Illinois taxes every online bet, so choosing among the best Illinois sportsbooks is about more than the welcome bonus. This guide shows which Illinois betting apps add a per-bet fee and which raised their minimum bet instead.
FanDuel is our top pick and led the state in revenue in November 2025. DraftKings is the busiest book by handle and adds three months of NBA League Pass for Bulls fans. BetRivers took Illinois' first legal online bet on June 18, 2020, and charges no per-bet fee, using a $1 minimum bet instead.
One of the best Illinois sportsbook promos this month is BetRivers' Up to $500 Second Chance Bet. If your first bet loses, you get bet credits back, and no Promo Code is needed.
We also cover promo codes, laws and restrictions such as the ban on Illinois college teams, a timeline from the 2019 law to the per-wager tax, and the Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks games coming up. You must be 21 and physically in Illinois to bet. Enjoy!
Our top 5 Illinois sportsbooks, ranked on welcome offer value, everyday features, app quality and how they treat bettors.
FanDuel holds its Illinois license through Fairmount Park and takes more revenue than any other book in the state. The welcome offer pays out daily for a week, which suits a Bears Sunday and a Bulls weeknight. Note that FanDuel charges a 50-cent fee on qualifying bets in Illinois.
21+. Illinois only. New customers. Opt in and bet $5+ a day for 7 days to get $50 in bonus bets each day. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable and expire 7 days after issue. Terms apply. 1-800-GAMBLER.
Illinois' busiest sportsbook by handle, with $583.2 million bet in November 2025 alone. A $5 first bet unlocks $200 in bonus bets plus three months of NBA League Pass. DraftKings also runs the retail sportsbook at Casino Queen in East St. Louis.
21+. Illinois only. New customers. $5 min deposit and $5+ first bet. $200 in bonus bets paid as $50 every 7 days over 21 days. Bonus bets expire 7 days after issue. A per-wager tax pass-through may apply. Terms apply. 1-800-GAMBLER.
BetRivers took the first legal online bet in Illinois on June 18, 2020. Its home is Rivers Casino Des Plaines, where the state's first in-person bet was placed. It answered the per-bet tax with a $1 minimum bet, not a fee.
21+. Illinois only. New customers. If your first bet loses, get bet credits back up to $500 within 24 hours. 1x playthrough. Credits expire in 30 days. Terms apply. 1-800-GAMBLER.
Hard Rock Bet arrived on August 26, 2024, the ninth legal sportsbook in Illinois, with a retail book at Hard Rock Casino Rockford. The welcome offer covers a losing bet every day for ten days. It set a $2 minimum bet instead of adding a per-bet fee.
21+. Illinois only. New customers. First bet $5+ at odds of -500 or longer. No Sweat Bets of up to $50 a day for 10 days, paid within 48 hours. Not a cash offer. Terms apply. 1-800-GAMBLER.
bet365 went live in Illinois in March 2025 under an online-only license held by Walker's Bluff Casino Resort. Your $10 first bet earns $200 in bonus bets whether it wins or loses. Its per-bet fee only applies to bets under $10.
21+. Illinois only. New customers. $10 min deposit and $10 qualifying bet at odds of -500 or longer. Bonus bets expire 7 days after issue; stake not returned. Terms apply. 1-800-GAMBLER.
Also licensed in Illinois: BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook, theScore Bet, Circa Sports.
Every new-customer offer we found for Illinois this month, side by side. Most don't need a promo code. Just sign up through the link. Since July 1, 2025, Illinois taxes every online bet, and several books now add a fee or a higher minimum bet, so check your bet slip.
| Sportsbook | Welcome offer | Promo Code | Key terms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Bet $5, Get $350 in Bonus Bets ($50 a day for 7 days) | Not needed | $5+ bet each day for 7 days; bonus bets expire in 7 days | Claim |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets + 3 Months of NBA League Pass | Not needed | $50 every 7 days over 21 days | Claim |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | Up to $500 Second Chance Bet | Not needed | Bet credits back if your first bet loses; 30 days to use | Claim |
| Hard Rock Bet | Bet $5, Get Up to $500 in No Sweat Bets | Not needed | Up to $50 a day for 10 days; odds -500 or longer | Claim |
| bet365 | Bet $10, Get $200 in Bonus Bets, Win or Lose | Not needed | $10 deposit; odds -500 or longer; 7-day expiry | Claim |
| BetMGM | Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if your first bet doesn't win | Not needed | Bonus bets expire in 7 days | Claim |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Bet $1, Get 10 x 100% Profit Boosts | Not needed | Account must be verified during registration | Claim |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | Bet $20, Get $350 in FanCash | Not needed | Paid in FanCash; expires 7 days after issue | Claim |
| theScore Bet | $1,000 First Bet Reset | Not needed | Losing first bet refunded as five bonus bets, up to $1,000; 7-day expiry | Claim |
21+. Illinois only. New customers. Offers checked October 2026 and can change at any time. Always read the full terms. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
FanDuel Sportsbook went online in Illinois on August 31, 2020, when Boyd Gaming announced the launch through its Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria. FanDuel now holds its own Illinois license through Fairmount Park, the racetrack east of St. Louis that trades as FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing.
Its best feature is the same-game parlay builder, with regular profit boosts on live same-game parlays. New customers get Bet $5, Get $350 in Bonus Bets ($50 a day for 7 days). Opt in and bet $5 or more each day to get that day's $50, and no Promo Code is needed. Note that FanDuel brought back its 50-cent fee on qualifying bets in October 2026.
You can bet moneylines, spreads, totals, parlays, player props, futures and live odds on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, WNBA, golf, tennis and UFC. Bears games, Cubs and White Sox series and Blackhawks nights at the United Center all get full markets. Illinois college teams, including the Illini and Northwestern, are off the board, and so are college player props.
DraftKings Sportsbook went live online in Illinois in August 2020. It runs both the retail and the online sportsbook for Casino Queen in East St. Louis, and it is the busiest sportsbook in the state by handle.
Regular bettors earn Crowns through Dynasty Rewards: one Crown for every $1 on parlays and same-game parlays, and one for every $2 on straight bets. New customers get Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets + 3 Months of NBA League Pass. The bonus bets are paid as $50 every 7 days over 21 days, and no Promo Code is needed. DraftKings has charged a 50-cent fee per bet since September 1, 2025, though the fee can vary by customer.
The menu covers moneylines, spreads, totals, parlays, props, futures and live betting on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, soccer, golf, tennis and UFC. League Pass suits Bulls fans following every game from the October opener. Out-of-state college teams are on the board, but no Illinois schools and no college player props.
BetRivers Sportsbook took the first legal online bet in Illinois on June 18, 2020. Its home is Rivers Casino Des Plaines, which also took the state's first in-person bet on March 9, 2020. The app is run by Rush Street Interactive.
Its best feature for Illinois bettors is cost: BetRivers answered the per-wager tax with a $1 minimum bet rather than a fee, and iRush Rewards earns points on every bet. New customers get an Up to $500 Second Chance Bet. If your first bet loses, you get bet credits back, up to $500, within 24 hours. They carry a 1x playthrough and expire in 30 days. No Promo Code is needed.
BetRivers offers moneylines, spreads, totals, parlays, same-game parlays, props, futures and live betting on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, golf, tennis and UFC. Fee-free single bets make it a good fit for a Bears moneyline or a Cubs total. Illinois college teams are not available.
Hard Rock Bet launched in Illinois on August 26, 2024, becoming the state's ninth legal sportsbook. It partners with Hard Rock Casino Rockford, which also has a retail sportsbook.
Instead of adding a per-bet fee, Hard Rock set a $2 minimum bet, and bets earn points in Unity by Hard Rock, the rewards program shared with its casinos and hotels. The welcome offer is Bet $5, Get Up to $500 in No Sweat Bets. Your first bet of $5 or more at odds of -500 or longer unlocks No Sweat Bets of up to $50 a day for 10 days. No Promo Code is needed.
The app covers moneylines, spreads, totals, parlays, same-game parlays, props, futures and live betting on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, soccer, golf, tennis and UFC. Ten days of No Sweat Bets can cover a Bears game, a Bulls week and a Blackhawks home stand. College bets are limited to out-of-state teams, with no player props.
bet365 went live in Illinois in March 2025 under an online-only license held by Walker's Bluff Casino Resort.
Its best feature is Early Payout: a straight bet on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL or college football is paid as a winner if your team gets far enough ahead at any point. Watch & Bet streams some events to funded accounts. bet365 charges 25 cents only on bets under $10, so bigger bets carry no fee. New customers get Bet $10, Get $200 in Bonus Bets, Win or Lose, after a $10 deposit and a $10 bet at odds of -500 or longer. No Promo Code is needed.
bet365 is known for its in-play range, with live odds on the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, WNBA, soccer, tennis, golf and UFC. A live Bears bet on Thursday Night Football or a Fire match in MLS fits its strengths. Illinois college teams and college player props are not offered.
Illinois legalized sports betting with the Sports Wagering Act in June 2019. Retail books opened in March 2020 and online betting followed on June 18, 2020. A few rules here are stricter than in most states. The Illinois Gaming Board licenses and regulates every sportsbook below.
You must be 21 to bet, online or at a retail sportsbook.
The original law made you register in person at a casino before using an app. That rule was dropped for good in March 2022. Now you sign up online, and geolocation checks that you're in Illinois when you bet.
You can't bet on the Illini, Northwestern, Loyola or any other Illinois college team, online or in person. Player props on college athletes aren't allowed either.
Since July 1, 2025, books pay 25 cents on each of their first 20 million online bets a year and 50 cents after that. FanDuel and DraftKings charge 50 cents a bet, Fanatics and Caesars 25 cents, and bet365 25 cents on bets under $10. BetRivers ($1), Hard Rock ($2), BetMGM ($2.50) and Circa ($10) raised minimum bets instead.
Since the 2024 budget, sportsbooks pay a sliding tax of 20% to 40% of revenue on top of the per-bet tax. In the 2026 fiscal year Illinois collected $593 million from sports betting.
The Illinois Gaming Board's statewide self-exclusion program covers both casinos and sportsbooks. Anyone already on the casino list is barred from sports betting too.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 2019 | Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs the Sports Wagering Act, with a 15% tax and an in-person registration rule. |
| March 9, 2020 | Rivers Casino Des Plaines takes Illinois' first legal sports bet. |
| June 4, 2020 | Executive Order 2020-41 suspends in-person registration while casinos are closed for COVID-19. |
| June 18, 2020 | BetRivers launches the state's first online sportsbook. DraftKings follows in August. |
| March 5, 2022 | Remote registration becomes permanent, ending the in-person sign-up rule. |
| June 5, 2024 | The FY2025 budget replaces the flat 15% tax with a sliding 20%-40% rate. |
| Aug 26, 2024 | Hard Rock Bet launches as the ninth legal sportsbook. |
| March 2025 | bet365 goes live through Walker's Bluff Casino Resort. |
| July 1, 2025 | The per-wager tax starts: 25 cents a bet, rising to 50 cents after 20 million bets. |
| Sept 1, 2025 | FanDuel and DraftKings start charging 50 cents per bet. |
| Oct 2026 | FanDuel reinstates its 50-cent fee after pausing it in April. A bill to repeal the per-wager tax stalled in the House. |
Illinois bettors placed about 319 million sports bets in the 2026 fiscal year, nearly 99% of them online, and three in five were parlays. The busiest month on record was November 2025, with $1.66 billion bet.
Beat the Eagles 27-7 on Monday Night Football in September, then lost 31-7 at Green Bay on Oct 11. Every Bears game is on the board at Illinois apps.
Both made the 2026 playoffs as wild cards. The Cubs went 89-73 and the White Sox 84-78.
Open the 2026-27 season at Toronto on Oct 21, then host the Wizards at the United Center on Oct 24.
Edged the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 at the United Center on Oct 15 for their second straight win.
The Fire beat NYCFC 2-1 on Oct 10. The Sky finished 2026 at 16-28 and missed the playoffs.
Won 38-37 at Michigan State on Oct 10. Illini games are off the board at every Illinois sportsbook.
| Date | Game | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 22, 2026 | Bears vs New England Patriots (Thursday Night Football) | Soldier Field, Chicago |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Bulls vs Washington Wizards (home opener) | United Center, Chicago |
| Nov 2, 2026 | Blackhawks vs Colorado Avalanche | United Center, Chicago |
| Nov 8, 2026 | Bears vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday Night Football) | Soldier Field, Chicago |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Bears at Detroit Lions (Thanksgiving) | Ford Field, Detroit |
| Dec 25, 2026 | Bears vs Green Bay Packers (Christmas Day) | Soldier Field, Chicago |
Chicago is the center of the baseball world in July 2027, when Wrigley Field hosts the MLB All-Star Game on July 13. NASCAR races twice in the state, at Chicagoland Speedway on June 27 and at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis on Aug. 22, and the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic runs June 28 to July 4 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis. Add Super Bowl LXI on Feb. 14, the men's Final Four in Detroit on April 3 and 5, and Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs and White Sox games, but keep in mind that Illinois apps can't take bets on in-state college teams.
We check Illinois laws, licences and dates against these official sources.