Best Legal Illinois Sports Betting Apps + Sportsbooks In 2026

Legal Illinois sports betting sites remain the best way to bet on sports in the state. With sportsbooks in Illinois both in person and online, you’ll be able to find one no matter where you are. There is a lot of variety when it comes to where to legally bet in Illinois. For the state-regulated books, they have restrictions when betting on universities in Illinois. The best IL sportsbook apps 2026 like Bovada do not have these same restrictions because they are regulated overseas.​ If looking for how to bet on sports in Illinois with Bitcoin, these betting sites are your only option. If you want to mix it up, try Bovada to shop lines or bet college props in IL.

• Illinois began taxing local sportsbooks after creating laws in 2019 and launching in 2020.
• Use Bovada or BetOnline to bet on in-state college football game lines and player props.

Is Bovada Legal In Illinois?

There are no laws against using Bovada in Illinois. Due to the location of the legal sports betting site, the Free Trade Agreement protects Bovada’s rights. Bovada is the preferred option for those betting on Illinois college teams. Because of their ability to take player prop bets and accept bets from a mobile device, it makes it so much easier.

Illinois Sports Betting And Gambling Laws

Illinois regulated sports betting with the signing of SB 690 on June 28, 2019. Casinos must be near flowing bodies of water except for Lake Michigan. The only exception to this law is if a county’s population exceeds 3 million people. The betting age in Illinois is set at 21 for casino-style gaming and sports betting. The Illinois Gaming Board regulates sports gambling. For more info on Illinois’ gambling laws, consult Illinois Compiled Statutes §720 5/28-1 .

In January 2022, legislators introduced a pair of Illinois sports betting bills. SB 3872 would have added an exchange trade amendment to the Wagering Act. This would allow peer-to-peer sports betting services, such as Wagr, to operate. The other bill was HB 5376 which deals with diversion of funds from the Sports Wagering Fund. The plan was to redirect funds to student-athletes, sports wagering costs, and compliance. It also took deeper measures to ensure no persons related to athletics had a betting account. Both measures jumped around a few committees and neither switched chambers.

Illinois Sports Betting Timeline

• April 13, 2026 – FanDuel announces their removal of the per-bet fee for the summer.
• December 16, 2025 – Mayor Brandon Johnson’s pitch for an extra 10.25% tax on sports betting within Chicago gets implemented.
• September 9, 2025 – Illinois sportsbooks hit a milestone, sending over $1 billion to the state from sports betting taxes.
• July 16, 2025 – Illinois becomes the third state to reach $50 billion in total sports betting handle.
• June 10, 2025 – Due to tax changes, FanDuel (and other operators) implement a per-bet fee for all wagers in Illinois.
• October 2022 – Illinois sports betting handle broke $1 billion for the first time in October 2022.
• May 6, 2022 – The Chicago White Sox have partnered with Caesars Sportsbook in a move that mirrors similar moves made by the Bears and RSI.
• March 5, 2022 – The in-person sportsbook registration requirement, after being waived half-a-dozen times, is finally gone for good.
• October 29, 2021 – Online sportsbooks will no longer be required to offer in-person registration in Illinois, removing the requirement for in-person casino partners.
• July 17, 2021 – IL SB0521, a bill that would remove the requirements for in-state collegiate wagering, is referred to a committee, where it proceeds to get stuck, never leaving.
• June 25, 2021 – The Chicago Bears partner with Rush Street Interactive, the operator of BetRivers.com and Rivers Casino.
• April 4, 2021 – Gov J.B. Pritzker removes the order allowing for remote betting signups during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• March 8, 2021 – Gov. J.B. Pritzker extends his order allowing remote sportsbook signups so that March Madness falls within the remote signup period.
• February 11, 2021 – Rep. Michael Zalewski proposes an end to the in-state collegiate betting requirements, although his bill, HB 0849, will not pass.
• November 14, 2020 – The Governor’s order allowing remote registration for online sportsbooks is extended once again.
• October 20, 2020 – The Governor’s order allowing for remote registration at online sportsbooks in Illinois is again extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• September 21, 2020 – For the second time, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has extended his order allowing for the removal of in-person sportsbook registration requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• August 24, 2020 – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has reinstated an order that allows for remote registration for online sportsbooks, after it was left out of his re-signing at the end of June.
• July 27, 2020 – Illinois will sunset their in-person sportsbook requirement removal program, as Gov. Pritzker did not sign an order extending it.
• July 1, 2020 – Illinois casinos and sportsbooks reopen to the public.
• June 5, 2020 – Gov J.B. Pritzker has issued a stay of the in-person registration requirement for legal Illinois sportsbooks.
• March 8, 2020 – The first sports bet under the new set of laws in Illinois is placed by hockey legend Eddie Olczyk.
• June 28, 2019 – Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs sports betting Illinois into law by signing the omnibus gaming bill.
• June 3, 2019 – The Illinois State Legislature has passed SB 690, the omnibus gaming bill that includes sports betting. It passed the House with a final tally of 87-27, and the Senate with a vote tally of 46-10-2.
• February 21, 2019 – Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that he was officially coming down on the side of sports betting in his budget address.

What Is The Legal Sports Betting Age In Illinois?

​The legal sports betting age in Illinois depends on which sportsbook you are using. Bovada, BetOnline, and other offshore sportsbooks that accept Illinois residents have an 18+ sports betting age. Any of the local sportsbook apps like FanDuel or DraftKings, are 21+.

Can I Bet Real Money On Sports In Illinois?

Real money sports betting in Illinois is available through multiple outlets. There are retail sportsbooks, mobile apps provided by the state-sanctioned industry, and internet sports wagering websites, all available to sports bettors for gambling real money on sports in Illinois.

Betting On Sports In Illinois With Cryptocurrency

Although the regulated online sportsbooks in Illinois don’t allow it, the licensed sports betting sites in the state do let you bet on sports with cryptocurrency. Betting on sports with crypto comes with plenty of upside to it such as great deposit limits, huge deposit bonuses that could score you up to $1,000, and the ability to link your crypto wallets to your legal sports betting Illinois accounts and send funds in just seconds. Some of the available crypto betting options include:

• Bitcoin
• Ethereum
• Litecoin
• Solana
• Shiba Inu
• Cardano
• Dogecoin
• USDT
• Bitcoin Cash
• Apecoin

What Teams Can I Bet On?

While you can bet on any sports team that you could possibly think of, Illinois has some of the top sports teams in the country for you to bet on. That includes seven professional sports teams and 13 Division 1 collegiate teams.

Professional Teams In Illinois

• Chicago Bears – NFL
• Chicago Blackhawks – NHL
• Chicago Bulls – NBA
• Chicago Cubs – MLB
• Chicago Fire – MLS
• Chicago Sky – WNBA
• Chicago White Sox – MLB

DI Teams In Illinois

• Bradley Braves
• Chicago State Cougars
• Eastern Illinois Panthers
• DePaul Blue Demons
• Illinois Fighting Illini
• Illinois State Redbirds
• Loyola Chicago Ramblers
• Northern Illinois Huskies
• Northwestern Wildcats
• SIU Edwardsville Cougars
• Southern Illinois Salukis
• Western Illinois Leathernecks

Is It Legal To Bet On College Football In Illinois?

Yes, it is legal to bet on college football in Illinois, with our top sportsbooks offer player props, game lines, and futures for in-state and out-of-state teams. The same cannot be said for local sportsbook apps like DraftKings or FanDuel, as they are not permitted to take any wagers on in-state Illinois football teams. For betting on the Fighting Illini, sign up for Bovada below:

Bet On College Football In Illinois At Bovada

Local Sportsbook Apps That Accept IL Players

BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM opened their online sportsbook in Illinois, with a lot of options available for prospective bettors in the state. Their app is quite easy to use, although there’s quite a gap between the reviews on the App Store and the Google Play Store, suggesting a possible drop in quality.

BetRivers Sportsbook

BetRivers was the first online sportsbook that opened up in the state of Illinois, starting operations in June of 2020. This means that it had a bit of an advantage over other sportsbooks, which had to claw market share away from BetRivers. It’s still a more successful book in IL than it is in several other states.

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars launched in Illinois on August 3, 2021, in partnership with the Grand Victoria Casino. They’re a popular choice for fans of sports betting in Illinois thanks to their useful mobile app and large volume of daily odds boosts.

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings partnered with Casino Queen in order to offer sports betting in Illinois, launching as one of the first sportsbooks in the state in August 2020. Their big bonus offer in Illinois is when you sign up, which is great for new bettors.

FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel Sportsbook opened a sportsbook and race book in Illinois known as FanDuel Sportsbook And Horse Racing, but their online platform is focused on sports betting as well as Daily Fantasy Sports. They offer a reasonable bonus, which is in line with the Illinois market.

Where’s The Closest Place To Me To Bet?

Not only is sports betting legal in Illinois online, there are several retail operations — mainly centered around Chicago and the Missouri border. There are currently 11 operational retail sportsbooks in Illinois, with the first to open being the Rivers Casino Des Plaines. The Chicago City Council removed the city’s ban on in-person sportsbooks, allowing Wrigley Field (home to the Chicago Cubs) to partner with DraftKings sportsbook and the United Center (home to the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks) to partner with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Sportsbooks in Alton

Argosy Casino Sportsbook The Argosy Casino planned to launch on March 16, 2020 but could not meet that deadline because of the coronavirus outbreak. Once launched, this sportsbook displayed 36 large-screen HD TVs and many ways to bet.

Sportsbooks in Aurora

Hollywood Casino Aurora Sportsbook The Hollywood Aurora sits atop an island in the middle of the Fox River. It received a temporary license from the state of Illinois to start and now is one of the largest producing sportsbooks in the state.

Sportsbooks in Des Plaines

BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino The BetRivers sportsbook features a sleek, modern lounge that looks like it was ripped from a Hollywood spaceship design, offering a fantastic space to bet from. BetRivers is also a well-established sports betting brand and comes with a host of convenient features.

Sportsbooks in East Peoria

FanDuel Sportsbook at Par-a-Dice Casino Par-a-Dice is partnered with B Connected to launch the FanDuel Sportsbook, one of the largest sports betting operators in the country. The sportsbooks opened their doors in August of 2020.

Sportsbooks in Elgin

Grand Victoria Casino The Grand Victoria is one of Illinois’s premier riverboat gambling destinations with a sportsbook launch on August 1, 2020 building its brand.

Sportsbooks in Joliet

Hollywood Joliet Casino Sportsbook The Hollywood Joliet Casino is on the west side of the Des Plaines River in southwest Chicago. The casino received a license for sports betting and launched after the state’s COVID-19 restrictions ended before the 2020 NFL season.

Sportsbooks in Prospect Heights

Club Hawthorne Prospect Heights & PointsBet Sportsbook Club Hawthorne Prospect Heights is the home to one of Illinois’ premier racecourses. The PointsBet Sportsbook, launched in 2021, has since turned into a Fanatics Sportsbook.

Sportsbooks in Oakbrook

Club Hawthorne Oakbrook Terrace & PointsBet Sportsbook One of Illinois’ top off-track betting destinations, Club Hawthorne Oakbrook Terrace also includes a PointsBet Sportsbook, similar to the establishment in Prospect Heights.

Sportsbooks in East St. Louis

DraftKings At Casino Queen DraftKings first launched their sportsbook at Casino Queen in August 2020 and has become one of the top retail sportsbooks in Illinois. Besides DraftKings sportsbook, the Casino Queen also features a variety of casino games, providing a well-rounded gaming experience.

Sportsbooks in Collinsville

Fairmount Park One of three horse racing tracks in Illinois and the only outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, Fairmount Park now also offers a full-service sportsbook on-premises.

Sportsbooks in Cicero

Hawthorne Race Course Hawthorne Race Course is the oldest continuously-run family-owned horse racing track in the United States, making it a top horse race destination in the region. On top of the horse racing action, the venue now offers a full-service sportsbook.

Horse Racing Betting In Illinois

Horse racing betting in Illinois is a thriving industry and legal throughout the state. It is not hard to find where to legally bet in Illinois on horses. The state boasts over two dozen pari-mutuel wagering facilities – also called OTBs or off-track betting sites – where horse races are simulcast for all to enjoy. Two major horse tracks are located outside of Chicago. These are the Hawthorn Racecourse and Arlington Park, which are easily accessible for residents in the suburbs. The state’s other track, Fairmont Park, is located in Collinsville, which is across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. While horseracing season is limited to seasonal months, that doesn’t have to stop you from betting on horses, as the online operators listed here also offer racebooks with action from dozens of tracks throughout the US and the rest of the world!

Daily Fantasy Sports In Illinois

Illinois daily fantasy sports (DFS) is an interesting topic, as the state allows for operators and players to participate; however, the Attorney General is on record giving an unfavorable opinion on the matter. Regardless, DFS operators like FanDuel and DraftKings do business in the state, and they offer prizes ranging from a few bucks to several hundred thousand dollars! Some contests are free to join, while others are paid, though they both provide sign-up and friend-referral bonuses.

Interestingly, as a result of Illinois’ “gray area” DFS climate (there are no laws regulating or criminalizing the industry), several local casino operators were able to get the state to lock out DraftKings and FanDuel from operating Illinois sports betting for the first 18 months. Though controversial, this move was not challenged, yet the two operators remain the largest sportsbook in the US and state after the fact.

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Legal Illinois Sports Betting FAQs

Where Is The Best Place To Bet On Sports In Illinois?

Illinois has so many options that every place could be considered the best place to bet on sports. Going to a retail establishment is great but so is using a mobile sports betting platform. And shopping lines among various operators including internet sportsbooks make all three choices the best place for Illinois sports bettors to get in on the action of the games.

Should I Use A Local Bookie In Illinois?

No, local bookies are not licensed and regulated in Illinois, meaning they do not have to pay you your winnings if they do not want to. There is no need to go this route for residents of Illinois as every other way to gamble on sports is quite literally legally available to them.

When Did Sports Betting Become Legal In Illinois?

Sports betting became legal in Illinois for both retail and mobile sportsbooks on June 28, 2019.

Do Any Casinos Have Sportsbooks In Illinois?

Yes, Illinois is home many sportsbooks. Aside from sportsbooks taking Illinois players, locals or tourists can bet in person. There are about a dozen legal sportsbooks in Illinois.

Can I Bet On Sports With Friends In Illinois?

Yes, gambling on sporting events in Illinois with your friends is completely legal because there are no laws prohibiting it. And you’d have to imagine it would be either way if it’s okay to wager using a local sportsbook or faceless mobile application.