Illinois Sportsbooks: Compare the 6 Best Apps for 2026
Online sports betting has been legal in Illinois since March 2020. Today, Illinois bettors have access to 6 of the best sports betting apps on the market. Find our IL sportsbook rankings and current bonus offers for each app below.
Best Illinois Sportsbook: DraftKings
5 out of 5
EWB Rating
Bonus Offer:
Play Now
IL only. 21+. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Best Mobile App: FanDuel
4.9 out of 5
EWB Rating
Bonus Offer:
Play Now
On FanDuel Website
IL only. 21+. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Best Customer Support: BetMGM
4.7 out of 5
EWB Rating
Bonus Offer:
$1,500 Bonus Bet Back
If First Bet Loses
Play Now
Promo Code: EWBET1
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US). 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR)
21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Best Rewards Program: Caesars
4.6 out of 5
EWB Rating
Bonus Offer:
First Bet Matched Up to $250
As a Bonus Bet, Win Or Lose
Play Now
Promo Code: BV1000
Must be 21 or older and physically present in IL. New users only. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537).
Illinois bettors must be 21+ and present to place wagers in the state. If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling www.ncpgambling.org.
Best Illinois Sportsbook by Feature
There are strengths and weaknesses for every sportsbook available in Illinois, and finding the right one may come down to the features you value most. Use the table below to find our picks for the best overall sportsbook for each of the five features we know Illinois bettors value most. This will help you quickly find the best Illinois sports betting apps.
| Feature | Winner | Why it’s Our Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Sportsbook | ⭐️ DraftKings Sportsbook | It was a close race for best overall sportsbook in Illinois but DraftKings brings home the bacon because of their user-friendliness, variety of betting options, and sheer speed. |
| Best Mobile App | ⭐️ FanDuel Sportsbook | FanDuel has the best mobile sportsbook app in Illinois. The app always loads quickly, which makes it super easy for folks who like to engage in live wagering. |
| Best Customer Support | ⭐️ BetMGM | The BetMGM app is packed with outstanding features, but the their customer service department is what really shines. Agents are available 24/7 to help with any issues. |
| Best Rewards Program | ⭐️ Caesars | Caesars Rewards is the best in the business. Every new Caesars player is eligible to earn a plethora of different prizes that are sure to make them smile. |
| Best Odds and Juice | ⭐️ BetRivers | BetRivers checks all the boxes as far as juice and odds are concerned. You’ll often find that BetRivers’s juice is a few cents cheaper than rival sites like DraftKings and FanDuel. A little bit of savings in juice can go a long way! |
Illinois Sports Betting Overview
Illinois became the 15th state to legalize sports betting in early 2019, and the first bet was officially placed at a BetRivers sportsbook on March 9, 2020. In a controversial move, the state bumped up the timeline to allow mobile sports betting far earlier than originally planned. The move was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on the gambling industry in IL.
There were six mobile sportsbooks ready for opening day in Illinois (BetRivers, DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, Caesars, Barstool), and Unibet launched shortly after the start of the 2021 NFL season. Below is everything you need to know regarding the current state of legal sports betting in Illinois.
Illinois Sports Betting Fact Check
Illinois is a booming market for both online sports betting and retail sports betting. Folks in Chicago are hardcore sports fans and the overall numbers support that. Here are some fast facts about sports betting in Illinois.
| ✅ Launch Date | March 9, 2020 |
| 📅 Legal Betting Age | 21 |
| 🏬 Number of Retail Sportsbooks | 6 |
| 📱 Number of Mobile Sportsbooks | 7 |
| 💰 Total Illinois Handle (2023) | $11.6 Billion |
| 📈 Total Illinois Handle (All Time) | $34 Billion |
| 💸 Largest Sportsbook Handle | FanDuel (47%) |
Best Sportsbook App in Illinois: DraftKings
Our pick for the best sportsbook app in Illinois is DraftKings Sportsbook. If you are a sports bettor in the state of Illinois, DraftKings is a must-have sportsbook app. Here are three of the features that we love about the DraftKings Sportsbook App.
Unbelievable Bonus Offer– DraftKings has a stellar reputation when it comes to rewarding new players with lucrative bonuses. The current bonus offer for new players in Illinois is incredibly generous. Right now, new players can get $150 in Bonus Bets when they make their first $5 wager, win or lose! It’s currently the top bonus offer in Illinois sports betting.
Odds Boosts – Here’s another cool feature of the DraftKings App and website. Each day DraftKings offers various amounts of odds boosts. For example, let’s say that the standard odds on a three-team MLB moneyline parlay is +600. DraftKings may choose to boost the odds by up to +750 to reward their winners with an even larger payout.
Variety of Betting Options – DraftKings offers more variety than any other IL sportsbook! Whether your pleasure is live betting, player props, or futures, there’s something for every type of sports bettor at DraftKings.
Best Mobile App in Illinois: FanDuel
Illinois sports bettors have a ton of options when it comes to sports betting apps. In a tight race, we gave the nod to FanDuel and their amazing mobile app for both iOS and Android.
FanDuel’s app never lags and the overall layout makes it easier to use than all other apps in the sports betting space. Newer bettors will appreciate that all available sports are clearly listed across the top of the home page.
With FanDuel’s app, you never have to guess how much is in your account. Your balance is displayed in plain view. Also, bettors can quickly check their current wagers by clicking the My Bets button on the bottom of the screen.
Best Customer Support in Illinois: BetMGM
Our pick for the sportsbook with the best customer support in Illinois is BetMGM. BetMGM was founded on the notion that people appreciate doing business with good people.
BetMGM goes to great lengths to hire only the best customer service agents in the industry. Players can reach an agent at any time, no matter what type of issue they might be having.
BetMGM makes sure there are plenty of options when it comes to client support. Folks can reach out via phone, email, or live chat to receive the assistance that they need.
Best Rewards Program: Caesars
If there’s one thing that all Illinois sports bettors love just as much as winning, it’s free perks. With Caesars Rewards, folks can enjoy the best customer loyalty program in the country.
For every dollar you bet on a game, Caesars will give you a certain number of Tier Credits and Rewards Credits. The more of these you accumulate, the greater the overall prizes.
Build up enough credits and you can cash them in for free hotel stays at any Caesars resort! You can also enjoy other fabulous perks like free dining and shopping!
Best Odds and Juice: BetRivers
Nothing will hurt a bankroll faster than paying too much juice on your plays or betting at the wrong odds. Luckily, sports bettors in Illinois won’t have to worry about that with BetRivers Sportsbook.
Just one look at BetRivers’s odds and folks in Illinois will be shocked as to how often they offer the most favorable odds. For example, most sportsbooks in Illinois may set the total in the Bulls game with the standard -110 juice. On several occasions, BetRivers will price that same total with -105 juice.
You may be thinking that saving 5 cents of juice isn’t that big of a deal. However, just think about how much you’ll save over the course of a whole season!
Sports Available to Bet on in Illinois
As we have seen with several other states, IL did place restrictions on what sports bettors can wager on. However, the list of restricted sports and events is much shorter than your typical US betting market.
Bettors are not allowed to wager on Illinois college teams, any minor league sports, or high school sports. That is tough news for any hardcore Illinois Fighting Illini or Northwestern Wildcats fan, but at least they can still bet on college sports. Every other sport, including e-sports, is eligible to be wagered on in IL.
Additionally, there are no wager types that are restricted in Illinois, but the state did make it clear that if a professional sports team thought a certain wager-type would put the integrity of their sport in jeopardy that they could request it be removed from IL sportsbooks. So far this hasn’t happened, so Illinois sports bettors can still wager on their favorite Chicago Bears player to go Over a specific yardage prop.
List of Illinois Casino/Sportsbook Partnerships
As is the case in most of the US sports betting markets, Illinois requires online sportsbooks to partner with an existing Illinois casino in order to operate in the state. Below is a list of Sportsbooks, their IL casino partner, and the date the book launched. This list was updated on February 2, 2026.
| Online Book | Casino Partner | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| Barstool | Hollywood Casino | August 2021 |
| BetMGM | Par-A-Dice Hotel & Casino | January 2022 |
| BetRivers | Rivers Casino | June 2020 |
| Caesars | Grand Victoria | September 2020 |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Casino Queen | August 2020 |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Fairmount Park Racetrack | September 2020 |
| PointsBet | Hawthorne Race Course | September 2020 |
Planning a visit to Illinois in the future? Not sure which casino to visit? Here’s a bit more information on each of the casinos on this list.
Hollywood Casino
If you’re anywhere near Aurora, Hollywood Casino is a must-visit venue! They have a sportsbook, over 1,000 slot machines, craps, blackjack, and roulette. They also have 4 delicious restaurants on the property.
Address: 1 W. New York St. Aurora, IL, 60506
Par-A-Dice Hotel & Casino
FanDuel may have moved out of this location, but luckily for sports bettors, BetMGM has taken its place. Par-A-Dice features luxury suites, an amazing fitness center, and all of the casino games you can handle.
Address: 21 Blackjack Blvd. East Peoria, IL 61611
Rivers Casino
For a superior dining and sports betting experience, you can’t go wrong with Rivers Casino! BetRivers is one of the best sportsbooks in the business and this location has 6 different spots to eat or drink!
Address: 3000 S. River Rd. Des Plaines, IL 60018
Grand Victoria
The Grand Victoria is one of the best casinos in the Prairie State. Caesars Sportsbook at this location is open anywhere from 8 to 13 hours per day and folks will love Buckinghams Steakhouse And Bistro.
Address: 250 S Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120
Casino Queen
Hardcore DraftKings fans will love this location in East St. Louis. The sportsbook features 28 LED TVs, a 60-foot video wall, 5 betting windows, and 38 betting kiosks. Folks also rave about the wonderfully delicious stadium foods that they serve.
Address: 200 S Front St. East St. Louis, Illinois 62201
Online Sportsbooks Available in Illinois
The Land of Lincoln joined the sports betting bandwagon in 2019, but its full potential was realized only in June 2020. Now, Illinois is home to a plethora of sportsbooks vying for the attention of bettors. However, with so many options, picking the perfect one can be quite a task.
To alleviate this stress, our team has gone through every Illinois sportsbook, meticulously examining its perks and drawbacks. From the launch date to the current bonus offers, we have compiled all the information you need to make an informed choice. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
Caesars Illinois
DraftKings Illinois
FanDuel Illinois
BetMGM Illinois
BetRivers Illinois
Recent Illinois Sports Betting News
Total Numbers – So how big is sports betting in Illinois? In less than two years, residents of the Prairie State have wagered nearly $15 billion on sports! This has resulted in over $150 million in tax revenues for the state.
2022 Handle Totals $9.7 Billion – Folks in Illinois love their sports teams and they proved it in 2022 by spending $9.7 billion on sports betting. With a major sports market like Chicago leading the charge, the sky is the limit for sports betting in Illinois.
2023 Handle Topped $11 Billion- Even with the slower summer months of May, June, and July, Illinois still enjoyed a solid year in terms of sports betting handle. All in all the Praire State took in $11.6 billion in sports wagers for the year, which generated $161 million in taxes.
Top New Player Bonus Offer for Illinois: FanDuel
Illinois sports bettors have a wide variety of sportsbooks available to them, which means a wide variety of promo code offers. These offers typically come in one of two forms: a deposit bonus or a bonus bet. Here is what you should know about each offer type.
Deposit bonus – State operators like BetRivers, BetMGM, DraftKings, and Unibet offer a deposit bonus that is paid as a percentage of your initial deposit. These offers can range from 100% at most books to 20% at DraftKings and can cap anywhere between $250 to $1,500.
Bonus bet – Several books choose to offer their bonus in the form of a bonus bet. This is the case with DraftKings, BetRivers, and FanDuel. However, in FanDuel’s case, they guarantee you don’t lose your first bet (refund) rather than offer a bonus bet. The bonus bets are capped at $150 at both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Our staff compares all of the available promotions in Illinois on a weekly basis to determine which offer is best for new players in the market. As of this February, our top-rated offer in Illinois comes from DraftKings Sportsbook. Register using the promo code listed at the top of this page to receive $150 in bonus bets with any $5 wager.
Alternatively, you can always check out our entire list of sportsbook promotions to find the offer that fits your deposit best. Shopping promotions and shopping lines are an essential part of becoming a successful sports bettor so we highly encourage our readers to do so.
How to Sign Up at an Online Sportsbook in Illinois
Now that the Illinois sports betting law removed the in-person-only requirement, it’s super easy to register with all of your favorite Illinois sports betting apps. The main perk now is you can sign up with your phone or laptop as long as you’re within the Illinois state lines. Here’s how to get started with any Illinois online sports betting app.
- Head to your favorite Illinois sportsbook’s website or download their app
- Copy the bonus code that is found in the table at the top of this page
- Complete the entire registration form with a few basic details
- Paste the promo code into the appropriate box when prompted
- Make your initial deposit into your new online sports betting account
- Sit back, relax, and enjoy the bonus money from each Illinois sportsbook
Bet $5, Get $150
In Bonus Bets IF Your Team Wins
Offer Details
IL only. 21+. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Illinois SportsBook FAQs
It is always exciting to see new sports betting markets have the sort of success Illinois has. The state has had over $30 billion in sports betting handle and $2.1 billion in revenue in only 3 years! That number should only continue to rise as devoted fans of the Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Blackhawks sign up for new online sports betting apps.
That being said, the size of the handle should also concern members of the industry because it represents a lot of money coming from first-time sports bettors. The FAQs below should help new Illinois bettors as they try to navigate the state’s betting rules and regulations, and find the best sportsbook for their action.
Is sports betting legal in Illinois?
Yes, Illinois legalized sports betting in March of 2020 and in January of 2021 that the first bet was placed. In addition to online betting, there are a number of brick-and-mortar retail sportsbooks across the state.
Is mobile sports betting legal in IL?
Yes, Illinois bettors can place wagers both online and in-app at any of the state’s licensed sportsbooks. The top downloaded mobile sports betting apps in Illinois over the past six months belong to FanDuel, DraftKings, and PointsBet.
Do I have to live in Illinois to bet on sports?
No, you do not have to be an Illinois resident to bet on sports. You simply need to be within the state lines when placing your bets. All of the sports betting apps use geo-locating technology to confirm your location.
What is the legal sports betting age in Illinois?
The minimum age to bet on sports in Illinois is 21. This is on par with the rest of the US sports betting industry as every state currently has the age requirement set to 21. Illinois is one of the few states in the US that may lower this age as the lottery and horse racing age requirements are both 18.
Do any Illinois sportsbooks offer a no-deposit bonus?
No, unfortunately, there aren’t any Illinois sportsbooks that are currently offering any type of no-deposit bonus. However, our current Top 3 sportsbooks in the state are offering nice bonus offers with a very low deposit requirement. Check out FanDuel, BetMGM, or DraftKings.
What sports can you legally bet on in IL?
Illinois sports bettors can wager on all professional and collegiate sporting events with one exception. It is illegal to bet on any event that includes an Illinois college or university. There are no restrictions on prop betting or in-game betting in Illinois. Residents can track betting laws by visiting the state’s gaming board website.
What is the best sportsbook in Illinois?
At the moment, we have DraftKings rated slightly higher than competitors FanDuel and BetMGM. While all three offer state-of-the-art sportsbooks, DraftKings offers more player props and live betting options than any other sportsbook in Illinois.
What is the best sportsbook bonus offer for IL?
We currently have the DraftKings promo code offer rated as the top promotion available in Illinois. We will update this on a daily basis as new promotions come out. We also factor in the terms and conditions for each offer when ranking them. DraftKings not only has a better offer than any other IL sportsbook, but the terms are extremely player-friendly with no rollover requirement on the $150 in bonus bets.
Can I use more than one promo code?
Unfortunately, Illinois sportsbooks do not allow customers to use multiple promo codes. However, those that have already used a promotional code can take advantage of other offers available throughout the year, such as reload bonuses and bonus bets. These bonus offers are typically sent via email or text messages to existing customers.
Can I share bonus codes and promotions?
Of course! You can not only share the bonus codes and promotions with friends and family, but you can also post them on social media. It’s always a good idea to double-check the promotion details before sharing. That way, everyone is aware of what they are getting into.
How do I deposit money to bet on sports in Illinois?
Illinois sportsbooks accept various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, e-checks, prepaid cards, and bank transfers. Bettors can deposit at the retail sportsbook location or via associated cashiering apps. Deposits made via credit card will likely incur a fee of up to 5%.
Do I have to pay taxes on sports betting winnings in Illinois?
Yes, If you win a cumulative of $600 or more in a year, you’ll be taxed at the 15% tax rate on your winnings. That’s why keeping track of your wins and losses and reporting them when filing taxes is important. Additionally, the sportsbook will send a W-2G form detailing all winning over $600 for tax purposes.
