The issue is that bettors can sign up online (you can claim $1,000 in sign-up bonuses here), but must place their first bet at DraftKings at Casino Queen in East St. — more than four hours southwest of Chicago. After activating in person by placing a bet on Casino Queen’s WiFi, bettors can wager entirely online. How to Gamble Online in Illinois. If you want to bet on sports online in Illinois, the state’s gambling laws require players to register in person at the casino affiliated with the betting site. This provision is set in place for the first 18 months of legal online sports betting in IL.

• Can You Bet On Horses Online In Illinois
• Can You Bet Online In Illinois
• Can You Bet Online In Illinois

Sports betting for our Illinois residents has taken on different meanings over the past few years. For over 25 years, sports fans in the Land of Lincoln were unable to find local Illinois sportsbooks to accept sports wagers. As a result, offshore sports betting sites grew in popularity as these overseas operators are able to provide Vegas-style sports betting to residents of all 50 states. While these sites still exist and have the same comprehensive offerings, the legal sports betting market in the U.S. has changed. There is no longer a federal ban preventing states from licensing sportsbooks, and Illinois has since taken advantage of this freedom by legalizing both retail sports gambling and online sports wagering apps.

With the evolving nature of the Illinois sports betting market, residents should keep themselves informed on what’s happening. That is where we can come in to give you the latest updates on everything related to sports betting in Illinois. This includes current Illinois sports betting laws, future locations for Illinois sportsbooks, etc. As we get more information on the state of sports gambling in IL, we will make sure you keep our readers up-to-date!

Legal Illinois March Madness Betting

With sports betting recently being legal in Illinois, all of the betting residents here are coming out of nowhere to find places to bet on their favorite sporting events or events going on at this moment. March Madness will be the main focus as there will be many teams trying to win the tournament coming in with a lot of moments. Bovada, SportsBetting, BetOnline, and others will have many betting types like prop bets, parlay bets, live betting, and others. College basketball is known for its upsets and having games turn based on the momentum so imagine how much money can be won when betting on March Madness in Illinois legally. Keep in mind that players only have to be 18 and older to sign up for anything of these sites.

Legal Sports Betting Sites Accepting Illinois Residents

We have tested out quite a few different sportsbooks in order to figure out where our readers should play. There are many sites that still will accept Illinois residents in spite of the changing legal climate of online gambling in the state.

We have personally tested each of these sites to make sure it is easy to join, fun to partake, and profitable for those who manage to win the event. We do not want you to worry about getting in trouble, getting ripped off, or otherwise being cheated by these wagering sites, as they are all of the highest quality. Sports betting for Illinois residents should begin at any of these reputable sites:

Bovada Sports - 50% First Deposit Match - $250 Bonus / VISA Accepted

Illinois residents have several great online sportsbook choices to legally place wagers, one of which is Bovada. This sports betting site has a ton of great features to offer its players. If a wide variety of betting lines and wager types are what you seek, this would be a good place to set up shop.

Creating a Bovada login is a simple process, with some basic information required. Then to play for real cash and bet money, a deposit will need to be made. Bovada has a section of their site dedicated to funding accounts, which is quick and efficient. Prospective players can always visit Bovada and view every betting line they have available. But to place a wager, an account is required for Illinois residents.

BetOnline Sports - AmEx Welcome, $1000 Reloads

Can You Bet On Horses Online In Illinois

BetOnline offers their players a couple of really great options that would certainly be enough reason for residents in Illinois to go with them. In addition to offering a ton of competitive betting lines across a myriad of sports and leagues, there are other areas BetOnline excels in as well.

One of these areas is a sportsbook bonus. Players at BetOnline can receive a 25% lifetime bonus of up to $1000 on every deposit that they make into their account. It's based on a percentage matched by the sportsbook to their deposit. This can be used to place a bet on one, or multiple games. Just use the code: “LIFEBONUS”

The legal age to bet in Illinois is 21, so players need to meet this requirement to join BetOnline despite site policies stating 18+ years can register. Whenever engaging in sports betting for Illinois residents, always pay attention to age requirements.

Depositing is made easy as any card bearing a VISA or American Express logo is accepted... whether it's a credit, debit, or prepaid version, as long as it has the Visa or Amex on it, it's good to go. If a credit card isn't what you prefer, there are also options for Bitcoin, a Western Union wire transfer, a MoneyGram, or by using cashier's check/money order. This makes it easy for an Illinois account holder to bet on the Cubs, Bears, Bulls, White Sox or any Illinois based team they choose. They can even wager on the Irish.

SportsBetting - All U.S.A. Including Illinois Allowed

Illinois sports fans can bet real money on sports at bet real money on sports at SportsBetting using several deposit methods. With the fact that American players, in general, can have a tough time depositing in some locations, SportsBetting.ag does a great job by offering more funding methods than most.

This site goes all-in on the cryptocurrency bandwagon accepting 5 different kinds. Whether you use Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, or DASH, you can enter into promotions where you receive a match from the company – as much as 100%! For your first deposit, use the code: “100CRYPTO” and you will receive a full match. On any additional deposits using crypto, use the code: “35CRYPTO” and use you see just over a third of your money be increased to your bankroll.

Is Sports Betting Legal In Illinois?

Now that we are in 2020 sports betting is legal in Illinois. Locations have been told about this decision and now can accept different wagers with many sporting events going on. With Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signing IL SB 690, sports betting will be offered in many places with no legal problems to follow. These different sportsbooks have already been told about the law passing of sports betting and have made a huge difference during the sports seasons. The good thing is there are no restrictions when it comes to this law as well. Bettors will appreciate the opportunities that will rise. Online sportsbooks use to be the only way fans could place their bets but now with there are plenty of local sportsbooks that will welcome players with there winning sports bets.

Is Illinois Online Sports Betting Legal?

Ah yes, there is a difference between the two. Making online bets is something that most Illinois residents can do provided that they meet age requirements to gamble with sportsbooks that accept Illinois players.

But, you thought online sports betting sites weren't regulated by Illinois? Well, you are absolutely right but the online betting sites found here on SportsBettingIllinois.com are not located in IL or in the U.S. For that reason, these betting sites are not forced to comply with Illinois betting laws and welcome players from the state with open arms. These sites may not be regulated by the state, but they are licensed by their home territory and a safe option for anyone wanting to put a few dollars down on the next game.

It is also worth noting that Illinois officially legalized online sports wagering as part of SB 690. That bill lets online sports betting companies operate in the state, but they must wait 18 months after retail locations open before they can officially launch. This could delay them from operating in the state until 2021, making overseas-based betting sites the way to go for the near future.

Legal NFL Betting

Legal NFL betting is a topic that keeps coming up more and more lately, with the league commissioner changing his tune on wagering on sports in the last few years. Now that the Supreme Court has removed PASPA, Roger Goodell has no choice but to accept that sports fans will wager on NFL franchises. Policymakers allowed for legal NFL betting in Illinois. Bovada, SportsBetting, BetOnline, and MyBookie, continue to have all of the best NFL betting odds that a real sports fan expects, all while boasting superior reliability, security, and legality. These sportsbooks are generally excellent and provide better odds than local books will due in part to taxes and in part to being unbiased towards a hometown team.

Sports Betting Apps In Illinois

The greatest sports betting applications that residents of Illinois will find are those that are online. These online sportsbook applications are legal to use in the United States. They are also licensed and regulated businesses with years of experience under their belts. With plenty of wagers, odds, statistical information, and promotions, there are no better sportsbooks out there. These are all highly recommended choices. Events covered by these apps are happening all over the world. And sports bettors in Illinois have access to all of them right at their fingertips. With the use of their cellphone, wagers can be made at any given time on any event in the world.

Legal College Football Betting

Whether you’re a fan of the Illinois Fighting Illini, the Northwestern Wildcats or even – dare we say it? – the Missouri Tigers, the leading offshore sports betting sites Bovada, SportsBetting, BetOnline, and MyBookie have got something for you. These sites, which are licensed and regulated by the gaming authorities in their home nations, have better odds than any brick-and-mortar sportsbook you’ll find anywhere, and they back it up with take-it-anywhere convenience, bank vault-tier security and proven reliability with payouts. Maintaining an account at some of if not all of our top recommended picks in this hot segment of the sports betting world is a necessity if you want to get the most bang for your buck in legal college football betting. Sportsbooks that open in Illinois will also have college football odds for home teams as well as ones located outside the state.

Illinois Sports Betting & Gambling Laws

Because the recent bill signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker allows online sports gambling companies to operate in the state and allows sports bettors to join online sports wagering sites, there are no restrictions in Illinois. Sports bettors can feel safe in confident in putting money on a game online because they have no fear over what the state might do. The new basis for sports betting laws in Illinois is IL SB 690, As of right now, Illinois sports betting is live in the form of land-based sports betting, but online sports betting is slated to arrive sometime in 2021.

Legal Gambling Age For Illinois Residents

Whether you’re trying to place a bet in person or online, the legal gambling age for Illinois residents is 21. Because this is the law written by the state, you should abide by this age even if you are using one of the online offshore sportsbooks we’ve previously recommended. Those sites will accept bettors as young as 18 but that is only because that is the legal age set in their home territory. The safest way to make sure you don’t lose your funds is to follow the rules set by your state government. In other words, if you want to bet on the Bears, you’re going to have to be over 21, no matter what.

What Cities In Illinois Have A Sportsbook?

There are plenty of places to visit for land-based gambling in Illinois, whether you live in Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, or any other city. Many of these casinos are expected to become some of the best sportsbooks in Illinois. For example, one of the top Joliet sportsbooks maybe Harrah’s Joliet, while Grand Victoria may be among the leading Elgin sportsbooks. Some of the other cities where you can look out for the best Illinois sports betting action include:

Land Based Gambling In Illinois

You can find land-based gambling at Argosy Alton, Casino Queen and Hotel, Hollywood Casino Joliet, Grand Victor Casino Elgin, Harrah's Joliet Casino and Hotel, Harrah's Metropolis Casino, Hollywood Casino Aurora, Jumer's Casino and Hotel, Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino, Rivers Casino. To add to them, professional sports stadiums will also be able to offer sportsbooks and places such as Wrigley Field have already announced that they will be renovating for a new sportsbook lounge beginning next season.

FAQ About Online Sports Betting In Illinois

1) Do the Illinois gambling laws pertain only to those in the business of gambling?

The majority of the laws are based on those who are looking to operate sportsbooks rather that use them. Enforcement would be very difficult to seek out individual players; however, we are not lawyers and we cannot be entirely certain that they won’t.

2) How many people have been arrested for gambling online in the state of Illinois?

As far as we know, we have never heard of anyone being arrested for online gambling in Illinois. Again, the state is more focused on those who are running the books.

3) Has there ever been a federal arrest over online gambling?

We have never heard of anyone being arrested for gambling online, federal or otherwise.

4) Where can I find the laws of the Illinois gambling laws?

You can find many of the Illinois gambling laws on our page. We also have an Illinois sports betting bill tracker that will keep you up to date on the latest measures that have been proposed. Otherwise, you can visit the Illinois General Assembly website.

5) Are the federal laws available online?

Yes. All of the federal laws can be found directly on the Library of Congress's website.

6) Is Bovada legal in Illinois?

Bovada accepts residents from Illinois, and you should be safe from any state laws now that IL SB 690 has passed. The bill legalized online sports wagering and Bovada has been operational in the state for years.

7) Could Illinois actually authorize these sportsbooks?

Can You Bet Online In Illinois

State-licensed Illinois sportsbooks are in the works now. The only wait now is that the Illinois Gaming Board will have to draft and approve official regulations before accepting applications and issuing sports betting licenses.

8) Does It Cost Anything To Sign Up At A Sportsbook?

No. You do not have to pay anything in order to sign up with these Illinois online sports betting sites. If any site is asking you to, you should promptly close that window and use one of the recommended sites above. Check out their promotions too as most sites will pay you to sign up.

Can You Bet Online In Illinois

9) How Can I Receive My Winnings From This Gambling Site?

If you are using one of the online offshore sportsbooks we recommend, you can generally have your winnings shipped back to you by way of a check or a money order, but wire transfers and e-wallets are also eligible for withdrawals. For the fastest methods, consider using Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency that the site accepts. Each site has different minimums and fees so make sure to explore all of your options on their cashier page. As far as ones that are operated within the state of Illinois, they have not launched yet so it is inclusive to say how they will handle their payout methods. If they follow the path of other states, it will most likely include receiving a check in the mail or having to travel to a casino to pick it up in person.

10) How Do I Bet On The NFL?

Betting on the NFL in Illinois is pretty simple as of right now. The best thing you can do is use one of the purely online sportsbooks that are located outside of the state. These sportsbooks are easily accessible and can be used to provide wagers and lines to anyone, not just people inside Illinois. These sportsbooks also reduce the hometown hero effect, so you’ll get better odds on hometown teams like the Chicago Bears if you wager on an online sportsbook located outside of the US compared to a Chicago based book.

Check out www.legalsportsbettingsites.com for more detailed information on the legalities of sports. Although none of us are lawyers, it is always better to get as much information as you can about the legalities of sports betting for Illinois residents.