Since the June 2020 launch of legal online sports betting, Illinois emerged as one of the nation’s biggest markets. The popularity of mobile sports wagering hit an all-time high in the U.S. during the 2021-2022 football season.
Illinois sportsbooks took more than $7 billion in legal bets in 2021. About 96 percent of those bets were made at the state’s legal online sportsbooks.
The Illinois online sports betting scene includes the most well-known brands in the industry. Within state borders, players enjoy access to mobile sports betting apps like DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and several others.
Mobile sports betting apps allow you to wager on sports online from anywhere in the state of Illinois. When state lawmakers legalized online sports betting, they included an in-person registration requirement.
That law mandated that in order to sign up for an online sports betting account, players would have to travel to the land-based casino partner of a chosen sportsbook and complete the registration process in person.
The in-person requirement was lifted on March 5, 2022, however. With that law no longer in place, Illinois bettors can register, deposit, bet, and cash out from Illinois legal sportsbooks from anywhere with state borders.
Follow along with BetChicago for everything you need to know about betting, claiming welcome bonuses, and more at Illinois; legal online sportsbooks.
Online Sportsbooks Available in Illinois
FanDuel Sportsbook
Since the legalization of nationwide sports betting in 2018, FanDuel Sportsbook stands as the most popular online sportsbook in the U.S.
One of the highest-rated mobile sportsbooks in the industry, FanDuel Sportsbook offers a comprehensive array of sports and ways to bet. Illinois bettors were introduced to the FanDuel online sports betting platform in August 2020.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook represents one of the most highly-regarded sports gaming brands in the U.S. DraftKings’ online sportsbook is the number one mobile wagering choice for bettors in the Land of Lincoln.
Launched in August 2020, DraftKings Sportsbook remains the leader in the Illinois online sports betting market.
BetRivers
BetRivers functions under the umbrella of Rush Street Interactive, one of Illinois’ most influential gaming brands. In a short time, BetRivers has expanded into multiple online gambling markets in the U.S.
BetRivers was the first online sportsbook to launch in Illinois, doing so in June 2020.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook has quickly emerged as one of the most prominent online sports betting brands in the U.S. With a highly-rated mobile app and comprehensive selection of sports, Caesars Sportsbook competes with anything in the legal U.S. industry.
Then known as William Hill, Caesars Sportsbook debuted in Illinois in September 2020.
PointsBet
With perhaps the most innovative array of betting markets among U.S. sportsbooks, PointsBet continues to hold its own among national brands.
PointsBet Illinois debuted in September 2020.
Barstool Sportsbook
Barstool Sportsbook marks an expansion into sports betting by the Barstool Sports brand. The platform stands up as a legitimate, full-service mobile sports betting platform.
The Illinois version of Barstool Sportsbook went live in March 2021.
BetMGM
BetMGM brings one of the world’s most well-known gaming brands to Illinois. BetMGM debuted its online sportsbook in the Land of Lincoln in March 2022.
The BetMGM launch coincided with the lifting of the state’s in-person registration requirement.