Legal Illinois Sportsbooks 2026: IL Sports Betting & Legislation Updates

Quick Summary of Online Sports Betting in Illinois

Online sports betting in Illinois has been legal for a little while now. Below is a quick summary of what you need to know about making sports bets in the state.

Illinois Sports Betting Updates

• September 2, 2025 – bet365 announced a 25¢ fee on wagers under $10 in Illinois, with no fee on larger straight bets or parlays above $10.

• August 26, 2025 – Caesars Sportsbook said it will add a 25¢ transaction fee per online wager in Illinois starting September 1.

• August 19, 2025 – The Illinois Gaming Board reported June 2025 sports betting revenue of $113.9 million, with a record hold of nearly 12%.

• July 17, 2025 – May 2025 sports betting revenue reached about $120.9 million, and Illinois logged its eighth straight month over $1 billion in handle, pushing all-time handle past $50 billion.

• July 15, 2025 – BetMGM introduced a $2.50 minimum wager for Illinois customers.

• July 10, 2025 – The Illinois Gaming Board issued additional guidance to operators on the new per-wager sports betting tax.

• July 1, 2025 – Illinois’ new per-wager tax took effect: 25¢ on each of the first 20 million online bets per operator each fiscal year, then 50¢ per bet above that.

• June 17, 2025 – April 2025 sports betting revenue totaled about $108.6 million; April handle was roughly $1.28 billion (up 16% year over year).

• June 10, 2025 – FanDuel announced a 50¢ transaction fee on every online wager placed in Illinois, effective September 1, in response to the state’s new per-wager tax.

• May 15, 2025 – March 2025 handle rose about 35% year over year; lower win rates tempered revenue growth.

• March 16, 2025 – bet365 launched online sports betting in Illinois via its partnership with Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort.

• April 1, 2025 – The Illinois Gaming Board issued cease-and-desist letters to Kalshi, Crypto.com, and Robinhood for unlicensed sports wagering activity.

• February 11, 2025 – The Illinois Gaming Board sent cease-and-desist letters to multiple unlicensed operators (including BetOnline, BetUS, Bookmaker, and others).

Best Illinois Sportsbooks Reviewed

More sportsbooks have been approved in Illinois over the past few years and there are currently 10 sportsbooks that operate online in the state. Each one has an area it excels in, which we’ve detailed in the table below.

Bet365 IL Sportsbook

Pros & Cons

• Excellent live streaming
• App available for iOS and Android
• Easy to navigate

• No sportsbook loyalty program

Bet365 is the most recent sportsbook to launch in Illinois, opening its virtual doors in March 2025. Navigation is minimal-click, markets surface fast on Bears/Bulls/Blackhawks/Cubs/White Sox games, and Cash Out is widely available on eligible wagers.

This sportsbook is known for offering excellent support for local teams, so look out for seasonal promos on the Chicago Bulls if you’re into the NBA. Other big Illinois teams that might have promos surrounding them are also based in Chicago and include the Bears, the Cubs and the White Sox.

Editor’s note: Bet365 might be new to Illinois, but it’s an established enough brand to have a reputation for excellent live streaming, earned through offering live streaming on over one million events. The sportsbook also offers attractive deals like bet boosts, super boosts, and early cashouts on a wide range of sports.

Sports Promo

4.8/5

Bet $5 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose

Welcome Offer

Copy

Get Bonus

BetMGM IL Sportsbook

Pros & Cons

• Generous welcome bonus
• Wide range of sports betting markets
• Sport-specific bonuses and boosts on offer

• App can be slow

BetMGM in Illinois leans into flexible bet construction and control: One Game Parlay covers the majors and mixes moneylines/totals with player milestones, while live betting spans a wide prop bench that updates quickly during timeouts and pitching changes.

This site offers a few sport-specific bonuses, including same game parlay insurances on MLB and NBA. So whether your team is the White Sox, Chicago Bulls or you follow both sports you can make use of this type of promo.

Editor’s note: BetMGM has an aesthetically pleasing website, with gold and black branding accents across the whole site. It’s a slick website that’s easy to navigate, making it a good choice for novice and seasoned bettors alike.

Sports Promo

4.8/5

New Customers: Bet $5+ and get $300 in Bonus Bets if it wins!

Welcome Offer

Open DraftKings

Get Bonus

Caesars IL Sportsbook

Pros & Cons

• Excellent rewards program
• Simple welcome bonus
• Live streaming options

• Real-time stats aren’t available

Caesars sportsbook is a great one to sign up to if you like sports betting sign up offers but prefer to start off small. A nice differentiator is the tie-in with Caesars Rewards, so routine betting activity accrues credits in the same ecosystem you use at Caesars properties.

The sportsbook often puts on geo-targeted special offers, so look out for any of these next time the Bears have a big game (or the Bulls if the NBA is more your thing). Expect to see things like bet insurance or boosted odds on local games.

Editor’s note: Caesars has one of the most widely known rewards programs across the US, and for good reason. They’re a big brand who have many in-person sites customers can visit, and you can earn and spend rewards both online and offline. So any Reward Credits you are awarded from sports betting can be redeemed in-person or online and used for anything from dining at a resort to swapping them for sports betting credits.

Fanduel IL Sportsbook

Pros & Cons

• Fast withdrawals
• Good customer support options
• Live betting and streaming

• Fanduel VIP program is invite only

FanDuel in Illinois is built for SGPs and speed: the Same Game Parlay builder is intuitive and deep on props and alternates, and the live tab is snappy with frequent micro-markets during marquee moments. If you bet a lot of player props on the Bears or Bulls, FanDuel’s new Bet Protect can soften injury bad beats on eligible NFL prop legs.

While Fanduel doesn’t seem to have any location-specific promos for Illinois, there are plenty of promos that are available across the US, including odds boosts, parlay insurances, and other no-sweat bets.

Editor’s note: The Fanduel app is consistently good and offers the same experience for iOS and Android users. The sportsbook also offers same-game parlays, which is a popular betting option for sports fans and it's nice to see as an option.

Sports Promo

4.7/5

Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!

Welcome Offer

Open FanDuel Sportsbook

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Draftkings IL Sportsbook

Pros & Cons

• Diversity of sports betting options
• Both DFS and sports betting available
• Live betting available

• Overwhelming layout

DraftKings stands out for its market density and SGPx, the tool that lets you combine multiple SGPs and singles into one bigger ticket across games. Game pages surface useful context while you build (team trends, player form), and the live console turns over lines fast for in-game spreads, totals, and props.

You’ll also be able to benefit from offers such as profit boosts, money back specials, and deposit bonuses. These aren’t location-specific offers, but you should still look out for them when you’re making any bets on your local teams like the White Sox.

Editor’s note: It’s unusual for a sportsbook to offer DFS and sports betting, but because DFS is legal in Illinois, DraftKings lets you make bets on both. It’s fully integrated in the app, meaning you can easily bet on whatever you like.

Fanatics IL Sportsbook

Pros & Cons

• Generous signup bonus
• Unique loyalty program
• Responsive mobile app

• No desktop site

Fanatics Sportsbook in Illinois blends a modern UI with a strong prop catalog and quick bet building across the major leagues, plus a responsive live experience with wide cash-out availability.

Users are enrolled in the loyalty program from the off, meaning they can start earning rewards straight away in the form of FanCash, which can be used on more bets or merchandise. There are plenty of other offers that crop up too, including competitive odds and referral bonuses.

Editor’s note: Fanatics is an app with sports fans in mind. It works well (although it doesn’t have a desktop site) and offers competitive odds on most markets – you can even boost them when odds boosts offers pop up.

ESPN Bet IL Sportsbook

Pros & Cons

• Can be linked to your ESPN account
• Range of ongoing betting offers
• Easy-to-use

• Some betting markets missing for more niche sports

ESPN BET features a broad market menu and flexible Bet Builder with ESPN’s editorial muscle: previews, stats, and trends sit beside the odds so you can go from reading to betting in one flow. The sportsbook is always looking for new ways to link all ESPN products to give users the best and most tailored sports betting experience possible.

When betting on local teams like the Chicago Bears, look out for ongoing promotions that can give you more for your money money like profit boosts, referral bonus, bonus bets alongside other offers such as early cash-out.

Editor’s note: The sportsbook offers full integration with your ESPN account, allow you to receive a personalized betting experience. Users will start to see a roll-out of a “for you” page featuring their Fantasy Sports rosters.

Sports Promo

4.8/5

New Customers: Bet $5+ and get $300 in Bonus Bets if it wins!

Welcome Offer

Open DraftKings

Get Bonus

Popular Sports in Illinois

Illinois has lots of popular sports in the state, as well as some major league teams that get a lot of attention. Below are the top sports people are watching and betting on in Illinois.

⚾ MLB

Illinois has two noteworthy teams when it comes to MLB, and they are the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. In fact, Chicago tends to dominate in terms of famous sports teams in Illinois, with most of the top teams hailing from there.

🏈 NFL

The NFL is a popular sport to bet on across Illinois, with the Chicago Bears getting a lot of support from state locals. Look out for boosted odds and other area specific offers on the online sportsbooks mentioned above. The IGB have banned certain bets that they deem could be easy to manipulate including first plays, replay results and whether a kicker will miss a field goal or extra point.

🏒 NHL

The Chicago Blackhawks are a popular team with anyone from the state of Illinois who is into NHL. Most sportsbooks will allow you to make bets on moneylines, puck lines, over-under totals and skater props among a few others. Look out for special geo-specific NHL betting offers for Illinois at the sportsbooks mentioned on this page.

🏀 NBA

If the NBA is more your style, the Chicago Bulls is one of the main teams locals in Illinois follow the career of and like to bet on. Back in their 90’s heyday they won 6 championships, but haven’t been so lucky in recent year. The most common types of bets sports fans like to place on NBA games are point spread, moneylines and over/under bets, so look out for boosted odd and special deals when local teams play.

🎓 NCAA

NCAA sports are also big news in Illinois, but state law means the people who live in the state can’t bet on any Illinois collegiate teams.

IL Sports Betting Legislation

Sports betting in Illinois was legalized in June 2019 when the Illinois Sports Wagering Act was passed. The first online sportsbook (Betrivers) opening followed a few months later in June 2020, after the first retail sportsbook opened in March 2020.

• May 2018 - US Supreme Court strikes down federal ban on sports betting, opening the door for legalized mobile sports betting in Illinois.
• June 2019 - Mobile and retail sports betting are legalized in Illinois with the passage of Senate Bill 690. The bill includes a requirement that all sports bettors must register in person with a casino partner of any mobile sports betting platform with which they intend to lay wagers.
• 2020 - The first mobile and retail sports betting operators launch in Illinois, with the planned roll-out encountering constant hiccups throughout the year as a result of COVID-19.
• March 2022 - Mandatory in-person registration for mobile sports betting in Illinois is eliminated with the passage of House Bill 3136.
• October 2023 – Illinois reports a record sports betting handle of $1.16bn.
• 2024 – The Illinois sports betting handle for the year exceeds $14.01bn.
• 2025 – Expected tax hike for all sports betting operators in the state.

Other Illinois Betting Options

Illinois offers much more than online and in-person sports betting options, with plenty of choices both online and offline.

Illinois State Lottery

The Illinois state lottery is available online on the website or app, and in-person at over 6,800 retail stores. The aim of the lottery is to pick 6 numbers from 1-50 and add an optional “extra shot”. From there, the numbers will be called at the designated draw (you can play on Monday, Thursday, Saturday or all three days) and if you match a certain amount of numbers you’ll win a cash prize. If you match all 6 numbers, you’ll win the jackpot, which is at least $2,000,000. They also sell instant ticket games if you don’t like to wait for a set draw to check if you’ve won.

Horse Racing

Horse racing is legal to bet on in Illinois to people who are 18 and over. Bets can be placed at the track, at off-track facilities and online through licensed advanced deposit wagering operators.

Casinos

Residents of Illinois can play at in-person casinos only. The state doesn’t allow online casinos to operate by law. If you’ve got a taste for casino-style games, you could look into joining one of the many Sweepstakes casinos that are allow in the state.

DFS

Daily Fantasy Sports betting is both legal and regulated in the state of Illinois, as lawmakers consider it to be a game of skill. This means you can make DFS picks with the chance to win money online

Retail Sports Betting in Illinois

• Bally Bet Sportsbook in the Quad Cities (Rock Island) - 777 Jumer Drive, Rock Island, Illinois, 61201
• BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino (Des Plaines) - 3000 S River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018
• Caesars Sportsbook at Grand Victoria Casino (Elgin) - 250 S Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120
• Circa Sports Illinois Sportsbook at The Temporary by American Place Casino (Waukegan) - 4011 Fountain Square Pl, Waukegan, IL 60085
• DraftKings at Casino Queen Sportsbook (East St. Louis) - 200 S Front St, East St Louis, IL 62201
• DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field (Chicago) - 1012 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613
• Fanatics Sportsbook at Hawthorne Race Course (Stickney) - 3501 S. Laramie Avenue Stickney, IL 60804
• FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook (East Peoria) - 21 Blackjack Blvd, East Peoria, IL 61611
• FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing at Fairmount Park (Collinsville) - 3673 Salem Dr, St Charles, MO 63301
• Hard Rock Sportsbook at Hard Rock Casino Rockford - 7801 E State St, Rockford, IL 61108
• Sportsbook at Argosy Casino Alton - 1 Piasa St, Alton, IL 62002
• Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Aurora - 1 W New York St, Aurora, IL 60506
• Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Joliet - 1401 Gateway Blvd, Joliet, IL 60431

Social Sports Betting Sites in Illinois

If you’re looking for a legal way to make sports picks without using real money, social sportsbooks are a great alternative in Illinois. These platforms use sweepstakes-based systems or virtual currency, allowing you to play for fun or redeem prizes under specific rules.

Thrillzz Social Sportsbook

Thrillzz: Pros & Cons

• High-Value Welcome Bonus
• Social Sports Betting Available
• Leaderboards and Pick Sharing Features

• No Live Chat
• Slow Redemptions

Visit Thrillzz

Thrillzz is fully available in Illinois and lets you make quick, social picks on major leagues like the NFL, NBA, and NCAA. Use free Coins and Sweeps to enter contests, and take advantage of the “Squads” feature to bet alongside friends.

Illinois players can sign up and get 3,000 Coins and 3 Sweeps instantly, with no code or purchase needed.

Legendz Social Sportsbook

Legendz: Pros & Cons

• Legendz Originals Games
• Top Providers Present
• Available in 40+ States

• Low GC Value for Welcome Bonus
• Bonuses Could be Expanded

Visit Legendz Casino

Legendz gives Illinois users a complete social sportsbook with betting options that include spreads, totals, futures, and more. You’ll also find a built-in social casino for added entertainment. Gameplay runs on Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins.

New Illinois players receive 500 GC and 3 SC free at sign-up - no purchase necessary.

Onyx Odds Social Sportsbook

Onyx: Pros & Cons

• VIP perks
• User-friendly interface
• Covers all US major leagues
• Various ways to unlock free Onyx Coins

• Onyx Cash is not part of the no deposit welcome bonus

Visit Onyx Odds

Onyx Odds delivers a clean and simple betting experience for Illinois users. You’ll use Onyx Coins for casual picks on spreads, totals, and moneylines, while 5 Onyx Cash can be claimed via mail-in for sweepstakes prize eligibility.

It’s free to play and open now to Illinois residents, and new users get 1,000 Onyx Coins just for joining.

Fliff Social Sportsbook

Fliff: Pros & Cons

• Huge new customer offer
• Responsive support team
• Impressive mobile accessibility
• Range of ongoing perks

• Limited payment methods

Visit Fliff

Fliff is one of the most popular social sportsbooks nationwide and is fully accessible to Illinois players. Play using Fliff Coins or Fliff Cash and make picks on NFL, NBA, MLB, and more. AMoE options are included for full sweepstakes compliance.

Illinois users can start with free bonus Coins and Cash - there's no deposit required to play.

Kickr Social Sportsbook

Kickr: Pros & Cons

• Sports Betting + Casino Games
• Great Gift Card Variety
• Ongoing Tournaments

• Invite-Only VIP Program
• No Live Dealers

Visit Kickr

Kickr gives Illinois users access to one of the widest ranges of free sports picks, especially on college basketball and football. Make picks using Bucks and Bits, with contests covering spreads, totals, props, and more.

New Illinois users get 4 Bucks and 150,000 Bits at sign-up - completely free, with prize eligibility available through Bucks.

Prophet X Social Sportsbook

Pros & Cons of Prophet X

• Competitive lines
• Ability to set own odds
• 20% better odds than sportsbooks
• No limit on winners

• No parlays

Visit Prophet X

Prophet X offers a peer-to-peer sports betting experience in Illinois, where you’re betting against other players, not the house. You can set your own odds or accept others’ picks using Prophet Points and Prophet Cash under a sweepstakes model.

New users in Illinois can get up to 200 Prophet Cash in their first month based on activity.

PlayBracco Social Sportsbook

PlayBracco: Pros and Cons

• Welcome package available with 10,000 Bracco Coins
• User-friendly site with an unique interface
• Good customer support

• No dedicated PlayBracco app

Visit PlayBracco

PlayBracco is live in Illinois and offers free-to-play sports betting using Bracco Coins and Bracco Cash. With NFL, UFC, college football, and soccer contests available, it’s an intuitive, modern platform with the option for crypto redemptions.

Illinois users can get started with 10,000 Bracco Coins and 5 Bracco Cash upon registration.

PICKEM Social Sportsbook

PICKEM: Pros and Cons

• Above-average welcome offers
• Native app
• Decent customer support

• Prize redemption requirements

Visit Pickem

PICKEM gives Illinois players a gamified way to place sports picks, with Career Mode progression, challenges, and sweepstakes prizes. Pick contests span NFL, NBA, and college sports, and your goal is to climb the leaderboard and unlock redemptions.

Sign up from Illinois and get 50,000 GC and 1 SC to start - free, no deposit needed.

Wanna Parlay Social Sportsbook

Wanna Parlay: Pros and Cons

• Awesome range of sports contests including NBA, European soccer, and the MLB.
• Regular contests with real money prizes.
• Stylish and easy-to-use mobile app.
• Available in all 50 US states.

• Mobile-only - no desktop version of the lobby.

Wanna Parlay offers free pick’em-style contests for Illinois players. Just make over/under picks on player stats in the NFL, NBA, or MLB and climb the real-time leaderboard. No cost to enter, no purchase necessary.

It’s available via mobile app on both iOS and Android - Illinois residents can join today and start competing for prizes.

DFS Sites in Illinois

Daily Fantasy Sports are fully legal in Illinois, with a wide range of platforms offering pick’em games, salary-cap formats, and even Best Ball drafts. Whether you’re into quick picks or season-long contests, Illinois players have plenty of legal DFS options.

Underdog Fantasy

Underdog Fantasy: Pros & Cons

• Daily and weekly contests
• Exclusive welcome bonus
• Impeccable usability on mobile
• Social community available
• Fair bonus terms

• Few deposit options
• No phone support

Visit Underdog

Underdog Fantasy is one of the top DFS platforms in Illinois, known for its Best Ball drafts and fast pick’em games. Best Ball lets you draft once and then automatically plays your best lineup each week. The pick’em side covers NFL, NBA, MLB, and even esports, with simple higher/lower predictions.

Illinois users can join contests daily, with fast payouts and a clean mobile app experience.

Betr Picks

Betr Pros and Cons

• Generous bonuses and promotions
• Variety of sports leagues
• Easy to use

• No web platform

Visit Betr

Betr Picks is available in Illinois and specializes in sleek, mobile-first pick’em contests. Players select 2-8 picks per entry with odds scaling up to 100x. All stat lines end in .5, so you’re never stuck on a push. Coverage includes NFL, NBA, college sports, and more.

Illinois users can sign up quickly through the app and start building picks in seconds.

ParlayPlay

ParlayPlay: Pros & Cons

• Two-part generous welcome offer
• Wide range of DFS contests
• Downloadable mobile app

• No live chat support

Visit ParlayPlay

ParlayPlay lets Illinois DFS users build classic over/under entries across major sports. The platform also includes unique stat range picks and free-to-play contests that pay out real prizes. NFL, NBA, and MLB are featured heavily, with contests available daily.

Illinois players can join instantly - no deposit needed to try out the free contests.

OwnersBox

OwnersBox: Pros & Cons

• Easy-to-use website.
• Great welcome bonus
• Weekly fantasy contests are consistent
• Multiple game options, like Lightning Lineups

• No eSports

Visit OwnersBox

OwnersBox brings a fresh take on DFS to Illinois with formats like Lightning Lineups and SuperFlex salary-cap games. It’s one of the few platforms that lets you draft teams with two QBs or use spin-to-win lineups. Ideal for NFL fans and fantasy-first users.

Illinois users get access to beginner-friendly games and seasonal promos through the app.

Dabble

Dabble fantasy Pros and Cons

• Social Integration
• Broad Sports Coverage
• User-Centric Design
• Innovative Betting Options
• Secure and Reliable.

• Limited Geographic Availability
• Narrow Focus on Popular Sports

Visit Dabble

Dabble is fully available in Illinois and offers a unique DFS experience built around community features. You can follow other users, copy their entries with a single tap, and even interact in chatrooms that keep the vibe fun and casual. It’s especially useful if you want to see what others are picking in real time.

Illinois users can jump in through the mobile app and start sharing picks right away.

DraftKings Fantasy

DraftKings: Pros & Cons

• Multiple daily contests available
• 24/7 customer support
• Straightforward welcome bonus

• High playthrough requirement

Visit DraftKings Fantasy

DraftKings Fantasy is a powerhouse in Illinois, offering every major DFS format including salary-cap contests, snake drafts, Showdown slates, and more. NFL, NBA, college football, NHL, and esports are all available, with huge prize pools.

Illinois users who deposit $5 get a $3 contest ticket, and beginner-only contests help you get started with less risk.

Sleeper Fantasy

• Many bonuses on deck
• Great collection of fantasy sports
• Draft new teams every day/week
• The help center offers a wealth of information

• Some fantasy sports are only available in mobile apps

Sleeper Fantasy is live in Illinois and offers a clean experience for daily pick’em, season-long leagues, and quick drafts. You can try Picks, PicksVS, or Dilemma Mode - all featuring high multipliers and low entry thresholds.

New users in Illinois can claim a 100% deposit match up to $100, plus bonuses for referring friends.

PrizePicks

Pro and Con

PrizePicks is one of Illinois’ top pick’em DFS platforms. Just choose 2-5 players and guess whether they’ll go over or under their stat lines. No lineups, no salary caps, just fast decisions and real payouts. NFL, NBA, and college sports are all supported.

Illinois players who play $5 on their first entry get $50 instantly, making it one of the best intros to DFS in the state.

Wanna Parlay

Wanna Parlay: Pros and Cons

• Generous welcome bonus
• Unique DFS game mode
• Excellent mobile usability
• Diverse & secure payment methods

• Mobile users only

Wanna Parlay lets Illinois users build DFS-style parlay entries instead of full lineups. Choose multiple stat-based picks and try to climb the leaderboard against other players. It’s simple, mobile-only, and covers all the big leagues.

New Illinois players can claim a 100% deposit match up to $250 after downloading the app.

Illinois Sports Betting FAQ:

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Damien Souness as part of our fact-checking process.