Bonus

$1,000 First Bet On Caesars

LINEUPS1000 Reveal Promo Code

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$1,500 Bonus

Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bet Paid Back If Your First Bet Does Not Win
*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms.

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$300 Bonus

Bet $5, Get $300 if Your Bet Wins

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Up to $1,250 Bonus

$1,250 = Bet, Get $200 in Bonus Bets + 20% Deposit Match Up to $1,000 (25x playthrough) + $50 Bonus Bet With $5 Deposit

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Illinois Sportsbook Apps

Since going live in June 2020, Illinois sports betting has become one of the top US wagering markets. Seven major online sports betting apps have launched, including Caesars Sportsbook IL, DraftKings Sportsbook IL, BetRivers Sportsbook IL, FanDuel Sportsbook IL, and BetMGM Sportsbook IL. Each platform offers exclusive LINEUPS.com promo codes featuring big welcome bonuses. Anyone 21+ and located in Illinois can sign up for these online sportsbooks and start placing wagers.

There are plenty of major teams to bet on in Illinois. NBA betting on the Chicago Bulls has become one of the most popular markets for bettors. The Chicago Blackhawks remain beloved to sports fans in the area. The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox have both begun their MLB seasons, while the Chicago Bears have high hopes after landing some key players in the NFL Draft. This Illinois sports betting guide has all the essentials for wagering in the Land of Lincoln.

Illinois Sports Betting Recent Updates

• Sept. 7, 2023: Neighboring state Kentucky debuts online sports betting on Sept. 28 after retail sportsbooks launched Sept. 7.
• Jan. 21, 2023: With a win over the St. Louis Blues, the Chicago Blackhawks continue an impressive 6-1 run.
• Jan. 20, 2023: Illinois sports betting saw another hugely successful month, with a handle of over $1 billion in November.
• Dec. 12, 2022: October saw a major betting handle in the Land of Lincoln, with Illinois being the fourth state to exceed $1 billion
• Nov. 27, 2022: With starting QB Justin Fields sidelined to injury, the Chicago Bears drop to 3-9 after a 31-10 loss to the New York Jets.
• Oct. 30, 2022: After building some momentum in a prime-time victory over the New England Patriots, the Chicago Bears fall to 3-5 with a 49-29 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
• April 20, 2022: Legislators file a new bill to legalize online betting on Illinois college teams.

Illinois Sports Betting News

Going into the NFL season, the Chicago Bears look to continue to rebuild through the draft and trades.

The Chicago Bulls are eager to again contend in the NBA Eastern Conference.

The Chicago Blackhawks are flailing in the NHL‘s Western Conference and Central Division.

The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox are striving for MLB postseason returns.

1. Caesars Sportsbook at Grand Victoria Casino App Illinois

William Hill entered the Illinois market in August 2020, forming a partnership with Grand Victoria Casino Elgin. The William Hill Sportsbook at Grand Victoria Casino is roughly 40 miles outside of Chicago in the northwest suburbs of the Chicagoland area.

Since then, Caesars has bought out the online American sportsbooks of William Hill. While it took a bit to initiate the rebranding process, Caesars Sportsbook IL has officially replaced William Hill in the state.

Caesars Sportsbook has a luxurious sportsbook at the Grand Victoria Casino. The sportsbook includes a plethora of TVs, high-top tables and comfortable lounge chairs to watch every game.

2. BetMGM Sportsbook App IL

BetMGM Sportsbook Illinois officially launched on March 5, 2022. The sportsbook is very popular across the U.S. thanks to its numerous weekly promotions and approachable design. BetMGM is rewarding new Illinois users with a $1,500 first bet offer. Sign up for BetMGM Sportsbook using the Promo Code “LINEUPS”. Then, get up to $1,500 in bonus bets paid back if your first bet does not win. *Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms.

BetMGM IL launched on the same day that online registration returned to the Land of Lincoln. The sportsbook partnered with Par-A-Dice Casino and Hotel in East Peoria, a popular location for Illinois sports bettors. Now that the BetMGM Sportsbook is available in Illinois and online registration is fully available, you can sign up from the comfort of your home.

3. FanDuel Sportsbook Mobile App Illinois

On Aug. 28, 2020, FanDuel Sportsbook officially launched its sportsbook app in Illinois. FanDuel entered the Illinois market, partnering with Par-A-Dice Casino in central Peoria. FanDuel was also the third sportsbook to offer online sports betting in the state.

The FanDuel entrance was interesting for Illinois. When sports betting launched in that state in March 2020, there were talks that FanDuel was going to buy Fairmount Park Racetrack to enter the market earlier than expected.

Now, FanDuel is with Par-A-Dice casino as they were able to get around the 18-month “penalty box” period the state of Illinois set up. With online registration back in the state of Illinois, new users can register for the sportsbook and get a Bet $5 on any wager, Get $300 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Just click through this link to register for FanDuel Sportsbook Illinois.

4. DraftKings Sportsbook App Illinois

DraftKings launched its online Illinois app in August 2020. DraftKings at Casino Queen Sportsbook is the official name of the IL Sportsbook and the online sportsbook and mobile app are both available in the state. DraftKings Sportsbook was the second sports betting operator to enter the Illinois market. They partnered with Casino Queen in Alton, a four-hour car ride from Chicago. In July 2020, DraftKings launched its sports betting app in partnership with Casino Queen.

What is most interesting about DraftKings is that they found a loophole in the Illinois sports betting market. Initially, online betting sites like DraftKings, and its competitor FanDuel, were supposed to wait for 18 months before entering the market.

That all changed when DraftKings entered well before the 18-month period was up. This allowed competitors to follow as DraftKings set the tone for Illinois sports betting.
New users can get the DraftKings Bonus of up to $1,250 – Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets + 20% Deposit Match Up to $1,000 (25x playthrough) + $50 Bonus Bet With $5 Deposit – by registering here.

5. Fanatics Sportsbook App Illinois

The Fanatics Sportsbook app is known for being lightning quick, super intuitive and impressively displayed. Having the extra appeal of FanCash, virtual currency earned with every bet, makes betting with Fanatics that much sweeter. FanCash can be traded for bonus bets or merchandise at the Fanatics Store.

New customers capture a Bet and Get Up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets offer. That means you are eligible for up to $1,000 in bet credits over 10 days. There isn’t a bonus code, just click to claim. The maximum daily wager with this bonus is $100.

Illinois Online Sports Betting

Illinois online gambling is live in the state. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the original sports betting bill in June of 2019. The first land-based sportsbook, BetRivers Sportsbook took its first bet in March 2020. On June 5, 2020. Governor Pritzker opened up mobile sports betting registration due to COVID-19. DraftKings Sportsbook & FanDuel Sportsbook took their first Illinois bets in August 2020.

While online sportsbook registration was unavailable for nearly a year in Illinois, it’s made a full comeback, and now anyone in the state can register for sportsbooks completely online.

How to Bet on Sports in Chicago, Illinois

The sports betting industry in Illinois launched on March 9, 2020, but things never really took off until mobile registration was allowed in August 2020. Currently, there are four online sportsbook apps up and running in the state, and they are four of the biggest names in the industry.

If you live in Chicago or are looking to bet from any city in Illinois, here are five steps you need to take to bet on sports in the state.

1. Research Illinois Sportsbooks

The first thing you want to do if you plan on betting in Illinois is research all of the available sportsbooks in the state. The Illinois sports betting market continues to grow, as seen with the recent relaunch of online sportsbook registration.

You will want to check out what sites offer the best welcome bonuses, and will also want to look at the betting options or sports offered. You can find reviews of each sportsbook on Lineups.com, as we offer full reviews of the best bonuses and apps out there.

You will be spending money at this site, and it has to be a site that you trust and feel comfortable with.

2. Click through our links or banners to take advantage of the biggest promotions

Now that you have done your research on the sports betting apps available in Illinois, it is time to choose one. We can help you out with that by providing you with a link to the best promotions offered from the sportsbook.

The top four online sportsbooks in Illinois are listed below. Each link to a detailed page describing their Illinois promotion. Be sure to check out each one of the offers below before choosing a site.

• Caesars Sportsbook
• BetMGM Sportsbook
• BetRivers Sportsbook
• FanDuel Sportsbook
• DraftKings Sportsbook

3. Download the Mobile App

The next step is to download the online app that your chosen sportsbook provides. It is wise to download multiple mobile apps to give yourself some variety when making bets.

All of the sportsbooks in Illinois provide download links right on their website, and they are all available for download on both Android and iOS devices.

After you have downloaded the sportsbook app, you will have to verify your name, age, and location. Location services must be enabled when using the mobile app so that you can place bets in the state.

4. Make a Deposit

After you have chosen a sportsbook and have taken advantage of the bonus offer, it is time to make a deposit. Sportsbooks offer different deposit methods, but there are usually some similarities as well.

You can use a credit card to make a deposit, or you can provide the sportsbook with your banking information. Most sportsbooks will also allow you to use sites such as PayPal or Skrill to make a deposit.

5. Place a Bet

If you have made it this far, then you are ready for the final step. You are ready to explore the sportsbook to find games you wish to bet on.

All you have to do for this step is select a game and make a betting pick. You will be asked how much money you want to wager, and then you submit the bet for approval.

Your bet is in, and you can now sit back and enjoy the games.

Illinois Retail Sportsbooks

There are plenty of retail sportsbooks available in Illinois right now. Some of these sportsbook locations launched back in March of 2020 such as the Rivers Casino Sportsbook and BarStool Sportsbook at Argosy Casino Alton. Plenty of others are available right now as well, such as FanDuel Sportsbook at Par-A-Dice Casino, PointsBet Sportsbook at Hawthorne Race Course, Caesars Sportsbook at Grand Victoria, and many more. While mobile betting has definitely taken some business away from classic retail sportsbooks, some bettors prefer the charm of a brick-and-mortar sportsbook.

Illinois FAQ

• Can I Download Mobile Betting Apps in Illinois?

• What sportsbooks are in Illinois?

• Does DraftKings offer any promotions?

• Will other online betting sites be available?

• Why are DraftKings and FanDuel now available?

• Can I bet in person?

• What sports can I bet on?

• What is the largest welcome bonus in Illinois?

• Can I bet on collegiate sports in Illinois?

• Who is the official betting partner of the Chicago Bears?

Fees in Illinois

One issue online sportsbooks might have when considering whether or not to launch in Illinois is the price of entry. Large retailers must pay a $20 million licensing fee to enter the Illinois market. The state hopes that this might detract some retailers from entering, or waiting longer before they enter. The goal is to help the casinos around the state create more revenue. If more revenue goes to local casinos, then the state will also get more.

In Illinois, there is an 18-month “penalty box” period for major U.S. retailers. The state decided that this would be the best way to jumpstart local sportsbooks is to give them a chance to build clientele before the big players enter the Illinois market. The “penalty box” period will help local sportsbooks hash out the kinks in their sites and offerings to make sure they retain as many clients as possible.

Having to compete with DraftKings and FanDuel will not work out for small books like BetRivers if players aren’t satisfied with the site.

Illinois Sports Betting Timeline

Gov. J.B. Pritzker legalized sports betting as part of a larger capital bill in what became an extended session of the general assembly. The new sports betting law allows for both physical and state-wide mobile betting. However, online betting could not begin until 18 months after the launch of retail sports betting, unless a master license was obtained. This was the state’s way of keeping out the likes of FanDuel and DraftKings from operating on their own, giving local casinos a leg up on the competition.

Before the current bill passed, there were a few others that Illinois considered since the PASPA decision in 2018. The first bill was HB4214. HB4214 was actually introduced prior to the PASPA ruling. In January of 2018, HB4214 was introduced by Representative Lou Lang. The bill was merely an attempt for Illinois to begin a discussion on the issue of legal sports betting.

A few more bills were introduced between Lang’s HB4214 and the bill that Pritzker signed into law. The most notable of those was perhaps SB3432. This bill was introduced in February of 2018 by former NFL player Napolean Harris. Senator Harris’ bill was the first, and only, in the state that included the highly debated “integrity fee” that the major sporting leagues were seeking from each state that legalized sports betting.

SB3432 would have allowed for sports betting to operate at facilities authorized under the Riverboat Gambling Act. It also would have allowed for both in-person and mobile betting. Taxes were set at 12.5% of gross sports wagering revenue. The bill eventually died in January 2019.

The bill that Pritzker eventually signed into law, SB690, was an 816-page bill with a $45 billion infrastructure plan. Aside from legalizing sports betting, the bill also called for six new casinos in the state, among other things.

One notable aspect of sports betting in Illinois is the “bad actor” clause. This is the clause that kept the likes of FanDuel and DraftKings out of Illinois for at least 18 months. This penalty period allowed local casinos to get a leg up on the online giants. Out-of-state providers were allowed to partner with in-state racetracks, casinos, or sporting venues during the 18-month period. After that, online operators were allowed to operate independently. An online wagering license in Illinois is set a $20 million.

For quite some time, bettors were required to visit a physical casino in-person to apply for an online betting account. However that has since been reversed, and Illinois sports bettors can once again register for sports betting platforms online from the comfort of their homes.

Neighboring Competitive Landscape

The slow and steady approach in Illinois has caused the state to fall behind the neighboring competition. However, IL is quickly catching up. Sports betting launched to the West in Iowa on August 15th, 2020. Indiana, to the East, saw sports betting begin in early September of that year. Tennessee to the south has sports betting legalized via mobile-only. To the Northeast, Michigan launched in January of 2021.

Two neighboring states already offered sports betting at the time of launch, so, Illinois was losing money with each passing month. Once sports betting went live in IL, residents from specific areas in Missouri, Kentucky, and Wisconsin could more easily access sports betting by traveling across state lines to bet in Illinois. This has put more pressure on these states to pass bills and keep the revenue within their borders.

Slow and steady may win the race in some aspects, but the slow mobile start put Illinois behind other states in its region. Still, thanks to the return of mobile sports betting registration and the possibility for more sportsbooks to join the state soon, Illinois sports betting should have a bright future.

DraftKings Illinois Sports Betting App

Name: DraftKings Illinois Sports Betting App

Description: There are a number of viable and trustworthy mobile apps available in Illinois. Each has it's own unique features, design and sign up bonus. However, our #1 recommended mobile app in IL is the DraftKings Sportsbook. With an industry-leading selection of sports and betting options, DraftKings takes the top position. DraftKings Sportsbook offers up to $1,250 in bonuses via their mobile app for new users.

Operating System: Apple iOS, Android

Application Category: Game

Author: Nick Wojcik

• DraftKings Sportsbook Illinois App

• Mobile App Design
• Mobile App Speed
• Mobile App Odds
• Mobile App Customer Support
• Mobile App Promo Code

5

Mobile Apps in IL Recap

There are four mobile sports betting apps in Illinois that we recommend. The leaders in IL are also the leaders throughout the gaming software industry in the US. Our top app recommendation is DraftKings Sportsbook, following by FanDuel, BetRivers. Each app offers its own unique design and feel. Each app has a unique promo offer specifically for Illinois residents. All of the apps reviewed are available on iOS and Android devices.

Well Done

• Wide selection of apps
• High bonus offers
• Vast betting options
• All sports offered

Needs Help

• No book has a no-deposit bonus