Illinois is one of the latest states to launch sports betting, but things have been a bit complicated in the Land of Lincoln. Sports betting was actually legalized in June 2019, but it took the state almost nine months before it was able to launch its sports betting industry.
The sports betting industry officially launched on March 9, 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic quickly shut things down. All of the casinos were closed in the state of Illinois, and bettors were left without anywhere to bet.
Now that mobile sportsbooks are up and running in Illinois, the state is expected to become a major player in the sports betting industry. The legal betting age to place sports bets in Illinois is set at 21 years of age.
Retail Sportsbooks in Illinois
Illinois was expected to become a major player in the sports betting industry, but things got off to a slow start. The state launched sports betting in March, but there are just five retail sportsbooks up and running in the state.
This number is expected to grow in the coming months, but Illinois sports bettors are limited through September 2020. Here is the current list of retail sportsbooks in the Land of Lincoln.
- Rivers Casino
- Argosy Casino
- Grand Victoria
- DraftKings at Casino Queen
- Par-A-Dice
Illinois Best Sports Betting Apps
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- William Hill Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- PointsBet Sportsbook
The online sports betting industry in Illinois has been a bit complicated at times as in-person registration requirements have made things difficult. Governor JB Pritzker has allowed mobile registration two separate times in Illinois, which has allowed mobile sports betting apps to thrive.
Here is a list of the current sports betting apps available in Illinois, beginning with the first app that was launched. Try William Hill IL bet app, use code, get free bet bonus.
Apps Next to Launch
Illinois has some very restrictive laws, keeping some of the top sports betting operators out of the state. These laws will eventually change, but it has been very difficult for some of the top sports betting operators to obtain a sports betting license.
Currently, there are just two companies that are prepared to launch their sports betting apps in Illinois, but it is unclear when this launch will take place. Expect this list to grow in the coming weeks, but as of September 2020, there aren’t a lot of big names ready to enter the market.
- Barstool Sportsbook
- bet365
- SBK
- Betfred
- Betway
Top Sports Betting Bonus Offers in Illinois
PointsBet Illinois: Risk-Free Bets up to $1,000. Promo Code 1000POINTS
BetRivers IL: 100 percent deposit match up to $250. Bonus Code for Free Bet: 250MATCH
DraftKings Sports: DraftKings is offering new customers a bonus of up to $1,025.
FanDuel Illinois App: FanDuel is offering new customers a risk-free bet up to $1,000.
Teams to Bet On
It’s no secret that the Chicago Bears are the most popular team in the state of Illinois. Besides the Bears, the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, and Chicago Blackhawks are extremely popular as well.
All of these teams are expected to drive the sports betting industry in Illinois as well as the colleges and universities in the state.
Illinois is full of popular and successful sports teams, and bettors in the state will place many bets on these teams.
Illinois lawmakers have allowed sportsbooks to offer a wide range of betting options, and that should help to grow the market. Betting on collegiate sporting events is allowed, which was a major topic of debate for some time.
Moneyline, spread, and total betting are the most common betting types offered in Illinois, but there are plenty of others available. Live betting is also available in Illinois, and this betting type has become extremely popular throughout the United States.