Illinois Online Sports Betting 2024 – Is it Legal? Compare Best Illinois Sportsbook Apps

Online sports betting in Illinois is easier than ever thanks to new laws that legalize online sportsbooks in the Prairie State. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Illinois sports betting and review the 10 best Illinois sportsbooks in 2023.

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Contents

Illinois Sports Betting Overview 2024 (Updated: March)

To begin, let’s take a look at the current lay of the land when it comes to legal sports betting in the state of Illinois:

Type of betting Legal in Illinois: Y/N
Online Sports Betting
Retail Sports Betting
Legal Age for Sports Betting 21
Collegiate Sports Betting ✅  (players can not wager on Illinois State teams/players accept from at retail locations)
Pari-mutuel Horse Racing Betting
Daily Fantasy Sports
Esports Betting

The Best Illinois Online Sports Betting Sites List 2024

Before we dive into the ins and outs of Illinois online sports betting, let’s take a quick look at the 10 best sites for online sports betting in Illinois:

  1. BetOnline – Overall Best Illinois Sportsbook in 2024
  2. XBet – Top Site for Off-Track Betting in Illinois
  3. Bovada – Online Sportsbook with Live Streaming and Betting
  4. MyBookie – Best Illinois Sportsbook for Odds Boosts
  5. BetUS – Huge Bonus Offers Worth up to $7,500 Combined
  6. Everygame – Top NBA Betting Site
  7. Sportsbetting.ag – Best App for Mobile Sports Betting in Illinois
  8. BetNow – Best Illinois Sportsbook for NFL Betting
  9. Jazzsports – Competitive Odds and 24/7 Customer Support
  10. BUSR – Most Beginner-friendly Sports Betting App

Is Sports Betting Legal in Illinois?

Sports betting is legal in Illinois. The state approved online and in-person sports betting in Illinois in 2019, and the first sportsbooks went live in March 2020.

Originally, in order to sign up and wager online, players had to first register for a betting account in person at one of the state’s casinos, each of which is partnered with a different online betting site.

However, the in-person registration requirement expired on March 5, 2022, when the state’s gambling commission issued a mobile-only sportsbook license.

Another thing to know about sports betting in Illinois is that you can only bet on sports. You can’t bet on politics or non-sporting events like the Oscars. You also can’t bet on in-state college sports online; instead, players have to head to a retail location to back their favorite NCAA teams.

Online Sportsbooks

Right now, there are 6 sites for legal online sports betting in Illinois:

  • DraftKings (partnered with Casino Queen)
  • Fanduel (partnered with Par-A-Dice Casino)
  • PointsBet (partnered with Hawthorne Race Course)
  • BetRivers (partnered with Rivers Casino Des Plaines)
  • Barstool Sports (partnered with Hollywood Casinos)
  • Caesar’s (partnered with Grand Victoria Casino)

Before you can start betting online with any of these platforms, you first have to visit the partner casino in person. That might influence which online sportsbook you choose since some Illinois residents may have to travel hundreds of miles to reach the nearest of these casinos.

Once Illinois begins offering mobile-only sportsbook licenses, more online sportsbooks are expected to launch. The Illinois Gaming Board expects to announce bids in December 2021.

In addition, you can play with offshore sportsbooks in Illinois without going through in-person registration. These sportsbooks also offer betting on Illinois college sports, which gives them a significant edge over state-approved betting sites. In fact, all of the top 10 Illinois sportsbooks we reviewed are offshore gambling sites.

Land-based Betting

There are currently 8 land-based casinos with sportsbooks in Illinois:

  • Par-A-Dice Casino (East Peoria, IL)
  • Hawthorne Racecourse (Stickney, IL)
  • Grand Victoria Casino (Elgin, IL)
  • Rivers Casino (Des Plaines, IL)
  • Casino Queen (East St. Louis, IL)
  • Hollywood Casino Joliet (Joliet, IL)
  • Hollywood Casino Aurora (Aurora, IL)
  • Argosy Casino (Alton, IL)

You can visit these casino sportsbooks to place bets in person or to register for an online betting account with their partner sportsbook. In addition, the state has 2 other casinos that don’t currently offer sportsbooks.

Illinois Horse Racing & Off-Track Betting

As of 2024, Illinois has 3 horse racing tracks where you can bet on races:

  • Arlington Park (Arlington Heights, IL)
  • Fairmount Park (Collinsville, IL)
  • Hawthorne Racecourse (Stickney, IL)

You can also find off-track betting sites throughout the state. Here’s a complete list of locations for off-track betting in Illinois:

  • Time Out OTB (Alton, IL)
  • Aurora: The Piazza (Aurora, IL)
  • Trackside at Joe’s Bar (Chicago, IL)
  • Corliss OTB (Chicago, IL)
  • Crestwood OTB (Crestwood, IL)
  • Post Time Sports Bar & Grille (Green Oaks, IL)
  • Trackside at Salerno’s (Hodgkins, IL)
  • Trackside at the Saddle Room (Hoffman Estates, IL)
  • Bookie Magee’s (Joliet, IL)
  • Black Eyed Susan (Lansing, IL)
  • Salerno’s Pizzeria and R Bar (McHenry, IL)
  • Stoney Point Grill (Mokena, IL)
  • Blono Pizza Co. (Normal, IL)
  • Oakbrook Terrace OTB (Oakbrook Terrace, IL)
  • Furlong’s Sports Grill & OTB (Ottawa, IL)
  • Bullpen Bar & Grill (Peoria, IL)
  • Players Pub & Grill (Prospect Heights, IL)
  • Don Carter Lanes (Rockford, IL)
  • Route 3 OTB (Sauget, IL)
  • Capital Teletrack (Springfield, IL)
  • Trackside at Crazy Pour (Villa Park, IL)

Sports Betting Guides by State

Illinois Sports Betting Legislation Timeline

The Illinois sports betting landscape has evolved quickly in recent years. Here’s a timeline showing how the state got to where it is today and where sports betting is going next.

  • November 29, 2022: Rep. Lamont J. Robinson, Jr. introduces HB5847, which aims to enable Illinois pro sports teams to apply for betting licenses.
  • March 5, 2022: From this date forward, Illinois bettors are no longer required to register for sportsbooks at retail sites in the state and can instead sign up for accounts online.
  • 2021: Illinois sports betting has proven extremely successful. The state has the second-highest revenue from sports gambling of any state. In October 2021, the legislature approved a bill that set March 5, 2022, as the end date for the state’s in-person registration requirement. In-person registration could also end whenever the Illinois Gaming Board issues the first mobile-only sportsbook license, which could happen sooner. Governor Pritzker has not yet signed the bill.
  • 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into Illinois’ plans for sports betting. The first in-person and online sportsbooks opened in March 2020, right before lockdowns were instituted. Once sports resumed in May, Governor Pritzker waived the requirement for bettors to sign up at a physical sportsbook casino in person before betting online. The waiver was rescinded in June and reinstated in August.
  • 2019: Governor J.B. Pritzker included revenue from sports betting in the state budget, essentially calling on the legislature to legalize sports gambling. The state congress responded by passing Illinois sports betting legislation in June, and Pritzker quickly signed SB 690 into law. Importantly, the Illinois sports betting bill put a few restrictions on sports betting. First, betting on in-state college sports would not be allowed. Second, it required that all out-of-state sportsbooks partner with an in-state casino company for the first 18 months of legal sports betting. Finally, the bill allowed for 3 online-only licenses that would be issued after 18 months at a cost of $10 million each.
  • 2018: Several bills were introduced in the Illinois legislature in 2018 to explore the possibility of legalizing sports betting in the state. Most of the bills were meant to test support for legal sports betting rather than to provide a framework for how sportsbooks could operate.
  • 14 May 2018 – The Murphy v. NCAA decision by the Supreme Court established state autonomy in terms of sportsbook gambling legality, free from federal intervention.

Offshore Online Sports Betting in Illinois

Online gambling in Illinois with an offshore sportsbook is legal. Offshore sportsbooks are betting sites based outside the US. That’s important because it means these sportsbooks are not subject to US laws and have been able to operate for decades even though sports betting was illegal at the federal level.

Offshore sportsbooks in Illinois don’t require in-person registration and do allow betting on in-state college sports. In addition, they typically offer more competitive betting odds than Illinois’ new US-based sportsbook offerings.

Are Daily Fantasy Sports – DFS Legal in Illinois?

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) is legal in Illinois. Currently, there are 3 DFS sites in the state:

  • DraftKings
  • Fanduel
  • Monkey Knife Fight

However, DFS has been a point of contention in Illinois in the past. DraftKings and Fanduel launched in Illinois in 2015, ignoring the state government’s position that DFS violated Illinois gambling laws. The two platforms continued to offer DFS games even as a lawsuit against them proceeded. In 2020, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that DFS does not violate Illinois betting laws since DFS are games of skill, not chance.

Still, the activity of companies like DraftKings and Fanduel left many Illinois lawmakers unhappy. Initially, the bill to legalize sports betting in Illinois sought to ban companies like DraftKings and FanDuel for 3 years as punishment for operating DFS in the state against the government’s wishes. Lawmakers ultimately landed on an 18-month waiting period, which is behind the in-person registration requirement that’s unique to Illinois.

Illinois Casino Laws

Illinois has 10 land-based casinos that offer everything from slots to blackjack to poker. However, you cannot play casino games for real money in Illinois. While the state has looked favorably at sports betting in Illinois, online casinos are likely a long way off.

Still, there are options for playing casino games online in Illinois. You can play for real money at an offshore casino site. Many of the best offshore online sportsbooks in Illinois also have online casinos.

Alternatively, you can play online casino games at a social casino site. Social casinos don’t pay out real money for individual games, but you can still win money through sweepstakes and other prize pools.

Online Casinos

Illinois online casinos are currently illegal. However, you can play at offshore casinos like Bovada, XBet, and BetOnline.

Land Based Casinos

There are 10 land-based casinos in Illinois:

  • Par-A-Dice Casino (East Peoria, IL)
  • Hawthorne Racecourse (Stickney, IL)
  • Grand Victoria Casino (Elgin, IL)
  • Rivers Casino (Des Plaines, IL)
  • Casino Queen (East St. Louis, IL)
  • Hollywood Casino Joliet (Joliet, IL)
  • Hollywood Casino Aurora (Aurora, IL)
  • Argosy Casino (Alton, IL)
  • Bally’s Quad Cities (Rock Island, IL)
  • Harrah’s Metropolis (Metropolis, IL)

All of these casinos, except Bally’s Quad Cities and Harrah’s Metropolis, offer in-person sports betting in addition to casino games.

Illinois Gambling Taxes

Illinois treats income from sports betting and other forms of gambling just like any other income. You need to report your winnings as income on your state and federal tax forms. Currently, the income tax rate in Illinois is 4.95%.

One important thing to keep in mind is that you can offset some of your gambling income with gambling losses. However, you can’t offset other types of income if you report a net loss from gambling.

Best Illinois Online Sports Betting Sites Reviewed

Now that you know more about sports betting in Illinois, let’s take a closer look at the 5 best Illinois sportsbooks you can play with today.

1. BetOnline – Overall Best Illinois Sportsbook in 2024

betonline justin fields mvp odds

BetOnline is our top-rated site for Illinois sports betting today. At this online sportsbook, you can wager on more than 20 sports, including NFL and NBA games, college sports, esports, and much more. Betonline Sportsbook offers competitive odds, live betting, and tons of prop bets for all the major Illinois teams, including the Chicago Bulls, Bears, Cubs, White Sox, and Fighting Illini.

What we especially like about BetOnline is how seamless the gambling experience is. With a personalized lobby, you can easily find the best sports for Illinois players. Live games are always just a click or tap away, too. For betting on the go, BetOnline offers a sports betting app for iOS and Android devices.

BetOnline offers new players a 50% deposit match on your first deposit, up to $1,000, with promo code “BET1000.” You must play the bonus on odds of -200 or greater.

Pros:

  • Wide range of betting markets
  • Very competitive odds
  • Personalized online experience
  • Betting app for iOS and Android
  • $1,000 welcome bonus

Cons:

  • Light fees on card withdrawals

2. XBet – Top Site for Off-Track Betting in Illinois

xbet illinois fighting illini betting lines

Our pick for off-track betting in Illinois, XBet allows you to wager on races at any in-state tracks, as well as tracks around the US and beyond. The platform also offers Illinois sports betting news to help you decide what horses to wager on. Plus, XBet offers 7% cash back on every horse race bet, win or lose.

XBet also offers plenty of betting options outside the racetrack. You can wager on the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, esports, golf, soccer, tennis, motorsports, and so much more. XBet doesn’t offer quite the same range of prop bets as some other top Illinois sports betting sites, but it does have live betting and competitive odds.

The platform also offers a $500 welcome bonus when you deposit $500. Just sign up and make a deposit using the promo code “LENSX,” and the bonus will automatically be credited to your account. You can use the bonus funds on any wagers with odds of -200 or greater.

Pros:

  • 7% cash back on every horse racing bet
  • Wager on races in the US and around the world
  • Live betting with competitive odds
  • $500 welcome bonus

Cons:

  • Limited range of prop bets

3. Bovada – Online Sportsbook with Live Streaming and Betting

bovada illinois online sports betting lines

Bovada is hard to beat when it comes to live sports betting in Illinois online. That’s because Bovada not only lets you wager on live games but also makes it easy to stream matches in HD right from your computer or smartphone. You never have to leave your bet slip to catch the action, so it only takes a second to place a bet when a game’s momentum shifts.

This sportsbook also stands out for its enormous range of betting markets. This Illinois sports betting site allows you to wager on niche sports like alpine skiing, skating, surfing, and beach volleyball, in addition to popular leagues like the NFL and NBA. The odds for these competitions aren’t always terrific, but then again, you can’t bet on them at all with most other sportsbooks.

In addition, Bovada offers a 100% match on your first deposit up to $750 when you use Bovada promo code “BTCSWB750.” To claim the bonus, you must deposit Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, or Litecoin, and the bonus funds must be played on odds of -200 or greater.

Pros:

  • Supports live HD streaming
  • Carries wagers for niche sports
  • User-friendly mobile app
  • $750 crypto welcome bonus

Cons:

  • Fees on card withdrawals
  • Dated interface could use an upgrade

4. MyBookie – Best Illinois Sportsbook for Odds Boosts

mybookie illinois sportsbook

MyBookie is the best Illinois sportsbook for players who like to make complex bets. This bookie supports parlays, teasers, and if bets and offers a bet builder to help you mix and match prop bets or even lines from different games. The builder clearly shows what you’ll win if your bet works out. Even better, you can pay a little extra for an odds boost that increases your payout significantly if you do win.

MyBookie offers a wide variety of wagers, with nearly 20 different sports markets available. The sportsbook offers bets on all the major Illinois teams, including college teams. Plus, the odds at MyBookie are consistently among the best we’ve seen from any Illinois sports betting site.

Mybookie Sportsbook offers a generous 100% deposit match welcome bonus of up to $1,000 for new players. Just use “LENS” when you make your first deposit. The bonus funds can be played on any wagers with odds of -250 or greater.

Pros:

  • Bet builder for parlays and teasers
  • Purchase an odds boost for bigger payouts
  • Supports live betting with favorable odds
  • $1,000 welcome bonus offer

Cons:

  • Doesn’t offer a dedicated mobile app

5. BetUS – Huge Bonus Offers Worth up to $7,500

betus - illinois betting sites

BetUS blows other Illinois sportsbooks out of the water with its bonus offer. At BetUS, new players can claim a 125% deposit match bonus up to $2,500 with promo code “JOIN125.” The bonus must be played on odds of -280 or greater. Then, you can claim that same bonus up to 2 more times on your next 2 deposits – for a total bonus of $7,500! Even after you claim all that sign-up cash, BetUS offers generous reload bonuses for crypto deposits.

BetUS offers 22 different sports markets to try out with your bonus. You’ll find a huge selection of prop bets as well as competitive odds, and BetUS offers live betting on most sports. This bookie also offers a sports betting app in Illinois, making it easy to wager on the go.

Another great thing about BetUS is that it’s making its platform more player-friendly every day. Most recently, BetUS introduced streaming news videos that round up the latest action in the NBA and NHL and highlight upcoming bets that are worth your attention. The bookie plans to roll out similar videos for other popular leagues, including college sports, soon.

Pros:

  • Up to $7,500 in welcome bonus funds
  • 20% bonus on all crypto reloads
  • Streaming sports news videos
  • Excellent mobile app

Cons:

  • Minimum odds of -280 for bonus funds

Top 10 Illinois Sportsbooks Comparison

Wondering which Illinois sports betting apps are right for you? We’ve put together the table below so you can quickly see how the best Illinois sportsbooks compare.

Brand Welcome Bonus Promo Code Number of Sports Markets Live Streaming Payment Methods
BetOnline 50% deposit match up to $1,000 BET1000 NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, college sports, auto racing, soccer, golf, tennis, cricket, darts, handball, Aussie rules, MMA, rugby, table tennis, volleyball, esports, Canadian football, snooker Yes Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, Bitcoin,  Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Ethereum, Litecoin
XBet 50% deposit match up to $500 LENSX NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, college sports, auto racing, soccer, golf, tennis, cricket, darts, handball, Aussie rules, MMA, rugby, table tennis, volleyball, esports, Canadian football, cycling, wrestling No Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin,  Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin
Bovada 100% Bitcoin deposit match up to $750 BTCSWB750 NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, college sports, auto racing, soccer, golf, tennis, darts, cricket, Aussie rules, MMA, rugby, table tennis, volleyball, esports, Canadian football, beach volleyball, snooker, winter sports, futsal Yes Credit card, debit card, Zelle, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin
MyBookie 50% deposit match up to $1,000 LENS NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, college sports, auto racing, soccer, golf, tennis, cricket, Aussie rules, MMA, rugby, table tennis, volleyball, esports, Canadian football No Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, Bitcoin,  Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Ethereum, Litecoin
BetUS 125% deposit match up to $2,500 JOIN125 NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, college sports, auto racing, soccer, golf, tennis, cricket, Aussie rules, MMA, rugby, table tennis, volleyball, esports, Canadian football, surfing, snooker, futsal No Credit card, bank wire, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin
Everygame 100% deposit match up to $500 WELCOME500 NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, college sports, auto racing, soccer, golf, tennis, cricket, darts, handball, Aussie rules, MMA, rugby, table tennis, esports No Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Skrill
SportsBetting.ag 100% deposit match up to $1,000 ($500 x2) DOUBLEUP NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, college sports, auto racing, soccer, golf, tennis, cricket, darts, handball, Aussie rules, MMA, rugby, snooker, esports Yes Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple
BetNow 100% deposit match up to $1,000 BN100 NFL, NBA, MLB, soccer, MMA, auto racing, tennis, horse racing No Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash
Jazz 100% deposit match JAZZ100 NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, college sports, auto racing, soccer, golf, tennis, cricket, darts, handball, Aussie rules, MMA, rugby, table tennis, volleyball, e-sports, Canadian football Yes Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ripple
BUSR 150% deposit match up to $2,500 SPORTS100FP NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, college sports, auto racing, soccer, golf, tennis, cricket, Aussie rules, MMA, rugby, table tennis, volleyball, e-sports, Canadian football Yes Credit card, debit card, Bitcoin, Litecoin

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How We Rank the Best Illinois Betting Apps & Mobile Sites

The best Illinois sports betting apps will be great all-rounders, and to help you pick and rank a reputable site, we have done the groundwork for you by identifying some factors you should bear in mind.

sports lens rating stars

Licensing & Security

First off, we suggest that you only sign up to licensed and regulated sites in Illinois. These sites will install the latest SSL (Secure Socket Layer) measures and be encrypted, protecting players’ personal data. If you can’t see any licensing information, this should act as a red flag, and you should avoid these sites.

Odds & Markets

The team at Sportslens knows exactly what bettors in the state are looking for. So, we make it our mission to scan each sportsbook we assess, searching for those all-important Illinois sports teams and personalities. If a platform covers the Bulls, Bears, Cubs, Fighting Illinois, etc., it will rank higher with us. We also assess the variety of markets on offer and the value of the given odds.

Betting Bonuses

Our team understands that a hefty welcome bonus goes a long way, especially when you begin betting with an online sportsbook. Hence, we only recommend platforms that offer a variety of welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions. We also check the terms and conditions associated with each offer to ensure they are fair and reasonable, detailing our findings in the reviews and tables.

Live Betting & Streaming

Such is its current popularity, most modern sportsbooks facilitate live betting and streaming via desktop and mobile devices. The Sportslens team ensures that each platform takes in-play wagers, tests the variety of markets on offer and the quality of the video streams, and ranks accordingly.

Banking Options

The finest legal sports betting apps in Illinois, such as those featured in this guide, will allow you to fund your player account and withdraw from anywhere – this comes as standard. However, our team also checks to see how many banking methods are available, how fast the transaction speeds are, and whether or not the player incurs any charges.

Mobile Betting Experience

This is vital. The mobile betting site you choose should make it simple for you to perform simple functions, such as placing a wager or cashing out. Whatever it is, it should be seamless on mobile devices and come with minimal lag/loading times.

Customer Service

Whatever site you sign up for, ensure it has a good range of contact options. These should include options such as a 24/7 live chat facility and emails, so if you hit a speed bump, you can easily reach out to the service team.

How to Bet on Sports in Illinois Sportsbooks

Ready to place your first sports bet in Illinois? We’ll show you how to sign up for the best Illinois sportsbook in 2024 and place your first wager.

Step 1: Sign Up for BetOnline

BetOnline is our #1-rated online sportsbook in Illinois in 2024. To get started with BetOmline, head to the platform’s website and click ‘Join Now.’ Enter your name, email, phone number, birth date, and password to create your new BetOnline betting account.

BetOnline Sign Up

Step 2: Verify Your Email

As part of the sign-up process at BetOnline, you’ll need to verify your email address. Check your inbox for an email from the sportsbook. Open it and click on the link inside to verify your account.

Step 3: Deposit Funds

BetOnline makes it easy to deposit funds to your betting account. You can pay with Visa or Mastercard credit and debit cards, a bank transfer, or cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin.

Select Deposit Amount BetOnline

You only need $10 to get started, but remember that BetOnline will match your first deposit by 50% up to $1,000 with promo code BET1000. To claim the full bonus, deposit at least $2,000.

Step 4: Place Your First Bet

With your account funded, you’re ready to place your first sports bet at BetOnline. Head to the sportsbook lobby to see all the current wagers available to you. You can also search for a specific team to bet on.betonline live betting

Once you find a wager you want to take, click on the odds to add it to your bet slip. Then, enter the amount you want to bet and click ‘Place Bets’ to place your first sports bet. Now, all that’s left to do is watch the action unfold!

Illinois Sports Betting Apps & Mobile Sites for iPhone & Android

Although Illinois betting apps are downloadable, not all of them are compatible with iOS and Android devices. However, the best operators in Illinois will have apps that are suitable for both.

Android

To get a sports app on Android, you will need to go to the Google PlayStore which will have all the available betting apps. Once you have found the one you want, tap to download it. Following the download, the app will automatically install on your device, a process that only takes minutes. After installation, you can sign up, deposit funds, and start wagering.

Generally, the best Android betting apps will offer the same features and functions as the affiliated sportsbook website, making it simple for players to deposit and withdraw funds, claim bonuses, and place several wagers. However, the app’s layout may differ slightly from the website.

iPhone

IL residents using iOS devices like iPads and iPhones will be able to download apps from the Apple AppStore. Nevertheless, the download process is the same as that for Android users.

Generally, the Android and iOS apps are identical and offer the same features as the desktop website. However, these apps usually provide the best Illinois sportsbook promos, and the way iOS users navigate the app is somewhat different due to its different OS.

Top 5 Regulated Illinois Betting Apps

With online sports betting in full swing in Illinois, a handful of state-approved bookmakers are operating, and they will provide an excellent mobile betting experience for residents. We have outlined 5 of the top regulated sports betting apps in Illinois.

BetMGM – one of Illinois’ newest sportsbook additions. Backed by MGM Resorts International, the bookie has plenty of influence and brand recognition. You’ll also enjoy generous bonuses, comprehensive market coverage, and live streaming.
Caesars – launched in March 2022, with a cool $1,500 first bet insurance offer and it has a highly responsive app. Here, you can find same-game parlays and odds boosts, making it a go-to bookie for IL bettors.
PointsBet – has one of the best welcome bonuses and creative betting options to keep you engaged. Bet multipliers and PointsBetting are just some of the few innovations that have made this native app a tantalizing prospect.
BetRivers – is also swish and comes with a highly impressive sign-up offer. You’ll also find odds boosts, loyalty reward points, in-game cash-outs, and other incentives.
FanDuel – has been live in Illinois since August 2020, offering a hard-to-beat $

1,000 risk-free bet on your first wager. The FanDuel app has a wide range of betting lines, and it is enjoyed by those who like to play Daily Fantasy Sports.

Mobile Site vs. App for Betting in Illinois

Nowadays, Illinois punters are free to bet as they please. They can either wager on mobile or they can use a native app. The advantages and drawbacks of both have been listed:

Mobile Site

Pros:

  • No disruptive push notifications
  • No download process
  • Replicates the desktop version of the website
  • Access to all the regular promos and bonuses

Cons:

  • Need a mobile browser to launch

Mobile App

Pros:

  • Launches with one tap
  • One-time sign-in
  • More security afforded
  • Regular notifications available

Cons:

  • Can take up a lot of your mobile’s memory

How to Create a Betting App for a Sportsbook in Illinois

While not all Illinois sports betting apps have dedicated apps, you can still create a progressive app via your phone. Here’s a quick overview of how you can do so using an iPhone.

Step One: Launch the Sportsbook Site in your Mobile Browser

Open the site in your iPhone browser, Safari, and type in the URL.

Bovada Mobile App offer IL

Step Two: Pull up the Safari Menu

Navigate to the bottom of the page and tap the icon for the Safari menu.

Bovada PWA Step Two

Step Three: Add the Site to your Home Screen

In the pop-up menu, select “Add to Home Screen”.

Bovada PWA Step Three 1

Step Four: Name Your App

The site’s address can be quite long. We suggest you come up with a more memorable name, such as Bovada.

Bovada PWA Step Four

Conclusion on Illinois Online Sports Betting

Illinois has quickly become one of the hottest markets in the US for sports betting. Six online sportsbooks operate in the state, alongside 8 in-person sportsbooks and dozens of offshore betting sites. With our list of the 10 best sites for Illinois sports betting, it’s easier than ever to get started.

We recommend BetOnline as the best Illinois sportsbook overall in 2024. BetOnline offers a wide range of sports markets and bet types, a seamless user experience, and a $1,000 welcome bonus. Use promo code “BET1000” to sign up today!

Illinois Sportsbooks FAQs

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