Illinois Sports Betting: Legal IL Sportsbooks & Legislation Updates | October 2026

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Illinois opened its first retail sportsbooks in March 2020 and its first betting app that June, and it has since become one of the biggest markets in the country for online betting. Bettors 21 and older can choose from 10 licensed apps, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, bet365, theScore Bet, BetRivers, Hard Rock Bet, and Circa Sports, and statewide handle topped $1 billion for the tenth straight month in June 2026.

Before you bet, it pays to understand the cost structure. Since July 1, 2025, Illinois has charged sportsbooks a per-wager tax of 25 cents on each operator’s first 20 million bets of the year and 50 cents on every bet after that, on top of graduated revenue tax rates that climb as high as 40%. Some operators pass that expense along to customers, with DraftKings adding a 50-cent fee to each wager and Fanatics charging 25 cents, while others absorb it or have paused their fees. Check your bet slip and compare apps before you commit.

Below, LegalSportsReport compares the top Illinois sportsbook apps and bonuses and covers the state’s betting laws, revenue figures, and latest news.

Illinois Betting Sites for Today

Online Sportsbooks Prediction Markets DFS Sites Horse Racing

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Comparing top IL sportsbook apps & sites

The online sportsbook that will work best for you depends on how you bet and what features are important to you. The Land of Lincoln has nine sportsbooks available online, and each has its own strengths, weaknesses, and Illinois sportsbook promos. Here’s a brief guide to the best options in some key categories, followed by reviews of the apps:

• Best sportsbook for navigation: FanDuel. FanDuel is a user-friendly app with clear and simple organization. Its slick and simple design makes it easy to find the games you want and to monitor your wagers during the game. In a 2021 Eilers & Krejcik independent study, FanDuel scored 4.6 out of 5 for the betting interface category, with high marks for user experience, as well.
• Best sportsbook for innovative or distinct design: DraftKings. DraftKings is a pioneer of the early cash-out option in the US and offers a customized betting carousel when you log onto the site. Based on your stated preferences and betting history, the carousel suggests likely wagers for you.
• Best sportsbook for iOS and Android apps: FanDuel, DraftKings. These consistently get positive reviews on Google Play and the App Store, with exceptionally high marks for app speed and design.
• Best sportsbook for high-limit players: Circa Sportsbook. Circa Sportsbook is one of the latest apps to launch in Illinois. The book is known for its willingness to take bets and provide higher limits than competitors.

1. BetMGM Illinois

BetMGM Sportsbook is one of the top legal betting options in several states, including Illinois. Features include a large menu of sports and types of wagers, as well as innovations like the ability to edit your bet. However, navigation could be a bit smoother on the web platform and the app does lack some of the flash of other Illinois sportsbooks.

• App rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.1 (Android)
• Key takeaway: Large menu of sports and bets
• Best feature: “Edit My Bet”
• Illinois welcome bonus: Up to $1,500 in bonus bets paid back if your first bet does not win. Use the BetMGM bonus code BETLSR.
• Casino partner: Par-a-Dice Casino

2. FanDuel Illinois

FanDuel Sportsbook has risen in the past few years to become one of the best sports betting apps in Illinois. Its main appeal is its ease of use. It is also one of the best places to find same-game parlay options. However, FanDuel is still working out some bugs concerning its biometric login and its customer support response.

• App rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.7 (Android)
• Key takeaway: One of the best sportsbook apps in terms of navigation
• Best feature: Wide selection of same-game parlays
• Illinois welcome bonus: Bet $10, get $350 in bonus bets if your bet wins. No FanDuel promo code necessary; click to claim.
• Casino partner: FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing, formerly Fairmount Park

3. Fanatics Sportsbook Illinois

Fanatics Sportsbook is now live in Illinois. This new app is still working through some kinks that can sometimes affect functionality, but there are some interesting features available for new users. The “Discover” page, for example, curates a section of the app for users with trending bets, rewards, and promos.

Alongside the Fanatics Sportsbook promo for new users, FanCash, the app’s loyalty program, lets bettors accumulate extra money they can redeem in the app for bonus bets or use on the Fanatics retail site.

• App rating: 4.7 (iOS), 3.5 (Android)
• Key takeaway: New app with interesting features
• Best feature: FanCash
• Illinois welcome bonus: Bet and get up to $1,000 in no sweat bets.

4. DraftKings Illinois

DraftKings Sportsbook is one of the top betting options in Illinois and the country. Its best features include its cash-out option, which allows bettors to close their tickets before the end of the game. The betting carousel that tailors itself to each user is also a solid addition. However, DraftKings could stand to improve promotions for existing customers. Alongside a very solid deposit match offer with the DraftKings promo code, it’s also one of the fastest-paying sportsbooks, with PayPal, Venmo, and online banking payment options.

• App rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.7 (Android)
• Key takeaway: Innovative app that offers customized experiences
• Best feature: Betting carousel
• Illinois welcome bonus: Up to $1,200 in bonuses.
• Casino partner: DraftKings at Casino Queen

5. bet365 Illinois

Bet365 Sportsbook is known for its origins in the United Kingdom and its many customer-friendly benefits including a huge range of betting options and live betting markets. The site also offers plenty of generous ongoing promotions including bet boosts and super boosts, plus bet365 is one of the easiest spots betting interfaces to use.

Bet365 Sportsbook offers a seemingly endless number of betting markets for the ‘big four’ sports. Those who are fans of the many Chicago teams such as the Bulls, Bears, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, and more will find plenty of betting options and promotions surrounding their teams. Betting on Illinois collegiate programs is not allowed in the state.

At the same time, bet365 also features many betting options for other popular sports like soccer, tennis, MMA, and more. Those interested in a wide range of options, live betting, and odds boosts will be right at home at bet365 Sportsbook in Illinois. 

• App store rating: 4.6 (iOS), 2.1 (Android)
• Key takeaway: Competitive odds and an easy-to-use app.
• Best feature: Personalized display
• IL welcome bonus: Bet $10, get $200 win or lose
• Use the bet365 bonus code LSRBET

List of all Illinois sportsbooks

At present, nine online sportsbooks are live in Illinois. BetRivers was the first to launch in the state in 2020. Each book is partnered with a casino in the state. Here are the legal online sportsbooks in Illinois:

• BetMGM Sportsbook (Par-a-Dice Casino)
• FanDuel Sportsbook (FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing, formerly Fairmount Park)
• Fanatics Sportsbook (Hawthorne Race Course)
• DraftKings Sportsbook (DraftKings at Casino Queen)
• bet365 Sportsbook (Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort)
• BetRivers Sportsbook (Rivers Des Plaines)
• Hard Rock Bet (Hard Rock Casino Rockford)
• Caesars Sportsbook (Grand Victoria Casino Elgin/Harrah’s Joliet/Harrah’s Metropolis)
• ESPN Bet (Hollywood Casino Aurora/Hollywood Casino Joliet)
• Circa Sportsbook (The Temporary by American Place Casino in Waukegan)

More Illinois Betting Sites

Sports betting is not the only gaming option available in Illinois. Residents can also participate in Daily Fantasy Sports contests, wager on horse racing through the state’s parimutuel system, and access prediction market platforms that offer event-based contracts tied to future outcomes.

Prediction Markets in Illinois

Prediction markets are available in Illinois through platforms such as FanDuel Predicts, Kalshi and Polymarket. These services allow users to trade contracts based on the outcome of sports, political, economic, and other real-world events.

Daily Fantasy Sports in Illinois

Daily Fantasy Sports are legal in Illinois and remain a popular alternative to traditional sports betting. Players can enter salary-cap contests, tournaments, and pick’em-style games through a variety of major operators.

Betting on Horse Racing in Illinois

Horse racing has a long history in Illinois, and parimutuel wagering is fully legal. Bettors can place wagers at racetracks, simulcast facilities, and licensed online racebooks in Illinois that offer races from inside the state and across North America.

New Illinois sportsbooks

Illinois is one of the country’s most populous states offering online sports betting sites with more than 10 million residents. While it is home to several online sportsbooks, others, such as Bally Bet (license pending for a Chicago casino), could enter the market.

The most recent addition to the Illinois sports betting scene is bet365 Sportsbook, which officially launched in the Land of Lincoln on March 16, 2025.

Land-based Illinois sportsbooks

In addition to the nine online Illinois sports betting sites, several locations throughout the state allow bettors to place wagers in person. Below is a list of land-based Illinois sportsbooks that are available (or coming soon) for bettors.

Is sports betting legal in Illinois?

Yes, Illinois sports betting is legal online and at retail locations. Nine online sportsbooks are available in the state, and there are several locations where you can bet in person.

Illinois sports betting snapshot

IL sports betting history

Although sports betting legalization efforts in Illinois began in 2018, they didn’t get serious until the following year. For that matter, it took a challenge from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who included sports betting revenue as part of his budget, to motivate Illinois lawmakers to put forth measures to make the activity a reality in the state. Here’s a brief rundown of everything that happened to bring sports betting to this point in Illinois.

2024: Two iGaming bills are introduced at the start of the state’s legislative session. Both HB 2239 and SB 1656 would create the Internet Gaming Act.

The DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field opens for bets. The Illinois Gaming Board approves DraftKings for a four-year retail and online sports betting license at Wrigley Field. DraftKings had previously been operating under a temporary license.

Fanatics Sportsbook launches in April, replacing PointsBet.

The Illinois legislature passes a bill raising the state’s tax rates on sports betting.

The Illinois Gaming Board announces a ban on in-state college sports betting starting on July 1, 2024. The previous law allowed bets on in-state colleges if done in person at a retail sportsbook.

2023: Illinois sports betting hits new record highs in handle, revenue, and taxes in 2023. The state has over $1 billion in handle in each of the last four months of the year, with November setting the current record at $1.375 billion in wagers.

2022: On March 5, the in-person registration requirement finally ends. The first full month of remote registration results in a record $971.3 million in handle. A new sportsbook called Caliente qualifies to launch in Illinois in April, but another, Fubo, does not pass muster. Meanwhile, DraftKings and the Chicago Cubs plan to open a retail sportsbook at Wrigley Field in the next year.

2021: The sixth online sportsbook in the state, Barstool, launches in March. Handle and revenue continue to grow throughout the year, with Illinois sports bettors placing a record $840.4 million in wagers in October. That same month, the Illinois General Assembly votes to rescind the in-person registration requirement and allow in-person pregame wagering on in-state college teams.

2020: The first retail sportsbooks go live in March at Rivers Des Plaines and Argosy Casino Alton. Their service is short-lived due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Pritzker suspends the in-person registration requirement in May as the launch of online sports betting approaches. The first online sportsbook, BetRivers, opens its virtual doors for business the following month. Before the end of 2020, four other online sportsbooks will launch in Illinois.

2019: A flurry of legislative activity produces several bills but little agreement in the Illinois General Assembly. Ultimately, Rep. Bob Rita takes the mantle as the mediator of the process and negotiates several compromises with stakeholders. Pritzker signs the bill into law in late June.

What’s happening in Illinois sports betting right now

• July 16, 2025 – BetMGM and Hard Rock Bet both announced minimum bets required in Illinois in response to the per-bet fee that began July 1. BetMGM is requiring a bet be at least $2.50 while Hard Rock Bet requires at least a $2 bet.
• July 1, 2025 – The new per-bet sports betting tax begins today. Three operators confirmed they will pass the fee on to bettors: DraftKings, Fanatics and FanDuel.
• June 12, 2025 – DraftKings joined FanDuel with a 50-cent fee on each bet to begin September 1. Both companies said they would end the fee if the state removed the tax.
• June 10, 2025 – FanDuel responded to the new per-bet tax added in Illinois with a per-bet fee of its own, charging bettors 50 cents a bet in the state. DraftKings anticipates making a change in the state too, a spokesperson said.
• June 2, 2025 – A late change to the state budget approved a new per-bet tax in the state of 25 cents on an operator’s first 20 million annual bets. That doubles to 50 cents for every bet after the first 20 million.
• May 5, 2025 — Illinois lawmakers continue a push to outlaw sports betting at entertainment establishments like Dave & Buster’s. 
• April 24, 2025 — The Chicago Bears used the No. 10 overall pick in the NFL Draft to select University of Michigan TE Colston Loveland.
• March 27, 2025 — MLB Opening Day for the 2025 season has arrived and the Chicago Cubs had +3000 World Series odds. The Chicago White Sox, on the other hand, were tied for the longest odds on the board (+50000).
• March 16, 2025 — bet365 Sportsbook launches in Illinois just in time for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
• Feb. 6, 2025 — In NBA trade deadline news, the Chicago Bulls traded Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings as part of a 3-team trade that also included the San Antonio Spurs. Chicago is tied with several teams for the longest championship odds.
• Jan 5, 2025 — The Chicago Bears finished the season with a 5-12 record, and hold the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
• Dec. 17, 2025 — The Illinois Gaming Board approved international sportsbook operator bet365 for a license. Bet365 has partnered up with Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort.

10 quick facts about IL online sports betting

1. Illinois legalized sports betting in June 2019.
2. The first retail sportsbooks in Illinois opened in March 2020, and the first sportsbook app (BetRivers) arrived in June 2020.
3. Illinois sports bettors have wagered as much as $1.38 billion in one month, posting that in November 2023.
4. Illinois sportsbooks have realized as much as $128.4 million in monthly revenue, posting that figure in December 2023.
5. Sports betting is available to anyone in Illinois who is 21 or older.
6. You must be inside state lines to bet, but you do not have to be a resident of Illinois.
7. It is not legal for key sports employees (players, coaches, referees, etc.) to bet on their own sports.
8. Bets must occur on sporting events, not elections or award ceremonies.
9. The state no longer allows wagering on in-state college teams as of July 1, 2024.
10. To bet online, you used to have to complete your registration in person at a land-based casino in Illinois. However, that stipulation is no longer in place.

Illinois sports betting law and regulations

Illinois legalized sports betting with the passage of SB 690 in June 2019. The law allowed for online and retail sports betting in the state. Retail facilities cleared to offer sports betting included the state’s casinos, racetracks and larger sports venues. The law also provided for three online-only licenses to be awarded in 2021.

The defining feature of the law used to be its in-person registration requirement, which ended March 2022. According to the law, all sports bettors used to have to travel to the partner casino of their chosen online book to complete their registrations. Here are some details about Illinois’ current sports betting law:

• License fees are 5% of the previous year’s or the current year’s handle, depending on when the state issues the license. The maximum fee is $10 million.
• The online-only licenses, however, require a $20 million fee.
• All licenses are valid for four years and are renewable for $1 million.
• Originally, the state taxed sportsbooks at a flat rate of 15% of gross gaming revenue. That changed on July 1, 2024, when a new law raised the top rate (above $200 million in adjusted gross revenue) to 40%. The bottom rate (on the first $30 million in AGR) is now 20%.
• Live wagers must use official league data.

Illinois sports betting restrictions

Bettors in Illinois can bet on all professional sports, but college bets are limited to spreads, totals, and moneylines. Prop bets on college teams and players are not permitted, and betting on in-state college teams is banned as of July 1, 2024.

What to expect at a legal Illinois sportsbook

Illinois’ online sportsbooks are safe, secure, and reliable. All the apps this page lists have met the requirements of the Illinois Gaming Board. Legal sports betting sites have strict rules about security practices and business standards to keep you and your bets safe and fair.

Once the app is on your phone and the online sportsbook has verified your account, you can bet anywhere in the state you have online access. Additionally, online sportsbooks have bonuses and betting options you cannot find at casinos.

Illinois sports to bet on

People in Illinois can bet on many major sports teams if they choose. Though the Bulls, Blackhawks, and MLB teams are incredibly popular, Chicago Bears odds are likely the most popular wagers in the state despite the team’s recent struggles. Here are the most popular sports and Illinois teams on which to bet in the state:

• NBA — Chicago Bulls
• NFL — Chicago Bears
• MLB — Chicago White Sox
• MLB — Chicago Cubs
• NHL — Chicago Blackhawks
• MLS — Chicago Fire FC

In addition to these Chicago teams, there are options for wagering on other games in these leagues, special events like March Madness, and more individual-focused sports like tennis, mixed martial arts, golf, and motorsports.

How to get started with the best Illinois sportsbook bonuses

It’s easy to get started at an Illinois sports betting site. For the most part, the process takes just a few minutes. The choice of where to wager is up to you, but here are some of the sportsbook promos in Illinois and the codes to access them when you sign up:

Be sure to read the fine print of each promotion. Some common types of bonuses include the following:

• Deposit bonus: The sportsbook agrees to match all or a portion of your first deposit with bonus funds — effectively increasing your deposit to a certain degree. These bonuses are often called match bonuses.
• No-deposit bonus: You receive this bonus as credits or bet vouchers. They become available when you create an account, and no deposit is necessary. You won’t be able to cash out these credits until you meet a playthrough requirement by placing bets.
• Odds boost: Sportsbooks offer odds boosts to spur action. The book will artificially shift odds on specific wagers solely to entice bettors with potentially higher payouts than they would otherwise stand to get from that same bet.
• First bet promo: Once you’ve made a wager that satisfies the sportsbook’s qualifications, you can take advantage of the promo after the result of your bet. If you win, you will not receive any award. If you lose, the site will award you credits to use. The credits will equal all or some of the value of your initial wager.

Illinois sports betting revenue by the numbers

Illinois sports betting launched its first online sports betting app in June 2020, and since then the market has grown to be among the top few in the US. Illinois is fourth in handle all time as of October 2026. The tables below display Illinois sports betting revenue, handle, and taxes in recent years and months.

Illinois sports betting year over year

Illinois sports betting month over month

The Bottom Line on Illinois Sports Betting

Illinois has run a genuinely competitive market since BetRivers launched the state’s first mobile app in June 2020, and nine online sportsbooks are live there today. The state’s tax structure has also gotten more complicated in recent years, and that’s starting to change what bettors actually see at the sportsbook.

• 🥇 Biggest Bonus: BetMGM | BetMGM’s up to $1,500 in bonus bets is still the top offer on the board in Illinois.
• 💵 Best Bet-and-Get: FanDuel | Wager $5 and collect $350 in bonus bets, one of the simplest offers to unlock in the state.
• 🎟️ Best for Loyalty: Fanatics | A no-sweat bet worth up to $1,000 ties new users into Fanatics’ broader FanCash rewards structure.
• 🏒 Best for High Limits: Hard Rock Bet | Hard Rock Bet has built a following among bigger bettors, though it now requires a $2 minimum wager tied to the state’s new per-bet tax.
• 💸 The Per-Bet Tax Is Changing How You Bet | Illinois used to require in-person casino sign-up before mobile betting was allowed, but that rule ended for good on March 5, 2022. The bigger change now is financial: as of July 1, 2025, operators pay a 25-cent fee on each of their first 20 million annual bets (50 cents after that), and books like BetMGM and Hard Rock Bet have responded by adding minimum wager requirements to offset the cost.

Illinois’ in-person registration requirement is old news at this point, but the state’s newer per-bet tax is the rule actually shaping the betting experience for Illinois bettors in 2026.

Illinois sports betting FAQ

Additional resources on Illinois sports betting

• Illinois General Assembly website — lawmaking body for the state of Illinois.
• WeKnowtheFeeling.org — problem gambling assistance group funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services.