Sports Betting in Illinois
The Prairie State is one of the most developed US economies, ranking fifth when it comes to gross domestic product, and it has one of the most active casino scenes in the nation. Illinois’ history with gaming fun goes back to the 1840s, when locals and tourists primarily partook in games of chance on riverboats in this part of the US. In 1927, its lawmakers legalized pari-mutuel betting on horse races, and in 1974, the Illinois Lottery launched.
Riverboat casinos again became a thing on Illinois rivers in 1991 via the Riverboat Gambling Act, and today, there are sixteen gaming establishments in the state, commercial and tribal. Illinois is unique in that it, too, allows video gaming terminals, known as VLTs, in bars, taverns, and truck stops. No online casinos here though.
Hence, with such a lax general stance toward gambling, it was expected that the Prairie State would be among the first to authorize sports betting for its residents. It did so just over a year after PASPA became history, in June of 2019, through the passage of SB 690.
Illinois lawmakers decided to move swiftly when this opportunity opened up, as they were facing a massive capital-projects budget hole and needed a new income stream, which a 15% tax on adjusted gross revenue for betting provided. Retail wagering launched first in March 2020, and the online kind debuted three months later.
In the five years this Illinois sector has been active, it has generated a handle of more than $55 billion, bringing in over a billion in taxes for the state. Illinois sportsbooks now traditionally generate revenues of over a billion per month. The state’s monthly handle consistently gets ranked third or fourth in the nation, with New York’s and New Jersey’s constantly being ahead of it, and Illinois interchanging the third spot with Nevada. That is so, even after the introduction of new fees that raised the online tax rate to 35% for some brackets.
The Illinois Gaming Board tightly regulates the market, but it is not responsible or able to oversee offshore sportsbooks that accept gamblers from the state, which still continue to attract many bettors with their looser rules, operating in a legal gray area.
Key Highlights of the Illinois Sports Betting Scene
- Online Sports Betting
Illinois has one of the more competitive online markets in the country when it comes to betting fun. It features ten licensed sportsbooks. BetRivers was the first Internet and retail bookie in Illinois, and from its establishment on, it has been joined by Bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, Hard Rock Bet, Circa Sports, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics Sportsbook, and FanDuel. Going by data released by the IGB, more than 90% of wagers in the state get made on these sites/apps.
- In-Person Sports Betting
As noted above, BetRivers, via Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, took the initial retail sports wager in Illinois. At the time of writing, there were thirteen casinos in the state that allowed betting on sports, along with seven racetracks. This was too possible at venues such as Soldier Field and Wrigley Field.
- College Sports Betting
Wagering on in-state college teams is prohibited online but is permitted at retail sportsbooks. Though, like most of the nation, gamblers cannot place player props on any college games in Illinois, something that aims to maintain the integrity of amateur sports.
- Daily Fantasy Sports
In 2020, shortly after the debut of sports betting, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that DFS should too be made legal in the state, as they are a game of skill and not luck. Because of this interpretation, enjoying such contests is not a criminal offense, as they do not constitute illegal gambling.
- Legal Gambling Age
For sports betting, it is 21 years old, while for DFS, it is 18 years old.
Illinois’s Sports Betting Journey
After the US Supreme Court, in May of 2018, ruled in the case Murphy v. NCAA, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act became unconstitutional, which cleared the way for states to legalize betting on sporting events.
In early 2019, Rep. Robert Rita, a Democratic representative, sponsored Senate Bill 690 and shepherded it through debate. Though Sen. Terry Link was the law’s chief Senate sponsor, it had its first House reading in May 2019. It passed in June 2019 with an eighty-seven to twenty-seven vote. Though it should get highlighted that even though this bill brought sports betting to Illinois and opened doors for six new casinos to get established, its ultimate goal was supplying funding for new capital projects and helping the renovation of university buildings and prisons.
After the SB 690 vote, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the Illinois Sports Wagering Act into law on June 28th, 2019, which marked the formal legalization of sports betting in this section of the US. On March 9th, 2020, Rivers Casino accepted the first retail wager, and on June 18th that same year, the online arm of this venue, BetRivers, accepted the first online one.
Following the debut of retail sports wagering in the state, renowned sports franchises in Illinois’ biggest cities instantly announced plans to partner with sports betting operators to introduce wagering kiosks at their venues, something that did not start happening until early 2022. In December 2021, the Chicago City Council voted to allow this and imposed a 2% tax on bookmakers who are allowed to offer these services within a five-block radius of Wintrust Arena, the United Center, Soldier Field, Guaranteed Rate Field, and Wrigley Field.
All in all, it is fair to say that sports betting in Illinois got fast-tracked by budgeting necessities, and in 2024, a new 25–50 cent per-wager fee on online bets sparked sizeable operator backlash. Though this did not appear to affect bookmaker revenues, which continued to climb regardless.
What’s Next for Sports Betting in Illinois?
Further legal tweaks to the state’s betting framework are to be expected as time passes, with likely modifications being made in consumer protection. That is something that everyone expects, and based on recent developments, here are four predictions for what may come in the Illinois betting landscape soon:
- More Focus on Responsible Gambling
This is something that is happening around the globe and is somewhat of a national trend in the US. The IGB already has a self-exclusion program, which gamblers can enter, and which voluntarily bans them from gambling at physical facilities and online. IGB also mandates that operators supply customers with limiting tools. Nonetheless, stricter ad regulations are to be expected going forward, as well as the state expanding problem gambling resources.
- Shift in Operator Marketing
Despite the market continuing to expand, the 2024–2025 tax hike has affected operators, given that now, compared to before, every wager is more expensive, and that is so regardless of whether it is a cash one or a promotion bet. This is likely to force operators to reduce promo spending and cut back on offering as many bonuses as they did in the past.
- Pressure for a Local Chicago Tax
Without question, Chicago is Illinois’ main sports and betting hub. Its mayor is well aware of this, and that is why he proposed a 2026 10.25% local tax, one to be imposed on top of Illinois’s levy for sports wagering revenues. This is driven by the Windy City’s need for new revenues.
- Popularization of Offshore Betting
With all the added operator costs, potentially worse provided odds on account of this, and fewer promos, it is reasonable to expect that many Illinoisans will divert to using foreign sites, ones carrying international licenses, as these platforms will be likely to carry a much better sports betting offering than those operating legally from US soil within their state’s borders.
Popular Teams in Illinois
Illinois has a rich sports history, and it is a bit hard to single out teams that are the most popular, as Chicago especially boasts a powerhouse lineup of professional franchises. Still, most would probably agree that these three enjoy the highest levels of fandom:
- Chicago Bears (NFL): The Bears were founded in 1919, and they became a professional team in 1920. They have collected one Super Bowl championship and eight NFL ones prior to the AFL–NFL merger. Playing out of Soldier Field, the Bears have a storied history, and they draw over 60,000 fans per game.
- Chicago Bulls (NBA): The Bulls were THE 1990s NBA franchise, immortalized by Michael Jordan's six titles. They have not claimed any championship following MJ’s departure, but the United Center is still one of the NBA’s most electric arenas, and the Bulls logo is iconic.
- Chicago Cubs (MLB): Sadly, when it comes to US baseball, the Cubs were most famous for the Curse of the Billy Goat, which was a hex placed on the franchise by William Sianis, and lasted till 2016, when the Cubs ended a 108-year drought and won the World Series. The Cubs’ rivalry with the White Sox is too legendary, and the team today averages over thirty-five thousand fans per game at Wrigley Field.
The Most Popular Sports in Illinois
Illinoisans embrace a diverse sports culture, but when it comes to which sports they show the most fondness for, they do not differ much from most parts of the US. These are the five most beloved athletic contest types in the Prairie State.
- Football
No contest. Like in most of the nation, American football too dominates here. From Bears Sundays to high school showdowns and college rivalries, gridiron is a massive state obsession, one that brings Illinoisans to stadiums and has them glued to screens.
- Basketball
The Bulls' legacy remains strong in IL, and many are hopeful that Bulls magic will reignite, despite disappointments of the past, such as Derrick Rose’s unrealized potential. NBA aside, college hoops at U of I often have gripped the state during March Madness. Plus, youth leagues and the WNBA's Chicago Sky add to b-ball love in this stretch of US land.
- Baseball
Again, the Cubs’ legacy and the Cubs–White Sox rivalry have drawn millions of Illinoisans to ballparks over the past century, and minor league Cubs affiliates keep rural fans engaged year-round.
- Hockey
The Blackhawks are Chicago’s and IL’s hockey pride, renowned for the war chief logo and six Stanley Cups. But it is not all about the Hawks when it comes to Illinois hockey; the AHL's Chicago Wolves and Rockford IceHogs, too, have their fans, and so do the Chicago Steel (USHL) and the Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL).
- Soccer
The Chicago Fire FC is the main soccer attraction in IL, as they are the only state MLS franchise. Still, the sport is also popular at the collegiate level, and there is a slew of youth and amateur teams here.
Common Types of Bonuses for Players from Illinois
No different than any online sportsbooks anywhere, the Illinois-regulated batch too looks to grow their user pools by supplying attractive promotions. The three most common varieties they go with are:
- First Bet Insurance
Used as a welcome offer, this is a promo category that has been designed to encourage new gamblers to place a large initial wager by mitigating the loss risk. Thus, if the made wager wins, the gambler collects their prize as normal, but if it loses, the stake gets refunded as a bonus bet.
- Standard Free Bet
This is a wager directly credited, usually given out for a qualifying deposit, or as a no-deposit bonus. Its value is often not substantial and is fixed. Only the winnings from this wager get paid out, and not the original stake. Traditionally, any winnings stemming from it are subjected to a rollover condition.
- Deposit Match
Most online gamblers have come across this promo type, where a site matches a percentage of their deposit amount as a bonus. For instance, 100% up to $100, meaning for a deposit of $100, a site will provide $100 extra, and for a deposit of $50, it will supply $50 in on-the-house gambling funds. Deposit matches are too customary sign-up deals, designed to give gamblers a heftier starting balance.
Banking Options and Payment Rules for Illinois Bettors
Illinois law and IGB regulations impose strict identity verification, meaning anti-money-laundering protocols on all IGB-licensed sportsbooks. The last four digits of every gambler’s Social Security number must get provided on sign-up, and some operators even ask for the full SSN for tax-reporting compliance. This KYC process is non-negotiable when one uses IL bookmakers, which is not the case with offshore ones, especially those accepting cryptos.
IL bookies too forbid credit cards to stop people from betting with borrowed money. Yet, foreign sites have no issue accepting this method, which is one of the main reasons why some US gamblers prefer them.
Regulated Illinois sportsbooks do accept debit cards, ACH/e-checks, online banking transfers, e-wallets, Play+ prepaid cards, and cash at cages/retail locations.
Withdrawals must get paid out to the original depositing method, something that offshore bookmakers too usually mandate, and minimum/maximum limits usually vary per method. So do payout speeds, with e-wallets supplying withdrawals in under a day, while ACH transfers can take up to five, and paper check payouts may incur a wait time of two weeks.
All American gamblers should know that wins above $600 trigger automatic IRS reporting, and Illinois levies a 4.95% flat state income tax on all winnings.
Choosing the Right Online Sports Betting Site in Illinois: A Simple Guide
As highlighted in the intro, online competition is fierce in Illinois, as ten Internet bookies run here, all regulated and rigorously vetted by the Illinois Gaming Board, which has a strong reputation for forcing compliance on payout disputes. Thus, all ten legal options in the state should be safe to use. The choice on which one to pick should get made by carefully comparing their promotions, evaluating their odds quality, and looking for state-of-the-art features like bet-building, streaming, and so on.
All these criteria are valid for offshore bookmakers as well, which will vary when it comes to credibility. While most will be licensed, track records of paying on time and with no issues will differ. That is the most vital thing when picking a foreign-based site/app, ensuring that it is a trustworthy one, because in the case of a dispute, no US body can help, and foreign courts handle legal cases connected to the use of their services.
Conclusion: Sports Betting in Illinois – A Top Market
Illinois is, no doubt, one of America’s premier sports betting jurisdictions, online and retail. It is one of the nation’s more developed markets and one of its most mature ones. The latter is evident by Illinois having access to sophisticated apps, same-day payouts, pervasive retail locations, and sharp odds.
The controversial 2024–2025 tax hikes have not yet derailed betting growth in the state, but many are fearful that operators will adjust by lowering their level of service, driving bettors to offshore online bookmakers, who offer exotic markets, provide anonymity for crypto gamblers, and have a habit of running attractive promos and loyalty systems.
It goes without saying that Illinois’ regulated ecosystem delivers far better protection, but no one should be surprised to see IL bettors shift more to foreign sites in the years to come.
Whatever type you decide to go with, remember to always bet responsibly!
Written by ShellyS
Senior Content Writer
Expert On: Casino Banking reviews Gambling Regulations US Sports Betting
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