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.
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:
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.
Mobile betting app: We evaluate the app's layout, functionality, user experience, unique features, and ease of placing bets.
Web betting site: We test the website's features, identify pros and cons, and assess customization options and the bet placement process.
Deposits & withdrawals: We review the range of payment methods, ease of transactions, associated fees, and processing times for deposits and withdrawals.
Markets: We examine the variety of sports available for betting and compare the quality and breadth of markets across US betting sites.
Pre-match betting: We assess the user-friendliness and versatility of pre-match betting features.
In-play betting: We evaluate the live betting experience, including the quality of live markets and usability.
Welcome incentive: We detail current sign-up bonuses and compare them to those offered by other betting sites.
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 | |
Caesars Sportsbook | Best for signup promos and daily odds boosts | |
FanDuel | Best for parlays and top-rated user experience | |
DraftKings | Best for user experience and betting & DFS integration | |
BetRivers | Best for market availability and versatile features | |
Fanatics Sportsbook | Best for rewards program and fast-growing platform | |
ESPN BET | Best for integration with ESPN personalities | |
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 |
---|---|
Email: [email protected], Phone: 1-800-522-4700 | |
Email: [email protected], Phone: 020 7381 7722 | |
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: