Illinois Online Betting

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What do we look for when evaluating operators for Illinois residents? – we keep our eyes peeled!

We expect that the best online casinos Illinois has to offer will soon be coming around. And when they do, you’ll know exactly how they got onto our recommended list of casinos. That said, we keep our eyes peeled to ensure that we only recommend the best online casinos and sportsbooks in the state. So let’s took a closer look at how we rate our recommended operators.

Legal Illinois Online Gambling Sites & Apps

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The history of gambling in Illinois dates back to the 1920s when the state legalized betting on horse races held at local racetracks. In 1990, the Riverboat Gambling Act made it legal to run commercial casinos as long as they were located on boats operating outside Lake Michigan and counties with populations over three million people.

The next landmark piece of legislation was passed in 2009 when local bars and other similar venues were allowed to host lottery terminals operated by the Illinois Lottery. No further gambling laws have been passed since then, which means that Illinois doesn’t have a regulated iGaming market.

Deposits and Withdrawals

After registering your account, the next step is to deposit money. As with other states, Illinois has multiple options available to bettors that are both quick and convenient when it comes to accessing money.

Banking options include, but may not be limited to:

• PayPal
• Credit/Debit Cards
• ACH/e-Checks (ACH)
• Online banking via online credentials with your bank
• Cash deposits at physical locations
• Wire transfers

New patrons should acquaint themselves with the “Welcome Bonus” promotions that most sportsbooks offer upon sign-up. Check the tables above on this page for the top IL sportsbook bonuses. These include matched bets, risk-free bets, matched deposits, and bonus money. Most promotions include a specific code to be entered at the time of deposit to access the offer, and they are usually available exclusively for new customers.

Land-based retail sportsbooks in Illinois

Rivers Sportsbook was first to launch at its retail location, Rivers Casino Des Plaines in Des Plaines, Ill., in March 2020. The Argosy Casino Alton soon followed in anticipation of the 2020 NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament. However, Argosy’s grand opening was delayed due to the global coronavirus pandemic, and Illinois sports betting apps and casinos were closed for about two months. On June 11, 2020, the Illinois Gaming Board approved seven casino applications for Master Sports Wagering Licenses.

After those licenses were approved, Caesars Sportsbook (formerly William Hill) opened its retail location at the Grand Victoria in Elgin on Aug. 1, 2020, DraftKings Sportsbook opened its retail location on Aug. 5, and Hollywood Casinos opened sportsbooks at its Aurora and Joliet properties on Aug. 20. Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria took its first retail wagers on Sept. 10, just before the college football season began in earnest, while PointsBet started doing so on Sept. 30, 2020. In March 2021, Barstool Sportsbook opened three retail locations in the state at the Hollywood Casinos in Joliet and Aurora along with the Argosy Casino in Alton.

What Forms of Gambling Are Allowed?

When casino and riverboat casino games are concerned, a great variety of them is regulated and allowed. Casino approved games include table games and their subtypes such as Baccarat, Blackjack, Poker, Slots, and other types of electronic gaming devices.

As for other forms of gambling, there are plenty of them in Illinois. Charitable gaming that can include roulette, blackjack, poker, and other casinos games, plus bingo, raffles, pull tabs, jar games, and even state fair games are all legal and authorized by the Charitable Games Act, Bingo License and Tax Act, Illinois Pull Tabs and Jar Games Act, Raffles and Poker Runs Act, and State Fair Gaming Act. All these forms of gambling are overseen either by the Illinois Gambling Board or the Department of Revenue, except for the raffles and poker runs that can be licensed and conducted under the supervision and licensing system of individual counties.

In the case of sports betting, it is allowed under the Sports Wagering Act and betting on all professional sporting events except the minor leagues. All bettors must be over 21 and physically located in Illinois and can bet on either inter-track wagering locations at racetracks or via internet and mobile applications designed and operated only by licensed organizations.

Apart from these, both state and interstate lotteries are allowed, in both physical and online forms, and Illinois can be considered a trailblazing state when lottery laws are concerned.

To play in casinos or wager on video lottery in Illinois, you must be over 21, while for playing bingo, raffles, or bet on horse racing, you must be over 18.

Will sports betting be available at retail locations, such as convenience stores?

No, only at licensed retail casinos or via online/mobile apps.

Illinois sports betting timetable

As mentioned earlier, the first bet was taken in Illinois on March 9, 2020, at Rivers Casino, and days later the Argosy Sportsbook also opened its doors. But both sportsbooks did so as the U.S. began dealing with the coronavirus crisis, and less than a week later, retail casinos and sportsbooks were shut down indefinitely. BetRivers launched its mobile site on June 18.

After casinos in Illinois were allowed to reopen July 1, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, and both Hollywood Casinos joined the retail mix in August, with DraftKings Sportsbook also launching its mobile sports betting app on Aug. 19, 2020. FanDuel, PointsBet, and William Hill followed with online products soon after.

The first retail licenses were issued in June 2020, putting online registration on track for March ’22, given the parameters of the 18-month “penalty box.” Online registration officially went into affect on March 5, 2022 – 2 years to the week that the state accepted its first retail wagers. Illinois now has a fully functional, modern online sports betting market. Bettors can sign up and start betting in minutes, completely over the internet.

How to Place a Sports Bet in Illinois

It's easy to get started with sports betting as a resident. Here's how:

Step 1: Pick your preferred sportsbook(s)

Whether you want to stick with just one sportsbook or bounce back and forth between a few, identify the sportsbook or books that you like the most (we recommend finding those with the best promotional offers to get started) to get started.

Step 2: Sign up using relevant promotional codes

Register for your chosen sportsbook(s) using the relevant sign up codes to claim promotional offers. Be aware, though, that registration requirement could vary from one sportsbook to another. For example, PointsBet will ask for personal details to verify your identity. Some sportsbooks may even require you to submit various forms of documentation to validate the information you provide.

Step 3: Deposit funds into your account(s)

Each sportsbook may have different depositing options, but most legitimate sportsbooks make it easy to deposit utilizing a variety of convenient options. It's worth noting that most sportsbooks do require a minimum deposit amount. Some of the most common deposit options include:

• ACH/eCheck
• Cash
• Debit or credit card
• Online banking
• PayNearMe
• PayPal

In most cases, the same withdrawal options are available for users to cash out their winnings.

Step 4: Start betting

After you complete the registration information and make a funds deposit, you're ready to get started!

If you need resources to help bet with savvy, check out our educational resources. Select your picks — Bulls totals, anyone?

Pari-mutuel Casinos

Horse racing has been extremely popular in IL, especially in the 1930s to 80s. Unfortunately, the industry doesn’t have nearly as close to as big of a turnout at the tracks today.

Still, there are three major horse tracks in Illinois:

• Fairmount Park – Collinsville
• Arlington Park – Arlington Heights
• Hawthorne Race Course – Cicero

All three tracks offer thoroughbred racing and stream every race to viewers across the United States.

Dog racing is illegal in the state of Illinois.

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Caesars Illinois

• Best for risk-free bet up to $1,250 back
• Available on iOS, Android, and desktop
• Connected to the popular Caesars Rewards loyalty program

Use Caesars Sportsbook Illinois promo code: SBBONUSFULL to claim up to $1,250 risk-free

The Caesars Illinois Sportsbook promo code is SBBONUSFULL for a risk-free bet offer up to $1,250. That means you can place a $1 bet all the way up to a $1,250 bet, and Caesars will refund it with a free bet of equal value if it loses. If it wins, you simply get the winnings and wager for a full payout that’s immediately available for cashout.

Betting via the Caesars Illinois Sportsbook online also earns Caesars Rewards points, which can also be earned in-person at all Caesars Entertainment properties, including the Illinois casinos Harrah’s Joliet, Harrah’s Metropolis, and Grand Victoria Casino Elgin as well as Horseshoe Hammond, located just outside of Chicago in Indiana.

Rhode Island

Groundwork laid in 2018

The discussion about whether to legalize sports betting ramped up in the summer of 2018, when the legislature began holding gaming hearings. The first hearing was informational. Stakeholders and municipalities were invited to an Aug. 21, 2018, hearing in Chicago, where they joined others in the gaming industry in revealing what they hoped sports betting would look like.

Two months later, the Joint Committee on Revenue and Finance held a hearing on sports betting that made it clear lawmakers would prioritize sports betting in 2019. That hearing also laid at least some of the groundwork for a sports betting bill.

2013

Argosy Casino Alton

This casino features a 1,200-passenger modern yacht and a barge docked on the Mississippi River. Table games open at 10 am daily. A buffet discount is available for players club members.

• Address: 1 Piasa St, Alton, IL 62002, United States
• Phone: 1 800-711-4263
• Website: https://www.argosyalton.com/

Casino Queen

Illinois Lottery Control Board 

The ILCB works with the Department of Lottery to regulate the State Lottery.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Brief History Of Illinois’s Gambling Laws

Unlicensed riverboat gambling was popularized in the 1800s as casino boats filled the local rivers and lakes. These were unregulated due to unestablished oversight boards and thus privately-owned boats did not have to share revenues or pay taxes. This was later tamed by the creation of gaming restrictions, early 1900’s prohibition, and gaming boards within IL nearly two centuries later.

In 1927, horse betting in IL was legalized.

By 1974, IL became the first state to legislate a state-run lottery.

In 1989, charitable gambling was allowed.

In 1990, the Riverboat Gambling Act allowed riverboat casinos to operate so long as they were moving on a river and not sailing on Lake Michigan. This act led to the creation of the Illinois Gaming Board. IL became the second state to legalize riverboat casinos after passing this act. By 1991, the first riverboat casino in IL began operating.

By 1999, IL repealed the moving clause and allowed for riverboat casinos to remain docked.

In 2001, IL became the first state to allow for the online sale of lottery tickets.

In 2009, the Video Gaming Act passed in IL which would be followed by many years of legal court battles on the legality of these machines.

In 2011, a bill passed to allow for the expansion of casinos on land and gaming devices at racetracks. Slots or video gaming machines were made legal by a final court decision in which bars, restaurants, fraternity organizations, veterans groups, and truck stops could have 5 of these machines.

Action Network Score

9.5/10. See our FanDuel review for more in-depth information about FanDuel and step-by-step instructions on how to sign up.

Category	Star Rating
Bonuses & Promotions
Mobile App & Website
Registering & Cashiering
Betting Options
FanDuel vs Other Sportsbooks

Best Illinois Sportsbook Apps

Laws and regulations

The United States banned all sports wagering except for some small grandfathered markets in 1992 through the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). In 2012, the state of New Jersey filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the bill, and after a lengthy legal battle, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the act in a ruling on May 14, 2018.

For sports betting to finally arrive in Illinois, there was much in the way of negotiations and horse-trading. Representatives Bob Rita and Mike Zalewski were the primary proponents of sports betting and were met with challenges throughout the legislative process.

The bill includes a lot of fine detail, including a mandate for the use of “official league data,” a provision requiring in-person registration for 18 months, a ban on betting on Illinois colleges, and complicated branding rules that required clarification from the regulatory board.

All told, there are up to 23 master licenses available when including sports venues. There are only three mobile-only licenses available, and each comes with a $20 million price tag. BetMGM claimed the first, launching in the state on March 5, 2022.

Master licenses for other venues — casinos, horse racetracks, and pro sports venues — are set at $10 million.

The tax rate on adjusted gross revenues is 15%, which is on the upper end of what operators consider reasonable when compared to other states. In the case of Cook County, there is an additional 2% tax on AGR – which is a nod to the earning potential of a downtown casino in Chicago as well as Rivers’ status as the top retail casino in the state.

States Where Online Horse Racing Betting is Legal

Federal law largely leaves the regulation of online horse racing betting to the states. Some states expressly prohibit horse racing betting in all its forms, but most either passively allow the activity or have laws on the books to regulate in-person and online horse racing betting.

Furthermore, exemptions written into federal gambling laws allow horse racing betting operators that are licensed in one state to offer their services in other states provided the activity is legal in both jurisdictions. As a result, a handful of operators run by well-known brands in the horse racing industry offer their services across most of the country.

The confounding factor in all of this is that the law in many states is outdated and unclear on the legality of online horse racing betting, leaving it up to individual operators to interpret the law in each state and determine whether or not they are comfortable offering their services there.

As a result, not all horse racing betting sites are active in all states. Readers can visit each state page on BettingUSA for up to date legal information where they live and a list of safe, legal betting sites that are available in that state.

See this page for more detail and state-by-state discussions:

• Online Horse Racing Betting in the USA

IGNITION

Horse Race Betting

Horse race betting is available at more than 30 off track horse betting locations and horse racing tracks in Illinois. Furthermore, with the legalization of online gambling options, several horse racing sites like TVG, Twin Spires, and BetAmerica can now offer legal online betting on horse racing. Pari-mutuel horse race betting is allowed in Illinois.

History Of Gambling in Illinois

The history of gambling in Illinois begins in the 1800s when riverboats and racetracks started operating. By the end of the Civil War, all forms of gambling in the state were considered illegal.

However, this didn’t stop operators or residents from continuing to gamble.

It wasn’t until the early 1900s that legal gambling was being reintroduced to IL. Horse racing was legalized first, followed by the lottery, and then river casino boats over 50 years later.

The 1830s: The first horse racetrack was built

The 1840s: Riverboat casinos start to operate

1975: The Horse Racing Act is announced and the State Lottery begins

1990: The Riverboat Gambling Act is announced: This legalized casino gambling so long as the operations were on a boat, set sail every few hours, and outside of Chicago.

1999: The law is changed for river casino boats, now permitting operations to go on at the dock.

2009: Video poker and slots are legalized

2019: Online sports betting is legalized and a new bill allows river casino boats to apply for a license to operate on land

States Most Likely to Legalize Online Gambling

Unlike sports betting, the legalization of online casino and online poker in the US has been a slow grind. The legalization of online poker and casino began in 2013 when Nevada launched online poker, and New Jersey and Delaware launched online casinos and poker sites. Since 2013, only three other states have expressly joined them: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan.

With online poker and online casino, progress is about small victories, and the hope is that at least one of these states will pass legislation authorizing online gambling in the next 12 months.

• California
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• New York

FanDuel Sportsbook – Par-a-Dice Casino

FanDuel may have gone in reverse order in Illinois — it launched online wagering in the Land of Lincoln on Aug. 28, 2020 — but it was able to narrowly beat the kickoff to the NFL season with its retail launch in East Peoria on Sept. 10. The sportsbook, which was put together in a six-week sprint, is located just off the casino area proper and includes manual teller spaces and self-serve kiosks. Sizable screens provide betting lines and information for sports bettors. As mentioned, FanDuel is an Illinois online sports betting leader in offering new customers risk-free bets, sometimes up to $1,000.

Headlines

• In a HUGE development (seriously, this came out of NOWHERE), Mexican sportsbook Caliente Interactive was announced as the lone winning bidder of an online-only sports wagering license in Illinois. Caliente is a popular sportsbook in Mexico but has absolutely no presence here in America. Few had even heard of the sportsbook prior to the announcement on 4/28. But they are big enough to pay the $20 million license fee, so we will know them soon enough.
• Despite throwing for less than 100 yards for the second consecutive week, the Bears were able to secure their second win of the season over the Houston Texans, 23-20. For all their struggles throwing the football, the Bears more than made up for it with a strong effort in the ground game. Led by backup running back Khalil Herbert and quarterback Justin Fields, the Bears were able to rush for 281 yards, 09/30
• The White Sox were able to snap their eight-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins last night. Reynaldo Lopez was able to pick up his sixth win of the season as the bullpen only allowed one run in 4 innings of work, 09/30
• The Cubs win their eighth game in their last nine contests as they sweep the Phillies with a 2-0 shutout. Rookie Javier Assad continued his brilliance with five shutout innings, while only allowing five hits, 09/30

How we test the best list of casinos in Illinois

At CaptainGambling.com we conduct rigorous testing of all the Illinois casinos online with our review system just like we did for our Iowa casino list. We have a very specific set of criteria that we use to judge the overall quality of these Illinois casinos online. So, let's take a look at some of these criteria so that you can keep them in mind when checking out our Illinois casino list:

Licensing: Our reviews cover the legitimacy of the licenses that these Illinois casinos online hold. We make sure they have been issued by the most reputable gambling authorities - just take a look at our "is PokerStars safe?" guide for a good example.

Security: Online casinos need to provide their users with a strong degree of security. We analyze the encryption technology on these sites as well as a number of other aspects that contribute towards your overall security.

Website usability: These Illinois casinos online should not be a pain to use. Which is why we test out the overall navigability of these sites and test to see how easy it is to find what you are looking for.

Deposits & withdrawals: We review what payment methods are available for you to make your deposits and withdrawals. We also test the security of these payment methods so you can safely deposit and withdraw at any best casino in Illinois.

Customer support: When we compile our Illinois casino lists with the best operators we always consider the quality of their customer service first. We look for how you can contact the support teams on these sites and how professional their services are.

Welcome bonuses: we test out the quality of any sign up offers that might be available while also giving you the highlights on the most important wagering requirements as well. Head over to our Virgin Casino bonus code or Borgata bonus code guide to see how we do it.

Range of casino games: Our online casino reviews will of course tell you what casino games you can find on these sites and who has provided the software as well.

Mobile apps: These days players love having even more convenience which is why we review the mobile apps of these online casinos.

Limits/payout: If you are a high roller you will want to know what some of the maximum payouts and limits are on these Illinois casinos online.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many states have legal online casinos?

Online gambling is legal in six US states: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

How many states have legal online sports betting?

Mobile sports betting is legal in 26 jurisdictions, including Washington, DC. Lawmakers in additional states are actively considering authorizing online sports betting.

How many states have legal online horse racing betting?

Online horse racing betting (advance deposit wagering) is available in more than three dozen states. However, the exact legal status of advance deposit wagering is unclear in many states because their laws do not directly address the issue. That said, most horse racing betting sites accept customers from 30 or more states.

The easiest way for horse racing fans to see which ADWs operate where they live is to visit BettingUSA’s state-specific pages.

How many states have legal online poker sites?

Online poker is legal in seven US states: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

How many states have legal online lotteries?

Twelve US states have passed legislation authorizing online lottery sales, and third-party lottery ticket couriers such as Jackpocket operate in up to 12 additional jurisdictions. Jackpocket and other services like it are actively expanding their reach as they confer with local regulators for approval.

How many states have legal daily fantasy sports?

Daily fantasy sports sites are available in 45 states.

Fantasy sports contests are explicitly legal in 24 states that have passed laws legalizing and regulating DFS providers.

The legality of fantasy sports in the remaining states is open to interpretation. Fantasy sites operate in 21 additional states that do not explicitly address the legality of DFS. In those states, DFS providers operate under the assumption that local laws do not prohibit fantasy contests.

That leaves five states in which mainstream fantasy sites are not allowed to accept players from due to unfavorable laws include: Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Washington.

Why hasn’t my state legalized online betting?

States that have yet to legalize online sports betting have failed to advance legislation for various reasons.

In many cases, the lack of progress results from competing interests with differing views on how the state should regulate sports betting. Tribal gaming operators, commercial casinos, and racetrack owners want seats at the table, and some stakeholders insist on exclusivity.

Additionally, some states have opted to legalize retail sportsbooks only, either out of caution or an effort to protect land-based operators from the competition statewide mobile betting would encourage.

Can I get in trouble for wagering at offshore gambling sites?

There are numerous risks involved with using offshore sportsbooks and online casinos, but legal trouble is unlikely. Generally, authorities target the operators of illegal online gambling operations rather than their patrons.

However, Washington State enacted a law in 2006 that makes it a felony offense to participate in offshore online gambling. Washington authorities have never prosecuted an individual under the law, but it remains a theoretical risk.

The most significant risks associated with illegal online gambling result from the lack of consumer protection regulations. If something goes wrong or an operator refuses to pay, the customers of illegal betting sites have no recourse.

Additionally, offshore operators tend to come up short in promoting responsible gambling. BettingUSA.com strongly encourages gamblers to wager at licensed US betting sites.

Is online betting legal at the federal level?

It is more accurate to say online sports betting is not illegal at the federal level. The Supreme Court overturned the federal sports betting prohibition in May 2018, but individual states retained the authority to regulate or prohibit sports betting as they wish.

Do I have to be a resident of the state in which I’m betting?

No. States with legal sports betting allow non-residents to visit retail sportsbooks and use mobile online sports betting apps when they are physically located within state lines. Further, bettors may download mobile betting apps, sign up for accounts, make deposits, and request withdrawals from anywhere.

Wes Burns Co-Founder / Gambling Industry Expert

Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of BettingUSA.com. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.

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1. OPT IN to this promotion by clicking the OPT IN button on the WynnBET app or desktop client.

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4. Your $10 Free Bet will be valid for 10 days.

5. Your $10 Free Bet cannot be settled using the Cash Out feature. Free Bet cannot be used on Boosted Parlays.

Note: Free Bets, cash outs and voided bets do not contribute to the requirement to win, lose or push a 4+ leg parlay of at least $50 on any sport played between Monday - Wednesday to receive the reward.

Illinois has one of the biggest legal gambling markets in the United States. And it is only going to get bigger.

When it comes to Illinois sports betting, the state ranks second in the US by revenue and third by total handle. Recently, Illinois became just the fourth state to surpass $1 billion in lifetime sports betting revenue.

If you are not a sports bettor, there are many other gambling options in the Land of Lincoln.

There are 11 casinos in Illinois, including the newest Hard Rock Casino in Rockford. Five more casinos are in the works, including Bally’s in Chicago.

The state is also home to the most video gaming terminals in the country. Visitors can also bet on horses at two racetracks or multiple OTBs. Finally, there are many retail and online lottery options.

With more casinos and sportsbooks opening for business soon, the Illinois online gambling industry should continue booming throughout 2022.

Stay tuned to PlayIllinois for the latest gambling news in the state.