Illinois
Sports Betting
10 licensed online operators, live since Mar 2020. Operator tax 20-40% + $0.25-$0.50/bet. Read on for legal status, current operators, and how to bet here.
Our dedicated Illinois site has deeper coverage: full operator reviews, complete timeline, every sportsbook bonus, and state-specific FAQs.
Visit bettinginil.com →Sports betting in Illinois
Illinois has the most complex tax structure in the US with a tiered 20-40% state tax plus a $0.25-$0.50 per-wager fee. 10 licensed operators as of March 2026; bet365 launched in March 2025 as the newest entrant, and ESPN BET rebranded to theScore Bet in December 2025. HB 5143 filed Feb 2026 would repeal the per-wager tax effective July 1, 2026. In-state college betting is banned.
Legal Status
Sports betting is fully legal in Illinois, including both retail and online/mobile wagering. The market is regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board. The minimum age to bet is 21, and bettors must be physically located within Illinois state lines to place a wager; residency is not required.
Tax and Regulation
Illinois taxes sports betting operators at 20-40% + $0.25-$0.50/bet of adjusted gross revenue. The state has 10 licensed sportsbook operators serving the market. The first sportsbooks launched in Mar 2020.
How to Start Betting in Illinois
To place a legal sports bet in Illinois, you must (1) be at least 21 years old, (2) be physically located within the state (verified by geolocation), and (3) create an account with a licensed operator. Most major sportsbooks including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars are available in most legal states. Check the operator list specific to Illinois for the most current options.
Sportsbooks Available in Illinois
The following 10 sportsbooks are currently licensed and active in Illinois. All operators are regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board.
FanDuel
Bulls and Blackhawks partner
Welcome offerGet $300 Back in Bonus Bets, 10 Days of No-Sweat Bets
National · 26 states→DraftKings
Market leader
Welcome offerBet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets + NCAA Tournament Profit Boost
National · 30 states→bet365
International markets
Welcome offerBet $10, Get $365 in Bonus Bets (Win or Lose)
National · 18 states→BetMGM
Chicago area retail presence
Welcome offerFirst Bet Offer Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets
National · 26 states→Caesars
Caesars Rewards
Welcome offerBet $1, Double Your Winnings Next 10 Bets (up to $25 per token)
National · 26 states→Circa Sports
Sharp bettor focus
Welcome offerVaries; Circa focuses on sharp pricing over promos
→Hard Rock Bet
Unity rewards
Welcome offerDouble Your Winnings on Your First 10 Bets
National · 10 states→Fanatics
FanCash rewards
Welcome offerBet $5, Get $200 in FanCash Instantly (or up to $1,000 matched)
National · 21 states→BetRivers
Rush Street (Chicago-based)
Welcome offer2nd Chance Bet Up to $500 in Bonus Bets
National · 16 states→theScore Bet
PENN Entertainment
Welcome offerBet $10, Get $250 in Bonus Bets Instantly
National · 19 states→Operator comparison · Illinois · sorted by editorial rating
| # | Operator | Rating | Welcome Bonus | Illinois note | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FanDuel Flutter Entertainment plc (NYSE: FLUT) | Get $300 Back in Bonus Bets, 10 Days of No-Sweat Bets | Bulls and Blackhawks partner | Read review → | |
| 2 | DraftKings DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG) | Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets + NCAA Tournament Profit Boost | Market leader | Read review → | |
| 3 | bet365 Hillside (Gaming) ENC (private) | Bet $10, Get $365 in Bonus Bets (Win or Lose) | International markets | Read review → | |
| 4 | BetMGM MGM Resorts International & Entain plc (50/50 JV) | First Bet Offer Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets | Chicago area retail presence | Read review → | |
| 5 | Caesars Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) | Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Next 10 Bets (up to $25 per token) | Caesars Rewards | Read review → | |
| 6 | Circa Sports Circa Resort & Casino | Varies; Circa focuses on sharp pricing over promos | Sharp bettor focus | Read review → | |
| 7 | Hard Rock Bet Seminole Hard Rock Digital (Seminole Tribe of Florida) | Double Your Winnings on Your First 10 Bets | Unity rewards | Read review → | |
| 8 | Fanatics Fanatics Betting & Gaming | Bet $5, Get $200 in FanCash Instantly (or up to $1,000 matched) | FanCash rewards | Read review → | |
| 9 | BetRivers Rush Street Interactive (NYSE: RSI) | 2nd Chance Bet Up to $500 in Bonus Bets | Rush Street (Chicago-based) | Read review → | |
| 10 | theScore Bet PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ: PENN) | Bet $10, Get $250 in Bonus Bets Instantly | PENN Entertainment | Read review → |
All operators above are licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board and accept bets only from inside Illinois state lines (verified by geolocation). Tax rate: 20-40% + $0.25-$0.50/bet. Minimum age: 21. See where Illinois's sports betting tax revenue actually goes →
Best sportsbook in Illinois → Compare Illinois welcome bonuses →
Illinois Operator Comparison · Who Wins What
Five decision axes across the top 5 licensed operators in Illinois. We compute the winner per axis from operator metadata (rating, bonus dollar amount, app store rating, payout speed, payment-method count). Use this as a shortcut when you want one operator for one specific reason.
- Editor's pick Best overall ratingFanDuelRating 4.8 / 5
- Biggest bonus Highest headline dollar valueBetMGM$1,500
- Best mobile app Combined iOS + Android ratingFanDueliOS 4.8 · Android 4.7
- Fastest payout Quickest verified withdrawal pathFanDuelPayPal (under 1 hour)
- Most payment methods Widest deposit / withdrawal rangeFanDuel9 methods
Bottom line for Illinois: FanDuel is our top pick at 4.8 / 5. Polished mobile app and the SGP+ builder, which lets bettors create same-game parlays faster and with better correlation pricing than at competitors. Different bettor profiles may prefer the category-specific winners above (sharp parlay players favor the SGP+ leader; small-stake casuals usually do better with whichever operator carries the lowest rollover requirement).
Need help? You're not alone
Sports betting in Illinois is for adults 21+. If gambling stops being fun, or you're worried about someone else, these Illinois-relevant resources are free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Helplines
- 1-800-426-2537 1-800-GAMBLER (National Problem Gambling Helpline) Text "HELPLINE" to 800GAM (800426) ncpg.org ↗
- 1-800-GAMBLER Illinois: Are You Really Winning Helpline areyoureallywinning.com ↗
Warning signs include: chasing losses, betting more than you can afford, hiding bets from family, or feeling anxious when not betting. Self-exclusion programs are available through every licensed Illinois operator and through the Illinois Gaming Board.
Pro teams based in Illinois
Illinois is home to 5 major professional teams across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. Click any team for a dedicated betting guide.
How to bet on sports in Illinois
A step-by-step walkthrough for placing your first legal sports bet in Illinois.
- 01
Choose a licensed sportsbook
Illinois has 10 licensed online sportsbooks, with FanDuel the largest national operator. National books like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars use a single account that works across all legal states.
- 02
Verify you are 21+ and a US resident
Sign up online with your legal name, date of birth, address, and last four of your SSN. Operators verify your identity through a soft credit check; this does not affect your credit score.
- 03
Confirm your location is inside the state
Operators use device geolocation to confirm you are physically inside Illinois at the moment of betting. Residency is not required; visitors can bet here. You cannot bet from outside the state, even if your account is registered to a Illinois address.
- 04
Fund your account
Most operators accept ACH bank transfer, debit card, credit card, PayPal, Venmo, online banking, and pay-by-app methods like Apple Pay. Deposits typically clear instantly.
- 05
Place your first bet
Pick a market (moneyline, spread, total, or prop), set your stake, and review the bet slip before submitting. Most operators show your potential payout inline before you confirm.
Illinois Sports Betting Timeline
Key milestones in the Illinois legal sports betting market, from the federal PASPA ruling through launch and ongoing regulatory changes.
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PASPA struck down
Supreme Court ruling in Murphy v. NCAA returned sports betting authority to the states.
-
Illinois launches sports betting
Market goes live under Illinois Gaming Board.
-
Illinois HB 5143 would repeal the per-wager tax effective July 1, 2026
Filed February 2026. The bill would remove the $0.25-$0.50 per-wager fee that operators have been passing through to bettors. Illinois remains the most complex tax structure in the US.
Illinois Sports Betting FAQ
Is online sports betting legal in Illinois?
Yes, online sports betting is fully legal in Illinois. The market launched in Mar 2020 and is regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board. 10 licensed operators currently serve the state.
What is the minimum age to bet on sports in Illinois?
You must be at least 21 years old to place a legal sports bet in Illinois. Operators verify age via SSN and ID checks during account registration.
Which sportsbooks are available in Illinois?
Illinois has 10 licensed online operators including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, and 5 more.
What is the sports betting tax rate in Illinois?
Illinois taxes sports betting operators at 20-40% + $0.25-$0.50/bet of adjusted gross revenue. This is paid by the operator, not the bettor, but it does affect promo offers and pricing competitiveness.
Do I have to live in Illinois to bet there?
No, residency is not required. You only need to be physically located inside Illinois state lines when placing the bet; the sportsbook verifies your location via geolocation. Visitors from other states can bet in Illinois.
Can I bet on college sports in Illinois?
Yes, Illinois allows betting on college sports including in-state college teams.
Full Illinois sports betting guide
This page gives you the essentials. If you want the complete picture (detailed sportsbook reviews, promo codes, market data, timeline, FAQs specific to Illinois, and more), visit our dedicated Illinois site at bettinginil.com. It's built specifically for bettors in Illinois with all the local details we couldn't fit here.
Visit bettinginil.com →Other legal US states
Explore sports betting guides for other US states where wagering is fully legal.