Illinois Sports Betting in 2025 – Top 10 IL Betting Apps & Online Sportsbooks

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Steven Brown

Steven Brown Sports Editor

Steven has over a decade of experience as a writer and editor, specializing in crypto and sports betting. Throughout his career, he has contributed to major publications and now writes for Sportscasting, where he leverages his deep understanding of blockchain technology and the betting industry to deliver insightful and engaging content.

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David Myers Sports Editor

David has over 25 years of experience as both a writer and editor within the betting/newspaper industries, working with major publications such as The Guardian, Racing Post and Sky Sports Racing. With a diploma in sub-editing and law, and the author of four books, David now shares his knowledge with SportsCasting as a successful sports editor, writer and tipster.

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Updated 03 Jan 2025

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Illinois sports betting became legal several years ago, meaning there are now plenty of sites offering sportsbooks in the Prairie State. Our team has not only found sites that are easy for you to sign up on, but also those with the best sportsbook features and betting options as well.

At the end of the day, the choice is up to you, but we make your life easier by taking you through what each of the sites in our top 10 do well, and where they could do better. Read on to find a reliable sportsbook that you can get started within no time at all.

Sports Betting in Illinois Overview

We want to paint a clear picture of the gambling landscape in IL when it comes to both sports betting and every other kind of gambling as well. Check out this table to see where various forms of gambling stand in IL.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Illinois?

Yes, online sports betting in Illinois is legal. The state legalized betting in 2019 through the Sports Wagering Act. Moreover, legislative efforts like HB2239 and SB1656 have also aimed to further improve the betting landscape in the state. Illinois also offers several other forms of gambling which include retail casinos, pari-mutuel horse racing, and daily fantasy sports.

Illinois Sports Betting Timeline

Let’s check out some of the key moments in the timeline of online betting in Illinois.

• March 5, 2022: In-person registration requirement removed which allows you to sign up remotely.
• June 18, 2020: Online sports betting launches with BetRivers.
• March 9, 2020: First retail sportsbook opens at Rivers Casino Des Plaines.
• June 28, 2019: The Sports Wagering Act was signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker.

Who Can Bet on Sports in Illinois?

To bet legally in Illinois, you must be at least 21 years old and physically located within state borders. You don’t have to be a resident, but to use the available online platforms in the state, you have to be within the borders.

Are Sportsbook Winnings in Illinois Taxable?

Yes, sports betting winnings are subject to taxation in Illinois. Additionally, the state imposes a withholding tax of 4.95% on significant payouts.

Pros & Cons of Betting on Sports in Illinois

Can Illinois Sports Bettors Wager on Offshore Betting Sites?

IL sports betting is legal, and there are a couple of regulated platforms you can use. That said, these gambling sites don’t have the same level of quality that you can find with top offshore Illinois sports betting sites.

These offshore sites don’t operate under the regulations of the state so they are not bound by their laws. This means that they are operating in what you might call a legal gray area. That said, you are well within your rights to use these offshore sportsbooks. These sportsbooks in Illinois, more often than not, have much better sports betting bonuses and a much deeper pool of betting markets.

The Best Illinois Online Sports Betting Sites in 2025

Here are 10 of not only the safest betting sites but the most comprehensive offshore Illinois online sportsbooks that you can sign up on right now.

1. BetOnline – The No.1 top Illinois sports betting site
2. BetWhale – Offers an excellent range of prop markets
3. Bovada – Covers a good variety of sports
4. BetNow – Top sportsbook for NFL betting in IL
5. Everygame – Exciting list of sports betting promotions
6. MyBookie – Offers competitive odds for tennis
7. CoinCasino – The best IL online sportsbook app
8. BetUS – Offers a massive sportsbook welcome bonus
9. SportsBetting.ag – Prop markets aplenty for NBA betting
10. Xbet – Quick and easy payout process

Top 5 IL Online Sportsbooks Reviewed

We want to make sure you have all the information you need available to you for making an informed choice about which of the top offshore online sportsbooks in Illinois for an online registration.

1. BetOnline – The No.1 Top Illinois Sports Betting Site

BetOnline stands out on the Illinois sports betting scene due to the diversity of options it offers. For one, you can bet on everything from the Cubs and the White Sox in the MLB to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA. It also does an unreal job with the NCAA football and basketball coverage as well. A few features on the site that set it apart from other sportsbooks are the live streaming options, BetTV with tips and expert advice, the newsroom, and the comprehensive range of prop markets. BetOnline also offer the earliest moneyline and sharpest betting odds around.

At BetOnline, there are ample perks that you can make use of, including a generous $250 free BetOnline bets bonus for new members. Also, once you settle in, you can earn even more rewards through the VIP program as well. It also offers plenty of exciting contests for sports betting, which means there are more than just a few ways for you to win big on the site.

Moreover, whether you are a casual betting fan or more of a high roller, you will be able to make deposits and withdrawals in sizes that suit you, with multiple banking options. BetOnline has more than 15 crypto deposit options with limits of up to $100,000. You can also use fiat options like Visa, Discover, Mastercard and Amex as well (albeit with smaller limits).

BetOnline sports bonus:

2. BetWhale – Offers an Excellent Range of Soccer Prop Markets

Our team spent some time checking out the BetWhale sportsbook and it didn’t take long for us to realize it was one of the best Illinois online sports betting websites around. We also got our hands on a super generous $1,250 sportsbook welcome offer when we signed up.

In addition, it was easy to claim the BetWhale promos thanks to the numerous banking methods we could use. From cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum to more traditional methods like Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal, funding our account was a breeze.

When we had a few bucks in our account, we moved on to placing a few bets on everything from the NBA and MLB to international leagues like the English Premier League and the IPL. This top new betting site also does an exceptional job of covering a ton of markets for each sport and individual match you want to bet on. It also offers live streaming of sports so you can even watch your beloved Cubs live on their journey to the World Series.

BetWhale sports bonus:

3. Bovada – Covers a Good Variety of Sports

You won’t find many Illinois sportsbooks that give you more to work with than Bovada, who offer more than 30 sports to bet on, and includes everything from basketball and football to snooker and table tennis. There are also a ton of events covered for each sport and a massive selection of pre-match and live betting markets. We’d love to see Bovada add a few live-streaming options in the future, but for now, it does more than enough to allow you to bet on all the best teams out of the Prairie State.

In addition, it also offers you two different sportsbook welcome offers to choose from: a crypto bonus and a fiat bonus. Moreover, it’s not just the Bovada promos that cater for all their users, but the banking options they have also provide a top service. We could make deposits with Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and many other crypto options. That said, the fees for making credit card deposits sat around 15.9% which is a little high. Bovada does offer quick withdrawals to make up for these fees, though, as it processes your crypto withdrawals in under an hour.

Bovada sports bonus:

4. BetNow – Top Sportsbook for NFL Betting in IL

BetNow is not what we would call a flashy online sportsbook. However, the fact that it opts for simplicity instead is what makes it an ideal sportsbook for newer users, as the interface is easy to navigate. That goes for claiming your bonus when making an online registration and also while making deposits/withdrawals.

There are Illinois betting sites in our guide with more banking options but BetNow does offer the options that most users tend to use. That includes Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Visa, Amex, etc. The limits for Bitcoin are $40,000, but they are fairly low for credit cards at $1,000. That said, all transactions are processed by BetNow very quickly.

The sports betting options at BetNow are solid, offering around 20 sports you can bet on. So, naturally, you’ll be able to bet on your favorite teams out of Chicago in the MLB, NFL, and NBA. It also offers competitive odds on most events and you can also take advantage of the prop builder tool to quickly put together unique online betting slips.

BetNow sports bonus:

5. Everygame – Exciting List of Sports Betting Promotions

At Everygame, we have found some of the very best sports betting promotions to claim. There are not many betting sites that can seemingly match the sheer number of Everygame promos it offers. From the welcome offer and multiple free bet promos to the event-specific offers and contests, there are plenty of great options.

You can also make a deposit in a matter of minutes with methods like Visa, Mastercard, bank transfers, and plenty of crypto options, so you’ll have no issue funding your account. Everygame also processes payments almost instantly. Now, when you get cash into your account, you can make use of its superb sportsbook that comes with ample sports to bet on, diverse markets to choose from, top features like the hottest bets for the day, and more.

Everygame sports bonus:

Comparing The Best IL Sports Betting Sites

The best IL betting sites give you enough online betting options, promos, and features to use. The sites we have included in this guide all do a stellar job of making sure you have enough of these tools and promos to work with. More on this below:

How We Rank The Best Illinois Sports Betting Sites

Now that you’ve seen our top 10 list of the best IL online betting sites, you might wonder how we came to the conclusion that these are the best options. Well, our team sticks to certain criteria when reviewing the best Illinois sportsbooks and ensures that they tick off certain boxes before we include them in our guides. In fact, every part of these sites contributes to the overall betting experience you have so it’s vital that we take the time to cover them in detail before eventually deciding how we rank gambling sites.

• Licensing and Security: First and foremost, we make sure that we are not suggesting online sportsbooks to you that have no license. Once we have made sure they are offering a legal betting site, we check out their security features.
• User Reviews: After that, we check out user reviews to see what other users have had to say about the sportsbooks.
• Sportsbook and Features: Then we move on to the ease of use and the options you can work with, like the sports betting promos, the number of sports you can bet on, live betting, cash out betting and streaming features, banking options, and more.
• Customer Support: Lastly, we check out the help center, FAQs, and customer support, including how you can contact them, how long it takes for replies, and also whether they were competent and helpful.

Types of Bonuses at IL Online Sportsbooks

Online betting in Illinois is more fun when you can get your hands on a couple of generous sports betting promos and offers. These promos can also come in different ways, as listed below:

• Welcome offers: The best Illinois betting sites will give you a welcome bonus when you sign up for the first time, which is usually a deposit match offer. For example, the superb matched deposit welcome bonus offer at BetWhale.
• Free bets: The best Illinois sportsbooks will offer promos that give you a risk-free betting opportunity. For example, you might be able to claim a $50 free bet when you make a qualifying bet of the same value first. If your qualifying bet loses, you will get your stake back as free bets.
• No deposit offers: You will sometimes be able to find no-deposit bonuses that give you free cash to bet with. They won’t be super big, but hey, it’s still free cash.
• Cashback promos: These days, it’s common practice for online sportsbooks to have cashback offers. Basically, you’ll be able to get some of your net losses back at the end of a set period of time. For example, a 10% cashback promo could see you get $100 back if you lost $1,000 during the week.

Best Illinois Online Sportsbooks Bonuses Comparison

As we mentioned before, most welcome offers at IL online sportsbooks will be matched deposit bonuses. Well, check out the table below to see what kind of deposit offers you can claim when you sign up on one of these sites.

Popular Payment Methods at Illinois Online Sportsbooks

It’s important that Illinois sports betting sites make sure that you can make deposits and withdrawals with a number of secure banking methods. Some sites may lean towards more traditional methods, while others may be more crypto-focused. Either way, you should be able to find a method that suits your needs.

These are some of the banking options popular among IL gamblers:

• Cryptocurrencies: Offshore Illinois sports betting sites will often offer you plenty of cryptos like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and a host of other altcoins. Crypto at the top crypto betting sites give you lightning-quick processing and also has low fees when compared to other payment methods. That said, there is a bit of a learning curve if you have never used digital currency before.
• Credit/Debit Cards: Many users will simply want to stick to what they know, which is, more often than not, credit card deposits. Most of the sites that we have reviewed will have options like Amex, Discover, Visa, and Mastercard. They usually have 48-hour processing times for your withdrawals, and you will also have to pay transaction fees as well.
• Bank Transfers: Bank wire or bank transfers are not always available for deposits, but they are often available for withdrawals on offshore sites we have reviewed. But, bank wire can take up to 7 days to process, which is not ideal if you want to grab your winnings quickly, but they are super secure.
• eWallets: eWallets like PayPal and Skrill have become very popular among online gamblers in the US, but they are not often available on offshore sites. In addition, eWallets typically give you instant processing times on online sportsbooks but come with fairly high fees.

How to Get Started with an IL Sports Betting Site

All of the IL sportsbooks in our top 10 have made sure to keep their sign-up processes as simple as possible. Even if you have never gambled online, you will be able to easily get your online sports betting account up in a couple of minutes. Let’s check out the few steps to creating an account with the best IL sportsbook: BetOnline.

Step 1: Visit BetOnline

Visit the BetOnline website on your computer or mobile. When you have landed on the BetOnline homepage, just hit the join button in the top right-hand corner. It’s in bright green, so it’s hard to miss.

Step 2: Fill In The Registration Form

You must then fill out some info like your name, email, password, phone number, etc. It took us about 2-3 minutes to get it all wrapped up.

Step 3: Deposit Funds

BetOnline will then open up the deposit page for you where you can then choose your preferred method. It has everything from crypto to credit/debit cards, so pick an option you want to use, enter your details and the amount of cash you want to deposit, and complete your transaction. Also, remember to enter the promo code here if you want in on the sportsbook welcome offer.

Step 4: Start Betting

Use your deposit and free bet promo to start betting on the Cubs, the White Sox, The Bears, or any other team from any sport that you are keen on. It’s easy to navigate the sportsbook as it offers clear-cut menus where you can toggle between the various sports and events.

Most Popular Sports to Bet on in Illinois

Illinois betting sites, like the ones in our guide, generally allow you to bet on pretty much any sport that is professional in nature. That said, a few sports are very popular among betting enthusiasts in IL, and they include:

• NFL: No team is loved quite like the Bears in Chicago. You can bet on the NFL and the Bears all throughout the season with the top sportsbooks, making use of plenty of markets and competitive odds.
• NHL: Ice hockey is another massive sport in the Prairie State, with fans following the Blackhawks on their journey through the regular season all the way to the Stanley Cup.
• MLB: Not many states are blessed with two pro teams to support, but Chicago has both the White Sox and the Cubs. They may not have found much success in recent years, but that does not stop IL fans from getting their bets in on these two well-established MLB teams.
• NBA: No state has a prouder history in the NBA than the Chicago Bulls in many people’s eyes. They have lived through the glory days with Michael Jordan, and fans here continue to back the Bulls, hoping that they can reignite that fire.
• Soccer: Chicago Fire FC has not been well known for their success in the MLS but they still dish out endless entertaining matches for soccer fans to drink in. You can also bet outside of the MLS as well, as most of the sites in our guide cover just about every pro league from around the world.

Popular Type of Bets at IL Online Sportsbooks

Using Illinois sports betting sites means that you can create a wide variety of wagers. It’s one of the key things we review when checking up on these sites, as you have to be able to get creative with your bets. That said, the following are the markets that are popular among gamblers here:

• Moneyline: If you want to keep your bets simple, you can just bet on a team or player that you think is going to win a match.
• Spread betting: Make your bets more interesting by betting on whether you think a team will win by more or lose within a certain point spread/margin.
• Parlays: Put together a bet that has multiple markets within it. Your payouts can be a lot bigger, but they are tougher to get right, as it only takes one leg for your whole bet to collapse.
• Over/Under: You will be able to bet on whether there will be more or less than a preset number on stat. For example, betting on there being more than 30.5 points scored by the Bears in a game or a Bulls game to have less than 220.5 points
• Prop Bets: Sportsbooks will give you prop betting markets that relate to more specific things in a game. For example, betting on a player to throw more than three touchdowns.
• Live Bets: You can also use most of these markets while matches are still live. Live betting gives you enticing odds, but the markets and odds shift quickly, so you need to make snap decisions.

Betting Apps & Mobile Sites for Sports Betting In Illinois

Having the option to bet with a mobile app or mobile site gives you convenience, and it ensures that even when you forget to place your bet, you can still get them in from wherever you are before the lines close.

There are not many offshore Illinois sports betting apps but you can still access these sportsbooks with your iOS or Android browsers. It functions in the same way and gives you the same betting features and markets as well.

Retail Sports Betting Locations in Illinois

You can place your bets in person at a variety of brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in IL right now. These are some of the best locations you should check out if you find yourself in the state and you want a more social betting experience.

• Rivers Casino, Des Plaines: Located at 3000 S. River Road.
• Grand Victoria Casino, Elgin: Found at 250 S. Grove Avenue.
• Argosy Casino Alton: Situated at 1 Piasa Street.

Other Betting and Gambling Options in Illinois

These are some of the gambling options other than online sports betting in the Prairie State.

• Retail Casinos: There are a ton of retail casinos you can visit.
• Online Casinos: There are no legal online casinos in Illinois.
• Poker: Poker rooms are available at select retail casinos.
• Bingo Halls: Bingo games are available at licensed charitable organizations across the state.
• Lottery: The Illinois State Lottery lets you purchase tickets in person and online.
• Fantasy Sports: Daily fantasy sports contests are legally accessible through a few different online platforms.

Online Sports Betting in Nearby States to Illinois

IL is pretty much nailing it with most gambling options in the state, barring online casinos. Let’s have a look at whether or not their neighbors are in the same boat.

• Indiana: There is fully legalized retail and online betting in Indiana.
• Iowa: Legal sports betting available in the state.
• Wisconsin: No online sports betting, but there are a few retail locations you can bet at.

Responsible Gambling in Illinois

We cannot stress enough how important responsible gambling is. Most of you will know your limits, but to make sure that you gamble safely, consider using tools like deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion tools, and even session time limits.

These tools can really help you manage how much time and money you are spending on these sites. However, if you can’t manage your gambling yourself, then you might want to check out some of these organizations that help you out with gambling addiction:

• Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) Initiatives
• Illinois Alliance on Problem Gambling

Conclusion: Best Illinois Online Sportsbook

Kick things off with your sports betting journey by setting up an account at BetOnline, who balance an easy-to-use sportsbook while still offering all the best tools for Illinois sports bettors to make use of. Add to that, a fun sportsbook bonus and a ton of early moneyline odds, and we can’t recommend it highly enough.

Illinois Sports Betting FAQ