Sports betting in Illinois: Which sportsbooks are available? How can I place a bet?

Legalized sports betting has exploded onto the scene in the United States following the reversal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) in 2018. Since then, 33 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized sports betting in some capacity, and this number is sure to increase in the coming years.

Want to know if you’re able to bet in the Prairie State? Check out our Illinois guide to sports betting:

Is sports betting legal in Illinois?

In June 2019, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the Sports Wagering Act into law, with the first legal bet placed in March 2020. 

Online sports betting later launched in June 2020, with Governor Pritzker opening up mobile sports betting registration as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then in December 2021, House Bill 3136 was signed into law, officially allowing Illinoisans to register for the state's legal sportsbooks within the comfort of their own homes. Before the passing of the bill, the pandemic was the sole reason bettors were permitted to register online.

How do I bet on sports in Illinois?

Illinois sports betting allows users over the age of 21 to make online, mobile, and retail wagers. Additionally, all legal sports bets need to be placed within state lines. Mobile sportsbooks utilize geolocation to track your phone’s internal GPS chip. When betting online, users are prompted to download a plugin to make legalized bets.

If making retail wagers, head to an Illinois casino to make your bets in person.

Can I bet on college sports in Illinois?

While bettors can wager on all major U.S. and international sports, users aren't able to place mobile bets on college games and futures bets involving Illinois colleges. Initially, betting on in-state colleges was prohibited entirely, but it's since been amended to allow bettors to wager on Illinois colleges in-person at retail sportsbooks. 

While in-person bets on your favorite Illinois college like Northwestern or the University of Illinois are allowed, bettors aren't allowed wager player props for those schools competing athletes. Player props are bets on players' individual performance, such as, “Will ‘x’ player score over/under 15.5 total points?”

Despite the prohibition of college player props, futures bets on Illinois colleges and players are only allowed in person. Popular futures bets include betting on the University of Illinois to win the Big Ten conference in basketball or on “who will win the Heisman trophy” in football. 

Where can I bet on sports in Illinois?

Currently, seven legal sportsbooks operate in the state of Illinois, with the eighth (Circa Sports) launching shortly.

Below is a list of all seven legal sportsbooks in Illinois along with their corresponding partner: