Is Sports Betting Legal in Illinois?

Yes. Sports betting is legal in Illinois through both online apps and in-person sportsbooks. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 690 into law on June 28, 2019, creating the Illinois Sports Wagering Act. Retail betting launched March 9, 2020, and online betting followed June 18, 2020. The Illinois Gaming Board regulates and licenses the entire market.

To place a legal bet, you must be at least 21 years old and physically located within state lines. Residency is not required, so visitors can bet while they are in Illinois. Every licensed sportsbook uses geolocation technology to confirm your location before accepting a wager. Online casino gaming, by contrast, is not yet legal in Illinois, though lawmakers continue to debate it. For betting from your phone, see our mobile sports betting guide.

How Operators Are Taxed

When betting launched in 2020, operators paid a flat 15 percent tax on revenue. Effective July 1, 2024, Illinois replaced that with a graduated tax on adjusted gross sports wagering receipts, starting at 20 percent and climbing through 25, 30 and 35 percent brackets up to 40 percent on the highest revenue tiers. The largest operators now pay much of their Illinois revenue at the top 40 percent rate. On top of that, effective July 1, 2025, the state added a per-wager fee: 25 cents on each of an operator’s first 20 million online bets in a fiscal year, and 50 cents on every bet beyond that. Wagers placed within Chicago city limits carry an additional city surcharge. Both the graduated scale and the per-wager fee are unique to Illinois among legal betting states.

How the Fees Reach Bettors

Operators handled the per-wager fee in two different ways, and this directly affects which book is cheapest for how you bet. Some pass the fee to customers as a per-bet surcharge: DraftKings and FanDuel charge 50 cents per wager, while bet365, Caesars and Fanatics charge 25 cents, with bet365’s fee applying only to bets under 10 dollars and DraftKings carrying several exceptions. Others set a minimum bet instead of a surcharge: BetRivers and theScore Bet at 1 dollar, Hard Rock Bet at 2 dollars, BetMGM at 2.50 dollars and Circa at 10 dollars. If you place many small wagers, these differences add up, so factor them into where you bet.

How Bettors Are Taxed

All gambling winnings in Illinois are taxable. The state taxes gambling income, including sports betting winnings, at a flat rate of 4.95 percent, the same rate applied to other income, and you are responsible for reporting your winnings. Note that as of recent changes, Illinois limits how much of your gambling losses you can deduct on state taxes, so keep good records. Sports betting tax revenue flows into the State Gaming Fund, which supports state programs including education and infrastructure.

Each book below includes when it entered Illinois, what it does best, its loyalty program where relevant, and a short rundown of its current Illinois welcome bonus. Because welcome offers and per-wager fee policies can differ from one state to the next, the bonus details here are written specifically for Illinois bettors. Offers change often, so always confirm the current terms inside the app before opting in.

Common Types of Welcome Bonuses

Most Illinois welcome offers fall into one of a few structures. A bet-and-get offer rewards you with bonus bets after you place a qualifying first wager, sometimes only if it wins and sometimes win or lose. A first-bet safety net, sometimes called a first-bet insurance offer, refunds your opening stake in bonus bets if that first wager loses. A profit-boost offer hands you a set of tokens that increase the payout on qualifying bets, each with its own maximum stake. A deposit or bet match credits a percentage of your qualifying amount as bonus funds or rewards currency, such as Fanatics FanCash. Each structure suits a different style of bettor, so match the offer to how much you plan to wager.

The Terms That Matter Most

Before opting in to any Illinois bonus, read the fine print. The terms that most affect the real value of an offer include the minimum odds required for the qualifying bet, often around minus 500 or longer, the size and timing of the qualifying wager, how long bonus bets last before they expire, commonly seven days but as long as 30 at some books, and whether bonus bets can be split across multiple wagers. Remember that bonus bets pay out without returning the stake, so a winning bonus bet credits only the profit, not the face value. Many offers also require a promo or bonus code entered at sign-up, while others apply automatically.

Are There Illinois Laws or Rules Specific to Bonuses?

Illinois does not ban sportsbook promotions, and the bonuses available here are broadly similar to those in other regulated states, but a few state-specific factors shape them. The Illinois Gaming Board regulates advertising and promotions to ensure they are not misleading, requires responsible-gambling messaging alongside offers, and has banned gambling advertising on Illinois college and university campuses. The state’s per-wager fee also affects bonus economics: because operators owe the fee on wagers and report customer surcharges as taxable receipts, the high-tax Illinois environment has pushed some books to offer leaner or more conditional promotions here than they do in lower-tax states. Bonus bets themselves are generally non-withdrawable, meaning you cannot cash them out directly, only the winnings they generate. As always, the controlling terms are the ones inside the app at the time you claim, so confirm current details there.

Ongoing Promotions and Why They Matter

The welcome offer is only the starting point. The long-term value of a sportsbook often comes from its recurring promotions, which can include odds boosts, parlay insurance, profit boosts, reduced-juice games and rewards programs that turn every wager into redeemable points. Because these vary widely from book to book, holding accounts at more than one Illinois sportsbook lets you claim the best available promotion on any given day and shop for the best price on the same bet.

Are Offshore Sportsbooks Legal in Illinois?

No. Offshore sportsbooks are not licensed or regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board, and they are not legal, regulated operators in the United States. They run from jurisdictions such as Curacao, Costa Rica, Panama and Antigua, outside the reach of U.S. and Illinois regulators. The Illinois Gaming Board has stated plainly that Bovada, one of the most heavily marketed offshore brands, offers service to Illinoisans in violation of federal law. From a regulator’s standpoint, these are illegal gambling businesses, and reputable Illinois guides recommend against using them.

Enforcement to date has focused on the operators rather than individual recreational bettors, and prosecutions of everyday players are rare. That is not the same as these sites being legal. The absence of a license means no state oversight protects your money, your bets or your data.

The Risks of Using Offshore Sportsbooks

The dangers of offshore betting are concrete and well documented. Bettors who use these sites take on risks that simply do not exist at a licensed Illinois sportsbook.

Offshore Sportsbooks Marketed to Illinois Players

For reference, the offshore brands most frequently marketed to Illinois bettors include Bovada, BetOnline, MyBookie, BetUS and Pinnacle. Many advertise an 18-and-older age minimum and crypto deposits. None of them are licensed or regulated in Illinois, and the risks above apply to all of them. Short overviews of the three most prominent follow, written so you understand what they are, not as endorsements.

Bovada

Bovada is one of the most recognized offshore brands marketed to U.S. bettors, known for a simple interface, an 18-plus age claim and crypto-friendly banking. It is not licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board, has been pushed out of more than a dozen states by cease-and-desist orders, and offers no state-backed protection for your funds or your bets. If it ever exits Illinois the way it has exited other states, customers could be left with balances they cannot withdraw.

BetOnline

BetOnline operates out of Panama and markets competitive lines, deep prop menus and cryptocurrency payments to U.S. customers. It holds no U.S. state license, has been named in cease-and-desist actions by multiple state regulators, and provides none of the consumer protections built into a regulated Illinois sportsbook. Disputes are resolved entirely at the operator’s discretion, with no Illinois regulator to appeal to.

MyBookie

MyBookie is another offshore site that accepts Illinois players and promotes same-game parlays and bet boosts. Like the others, it is unregulated in the United States, offers no segregated player funds and no regulator oversight, and any dispute over a voided bet, a frozen account or a delayed payout is handled solely by the operator. It is not a legal Illinois sportsbook.

Rivers Casino Des Plaines (BetRivers Sportsbook)

Rivers Casino Des Plaines is the most historically significant sportsbook in the state. It accepted the first legal sports bet in Illinois on March 9, 2020, and it remains the most centrally located major book near Chicago, just outside the city. Operated under the BetRivers brand, it offers a full sportsbook with teller windows, kiosks and a strong viewing setup, and it is the flagship retail home of the Chicago Bears’ betting partner.

DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field

One of the most famous retail sportsbooks in the country, the DraftKings book at Wrigley Field gave Cubs fans a betting destination with a large restaurant and event space alongside betting kiosks and tellers, right at the ballpark. It became a marquee example of stadium-adjacent betting in Illinois. DraftKings announced in 2026 that it would close this location, so confirm its status before planning a visit, but it remains a landmark in the state’s retail history.

Grand Victoria Casino, Elgin (Caesars Sportsbook)

Located in suburban Chicago, the Caesars Sportsbook at Grand Victoria Casino is one of the most established retail books in the state. It features flat-screen televisions throughout, high-top tables and comfortable seating so fans can settle in and watch games, plus teller windows and kiosks. As the betting partner of the Chicago White Sox, Caesars makes this a natural stop for South Side fans.

The Temporary by American Place, Waukegan (Circa Sports)

The Circa Sportsbook at American Place in Waukegan brings Circa’s sharp, sports-first approach to the northern suburbs. Circa is known nationally for the best odds and highest limits, and its retail book reflects that serious-bettor focus. It is the in-person counterpart to the Circa app for bettors who want to place large wagers or bet opening lines face to face.

Hollywood Casino Aurora and Joliet (theScore Bet)

Operated by Penn Entertainment under the theScore Bet brand, the Hollywood Casino sportsbooks in Aurora and Joliet anchor retail betting for the southwest suburbs. The Aurora location is branded as the Penalty Box Sportsbook and Bar, and Penn has invested in new land-based facilities for these properties. Together they give bettors in the Joliet and Aurora corridors full-service in-person wagering with bars, video walls and kiosks.

Chicago Stadium Betting Expansion

The Chicago City Council voted in December 2025 to end the city’s retail sports betting ban, clearing the way for sportsbooks at major stadiums including Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, Guaranteed Rate Field and the United Center. FanDuel has moved to open a sportsbook at the United Center. Wagers placed within Chicago city limits carry an additional city surcharge, a point of ongoing legal and political dispute.

How Licensing Works

Illinois law provides for several license types. Master Sports Wagering Licenses go to companies that operate land-based casinos, racetracks and large sports venues, which then partner with online brands; these carry a license fee of up to 10 million dollars. Online-only licenses carry a higher fee, reported at 20 million dollars, with a delayed market entry. The framework allows for substantial future growth, with room for more online operators and retail locations than are currently active. Every operator must be vetted and approved by the Illinois Gaming Board before taking a single bet, and the board can discipline or revoke the license of any operator that breaks the rules.

Legal Sports Betting Age in Illinois

The legal age to bet on sports in Illinois is 21, and there are no exceptions. This applies to every form of sports wagering in the state, whether you are using a mobile app, betting online from a computer or placing a wager in person at a retail sportsbook. The same 21-and-older requirement applies to casino gambling in Illinois. Some other forms of legal wagering carry a lower age threshold of 18, including the Illinois Lottery, daily fantasy sports and pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, but sports betting is firmly a 21-and-older activity. Sportsbooks verify your age during registration and may request identification, and betting underage is illegal. Note that offshore sites advertising an 18-and-older minimum are not legal or regulated in Illinois, so their age claims carry none of the protections of a licensed book.

The Illinois College Betting Rule

Illinois places specific restrictions on college wagering, and this is one of the most misunderstood parts of the law, so here is the current picture. Bettors can wager on out-of-state college teams through legal Illinois sportsbooks. However, wagering on Illinois-based college teams, such as the University of Illinois, Northwestern, DePaul and Loyola, is prohibited, a restriction that current guidance applies across both online and in-person sportsbooks. Separately, prop bets on individual college athletes are banned entirely, regardless of which school or state the athlete plays for. The Illinois Gaming Board enforces these rules to protect the integrity of college sports and the athletes themselves, and it has also banned gambling advertising on Illinois college and university campuses. The college framework has been amended before and remains a candidate for future change, so it is worth verifying the latest rules with the Illinois Gaming Board.

The Prediction Market Fight: A Legal Gray Zone

One of the most significant legal battles in Illinois sports betting has nothing to do with traditional sportsbooks. It involves prediction markets, platforms that let users trade event contracts on outcomes including sporting events. Companies such as Kalshi, Polymarket, Robinhood and Crypto.com, operating as or through federally regulated Designated Contract Markets, argue their sports-related event contracts are financial products regulated by the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission, not gambling, and therefore are not subject to state betting laws or the Illinois Gaming Board’s licensing.

Illinois disagrees. The Illinois Gaming Board takes the position that these event contracts are wagers, that offering them in the state without an IGB license is illegal gambling, and that they expose Illinois consumers to betting products without the consumer protections and oversight that licensed sportsbooks must provide. Beginning in April 2025, the board sent cease-and-desist letters to operators including Kalshi, Robinhood and Crypto.com, followed by a letter to Polymarket in January 2026, threatening civil and criminal penalties for operating without a state license.

The conflict escalated sharply on April 2, 2026, when the U.S. Department of Justice and the CFTC sued the State of Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and members of the Illinois Gaming Board in the Northern District of Illinois. The federal government argues that the Commodity Exchange Act gives the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction over federally regulated exchanges and preempts state gambling law as applied to event contracts. The CFTC filed parallel suits against Arizona and Connecticut the same day. Separately, private plaintiffs in Illinois have filed class-action lawsuits invoking the state’s centuries-old Loss Recovery Act, which lets someone who lost money on an illegal bet sue to recover it, seeking to make prediction-market platforms pay back Illinois bettors’ losses.

This area remains genuinely unsettled. Courts in different states have split, with some siding with the platforms and others backing state regulators, and many observers expect the question to reach the U.S. Supreme Court. For Illinois bettors, the practical takeaway is that prediction markets occupy a contested legal gray zone, sit outside the IGB-licensed sportsbook system described in this guide, and carry uncertainty that the regulated sportsbooks do not. The situation is evolving, so check current reporting and the Illinois Gaming Board before assuming any prediction-market product is legal in the state.

Official Illinois Sports Betting Resources

The Illinois Gaming Board publishes primary-source information that every bettor can check directly:

• Illinois Gaming Board home, igb.illinois.gov, the agency that regulates and licenses all operators.
• Authorized Operating Sportsbooks, the official, current list of legal online and retail books and their licensees.
• Sports Wagering Laws and Regulations, the statute and rules governing the market.
• Cease and Desist Letters, the board’s record of enforcement actions against unauthorized operators.
• Self-Exclusion Program, for bettors who want to exclude themselves from licensed betting.

Professional Teams and Their Sportsbook Partners

Illinois is home to a deep roster of professional franchises, and most have partnered with a sportsbook, which is useful to know when choosing a book. The Chicago Bears, the state’s only NFL team, are partnered with BetRivers and draw the most betting interest. The Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks are partnered with FanDuel, though Circa also carries a Blackhawks jersey-patch deal. The Chicago Cubs are partnered with DraftKings, and the Chicago White Sox with Caesars. The state also has the Chicago Fire in MLS and the Chicago Sky in the WNBA.

Most Popular Sports and Markets

The NFL is by far the most popular sport to bet on in Illinois, with action running from preseason through the Super Bowl. The NBA is next, powered by the Bulls, followed by MLB, where the Cubs and White Sox carry summer handle, and the NHL, which spikes when the Blackhawks make the playoffs. Soccer, tennis, golf, boxing and mixed martial arts are all widely available, with niche markets surfacing around major events. Available bet types include moneylines, point spreads, totals, player and game props, parlays, same-game parlays, live in-play betting and futures. Because lines and rules vary by book, signing up at more than one sportsbook lets you shop for the best price.

College Sports

You can bet on out-of-state college football and basketball, including the biggest national programs, but you cannot bet on Illinois-based college teams, and prop bets on individual college athletes are prohibited everywhere. See the laws section above for the full college betting picture.

Why Sign Up for More Than One Sportsbook

There is no downside to holding accounts at several Illinois books, and real upside. Different sportsbooks post different odds on the same game, so line shopping helps you get the best price. Welcome offers and ongoing promotions vary from book to book, letting you claim more value. And because per-wager fees and minimum bets differ by operator, having options lets you place each wager where it costs you least.