The Illinois sports betting industry stands as one of the biggest markets in the U.S. Fueled by legal online sports wagering, the Land of Lincoln competes among the top five U.S. sports betting markets in terms of handle.

This complete guide to Illinois sports betting includes links to a variety of new player bonus offers.

Key Points for Online Gambling in Illinois

  • Legal Online Gambling Verticals – Online sports betting; online lottery
  • Online Gambling Revenue Tax Rates – 15% of gross gaming revenue
  • Available Online Sports Betting Licenses – Up to 23 “Master Licenses” are available; plus three mobile-only betting licenses
  • College Sports Wagering Policy – Allows betting on college sports; bettors must make wagers on in-state teams in person.
  • Sports Betting Legalization and Launch Dates – Sports betting was legalized in June 2019; retail and online sportsbooks launched in March 2020
  • Gaming Regulation Agency – Illinois Gaming Board

Illinois Gambling Background

Illinois is an online gambling pioneer of sorts. In March 2012, it became the first state to begin selling online lottery tickets.

However, the Illini State took its time with sports gambling after the federal sports betting ban fell in May 2018. Lawmakers discussed the intricacies of a betting bill for a year until SB 690 passed in June 2019.

The Illinois legal online sports betting market features a reasonable 15% tax rate on land-based and online operators. In addition, it allows for up to 26 total licenses, which is generous compared to many states. Just three of these licenses, however, are for mobile-only wagering.

Key licensing points behind the Illinois legal online sports betting market are as follows:

  • IL casinos, racetracks, and retail sportsbooks can apply for a Master License.
  • A Master License allows for retail betting and one mobile skin. 
  • Master holders will pay between $3 million and $20 million in licensing fees.
  • Mobile-only operators must cover $10 million in licensing fees.
  • Pro sports teams that want to host in-stadium betting must pay $10 million in fees.
  • The renewal fee for licenses is $1 million every four years.
  • All license holders—Master and mobile—pay a 15% tax rate on gross gaming revenue.

College sports betting is legal at Illinois online sportsbooks. However, up until December 2021, bets on in-state teams were illegal. This has since changed, though, and bettors can wager on in-state teams in person. This stipulation differs from most states, though, which don’t have an in-person requirement for betting on in-state teams.

Illinois Online Sportsbooks – Legality, Rules & Revenue

Legal online sports betting in Illinois became an option around the same time as lawmakers were discussing a “capital” bill. The Supreme Court ended a federal ban on sports gambling (PASPA), which paved the way for Illinois to begin discussing sportsbooks. SB 690 passed along with the $45 billion capital bill in June 2019.

Rivers Casino took the state’s first legal sports bet on March 9, 2020. But unfortunately, COVID-19 struck shortly after that and closed down Illinois sportsbooks from late March until July 2020. 

This situation convinced Governor J.B. Pritzker to temporarily lift the in-person registration requirement for Illinois online sportsbooks. But he would reinstate this stipulation in April 2021 after land-based bookmakers were back in action. So the in-person requirement wouldn’t officially go away until March 2022. With no trouble, you can now register at Illinois online sports betting sites through your phone or computer.

Laws for Illinois Legal Online Sports Betting

You must be 21+ years old to gamble at brick-and-mortar or online sportsbooks in Illinois. This minimum age differs from the online lottery, where you only have to be 18+ years old to buy tickets.

You can sign up at IL mobile sportsbooks from virtually anywhere, whether in the US or another country. However, you must be within state lines when depositing and placing bets. Illinois online sports betting sites use geolocation to ensure that you’re within state boundaries.

As discussed before, you previously had to sign up at brick-and-mortar casinos, racetracks, and sportsbooks. This was the only way to become eligible to place legal online bets. Fortunately, Gov. Pritzker eliminated the in-person signup mandate in March 2022.

Over a dozen operators feature online sportsbooks in Illinois, including the following:

The Illini State offers as many as 23 Master Licenses and up to three online-only licenses. So far, BetMGM—a joint venture between MGM Resorts and Entain—is the lone mobile-only license holder. The rest of the IL online sportsbooks have a physical presence in the state.

Retail Sportsbooks in Illinois

Land-based casinos and prominent mobile wagering brands have gone hand in hand in Illinois’ legal online sports betting market. After all, the online brands can partner with land-based Master License holders to launch a mobile sportsbook.

DraftKings and FanDuel were two of the first notable online operators to do so. DraftKings partnered with Casino Queen in July 2020, with the latter renaming itself to DraftKings at Casino Queen. FanDuel joined Fairmount Park Racetrack in October 2020, with Fairmount rebranding to FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing.

Many operators have gotten involved with retail and legal online sports betting in Illinois. The complete list of retail sportsbooks, and their online partners, at the time of this writing, includes:

  • Barstool Sportsbook at Argosy Casino – Located in Alton; online brand is Barstool
  • Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Aurora – Located in Aurora; online brand is Barstool
  • Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Joliet – Located in Joliet; online brand is Barstool
  • DraftKings at Queen Casino – Located in East Saint Louis; online brand is DraftKings
  • Caesars Sportsbook at Grand Victoria – Located in Elgin; online brand is Caesars
  • FanDuel at Par-A-Dice Casino – Located in East Peoria; online brand is FanDuel
  • FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing – Located in Collinsville; online brand is FanDuel
  • PointsBet at Hawthorne Race Course – Located in Cicero; online brand is PointsBet
  • Rivers Casino Sportsbook – Located in Des Plaines; online brand is BetRivers

Are Illinois Online Sports Betting Sites Fair?

Legal online sports betting in Illinois didn’t come about on a whim. Instead, lawmakers put plenty of thought into ensuring that this market was safe. As a result, you can take comfort when placing legal wagers in the Illini State due to the following points.

Who Regulates Online Gambling in Illinois?

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) oversees most forms of gambling in the Prairie State. It regulates riverboat casinos, video gaming, retail sports gambling, and online sports betting.

Regarding sports wagering, the IGB is in charge of reviewing applications and interviewing worthy candidates. It can issue up to 26 licenses, including three specifically for mobile wagering.

The IGB is a very experienced entity that has been operating since 1991. It was formed out of the Riverboat Gambling Act of 1990.

How Do I Know that Illinois Online Sportsbooks Are Trustworthy?

Each licensed Illinois sportsbook must abide by the IGB’s guidelines. Specifically, it needs to offer responsible gambling tools, treat gamblers fairly, and advertise responsibly.

Unlike offshore sportsbooks, regulated IL betting sites have stricter requirements to follow. They can’t rip customers off and get away with it. They risk losing their expensive Illinois license by operating without integrity.

Of course, Illinois online sports betting sites also need to worry about repeat business. However, they stand a much better chance of surviving in this competitive market by serving players well.

How Do I Get Paid If I Win at Illinois Betting Sites?

Illinois mobile sportsbooks can differ slightly in their payment methods. Generally speaking, though, you can request withdrawals through the following options:

  • ACH (3–5 days)
  • Cash at the cage (0–1 hours)
  • Check (7–14 day wait)
  • Online banking (3–5 days)
  • PayPal (1–2 days)
  • Play+ Card (1–2 days)

Illinois Sports Betting FAQ

How old do you have to be to bet online in Illinois?

You must be 21 years of age or older to legally place sports bets in Illinois. IL betting sites often require additional identification to make sure you’re at the minimum gambling age.

Can I bet on esports at Illinois sportsbook apps?

Illinois esports betting sits in a gray area right now. The Illinois Gaming Board has the authority to approve esports gambling at any time. It hasn’t exercised this right yet, though, due to concerns over some of the pros being under 18 years old.

Can I bet using BetMGM in Illinois?

Yes, BetMGM is legal and available online in the Illini State. You can wager on a wide variety of sports at BetMGM Illinois, including baseball, basketball, football, hockey, MMA, soccer, and tennis.

How do I get paid when I win at Illinois Legal Betting Sites?

You can request a withdrawal from Illinois online sportsbooks at any point. You just need enough funds to meet the minimum cashout at whatever betting site you’re dealing with. Common IL withdrawal methods include ACH, cash (at the cage), check, PayPal, and Play+ Card.

Is the Barstool sportsbook app available in Illinois?

Yes, Barstool is currently one of seven sports betting apps that are available in Illinois. You can download the Barstool IL app from the Google Play Store and App Store.