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By State › Illinois
State guide

Online Gambling in Illinois

Illinois has legal online sports betting (since 2020) and horse racing, but among the highest taxes in the country. Real-money online casino isn't legal, and sweepstakes casinos have been hit with mass cease-and-desist orders.

What's legal in Illinois?

Illinois legalized sports betting in 2019 and launched online sports betting in June 2020, regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) (21+). Horse racing is legal at 18+. Taxes are among the highest in the US: a graduated 20–40% on revenue, a per-wager charge, plus a Chicago city tax. Real-money online casino and poker are not legal, and sweepstakes casinos face active enforcement.

Sports Betting and Casino Bonuses for Gamblers in Illinois

Current welcome offers
SportsbookFanDuelBet $5, Get $350 in Bonus Bets (over 7 days)Claim
SportsbookHard Rock BetBet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets if your bet winsClaim
SportsbookBetRivers2nd Chance Bet up to $500 USBTRVClaim
SportsbookDraftKingsBet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets
SportsbookBetMGM$1,500 First-Bet Offer
RacingAmWager100% Deposit Match up to $50 AMWAGERClaim
RacingTwinSpiresUp to $200 new-member bonus
PredictsKalshiNew-account trading bonus (federally regulated)
agamble.com editors’ verdict

For sports betting, FanDuel‘s Bet $5, Get $350 is the standout — the $350 in bonus bets is guaranteed (not win-dependent) for just $5 a day across a week, with a low entry and 7-day expiry on each drop. Hard Rock Bet’s Bet $5, Get $150 is simpler but smaller and only pays if your bet wins.

For the horses, AmWager‘s 100% match up to $50 (code AMWAGER) is the racing pick.

Best for a new customer in Illinois: FanDuel, for the guaranteed $350 value and the low $5 entry. AmWager is the add-on pick if you also bet the races.

Legal sportsbook apps in Illinois

IGB-licensed online sportsbooks. 21+. Note many operators add per-bet surcharges or minimums to offset Illinois’ per-wager tax.

  1. FanDuel Sportsbook
  2. DraftKings Sportsbook waives per-bet fee on larger wagers
  3. BetMGM
  4. Caesars Sportsbook
  5. bet365 code 365GMBLR
  6. Fanatics Sportsbook
  7. BetRivers code USBTRV
  8. Hard Rock Bet

See all Illinois sportsbooks →

Horse racing betting in Illinois

Pari-mutuel ADW betting is legal at 18+, with home tracks including Hawthorne. AmWager leads on track count and rebates.

  1. AmWager 100% up to $50 · code AMWAGER
  2. TwinSpires
  3. TVG
  4. NYRA Bets
  5. DRF Bets 100% up to $200

See all horse racing sites →

Sweepstakes casinos in Illinois

Under enforcement. In February 2026 the Illinois Gaming Board and Attorney General issued 65 cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed online casino and sweepstakes operators (including VGW, Stake.us, Pulsz and High 5), ordering them to block Illinois residents. There’s no specific sweepstakes statute, but the IGB treats dual-currency play as illegal gambling.

Free-play social casinos (no prizes) remain legal.

Prediction markets in Illinois

Contested. Illinois officials say prediction markets “constitute gambling activity under Illinois law” and have threatened operator licenses. They run under federal CFTC rules, but the state’s stance is hostile.

What you can't do in Illinois

Real-money online casino and online poker are not legal in Illinois. iGaming and online-poker bills have been filed (HB 4797 and others) but face opposition from in-state casino operators worried about cannibalization.

Illinois online gambling: timeline & outlook

  • 2019 · Sports Wagering Act legalizes betting at casinos, tracks and stadiums.
  • 2020 · Online sports betting launches (June).
  • 2024 · Flat 15% tax replaced by a graduated 20–40% scale on operator revenue.
  • 2025 · Per-wager tax added (25¢/50¢); operators respond with surcharges and minimums.
  • 2026 · Chicago adds a 10.25% city tax (Jan); IGB issues 65 sweepstakes/online-casino cease-and-desists (Feb); a bill seeks to repeal the per-wager tax.
  • 2027 (proj.) · iGaming + online poker bills may advance if casino opposition softens; per-wager tax likely revisited.
  • 2028 (proj.) · Tax policy and sweepstakes enforcement remain the defining issues; online casino is possible but not assured.
What to expect

The 2027–2028 outlook

Illinois’ story is taxes and enforcement, not new verticals — yet.

Online casinoBills filed (HB 4797 + an online-poker bill), but in-state casinos oppose them over cannibalization fears.
SweepstakesUnder active IGB/AG enforcement; brands are being pushed to block Illinois.
Sports betting taxAmong the highest in the US; the per-wager tax is contested and may be repealed.
Prediction marketsState deems them gambling; future tied to federal CFTC outcomes.

Illinois gambling FAQ

Is online casino legal in Illinois?

No. Real-money online casino and poker are not legal in Illinois, though iGaming bills have been filed and face casino-industry opposition.

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Illinois?

They’re under active enforcement — the Illinois Gaming Board issued 65 cease-and-desist letters in February 2026 treating dual-currency play as illegal gambling. Free-play social casinos remain legal.

Is online sports betting legal in Illinois?

Yes, since June 2020, regulated by the IGB. Taxes are among the highest in the US (graduated 20–40% plus a per-wager charge and a Chicago city tax). 21+.

Is horse racing betting legal in Illinois?

Yes, at 18+, through ADW apps such as AmWager, TwinSpires and TVG.

Why do Illinois sportsbooks charge per-bet fees?

To offset the state’s per-wager tax (25¢ on the first 20 million bets, 50¢ after), some operators add surcharges or bet minimums.

Nearby states

Compare what's legal in states bordering Illinois.

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