Is Sports Betting Legal in Illinois?
If you’re an NFL betting fan looking to bet in Illinois, you’ve come to the right place.
Sports betting became legal in Illinois after SB 690 passed in June 2019. Up until March 2022, however, Illinois required sports bettors to register in-person at the online sportsbook’s partner casino.
If you’re looking for more information on sports betting in the United States beyond Illinois, check out our Sports Betting Legal Tracker.
Top Betting Sites in Illinois
DraftKings and FanDuel are considered the two best online sportsbooks in Illinois. They have the best technology, offer the best user experience, have the most markets available, and provide the most odds boosts and promos for returning customers.
Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM are the next two best sportsbooks in Illinois, and they each have their own rewards programs, where you can earn points/credits for betting on their app to redeem at their hotels and other experiences.
If you’re new to sports betting, read our guide on How to Bet on the NFL.
What Sports Betting Apps are Legal in Illinois?
How to Bet in Illinois
Betting on sports in Illinois is really simple. In-person registration is no longer required, meaning you can sign up with any online sportsbook from your mobile device or computer. There are also no restrictions on where you can use an online sportsbook in Illinois.
If you’re looking for betting tips, check out our Top 10 Sports Betting Strategies.
Top Sportsbook Promos/Bonuses in Illinois
There are many great sign-up offers available in Illinois. Click on the widget below to take advantage of these promos!
[tallysight url=”https://tallysight.com/widget/offers/pro-football-network/dynamic/sportsbooks:1,2,11,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10/promos:1?id=9a65590a-a830-42b2-9f54-82a2892f32b8″]
Illinois Sports Betting Timeline
2022: In March, HB 3136 is officially in effect, allowing people in Illinois to sign up with an online sportsbook from anywhere within state lines.
2021: House Bill 3136 passed, which permanently eliminated the requirement for sports bettors to have to sign up at the online sportsbook’s partner casino. The same bill also lifted the ban on betting on in-state college teams, officially allowing it at the state’s retail sportsbooks.
2020: Rivers Casino becomes the first sportsbook to open in the state just days before the COVID-19 pandemic and soon had to shut down temporarily. DraftKings Sportsbook went live in the state in August, partnering with Casino Queen.
2019: Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the state’s sports betting bill into law in June. The following December, Illinois started the applications for licenses.
2018: On May 14, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act), officially ending the federal ban on sports betting in the United States.
