Who is this article suitable for? – Searching for the best Illinois sportsbooks
As we previously mentioned, there are plenty of
new sportsbooks
making their way onto the Illinois sports betting scene, and it is our job to uncover exactly who is likely to make their way to the top.
A state that is full of sporting pride and honor, it is no surprise to us at Betastic that the Illinois sports betting world is thriving and full of healthy competition, lucrative bonuses, and great parlay boosts.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a betting rookie, we at Betastic have devised a way to ensure your betting needs are fulfilled on-site. When selecting your next operator, we insist you take advantage of our operator reviews first. Here, you will find a great selection of information regarding the critical attributes of the best Illinois sportsbooks.
You can find out who offers the best bonuses, the best markets, the best customer service, and more while digesting plenty of exciting perks of the platform in an easy-to-read format. You will find little jargon here, just honest user reviews in the hope of finding our readers the best betting sites Illinois has to offer.
The legal history of sports betting in Illinois – a quick dive into the world of Illinois sports betting.
We cannot discuss the Illinois sports betting scene without mentioning Al Capone and the Chicago outfit. Despite being completely illegal, their contribution to the sports betting scene in Illinois today cannot be denied.
The 1970’s saw regulated horse racing and the Illinois lottery come to fruition. But it wasn’t until the 1990s that we truly began to see a surge in legal Illinois betting options, when the Riverboat casinos were legalized.
In the summer of 2019, Illinois became the fifteenth state to legally offer licensed and regulated sportsbooks. The first Illinois sports betting wager was later placed in March 2020 – a $100 wager was placed by former NHL center Eddie Olcyzk on the White Sox to win the Al Pennant.
The bill banned larger sportsbooks for 18 months, required clients to register in-person, and made licensing expensive. However, sports fans were able to place wagers at their chosen sports stadium.
Editor’s recommendation – BetMGM – the best sports betting operator for users in Illinois
Licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, BetMGM has cemented itself as one of the finest sportsbooks across the US.
Boasting a great range of sporting markets, this particular platform has proven popular with Illinois residents and visitors alike. With plenty of opportunity to boost your own wagers with a
betting bonus, and odds in-line with industry standards, you can soon find yourself on the end of some rather favorable odds!
Home to plenty of reputable and reliable payment methods including Visa, Skrill, PayNearMe, PayPal, and Pay+, you can rest easy safe in the knowledge your funds will be sent and received directly, as per the terms of your chosen payment provider.
Not only this, but BetMGM is home to a fantastic loyalty program too. That’s right, it’s not just new customers who are looked after here. Join the iRewards scheme to unlock a plethora of rewards and perks, including bonus bets, spa days, and mini breaks!
All that’s left is to place your wagers, and watch the action unfold courtesy of the fantastic live streaming facility.
Five tips for a secure and fair gambling experience in Illinois – Researching the best Illinois sportsbooks
Reading through the Terms and Conditions
We know it’s a boring job – that’s why we have done a lot of the hard work for you in our operator reviews. However, as you are well aware, bonuses and promotions will change frequently to keep users interested. While this is great, it also means a lot of extra reading for you. With each individual bonus comes individual terms and conditions, be sure to check each one meticulously before opting in and depositing your hard-earned cash.
Is the license displayed?
The best Illinois online gambling sites will display their relevant licensing certificates like a badge of honor at the bottom of their web page or app. If this is not evidenced, we at Betastic would suggest searching through the About Us section on their website, or discussing directly with customer service. If your chosen operator is unable to provide you with legitimate licensing details, we would suggest avoiding at all costs.
Find correct contact details
A good way to test the nature of your platform’s customer service is by getting in contact with them just before you sign up, and asking a simple question.
We suggest requesting something you already know the answer to, to ensure you do not waste your own time. From this, you will be able to see the speed in which customer support responds, the reliability of their answers, as well as the legitimacy of the contact methods provided.
Funding your account
A lot of trust is needed to deposit your cash into an online Illinois sports betting account. Before doing so, we would advise what lengths your chosen platform has gone to in order to provide peace of mind that your funds will be kept safe. Does your platform provide SSL encryption? Does your platform use reliable payment methods? Do they keep your funds in a segregated account? These are all key questions to ask when looking for a safe and fair experience.
Take advantage of our online reviews
When utilizing our online operator reviews, you will unlock a whole host of important information surrounding your chosen platforms. If you’ve not visited our site just yet, why not start by looking through our comprehensive 888 review? You’ll uncover lots of industry insight into the platform, including the many ways 888 aims to keep your funds safe and your gambling experience fair.
What do we look for when evaluating operators for Illinois residents? – Discovering the best betting sites Illinois has to offer
Bonuses and loyalty programs
Yes, we know – everyone loves a freebie. But what is actually hidden behind those lengthy terms and conditions? In this section, we look to decipher the jargon and present an honest look into the bonuses offered by the best Illinois betting sites.
Customer Support
You’ll find customer support is mentioned a great deal throughout the Betastic site. Our experts feel our readers deserve the very best. We believe that the best Illinois betting sites should provide sufficient means of contact, sufficient response times, and sufficient self-help tools to make your gambling process as straightforward as possible.
Security & Payment Methods
From SSL encryption to segregated accounts, we ensure that the best Illinois betting sites provide the most secure measures when looking after our reader’s funds. We also take a look at the payment methods offered. If plenty of reliable payment methods are offered, this is a good tell that a platform is reputable and accessible!
Usability, Look, & Feel
It’s important to remember that the online betting process should be fun. When visiting the site, how does it make you feel? Can parlays be built with ease? Is everything you need within one or two clicks? If so, you may have found yourself one of the best Illinois betting sites around!
Here are some of the best operators on the market
1.
Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!
Underdog Fantasy DFS Bonus
Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!
Highlights
- Awesome best ball contests with great prizes
- Excellently designed website and DFS app
- Great matched deposit welcome bonus with fair T&Cs
2.
DraftKings DFS Bonus
20% up to $500
DraftKings Review
Visit Site
18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply.
Highlights
- Contests cater for a range of players
- Instant prize payouts once the contest finishes
- Excellent welcome offer
3.
ThriveFantasy DFS Bonus
100% up to $100
Highlights
- Guaranteed prize pools
- Wide range of sports and esports to pick from
- Can be played on either mobile or desktop
Finding the right operator for you – Tweaking your Illinois sports betting experience
Here at Betastic, we always aim to provide our readers with the best legal
US betting sites
to date. Our team works relentlessly to ensure every review is honest, authentic, and full of the latest betting information.
From our years of experience, we have created our ideal platform checklist (discussed earlier in our best Illinois betting sites review). However, we also understand that not everyone will want the same from their sportsbook – our job would be incredibly simple if that were the case!
When selecting your Illinois sports betting platform, there are plenty of things you will need to consider. Below, we offer a couple of considerations to help get you started.
Where do you plan on placing wagers from?
Due to the various state-specific regulations surrounding sports betting, it is essential to have a solid knowledge of where you can or can’t place wagers from.
Is online gambling legal in Illinois? Yes! But just because you are a resident within a state where betting is legal does not mean you can bet while traveling through other states.
What is your betting experience?
If you are a sports betting rookie, it may well be worth finding an Illinois sports betting site that offers 24/7 support or a dedicated FAQ page. For those of you who have been involved in the Illinois sports betting scene for a while, you may wish to find a site that offers boosted parlays or exotic markets!
Compare the greatest bookmakers in Illinois, USA 2025
Recommended
Underdog Fantasy Bonus
Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!
Underdog Fantasy Highlights
- Awesome best ball contests with great prizes
- Excellently designed website and DFS app
- Great matched deposit welcome bonus with fair T&Cs
Accepts Players in:
Show StatesAL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI, WY
Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!
Hot Offer
DraftKings Bonus
20% up to $500
DraftKings Highlights
- Contests cater for a range of players
- Instant prize payouts once the contest finishes
- Excellent welcome offer
Accepts Players in:
Show StatesAL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, DC, WV, WI, WY
18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply.
Hot Offer
ThriveFantasy Bonus
100% up to $100
ThriveFantasy Highlights
- Guaranteed prize pools
- Wide range of sports and esports to pick from
- Can be played on either mobile or desktop
Accepts Players in:
Show StatesAZ, CA, CO, GA, IL, IN, IA, LA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, PA, TN, TX, VA
Conclusion – is sports betting legal in Illinois?
In its simplest form, the best Illinois betting sites are those that are safe, fair, secure, and put their customers first. But, as we all know, the online betting world isn’t quite that simple!
Thankfully, sports betting in Illinois is legal, and we at Betastic have curated a great selection of Illinois sports betting reviews to uncover some of the best betting sites Illinois has to offer.
Any platform that features on our site ticks the boxes mentioned above, it is now your task to read through our reviews and decide which one is specifically catered to you!
Why not start by reviewing our editor’s recommendation? You can uncover the
BetMGM bonus, customer service, loyalty program, and other perks too.
Check out some of the best bonuses currently available
1.
Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!
2.
DraftKings Promo Code
Get Bonus
18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply.
Bonus Details
Requirements (WR):
25x Deposit
3.
Illinois Betting FAQs
💯Can I gamble legally in Illinois?
Here at Betastic, we look to provide our readers with an enjoyable and safe online betting experience.When reviewing the best Illinois betting sites we adhere to the same meticulous checklist seen throughout the Betastic site, in the hope of providing our readers with a secure, legal, licensed, and regulated platform.
Can you gamble legally in Illinois? You bet, but you can also do so much more than that. Be sure to check out our operator reviews to uncover more!
❓ What kind of sports can I wager on in Illinois?
Long gone is the reign of Al Capone and the Chicago Outfit. However, the passion for sports betting certainly still remains. Since the legalization in 2020, sports betting in Illinois has grown and grown with a particular emphasis on the NBA markets. However, during 2020 and the undeniable effects of Covid, it seemed sports bettors turned their attention to the world of international tennis! To find out who we believe to be the best Illinois betting site, and find out what markets they offer, be sure to check out our best Illinois betting site review.
🌟 Who offers the best sport bonuses in Illinois?
The Illinois sports betting scene is full of fantastic offers and promotions that will act as bait to entice new custom. One of our jobs when discovering the best Illinois betting sites is to review the bonus terms and conditions to ensure all is as it appears. Our experts will sieve through the jargon to present an honest review of your sign-up bonuses, detailing wagering requirements, minimum deposits, and more.
