Best Illinois Legal Online Sportsbooks

The Top Rated Illinois Sportsbooks

What makes a good sports betting app? User-friendliness, range of sports to bet on, initial bonus offer, variety of betting types and reliability of banking options are the main criteria we use before recommending a provider. After weighing up these factors, this is our current sportsbooks ranking table for Illinois:

  • Sign up bonus
    Up To $1,500 Deposit Match
    Large welcome bonus Easy to use software Wide variety of markets Excellent worldwide reputation
    Caesars Sportsbook
    9.8/ 10
    GET BONUS
  • Sign up bonus
    2 Risk-Free Bets Up To $2,000
    Excellent signup bonus Regular promotions Wide range of markets Unique Pointsbetting Feature
    PointsBet Sportsbook
    9.6/ 10
    GET BONUS
  • Sign up bonus
    100% Matched Bonus up to $250
    Great signup offer Easy to use app Massive variety of sports Excellent customer service
    BetRivers Sportsbook
    9.4/ 10
    GET BONUS

Online Sports Betting – Frequently Asked Questions


Is Online Sports Betting Legal?

Yes, in 2018 the US Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting allowing individual states to legalize and regulate the industry.


How Do I Get Started?

Each state has a different selection of legal sportsbooks to choose from. You can sign up for a new account on your chosen sportsbook’s website or via their app. The apps are available for both iPhone and Android users.


How Do I Choose a Sportsbook?

It basically comes down to personal preference. There are no bad choices as each legal sportsbook will have gone through a stringent process before being granted a license to operate.

It’s worth trying out several apps before deciding which one is your favorite and having multiple accounts also gives you the advantage of picking the best odds/lines on a given event between the competing sportsbooks.


What Are These Bonuses All About?

Legal sports betting is a relatively new industry in the U.S. and the sportsbooks are competing to attract new players. As a result, they offer a variety of bonuses for new account registrations. We keep track of these on our Free Bets page.


How Do I Get Money On and Off the Apps/Sites?

This varies by sportsbook and state but there are a wide variety of options available. The most common deposit method is credit/debit card although not all banks allow transactions with sportsbooks yet.

Other methods include eWallets such as PayPal or Skrill, direct Bank Transfer, Prepaid Cards, Cash at the Cage, PayNearMe, eChecks and traditional paper checks, which are still one of the most popular choices for cashing out.


Is It Safe?

Yes, every sportsbook must go through a comprehensive (and costly) vetting process to get a license to operate in each state. Only the most established and trusted companies are being allowed to operate in this relatively new industry and that’s why you see the big names like MGM, Caesars, Bally’s, DraftKings, FanDuel, William Hill, 888sport, PointsBet, PlaySugarHouse, Bet365 etc. behind the apps.

On top of this, each state has a regulatory body (a Gaming Board or Division of Gaming) that oversees the industry and ensures the absolute safety of customers’ money and data on the sites.


What Sports Can I Bet On?

It’s pretty much a case of, you name it – you can bet on it. The biggest sport by wagering volume is NFL and the two biggest events in the sports betting calendar are the SuperBowl and the NCAA Basketball Tournament aka March Madness. Then there is NBA, MLB, NHL, college football, college hoops, soccer, tennis, MMA, boxing, Nascar and other motorsports, rugby, cricket, Australian Rules football… the list goes on.

There can be minor differences between sportsbooks in the sports they offer but the major American sports and biggest international events will almost definitely be covered. There are some minor restrictions on college sports depending on the state you are in; you can check your individual sportsbook for details.


What are the Different Types of Bets?

Moneyline, Point Spread, Totals, Parlays, Teasers/Pleasers, Props, Futures, Round Robins, In-Play Betting and PoinstBetting are among the most popular forms of sports bet.