Sporting Post

Find the Best Illinois Sportsbook & Betting App for You: Take a Quiz!

Updated at: February 21st, 2025
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Tired of scrolling through endless lists of 'best Illinois sportsbooks' that seem more like ads than real recommendations?

We’ve built a smarter, personalized tool to cut through the noise and find the perfect sportsbook for your betting style in Illinois.

Answer a few quick questions, and we’ll connect you with the best Illinois betting apps and sites tailored just for you.

Sporting Post is an independent comparison site for gambling platforms, helping readers find safe and legitimate options. We may earn a commission from some affiliate links, but this does not influence our rigorous and unbiased testing, ensuring honest recommendations and accurate information.

Get your perfect Illinois sportsbook match with a personalized recommendation

Choose 'Illinois' as the state you live in, answer a few questions, and we'll match you with the best options.

We only suggest trusted and regulated sportsbooks available in Illinois.

Question 1

What state do you live in?

How do I choose an Illinois betting site?

Choosing the best Illinois online sportsbook doesn’t have to be a challenge.

With our quiz, you’ll receive personalized recommendations based on your preferences and betting style.

Here’s a breakdown of the questions and why they matter:

What state do you live in?

Illinois’s sports betting market is regulated, making it essential to choose licensed and legal sportsbooks in the state.

By knowing you’re in Illinois, we ensure the options we recommend are fully compliant and available for you.

What sport(s) do you plan to bet on most?

Whether it’s NFL, NBA, MLB, or niche sports, Illinois sportsbooks cater to different audiences with tailored features, promotions, and betting options.

By identifying your favorite sports, we match you with platforms offering the best odds, live betting tools, and exclusive deals for Illinois bettors.

How familiar are you with sports betting?

If you’re new to sports betting in Illinois, you might prefer platforms with user-friendly interfaces, tutorials, and straightforward bet options.

For experienced bettors, we recommend sportsbooks with advanced tools, competitive odds, and extensive betting markets tailored to your expertise.

Do you plan to bet live (in-play) or place bets before the game starts?

Live betting offers exciting, fast-paced options for in-the-moment decisions, while pre-game betting allows for careful planning.

Depending on your preference, we can connect you with Illinois sportsbooks that excel in live betting, pre-game analysis, or both.

What kind of bonuses or promotions are important to you?

Illinois sportsbooks often offer enticing welcome bonuses, free bets, and loyalty programs.

Whether you’re looking for deposit matches or ongoing rewards, we’ll recommend platforms with promotions that add the most value to your betting experience.

What kind of customer support do you expect?

From live chat to email or phone assistance, reliable customer support ensures a smooth betting experience.

We’ll recommend Illinois sportsbooks that prioritize top-notch service in your preferred support channels.

Do you plan to bet most on mobile or desktop?

Whether you’re betting on the go or prefer a desktop platform, your device choice matters.

Illinois sportsbooks offer robust mobile apps or desktop features, and we’ll suggest the ones best suited for your betting style.

Any special preferences? (pick up to 3)

From live streaming to microbetting or social features, you may have specific preferences.

By understanding your priorities, we tailor recommendations to platforms offering the features you’ll enjoy most.

Take the quiz today!

Answer these quick questions, and we’ll handle the rest—matching you with the best Illinois sportsbooks personalized to your needs.

How we rate & rank Illinois sports betting apps & sites

Our goal is to provide you with objective, unbiased reviews of Illinois sports betting sites, making it easy to understand their strengths and weaknesses.

We use a consistent set of nine criteria to evaluate each platform, ensuring that you can compare them effectively and easily:

  1. Safety: We verify if the sportsbook holds an Illinois state license and review its operating history, ensuring your money is secure. We also highlight any specific safety features.

  2. Mobile betting app: We evaluate the app's layout, functionality, user experience, unique features, and ease of placing bets.

  3. Web betting site: We test the website's features, identify pros and cons, and assess customization options and the bet placement process.

  4. Deposits & withdrawals: We review the range of payment methods, ease of transactions, associated fees, and processing times for deposits and withdrawals.

  5. Markets: We examine the variety of sports available for betting and compare the quality and breadth of markets across US betting sites.

  6. Pre-match betting: We assess the user-friendliness and versatility of pre-match betting features.

  7. In-play betting: We evaluate the live betting experience, including the quality of live markets and usability.

  8. Welcome incentive: We detail current sign-up bonuses and compare them to those offered by other betting sites.

  9. Customer service: We test the quality of customer service, including live chat response times and support effectiveness.

We download and use every betting site ourselves, using our own money to test the quality, to make sure the site is good enough for our readers to use.

Scoring & overall rating

Each criterion is scored on a points system, which is then converted into a star rating.

We average these scores to provide an overall rating for each legal sportsbook, making it easier for you to decide which one best meets your needs.

With our thorough and clear reviews, you can trust that you are getting an honest assessment, free from personal bias.

You can view our dedicated page for more information on how we test and review sportsbooks.

Additionally, you can view all of our sportsbook reviews here and our list with our #1 best online sportsbook in the US.

Is sports betting legal in Illinois?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Illinois.

It was legalized on March 9, 2020, following the passage of a comprehensive gaming bill on Illinois sports betting law.

This law allows for both online and in-person betting options, providing a regulated environment for sports wagering within the state.

Key points:

  • Legalization date: March 9, 2020.

  • Types of betting: Illinois permits both online and retail (in-person) sports betting.

  • Licensed operators: The state licenses sportsbooks to ensure they comply with legal and regulatory standards. Popular sportsbooks include DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetRivers.

  • Betting scope: Bettors can place wagers on most professional sports, including domestic and international events.

  • College sports restrictions: Initially, betting on in-state college teams was prohibited, but this restriction has been amended. Now, bettors can wager on Illinois college teams, but only in-person at retail sportsbooks. Additionally, betting on college sports is limited to spreads, totals, and moneylines, with prop bets on college teams and players still prohibited.

  • Regulation and licensing: The Illinois Gaming Board oversees the licensing process, with fees and tax rates varying based on the operator’s revenue. Sportsbooks are taxed on a tiered system, with rates ranging from 20% to 40% of adjusted gross revenue, depending on the amount.

  • Data use: Live wagers in Illinois must use official league data.

List of sportsbooks in Illinois

Below is a list of all Illinois sportsbooks currently active in February 2025.

Illinois sportsbook

Best for

Reviews

BetMGM

Best for original pricing and wide game line offerings

Read our BetMGM review

Caesars Sportsbook

Best for signup promos and daily odds boosts

Read our Caesars Sportsbook review

FanDuel

Best for parlays and top-rated user experience

Read our FanDuel review

DraftKings

Best for user experience and betting & DFS integration

Read our DraftKings review

BetRivers

Best for market availability and versatile features

Read our BetRivers review

Fanatics Sportsbook

Best for rewards program and fast-growing platform

Read our Fanatics Sportsbook review

ESPN BET

Best for integration with ESPN personalities

Read our ESPN BET review

Circa Sports

Best for high bet limits and handicapping contests

What is the best Illinois sports betting app for iPhone?

Ranking

IL betting app

App Store rating

No. of reviews

1

FanDuel

4.9

1,507,443 reviews

2

DraftKings

4.8

749,091 reviews

3

BetMGM

4.8

217,259 reviews

4

bet365

4.7

‎310,466 reviews

5

Caesars Sportsbook

4.7

69,000 reviews

6

BetRivers

4.4

‎5,103 reviews

What is the best Illinois sports betting app for Android?

Ranking

IL betting app

Google Play rating

No. of reviews

1

bet365

4.7

‎125,144 reviews

2

FanDuel

4.6

291,178 reviews

3

DraftKings

4.6

156,158 reviews

4

BetMGM

4.5

30,539 reviews

5

Caesars Sportsbook

4.3

‎26,075 reviews

6

BetRivers

4.2

‎2,211 reviews

Best land-based Illinois sportsbooks

Sportsbook

Casino/Location

Address

Best for

Circa Sports

The Temporary by American Place

4011 Fountain Square Place, Waukegan

Best for exclusive pricing and future development

Penn Sportsbook

Argosy Casino Alton

1 Piasa St., Alton

Best for local betting experience

Bally's Sportsbook

Bally’s Chicago

Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago

Best for central Chicago location

DraftKings Illinois Sportsbook

DraftKings at Casino Queen

200 Front St., East St Louis

Best for DraftKings integration

DraftKings Illinois Sportsbook

DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field

1012 W Addison St, Chicago

Best for sports venue betting experience

Caesars Illinois Sportsbook

Grand Victoria Casino Elgin

250 S. Grove Ave., Elgin

Best for Caesars loyalty and features

Penn Sportsbook

Hollywood Casino Aurora

1 W. New York St., Aurora

Best for suburban gaming experience

Penn Sportsbook

Hollywood Casino Joliet

777 Hollywood Blvd., Joliet

Best for ease of access and variety

FanDuel Illinois Sportsbook

Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino

21 Blackjack Blvd., East Peoria

Best for FanDuel platform features

BetRivers Illinois Sportsbook

Rivers Casino Des Plaines

3000 S. River Road, Des Plaines

Best for overall betting options

FanDuel Illinois Sportsbook

FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing

9301 Collinsville Road, Collinsville

Best for horse racing and sports betting combo

Caesars Illinois Sportsbook

Harrah’s Casino

100 E Front St., Metropolis

Best for Caesars experience in Southern Illinois

Fanatics Illinois Sportsbook

Hawthorne Race Course

3501 S. Laramie Ave., Cicero

Best for horse racing betting

Fanatics Illinois Sportsbook

Club Hawthorne Prospect Heights

1250 River Road, Prospect Heights

Best for local PointsBet access

Fanatics Illinois Sportsbook

Club Hawthorne Crestwood

13148 Rivercrest Drive, Crestwood

Best for south suburban bettors

Fanatics Illinois Sportsbook

Club Hawthorne at Crazy Pour

105 E. N Ave., Villa Park

Best for casual betting environment

n/a

Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort

777 Walkers Bluff Way, Carterville

Best for future development in Southern Illinois

How to gamble responsibly in Illinois

Before we end this article, we need to caution you to always bet responsibly.

To ensure you’re being cautious, betting sites implement various responsible gambling practices that will help you keep your betting habits in check.

  • Limits: Sportsbooks allow you to set betting limits, i.e. limit how much you can bet in a day, a week, or a month.

  • Cashouts: You can withdraw your winnings quite easily from any betting site. This prevents you from spending all of your winnings. There’s also the option for early cashout, so you can still get paid if the bet is starting to go sideways.

  • Help & resources: Betting sites provide access to resources for problem gamblers and point them to organizations that can help with gambling addiction.

To help, we created a 'how to bet on sports' guide, that helps new sports bettors understand the industry better, to play safer and more securely.

Responsible gambling organizations and charities in the US

Organization

Contact details

NCPC

Email: [email protected], Phone: 1-800-522-4700

Gambling Therapy

Email: [email protected], Phone: 020 7381 7722

VCGP

Email: [email protected], Phone: 1-888-532-3500

Frequently asked questions

How old do you need to be to bet in Illinois?
How to bet on sports in Illinois?
Can you bet online in Illinois?
What are the Illinois sports betting laws?
What types of promotions and bonuses do Illinois sports betting sites offer?
What are popular sports to bet on in Illinois?
What types of sports bets are offered at IL sportsbooks?
How do I sign up and place a bet on a Illinois sportsbook?
What deposit and withdrawal methods do Illinois sports betting sites offer?
What are the top Illinois sports teams to bet on?
Do I need to be a resident to take part in sports betting in Illinois?
What other types of gambling in Illinois are available?
What sportsbooks are legal in Illinois?
Who regulates sports betting in Illinois?
Is Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) legal in Illinois?
Can I bet on horse racing in Illinois?
Can you bet on college sports in Illinois?
How many sportsbooks are there in Illinois?
What are the best Illinois sportsbooks?
What are the best Illinois sports betting apps?

Editorial policy

Our editorial policy ensures thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content through strict sourcing standards and diligent review by top betting experts and seasoned editors.

This process maintains the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

References

To test legal online sportsbooks accurately, we dive into analytical research of the gambling industry, to understand what features are best for you.

Below are the references we use when making these decisions:

Author

Bradley Gibbs

With over 12 years of experience, Bradley Gibbs is a seasoned sports betting writer and analyst specializing in uncovering value bets across football, horse racing, tennis, and golf. His extensive coverage of these sports has been featured on numerous websites and in The Racing & Football Outlook, a renowned UK betting publication. Bradley's expertise lies in identifying betting edges and delivering insightful, data-driven content for informed wagering.

Josh Miller

Josh Miller, Sporting Post’s Sports & Casino Editor, brings over five years of experience in feature writing, blogging, and SEO. With a strong background in football coverage and sports betting, his work has been featured in VAVEL. Josh also writes extensively about online casinos, providing expert insights into games, bonuses, and gambling trends. His engaging and informative content makes him a reliable resource for Sporting Post readers.