Illinois Sports Betting Options
Illinois Online Sportsbooks |
Promotions for Illinois Sports Betting |
| DraftKings Sportsbook Illinois | $1,000 Free Bonus |
| FanDuel Sportsbook Illinois | $1,000 Risk-Free Bet |
| William Hill Sportsbook Illinois | $300 Risk-Free Bet (code: Mockery300) |
| BetRivers Sportsbook Illinois | $250 Free Deposit |
| PointsBet Sportsbook Illinois | Two Risk-Free Bets Up To $1,000 |
1. DraftKings Sportsbook at Queen Casino
The DraftKings Sportsbook currently offers users a $1,000 bonus for signing up. They are operational in 8 of the 18 legalized states and offer a variety of ways to play. Pools are the ability to bet on anything from football games to television shows, many of them are free to enter. Promotional games offer users unique incentives for playing, sometimes it's an all-expenses-paid trip. Mission-based games allow users to complete specific tasks and earn rewards they can use for wagering in the future. Lastly, they combine all of this functionality into one wallet so users can easily deposit and withdraw funds in a central location.
With over 93,000 ratings on iTunes, the DraftKings Sportsbook has a 4.8 rating. They advertise as the top-rated legal mobile sportsbook app in the country.
DraftKings Sportsbook New User Bonus
DraftKings offers $1,000 in free bonuses. $500 is in the form a risk-free bet and $500 is in the form of a deposit match. So, if you deposit $500, you will get a $500 risk-free bet and another $500 deposited free into your bonus account for you to bet with.
2. FanDuel Sportsbook Illinois
The FanDuel Sportsbook is one of the most popular methods to bet for daily fantasy players. Since July 2009, Fan Duel has been offering fantasy players a unique application to play a daily version of the game. They reportedly have a membership of over 6 million and their headquarters operates out of New York. The FanDuel Sportsbook is also offering users a $1,000 free bet for signing up. They feature several different styles of betting including "Superboosts" which allows users to take control of the odds with leverage. There are several prize pools with tens of thousands of dollars offered to the winners.
The FanDuel Sportsbook is available for iTunes and Android. It currently has over 71,000 reviews on iTunes with a 4.7 rating.
FanDuel Sportsbook Sign Up Bonus
FanDuel Sportsbook has what we consider to be the best bonus in Illinois. It's a $1,000 risk-free bet without any play-through requirements on your winnings and free bet. Normally, if you win a risk-free bet, you need to play a certain multiple of that dollar amount in bets before you can withdraw your winnings. As an example, if you deposit $500 on another book, receive a free $500 bet, and win, your winnings will be held in a bonus account until you satisfy the play-through requirement and bet 3-10X your winnings. In that case, you would need to bet anywhere from $1,500-$5,000.
3. William Hill Sportsbook at Grand Victoria Casino
The William Hill Sportsbook is advertised as "America's #1 Sportsbook" featuring several different gambling options for its users. They are legal in 13 states and they have "offered sports fans a superior betting experience for over 85 years." Originally started in the United Kingdom, the William Hill Sportsbook expanded to the United States in 2012.William Hill Sportsbook Bonus
William Hill is offering a free $300 bet for Illinois bettors. You must enter our Promo Code "MOCKERY300" when signing up in order to receive this offer. Click through our banner below and when on the registration screen, enter "MOCKERY300".
4. BetRivers
BetRivers is an online sportsbook, operated by Rivers Casino Des Plaines, offering users a $250 bonus match on their first deposit. The BetRivers app has several features including live in-game betting, live streaming, daily promotions, and a loyalty program. The only downside is BetRivers appears to only be available for Android devices, they do not have a listing in iTunes. The mobile app also features advertising for users to "plan a trip in-person" and visit the physical casino located at 3000 S. River Road in Des Plaines, Illinois. The presence of a physical casino gives some users peace of mind while placing wagers on their favorite mobile apps.5. PointsBet
PointsBet has recently launched in Illinois by announcing not only a partnership with the Chicago Bears, but also special teams legend Devin Hester. Founded in 2017, PointsBet originally launched in Australia and has become Illinois' newest online sportsbook. THey are offering all your traditional fixed odds plus "the world's most exciting sports betting format." They are also the official betting partner of NBC Sports.New Illinois Sports Betting Sportsbooks
Expected to gain a lot of market share nationwide, the Penn National Sportsbook (Barstool) launched on August 20th. They operate out of the Hollywood Aurora and Hollywood Joliet casinos. It appears Penn National could be rebranded to Barstool Sportsbook according to the latest rumors, but nothing has been decided yet.| Sportsbook | Casino | Open Date |
| Penn National (Barstool) | Hollywood Casino Aurora | 8/20/20 |
| BetAmerica | TBD | |
| FoxBet | TBD | |
| Caesars | TBD |
Land-Based Illinois Sports Betting Sportsbooks
| Argosy Casino Alton | 1 Piasa St, Alton, IL 62002 (800) 711-4263 |
| DraftKings at Casino Queen | 200 S Front St, East St Louis, IL 62201 (618) 874-5000 |
| Grand Victoria Casino | 250 S Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120 (847) 468-7000 |
| Hollywood Aurora | 1 W New York St, Aurora, IL 60506 (630) 801-1234 |
| Hollywood Joliet | 777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, IL 60436 (888) 436-7737 |
| River Casino Des Plaines | 3000 S River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018 (888) 307-0777 |
Illinois Sports Betting FAQ
Can I bet on sports online in Illinois?
Yes. As of early July, bettors can sign up, deposit and bet all online through computers, tablets or mobile devices.Can I bet on sports in-person in Illinois?
Yes, there are six land-based casinos you can go to.Do I have to be within Illinois state lines to place a bet?
Yes. Because sports betting is legalized and regulated at the state-wide level, each state implements geotracking technology to restrict bets just to bettors within state lines. That’s true for Illinois sportsbooks as well.What apps are available for Illinois Sports Betting?
DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, William Hill and PointsBet are the most popular. Barstool Sportsbook (Penn) has also recently launched.How long will online registration for sports betting last in Illinois?
Nobody knows for sure, but on Friday September 18, the Secretary of State in Illinois filed Executive Order 2020-55 which allowed remote registration for online sports betting to be continued through October 17th.How do I deposit money for sports betting in Illinois?
There are normally various deposit options depending on the app you use. Here are the most common:- Credit / Debit Card: instantly fund using all major credit/debit cards.
- Play+ Prepaid Card: transfer funds from PayPal, bank accounts, or credit/debit cards.
- e-Check: transfer funds with higher limits from the bank with an electronic check.
- Deposit Cash in Person: fund your account at Grand Victoria Sports Book.
How do I withdraw money for sports betting in Illinois?
There are normally various withdraw options depending on the app you use. Here are the most common:- e-Check: safest withdraw option to your bank account
- Play+ Prepaid Card: instantly withdraw to a bank
- Cash Out at Our Sportsbook: going to the casino
How do taxes work for sports betting in Illinois?
Sportsbooks will pay a tax rate of 15% of gross adjusted revenue (higher than neighboring Indiana’s 9.5% and Iowa’s 6.75%). Master license fees for casinos, racetracks and sporting arenas cost $10 million. Online-only sports betting licenses (limited to three) each cost $20 million.A History of Illinois Sports Betting
Year |
Event |
| 2018 | Several sports betting bills introduced, U.S. Supreme Court overturns Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. |
| 2019 | Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signs bill into law legalizing Illinois sports betting. |
| 2020 | Rivers Casino Des Plaines becomes the first sportsbook in Illinois to take a sports wager. Executive order 2020-41 is passed allowing Illinois residents to register online for Illinois sports gambling. Currently extended through October 17th. |
Illinois Sports Betting Payment Methods
Play+: A great option created for just this purpose. You can sign up for a Play+ card from a link ont he sportsbook website, then fund the card via a credit card or bank account. Use Play+ to fund you sportsbook account, then withdraw winnings back on to the account and access the cash at an ATM. You can use one Play+ card with multiple sportsbooks, too.PayPal/other e-wallets: The popular e-wallet allows you to transfer funds to your sportsbook account from your PayPal account. Setting up a PayPal account is simple (many bettors already have one) and it can be funded by a credit/debit card. Other e-wallets include Neteller and Skrill.
Bank transfer/ACH: Transfers allow the Illinois online sportsbook to withdraw funds from a player’s checking account for an instant transaction.
PayNearMe: Players can put money into their online sportsbook account by using cash and a voucher at Illinois 7-Elevens, CVS pharmacies and Family Dollar stores.
Cash: You can fund your account by visiting the cashier cage at the affiliated casino/sportsbook. You can also make withdrawals from the cashier cage.
Credit cards/Debit cards: Nearly all Illinois online sportsbooks will accept credit and debit cards, though some financial institutions are still blocking the transactions even though they are legal just out of policy. Credit card companies that do allow for such transactions may also add fees, treating the transaction as a cash advance. Visa and Mastercard are the most popular, though some casinos and sportsbooks also accept American Express.
