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Illinois Sports Betting Guide

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Illinois is currently one of the most gambling-friendly states in the United States. With so many amazing gambling options any resident or visitor of the state who is over the age of 21 can legally place bets at both retail and online platforms. The age limit is lowered to 18 for some types of gambling such as lotteries, bingo, and pari-mutuel.

Illinois Sports Betting

The state’s pro-gambling stance extends to sports betting as well and this is easily proven by the fact that Illinois bettors can choose from multiple top-notch sportsbooks. Both in-person and online sports betting are now accepted by several operators within the state’s borders. Online betting has been somewhat limited as players need to register at retail venues but this has not prevented the sector from growing.

Yes, sports betting became legal in Illinois on June 28, 2019, making the state the 15th to do so after the United States Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting by abolishing PASPA. Anyone over the age of 21 can enjoy wagering on their favorite sports and teams without fear of violating any of the state’s laws.

Summary:

  • Illinois sports betting start date: June 28, 2019
  • Illinois sports betting age: 21 and over

Illinois Sportsbooks

While it took a bit of time for the law to catch up to legal sports betting, Illinois’ sports betting sector for land-based retail sportsbooks has grown at a commendable rate.

Sports bettors can choose from a decent range of amazing Illinois sportsbook venues all of which offer something uniquely different to stand out.

Illinois Sportsbook Locations

In making sports betting legal, Illinois now offers players sports gambling in Illinois at the following casinos:

  • BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino
  • William Hill Sportsbook at Grand Victoria
  • DraftKings Sportsbook at Casino Queen, East St. Louis.
  • Penn National Sportsbook at Argosy Casino Alton
  • William Sportsbook at Grand Victoria
  • Penn National/Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Aurora
  • Penn National/Barstool Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Juliet
  • FanDuel Sportsbook at Par-A-Dice Casino
  • PointsBet Sportsbook at Hawthorne Race Course

Illinois Online Sports Betting

With online sports betting, Illinois went live right alongside retail sports betting in June 2019. However, the sector had to deal with some bottlenecks with one of the most prominent ones being an Executive order that Governor J.B. Pritzker.

Online sports bettors had to register in person or physically at retail gambling venues to gain access to online or mobile betting. The order has, fortunately, been waived multiple times thus allowing people to register for online sports betting remotely so that for Illinois sports betting, online is now an option for those not physically able to visit a store for any reason.

Online Sportsbooks

Here are options for the perfect online sportsbook Illinois bettors can use along with some information on what you can expect from them, making online sports betting in Illinois easier than ever:

FanDuel Sportsbook (Illinois)

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Thanks to its partnership with renowned Illinois gambling entertainment venue Par-A-Dice Casino in Pretoria, Illinois’ FanDuel Sportsbook became the third to launch a sportsbook app in the state. The FanDuel brand already has a stellar reputation in the sports betting sector across the country and all of its amazing offerings are now available to bettors in Illinois. Perhaps the most notable feature of the FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook app is that it offers markets on local Illinois teams with pretty generous odds.

DraftKings Sportsbook (Illinois)

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DraftKings partnered with Casino Queen for its Illinois venture and together, the two brands have been making waves in the state’s sports betting industry. The sportsbook app has dozens of American and international sports markets that users in the state can bet on. In addition to a uniquely polished and user-friendly interface, the app also offers different bet types, amazing daily odds boosts, outstanding bonuses, and promotions as well as parlay insurance to spice up the betting experience.

Bet Rivers (Illinois)

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Rivers Sportsbook (Illinois) was the first to market with a sportsbook app for its local residents, something that gave it a bit of a head start in the nascent market. However, that is not all that the brand has going for it. Some of the things that bettors who use the app will certainly appreciate will be the competitive sign-up offers, reward points and odds boosts. The app further features dozens of sports markets both local and international which means that you will never run out of things to bet on. Its in-game cash-outs feature is also very exciting so for those looking for the ideal mobile version of the Rivers Casino Sportsbook, Illinois is your best bet.

William Hill Sportsbook (Illinois)

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If all that you are looking for is a premium-feeling sports betting experience, then William Hill Sportsbook and its partner Grand Victoria Casino should be your go-to providers. At its core, the mobile sportsbook is designed to be incredibly simple and reliable while at the same time offering the same competitive perks that other operators in the state have implemented. These include dozens of sports betting markets, mind-blowing promos, and a diverse range of payment options.

PointsBet Sportsbook Illinois

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As soon as it launched in Illinois in September 2020, the PointsBet Sportsbook became an instant hit with bettors in the state. This can largely be attributed to its very unique point-spreading approach as well as its massive welcome bonuses. It does not slack in other areas as well – there are plenty of international and US sports markets for the bettors to choose from in addition to several different bet types. The site also offers a solid selection of safe, reliable, cost-effective, and fast payment options for its customers to use.

Illinois Sports Betting App of Choice

FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook are both among the best sports betting apps Illinois mobile sports betting has to offer – look no further for the perfect Illinois sportsbook app.

Online Betting Illinois

Online betting in Illinois is a mixed bag of sorts – in essence, bettors can easily access some forms of state-sanctioned gambling options such as sports betting while others are non-existent. This does not mean that bettors in the state do not gamble online. Most of them have opted to create accounts with offshore online betting sites for their iGaming needs.

Some forms of online gambling are legal and regulated by the state’s gambling commission while others like online poker are yet to be legalized. Locals are encouraged strictly to stick with their regulated options when betting in the state and avoid offshore gambling sites altogether regardless of international jurisdictions.

In summary, for those looking to partake in sports gambling, Illinois residents using regulated Illinois sports gambling sites will not be violating any laws.

Off Track Betting – Illinois

Fans of horse racing in Illinois have several great options when it comes to being part of the horse races. The state boasts of two amazing horse racing tracks as well as numerous off-track-betting venues which makes it very easy for bettors to take part in the action.

Horse Race Betting (Illinois)

Horse racing has been part of Illinois’ culture for centuries and it is only growing more popular as time goes by. Betting on these races is also a very popular activity and, fortunately, it happens to be one of the gambling activities that has been legalized and is regulated by the state.  People interested in horse races can thus place their wagers at several retail racebooks or online on sites like the ones listed earlier.

Illinois Off Track Betting Parlors

In case you are wondering which venue you can visit to catch some sports betting action, we are going to list some of the most popular locations for you. All you have to do is pick the one that is closest to you or you like:

  • Trackside Arlington Park OTB
  • Trackside Chicago OTB
  • Shooter’s Bar & Grill OTB (Don Carter Lanes)
  • Trackside Waukegan
  • Trackside at Joe’s Bar
  • Corliss OTB
  • Stanley’s Ale House & Restaurant
  • Time Out OTB at Fairmount Park
  • Jupiter’s at the Crossing
  • Shark City
  • Ringside Sports Bar and OTB
  • Bookie Magee’s
  • Oakbrook Terrace OTB
  • Trackside at Tavern on North
  • Player’s Pub & Grill
  • The Foundry
  • Capital Teletrack
  • The Turf Room
  • Trackside at Sam’s Triple Crown
  • Trackside at Iron Horse Saloon

Illinois Sports Betting Regulations

When Illinois finally legalized sports betting in mid-2019, several new regulations were introduced to govern the operation of the activities and ensure compliance. Initially, while sports bettors could bet at both retail and online venues, they had to register for online betting at the retail sportsbooks. This requirement has been waivered many times to make it easier for more people to register especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to being at least 21 years old to use the state-regulated sports betting platforms, bettors also need to be within the state’s borders. The state also has a self-exclusion list and anyone who has previously self-excluded cannot bet. For the sake of integrity sports personnel including coaches and sportspeople are not allowed to bet on the sports they are a part of. Betting on in-state college teams is also prohibited for the state-sanctioned sportsbooks.

Illinois Sports Teams

The main reason why sports betting is such a big deal in Illinois is because of the state’s strong presence in various professional leagues in the United States. Illinois is adequately represented by some pro sports teams and each of these teams boasts of massive fan bases in the state. They include:

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

Illinois Lottery Sports Betting

Due to a few constraints and multiple concerns about its viability, lottery sports betting in Illinois did not amount to much even after its inclusion in the state’s sports betting bill. This could change in the future but that is also not guaranteed as the state seems to be concentrating on other forms of gambling at the moment.

When Will Sportsbooks Open in Illinois?

Sportsbooks are already legal in Illinois but their operations have been curtailed since early 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. A lot is being done with regards to curbing the spread of the virus and providing vaccination. That said, businesses across the state, sportsbooks and casinos included, may soon be able to return to full operations.

FAQ

Can you sports bet in Illinois?

Yes, any resident or visitor of Illinois who is at least 21 years old can legally bet on sports.

Is FanDuel Sportsbook legal in Illinois?

Yes. Thanks to a partnership with Par-A-Dice Casino, FanDuel has been operating legally in Illinois since the summer of 2020.

Can you use FanDuel Sportsbook in Illinois?

Yes, FanDuel Sportsbook is available for use for Illinois residents and visitors.

Where can I bet on sports in Illinois?

Illinois has several retail sports betting venues as well as a solid selection of online sportsbooks including those from popular brands like PointsBet, William Hill, FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetRivers.

Is online horse betting legal in Illinois?

Yes, according to Illinois state laws, betting on horse races is completely legal. Horse racing fans can place bets either online or at various off-track betting venues across the state.