Illinois Sports Betting: Best Illinois Sportsbooks in 2024

Top 5 Illinois sports betting sites

Prairie State bettors have access to the top names in sports betting in 2024. Here are the five best Illinois sports betting sites:

1. BetMGM Illinois

$1,500 in Bonus Bets

Bonus bets expire in 7 days. One new customer offer per user. Additional terms apply. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

CVRBONUS1500

Claim $1,500

Self-distinguished as the "King of Sportsbooks," BetMGM Illinois boasts better-than-average odds and an exclusive first bet opportunity for new customers, offering up to $1,500 in bonus bets with the use of BetMGM bonus code 'CVRBONUS1500' during registration. Chicago Bears fans can celebrate knowing that BetMGM debuted several game-changing features to enhance the football betting experience this season.

Take a spin through our BetMGM Sportsbook review page to learn about its features.

• App Store rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.3 (Android)
• Sign-up bonus: $1,500 in bonus bets
• Payout speed: 2 days

2. FanDuel Illinois

Bet $5, Get $150 if You Win

New customers only. Deposit min. $5. Place first bet of min $5 and get $150 in bonus bets if your bet wins.

Claim $150

The sports betting partner of the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls, FanDuel is also aligned with its Illinois users' best interests. The sportsbook has one of the most straightforward bonuses in the state and one of the best mobile apps in 2024. IL bettors can seamlessly access FanDuel's top-notch 'Live' section that allows you to watch and wager during ongoing games directly on the platform. 

Check out our FanDuel Review to learn more.

• App Store rating: 4.8 (iOS); 4.7 (Android)
• Best feature: Intuitive mobile apps
• Sign-up bonus: Bet $5, Get $150 if You Win
• Payout speed: Within 24 hours

3. Caesars Illinois

Bet $1, Get 100% Boost on Next 10 Bets

New customers only. Must register using eligible promo code. Wager $1 to earn a profit boost on your next 10 bets. Max. winnings of $2,500 for each boost which expire 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms.

COVERSBONUSDYW

Claim Now

Caesars IL rolled out a brand new offer for new Illinois sports bettors, offering 10 100% profit boosts to new users. Beyond the sign-up perks, Caesars Sportsbook keeps sports gamblers engaged with a great mobile app and unrivalled customer support. Illinois residents can also join one of the best sportsbook rewards programs in the country — Caesars Rewards — when they register with Caesars Sportsbook and can turn every real money wager into exclusive benefits like bonuses, discounted travel vouchers, access to exclusive events, and more.  

Read our Caesars Sportsbook Review to learn more about the best sportsbook in Illinois.

• App Store rating: 4.6 (iOS); 4.4 (Android)
• Best feature: Strong customer support
• Sign-up bonus: Bet $1, Get 100% Boost on Next 10 Bets
• Payout speed: Within 24 hours

4. DraftKings Illinois

Bet $5, Get $150

New customers only. Deposit min. $5. Place first bet of min. $5 and get $150 in bonus bets.

Ends: Jan. 5, 2025

Available in Illinois

Claim $150

Purveyor of one of the best sports betting apps in the U.S., DraftKings is also among Illinois's top overall sports betting platforms. From its extensive collection of betting markets and ongoing promotions to its clean user interface and stress-free banking, the sports betting partner of the Chicago Cubs is the sportsbook of choice for many Illinois gamblers.

For more information, read our DraftKings Review.

• App Store rating: 4.8 (iOS); 4.6 (Android)
• Best feature: Unique sportsbook pools
• Sign-up bonus: Bet $5, Get $150 + $1K Deposit Bonus
• Payout speed: Within 24 hours

5. Fanatics Sportsbook Illinois

  

$1,000 in No Sweat Bets

Ends: Dec. 31, 2024

 Claim $1,000

Fanatics Sportsbook is an emerging U.S. online operator that is known for its fantastic 'FanCash' loyalty program, an industry-best NFL live streaming experience that is powered by Genius Sports — a sports data and technology company — and a great welcome offer of up to $1,000 in no sweat bonus bets that does not require a Fanatics Sportsbook promo code to claim. 

Refer to our Fanatics Sportsbook review to learn more.

• App Store rating: 4.8 (iOS), 3.7 (Android)
• Sign-up bonus: $1,000 in No Sweat Bets
• Payout speed: Within 24 hours

Best Illinois sports betting offers and bonuses

Sports bettors can claim the best Illinois sportsbook bonuses from anywhere in the state.

Here is our ranking of the best introductory offers currently available to Illinoisans in 2024:

BetMGM - $1,500 in bonus bets: BetMGM IL welcomes new Prairie State bettors with a lucrative first bet offer of up to $1,500 in bonus bets, packaged as five $300 bonus bets. If your initial wager loses, receive an equal stake up to $1,500. Use BetMGM bonus code 'CVRBONUS1500' to redeem this offer, which expires on Dec. 31, 2024.

FanDuel - Bet $5, Get $150 if You Win: No FanDuel promo code is required to collect $150 in bonus bets from FanDuel IL. Deposit $5, place your first $5 wager on any market and receive the bonus if your bet wins. The offer expires on Dec. 22, 2024.

Caesars - Bet $1, Get 100% Boost on Next 10 Bets: New customers can claim 10 100% profit boosts by using the Caesars promo code 'COVERSBONUSDYW' at sign-up. Make a minimum deposit of $10 and place an initial wager of $1 to qualify. Bonus credits are valid for 14 days from issuance and expire at 11:59 a.m. ET on Jan. 27, 2025.

DraftKings - Bet $5, Get $150 + $1K Deposit Bonus: DraftKings' Illinois sign-up bonus gives new customers $150 in guaranteed bonus bets when they deposit a minimum of $5 and wager at least $5. The bonus arrives as six $25 bonus bets and is valid for seven days (168 hours). No DraftKings promo code is required to claim this offer, which is set to expire on Jan. 5, 2025.

Fanatics Sportsbook - $1,000 in No Sweat Bets: No Fanatics Sportsbook promo code is required to earn up to $1,000 in no sweat bonus bets from the operator today. Simply make an initial $5 deposit and place a daily $1 wager on a market with -500 odds or longer. You'll receive one (1) bonus bet equal to the amount of your wager, up to $100, if it settles as a loss. Place this wager for 10 consecutive days to earn the bonus' maximum value. This offer is valid until Dec. 31, 2024.

Terms and conditions apply to all bonuses and promotional offers.

Illinois sports betting updates

In the spring of 2019, the Illinois state legislature passed a bill that permitted Illinois sports betting at riverboat casinos, horse racetracks, and select sports facilities. Online sports betting arrived in June 2020 with the launch of the BetRivers sportsbook.

This timeline provides a snapshot of Illinois' sports gambling history:

Dec. 18, 2024: bet365 receives an Illinois sports betting license to run a retail and online sportsbook, helping it partner with Walker's Bluff Casino Resort.

Dec. 17, 2024: Illinois' revenue plummets in October despite earning a record sports betting handle. 

Nov. 18, 2024: Illinois set a new monthly sports betting revenue high, as the Illinois Gaming Board reported a September handle of $1.31 billion, up 21.3% year-over-year and 50% month-over-month.

Oct. 25, 2024: The NFL requests a ban on prop bets that are "susceptible to manipulation" in Illinois, such as the first play of the game, the first pass to be incomplete, and a player missing a field goal.

Oct. 22, 2024: Illinois sports betting action rises 30% year-over-year in August, leading to nearly $60 million in adjusted revenue.

Sept. 17, 2024: The Illinois Gaming Board introduces new gambling advertising regulations that will apply to local casino and video gaming operators for the first time.

Aug. 26, 2024: Hard Rock Bet goes live in Illinois, making it the ninth online operator in the state.

Aug. 12, 2024: Illinois' operators produce an 11% hold despite the state's shrinking sports betting handle in June. 

Aug. 1, 2024: DraftKings is set to introduce a tax on winning bets in Illinois. 

July 9, 2024: Illinois' billion-dollar handle streak grows to nine months, as the state eclipsed $1.02 billion in wagers in May. 

June 25, 2024: The Chicago Blackhawks partner with Circa Sports to sponsor an official home jersey patch during the next NHL season. 

June 18, 2024: Illinois' April handle pushes past New Jersey for the second-biggest sports betting total in the U.S. for the month. 

June 18, 2024: Illinois lawmakers defend sports betting tax hike in 2025 budget.

June 4, 2024: Illinois Governor signs the new progressive sports betting tax rates into the state's 2025 budget and will officially come into effect on July 1, 2024. 

May 28, 2024: Analysts say reaction to sports betting tax hikes is overblown, stating Illinois is a "state-specific" case. 

May 27, 2024:  Major sportsbooks would "reevaluate" their Illinois presence if the state's sports betting tax hike becomes law. 

May 16, 2024: Illinois' March basketball action rises 23% year-over-year, helping sportsbooks generate nearly $1.3 billion in monthly handle. 

May 3, 2024: Illinois introduces a bill to block Dave & Buster's bets on arcade games following the company's recent announcement to allow wagering between customers on select games. 

April 5, 2024: Fanatics Sportsbook officially goes online in Illinois.

Feb. 23, 2024: Following Gov. Pritzker's announcement of a proposed tax hike on sports wagering last week, Covers' own Geoff Zochodne wonders if a sports betting tax hike in Illinois could put a damper on the state's market?

Feb. 22, 2024: Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker proposes sports betting tax hike to combat budget deficit, as raising taxes from 15% to 30% would provide an additional $100 million to the state. 

Jan. 19, 2024: Illinois sports betting hit a state-record handle for the third consecutive month with a November total of $1.4 billion, up 18.5% from October.  

Nov. 14, 2023: ESPN BET goes live with online and mobile sports betting, launching in Illinois and 16 other states.

Nov. 2, 2023: ESPN BET plans to launch on Nov. 14, 2023, with online sports betting going live in 17 U.S. states, including Illinois.  

Oct. 26, 2023: Betway withdraws its application for an online-only sports betting license in Illinois. 

Sept. 29, 2023: Circa Sports launches in Illinois, becoming the eighth online sports betting operator in the state.

July 28, 2023: The IGB approves the Hard Rock Casino in Rockford for a retail betting licence and Betway for an online sports betting licence. 

June 27, 2023: US Integrity (USI), a sports betting watchdog, partnered with the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) to provide monitoring capabilities to and identify suspicious behavioral betting patterns.

June 21, 2023: Bally's receives approval from the IGB to begin the process of opening a temporary casino inside the old Medinah Temple in River North. 

May 13, 2023: The Illinois Gaming Board announces Illinois' March sports betting handle. The state surpasses $1.07 billion for the month. 

April 14, 2023: The billion-dollar streak is over, as Illinois fails to hit the $1 billion mark in monthly betting handle for the first time in five months. According to the Illinois Gaming Board, IL sportsbooks take in a total of $875.4 million in February.

March 17, 2023: Illinois touts record sports betting handle for January, marking its fourth consecutive billion-dollar month.

Feb. 9, 2023: Illinois announces its third-straight month of recording over a billion dollars in sports betting handle. 

Jan. 31, 2023: Rep. Bob Rita introduces an amendment to Illinois' Sports Wagering Act that would permit sports betting exchanges in the state. At present, only New Jersey allows for betting exchanges.

Jan. 19, 2023: Circa CEO Derek Stevens indicates that its sportsbook will soon come online in Illinois, pending the opening and full licensure of The Temporary by American Place Casino in Waukegan. 

Jan. 13, 2023: PointsBet Sportsbook opens its fourth retail location in Illinois at Villa Park's Crazy Pour Sports Bar located inside of Club Hawthorne. 

Dec. 8, 2022: Illinois joins the billion-dollar month club, with its October sports betting handle setting a state record of $1.03 billion.

Nov 29, 2022: Representative Lamont J. Robinson, Jr. (D) introduces HB5847 in an effort to allow Illinois professional sports teams to apply for Illinois sports betting licenses.

Oct. 4, 2022: Tekkorp Digital Acquisition, which was aiming to garner an online-only sports betting license in the state, announces it will not seek a vote to extend talks with Playtech, Caliente Interactive, and Caliplay. As a result, it is effectively withdrawing from its attempt to enter the market.

Sept. 26, 2022: Hard Rock Sportsbook applies for both retail and mobile Illinois sports betting licenses. 

Sept 12, 2022: Bally's applies for a Management Services Provider license in Illinois. If the application is approved, Bally Bet will launch in IL.

May 31, 2022: It is revealed that WynnBET has applied for a mobile Illinois sports betting license. It is not yet known which casino the operator will be tied to.

May 25, 2022: The Chicago City Council officially approves Bally's casino by a vote of 41-7. The casino is scheduled to open its doors in 2026 and projects to bring in $200 million a year in tax revenue.

May 9, 2022: Circa Sports partners with Full House Resorts, announcing plans to operate an online sportsbook and retail sportsbook at the new American Place casino in Waukegan. While America Place is under construction, Circa will house its retail location in "The Temporary" — a temporary casino facility projected to open in Fall 2022.

May 5, 2022: Bally’s was tapped as the preferred bidder for a $1.7B casino project by the City of Chicago. Plans for Bally’s Chicago include a 500-room hotel and sprawling entertainment center.

May 5, 2022: Caesars Sportsbook and the Chicago White Sox agree to a sports betting partnership. 

April 28, 2022: Caliente Interactive is awarded an online-only sports betting license by the Illinois Gaming Board. Should the Mexico-based operator receive final licensure, "Caliplay" will launch in Illinois.

April 6, 2022: Construction begins on the new FanDuel Sportsbook Lounge at Chicago's United Center. The 13,000-square-foot venue is expected to be completed by August 2022.

March 10, 2022: Illinois sets a new monthly high for sports betting handle in January, posting a total of $876.5 million.

March 9, 2022: Caesars Sportsbook's new welcome offer goes live in Illinois. New sports bettors are able to claim up to $1,100 in first bet insurance without visiting a retail sportsbook.

March 5, 2022: Illinois sports bettors are once again permitted to create an online sportsbook account from anywhere in the state. Remote registration returns after nearly a one-year hiatus.

Feb. 15, 2022: FanDuel is first to launch a pre-registration offer ahead of Illinois' move to remote registration on Mar. 5, offering new bettors $100 in site credits.

Jan. 31, 2022: FanDuel, a partner of the Bulls and Blackhawks, announces plans to open a two-story FanDuel Sportsbook lounge in the United Center.

Jan. 27, 2022: The Illinois Gaming Board unanimously approves rewarding BetMGM with a license to operate in the state.

Jan. 19, 2022: BetMGM confirms its plans to launch online operations in Illinois in Q1 of 2022.

Dec. 21, 2021: Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs legislation that lifts the ban on in-state collegiate betting. However, bets on Illinois-based teams can only be placed in person.

Dec. 20, 2021: Illinois' in-person registration requirement for online sportsbooks will end on March 5 or sooner. Currently, bettors must register in person at a brick-and-mortar location before placing an online wager. 

Dec. 13, 2021: Aldermen backed an ordinance to permit Chicago’s pro sports teams to open Illinois sportsbooks within their stadiums and venues. Wrigley Field could be home to the state's first stadium sportsbook via its partnership with DraftKings.

October 2021: Illinois sportsbooks witnessed a surge in September betting thanks to football, recording nearly $600 million in bets.

April 2021: Governor Pritzker did not renew an executive order that temporarily suspended the requirement to sign up in person for online sports betting. Illinois bettors must once again visit retail sportsbooks to complete the registration process. 

March 11, 2021: The Barstool Sportsbook debuts. There are now six legal Illinois sportsbooks.

December 2020: Illinois registers $491 million from sports betting, its highest handle of the year. 

October 2020: Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued Executive Orders 2020-60 and 2020-61, limiting casinos and retail sports betting venues to 25% capacity. 

June 2020: Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Gov. J.B. Pritzker temporarily waived the state's in-person registration requirement, thus allowing individuals to set up sports betting accounts remotely.

June 2020: BetRivers launches the first online sportsbook in Illinois. 

March 2020: Rivers Casino opens the first Illinois sportsbook in history.

June 2019: Governor J.B. Pritzker passes Bill SB 690, legalizing sports gambling in Illinois. The bill prohibits out-of-state providers from entering the market for an additional 18 months.

March 2019: Rivers Casino owner Neil Bluhm pushes to keep heavy-hitters DraftKings and FanDuel out of the state as punishment for their questionable DFS operations.

Aug. 2018: IL lawmakers introduce five bills with the hope of legalizing sports betting. Illinois may legalize both retail and online wagering.

Is sports betting legal in Illinois?

Yes, Illinois sports betting is legal. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the extensive SB 690 bill on June 28, 2019, making sports betting legal in the Prairie State. Illinois' first legal retail sports bet was accepted by Rivers Casino Des Plaines on March 9, 2020. BetRivers introduced the state's inaugural online sportsbook on June 18, 2020.

To keep track of the progress of sports betting in each state, you can use our USA legal tracker.

Illinois sports betting summary - December 2024 Updates

Illinois has become a sports betting powerhouse with astounding total handle numbers to match its rabid fandom. 

For all the IL sports betting facts, refer to the table below:

What sportsbooks are legal in Illinois?

The Illinois sports betting market continues to thrive in 2024. Bettors can download these nine Illinois sports betting apps today:

1. BetMGM - Best for deposits
   
   
2. FanDuel - Best sportsbook
   
   
3. Caesars - Great sign-up bonus
   
   
4. Fanatics Sportsbook - NFL live streaming
   
   
5. DraftKings - Intuitive menus
   
   
6. BetRivers - Best weekly promos
   
   
7. ESPN BET - Loads of markets
   
   
8. Circa - High limits
   
   
9. Hard Rock Bet - Great live betting

Legal Illinois online sportsbooks

Illinois sports bettors may place wagers on sportsbook mobile apps or betting sites. In-person betting can be done at retail sportsbooks at a riverboat casino, a racetrack, or an off-track betting site (OTB).

With the arrival of BetMGM on March 5, 2022, there are now nine licensed and regulated Illinois sportsbooks.

Illinois' online and mobile sportsbooks

Land-based IL sportsbooks

Why sign up for multiple IL sports betting sites?

While everyone has their favorite online sportsbook, we strongly encourage all Illinois bettors to register and use multiple sports betting sites when wagering. We explain why below: 

Having multiple accounts allows you to search and compare the betting odds across different sportsbooks, ensuring that you always get the best price on your wagers. 

You're able to claim a welcome bonus at each online sportsbook, meaning you can score nine new-users promos if you have an account with all of the current Illinois sports betting sites. 

Operators have varying top features, so using multiple sportsbooks ensures you can access live betting, early cash-outs, pre-built parlays, and other standout benefits. 

Ensure you can find betting markets for every sporting event, including niche leagues like darts, greyhound racing, badminton, and more.

Join several of the best sportsbook rewards programs in 2024. You can turn every wager into points that are redeemable for various perks like bonus bets, personalized customer service, free trips, discounted hotel stays, and more. 

Latest Illinois sports betting news

Who can partake in Illinois sports betting?

All bettors, 21 years of age and older, can create an Illinois sportsbook account online or by visiting a casino, racetrack, or off-track betting facility. Remote registration returned to Illinois on March 5, 2022.

Here are some key considerations and features that will help you to navigate the Illinois sports betting landscape: 

The pros and cons of IL sports betting

Illinois is now up to nine online sportsbooks, and the sports betting market is expected to continue to grow in the Prairie State. The return or remote registration is a huge win for sports bettors.

On the flip side, college sports fanatics may also be less inclined to get in on the betting action as wagers on Illinois college teams are still restricted to in-person only.

Fully mobile betting with the March 2022 return of remote registration

Significant growth potential

Access to online and retail sportsbooks

Bets on Illinois college teams placed only in person at a casino or racetrack sportsbook

High barrier-to-entry means fewer choices for bettors

How to start betting in Illinois

Bettors in the Prairie State can now open an online sports betting account from anywhere in Illinois via legal mobile sports betting apps.

What you can't bet on in Illinois

In-state college betting received a big boost on Dec. 21, 2021. Gov. Pritzker signed a law that lifted the betting ban on in-state schools.

However, despite the return of remote registration, wagers on Illinois teams can only be placed in person at one of Illinois' retail casinos or racetrack sportsbooks. Illinois sports betting sites cannot offer betting lines on college markets.

NFL Draft

The marquee offseason event has steadily increased in popularity, which applies to betting markets, too. Illinois is one of only a handful of states where you can legally bet on the 2024 NFL Draft, meaning you can cash in on all seven rounds.

Politics

The Illinois Gaming Board, similar to other U.S. states, does not permit betting on political events, including Presidential elections.

esports

The Illinois Gaming Board has not yet authorized esports betting to be available in Illinois. Esports are neither banned nor included in the state’s sports betting law, so the door has been left open for the future.

Illinois sports betting revenue breakdown

Illinois set a monthly record with its $840 million October handle and surpassed $7 billion in total handle in 2021.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Illinois sports betting operations were suspended on March 16, 2020 —  one week after it had become legal in the state. Online and in-person wagering resumed on July 1, 2020. 

Find sports betting revenue figures for each U.S. legal market to learn about how much revenue each state garners.  

We compiled the financial figures to illustrate the breakdown of sports betting revenues in Illinois:

Yearly breakdown

Monthly handle

Most popular Illinois teams to bet on

Illinois residents are among the most passionate sports fans in the country. From rooting for Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the 1990s to cheering for the 2024 NFL No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears today, Prairie State residents ride and die with their local teams. Illinois is one of several states that has a professional sports team in each of the four major North American leagues — NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB. Additionally, pro sports fans can also support the WNBA's Chicago Sky and Chicago Fire FC of the MLS. 

Outside of professional sports, there are several prominent NCAA schools you can cheer for, including the Loyola Chicago Ramblers, Northwestern Wildcats, and the Illinois Fighting Illini.

No matter which hometown team you're betting on, be sure to do your research and never let your emotions get the best of you. Brush up on the basics of sports betting with our how to bet guides.

NHL

Chicago Blackhawks

St. Louis Blues

Get live NHL odds

NBA

Chicago Bulls

Get live NBA odds

NFL

Chicago Bears

Get live NFL odds

MLB

Chicago Cubs

Chicago White Sox

St. Louis Cardinals

Get live MLB odds

Although no scheduled fights or Formula One races are coming to the Prairie State anytime soon, the best UFC betting sites, boxing betting sites, and F1 betting sites easily allow you to back fighters and drivers you can cheer on as passionately as your hometown teams.

Illinois sports betting law

Illinois moved quickly to legalize sports betting when in 2018, the United States Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, ending the federal ban on sports betting.

Governor J.B. Pritzker passed SB 690 in June 2019, legalizing sports gambling in Illinois. The law enabled sports betting operators to apply for licenses to offer sports betting services in the state. Each of Illinois' casinos, racetracks, and sports arenas with sports wagering licenses are authorized to launch online betting in addition to physical sportsbooks. Those online-only betting licenses are untethered, so no partnership with an Illinois casino, horse track, or pro sports venue is required.

We broke down the Illinois sports betting facts that you need to know:

• Up to 30 master sports wagering licenses and nine online sports betting sites.
• The Illinois Gaming Board oversees and regulates sports wagering.
• Persons 21 years and older can partake in legal Illinois sports betting.
• Wagers on events, including political elections or entertainment ceremonies like the Oscars, are prohibited.
• Online wagers on in-state college teams are prohibited but permitted in person at retail sportsbooks at a casino or racetrack.

Other types of gambling

Illinois boasts nearly a dozen casinos, three racetracks, and a number of live and online poker rooms. Daily fantasy sports were also legalized with the Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2019.

Responsible gaming in Illinois

Legal U.S. sports betting markets

Sports betting legislation at the state level has already produced a number of additional legal betting markets. The following U.S. jurisdictions permit online and/or retail sports betting:

Recent legal U.S. sports betting launches

North Carolina sports betting officially launched on March 11, 2024. Tar Heel State bettors can now register for several of the country's best online sportsbooks, including FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars Sportsbook. 

Legal Vermont sports betting went live on Jan. 11, 2024, with three operators — FanDuel, DraftKings, and Fanatics Sportsbook — all available on launch day.

Maine sports betting opened up legally on Nov. 3, 2023. DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook partnered with local tribes, as Maine's tribes hold exclusivity regarding mobile sports betting, and retail sportsbooks will operate within casinos.

Legal Kentucky sports betting kicked off with retail operations going live on Sept. 7, 2023, followed by online betting launching on Sept. 28.

Potential legal U.S. sports betting markets

States moving toward legal sports betting that could potentially provide bettors the opportunity to gamble legitimately in the near future include:

Illinois sports betting history

Illinois sports betting gained the legal go-ahead via the Sports Wagering Act, passed on June 28, 2019. The Illinois Gaming Board adopted permanent regulations on June 4, 2020. Land-based sports betting at retail outlets commenced on March 9, 2020, while online wagering started on June 18, 2020.

2024: Hard Rock Bet goes live in Illinois

2023: An amendment to Illinois' Sports Wagering Act to authorize sports betting exchanges is proposed.  

2022: Online remote registration returns to Illinois on March 5 after the state scuttled its in-person registration requirement. 

2021: Illinois governor J.B Pritzker signs legislation to permit limited betting on in-state college teams. 

2020: The pandemic forces Gov. J.B. Pritzker to waive Illinois' in-person registration requirement, allowing individuals to register sports betting accounts remotely.

Hometown gambling operator RushStreet opens Rivers Casino, Illinois' first-ever sportsbook in March, followed by its BetRivers online sportsbook launch in June.

2019: Governor J.B. Pritzker passes Bill SB 690 in June, effectively legalizing Illinois sports betting.

Illinois sports betting resources

Take a deeper dive into Illinois sports betting via these handy local resources:

• Illinois Gaming Board: Illinois gambling regulator
  
  
• Illinois General Assembly: State of Illinois legislature

How Illinois sports betting compares to other legal states

Illinois bettors can hop state lines and access legal sports wagering in each of the following neighboring regions: Indiana, Iowa, and Kentucky. We've outlined how Illinois' competitive market compares to these three states below: 

Best Kentucky sportsbooks

Browse the best online sports betting options available in KY.

Kentucky Sports Betting

Best IA betting sites

Study some of the top online sportsbooks in Iowa.

Iowa Sports Betting

Best IN sportsbooks

Check out our favorite Indiana sportsbooks in 2024.

Indiana Sports Betting

Illinois sports betting conclusion

Illinois sports bettors can wager with confidence with as many as nine regulated sports betting sites. Given the size of Illinois' population, nearing 13 million, we would have expected more online sportsbooks to set up shop. However, the $20 million licensing fee has caused some operators to rethink the investment.

The return of fully remote registration was a significant boost to bettors and Illinois sportsbooks. Illinois nixed the in-person registration requirement in March 2022. Limitations on college sports betting could prove costly, though: Wagering on in-state college teams is limited to pregame wagers made in-person at an Illinois casino or racetrack.