Table of Contents
Online Gambling in Illinois in 2024
-
Shawn West
- July 8, 2024
There are plenty of online betting sites available to Illinois sports bettors. It can be difficult to sort through all of the available options to find a place that’s right for you. The best online sportsbooks in the state offer a variety of options, including online sports betting, online slots and online poker.
Our experts have evaluated the different gaming options in Illinois and have come up with a comprehensive ranking of which sites are the best choice for both real-money online casino gambling and online sports betting.
We’ll also take a close look at the gambling environment in Illinois. Are casinos legal in the state? What does the future hold for gambling expansion in the state? Read on to find the answer to these questions and to discover why offshore sportsbooks continue to be your best option despite the availability of retail and online sports betting in Illinois.
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SPORTSBOOK
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TRUST SCORE
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ONLINE SINCE
1996
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Expert Review
Read Review
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BONUS
$500 Cash Bonus
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CLAIM BONUS
CLAIM BONUS
|
|
SPORTSBOOK
|
TRUST SCORE
|
ONLINE SINCE
2001
|
Expert Review
Read Review
|
BONUS
20% Cash Bonus
|
CLAIM BONUS
CLAIM BONUS
|
|
SPORTSBOOK
|
TRUST SCORE
|
ONLINE SINCE
2002
|
Expert Review
Read Review
|
BONUS
30% Cash Bonus
|
CLAIM BONUS
CLAIM BONUS
|
|
SPORTSBOOK
|
TRUST SCORE
|
ONLINE SINCE
2001
|
Expert Review
Read Review
|
BONUS
$250 Free Bet
|
CLAIM BONUS
CLAIM BONUS
|
|
SPORTSBOOK
|
TRUST SCORE
|
ONLINE SINCE
1996
|
Expert Review
Read Review
|
BONUS
100% Cash Bonus
|
CLAIM BONUS
CLAIM BONUS
|
|
SPORTSBOOK
|
TRUST SCORE
|
ONLINE SINCE
2011
|
Expert Review
Read Review
|
BONUS
$750 Cash Bonus
|
CLAIM BONUS
CLAIM BONUS
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Table of Contents
Best Online Gambling Sites in 2024 for Illinois
We have looked at dozens of online operators in Illinois and have thoroughly evaluated each one of them to come up with the 10 best options for online betting sites in the state. All of the offshore casino sites below offer secure wagering and a wide range of betting options, including betting markets like live betting, props and teasers. Most will also offer casino games, poker and horse race betting.
- BookMaker – The earliest lines and welcomes gamblers of all types
- Bovada – The most diverse prop betting options
- Heritage Sports – Best for live betting and has reduced juice
- BetOnline – Fast payouts and opinionated lines
- BetAnySports – The best reduced juice lines in the industry
- WagerWeb – Fast payouts, especially for Bitcoin users
- JustBet – Early lines and high limits
- BetUS – Offers large bonuses for new and existing customers
- Everygame – Top-notch online gambling experience
- SportsBetting.ag – Amazing bonuses
All these providers are located offshore. These online-only operators don’t have to follow U.S. federal law or state regulations related to gambling. They’ve operated for several years, serving customers across the U.S., including in Illinois.
Is online gambling legal in Illinois?
Illinois does have legal sports betting, both in-person and online, so now there are several track betting facilities, casinos and sports arenas rushing to offer in-person and online gambling. That gives bettors in the state two options — they can use the major operators, these offshore sites that have a long record of doing this or join the crowd of retail sportsbooks rushing to get started.
The Best Illinois Sportsbooks Reviewed
Below we offer you an in-depth look into the top betting sites:
1. Top Overall Online Gambling Site in IL: BookMaker
Key Features
- Great loyalty program
- Has high limits for high rollers
- Good pricing and bonuses
Bookmaker.eu heads our list for the best all-around sportsbook in Illinois. The site appeals to all gamblers, new and experienced alike. BookMaker is popular for offering large betting limits as well as some of the best promotions in the industry, along with one of the most dynamic loyalty programs.
It also posts some of the earliest lines in the industry, allowing you to shop for better odds. BookMaker also offers a lot of games with high RTP (Return to Player) making it one of the best online casinos in the industry. For gamblers who like to dabble in horse racing, you’ll be glad to hear about the rebate of up to 8%.
2. Best Mobile Platform for Online Gambling: Bovada
Key Features
- Diverse menu of prop betting options
- America’s busiest poker room
The top site focuses primarily on sports gambling, but there’s more to online gaming than a sportsbook. Bovada offers gamblers in Illinois the full casino experience, as well as a comprehensive racebook and America’s busiest online poker room which is a favorite with online poker players.
When it comes to sports betting, however, Bovada also has more prop betting options than just about anywhere else, and having access to one of the top platforms for mobile betting in the industry will allow you to wager as you enjoy your favorite events.
If you plan to register with Bovada, you’ll be able to enjoy one of the biggest sign-up bonuses from the options on this list when you use a Bovada promo code at registration.
3. Best for Live Gambling in IL 2024: Heritage Sports
Key Features
- One of the best live betting platforms
- Cashback and welcome promos
Heritage Sports was one of first the online betting sites to jump on one of the biggest trends in sports gambling: in-game betting on live events. This has allowed Heritage Sports to be one of the leaders in this area.
Heritage Sports also offers reduced juice. Instead of the standard (-110) odds on either side of a spread or point total, this provider offers (-108), allowing bettors to get the equivalent of a 20% discount in the long run.
The outstanding customer service and promotions like their “Reduced Juice Cashback” program are some of the other reasons why Heritage Sports is rated so highly in Illinois.
4. Best Opinionated Lines in Illinois: BetOnline
Key Features
- One of the faster sites to pay out
- Among the highest betting limits
BetOnline sets itself apart from competitors by being one of the respected companies when it comes to NFL odds. One of the biggest differences between BetOnline and everyone else is that they offer opinionated lines.
While most sportsbooks have the same odds on each side of a spread or points total, usually (-110), BetOnline will offer different odds on some sides. For instance, going with -113/-107 on a game.
As is the case with Bovada, BetOnline also offers one of the juiciest welcome promotions in the industry as well as the possibility to deposit Bitcoin as well as some of the other main crypto options. There are also a number of other promo codes at BetOnline available to users as well.
5. Best in IL for Reduced Juice: BetAnySports
Key Features
- Best reduced juice offer in the industry
- Payouts are fast and easy
There may be other sites that offer reduced juice, but none bring the price down as much as BetAnySports. They offer (-105) odds, which is the equivalent of a 50% discount when you’re betting. This lowers the edge you need to create to make a profit in half.
However, as the low-cost leader, BetAnySports eliminates some of the bells and whistles other sites boast and the bonuses are not as enticing. Nonetheless, they do have promotions available for new customers.
Online Gambling in Illinois: Legal Status and Other Details
One of the most common questions we get is: “Is online gambling legal in Illinois?” The short answer is “yes.”
It was a long and contentious debate that started in 2018, but the state finally decided to legalize gambling on sports with the passage of a bill in June 2019. The state legislature rolled the gambling bill into a much larger 900-page bill on capital spending. Later in the month, the governor (who had championed the gambling bill from the beginning) signed it into law.
The process took a while and hit a few potholes. The first legal bets were placed in Illinois on March 9, 2020, about four days before the casinos, racetracks and just about everything else shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Being shut in at home for months seems like the ideal setting for online gambling to grow, but one aspect of the law the state passed was that customers had to register in person at a brick-and-mortar site that offered gambling before they could bet online. That was difficult to do during the pandemic shutdown. It wasn’t practical to visit a brick-and-mortar casino to even sign up.
As of March 2022, the in-person requirement was eliminated and full online betting was allowed — with the exception of betting on games involving in-state colleges, which are still prohibited online. Now, online sportsbooks and online casinos are starting to open in the state.
Throughout the whole process, betting with offshore sportsbooks — which are not under the jurisdiction of local laws — was still legal in Illinois.
Online Sports Gambling in Illinois
In addition to the offshore online sportsbooks, Illinois has about a dozen locations — mostly racetracks and retail casinos — that allow gambling on sports, both online and in person. Another ten land-based casinos, three tracks and seven pro sports arenas are also looking to be added to the list and are at some stage of the approval process.
Offshore Gambling
As tracks and arenas rush to join the fray offering home-grown Illinois gambling, the online betting sites located offshore continue to operate as they always have.
Payments at Online Gambling Sites in Illinois
Most online gambling sites offer many different options for funding your account, unlike land-based casinos that frustratingly only deal in cash. Payment methods for Illinois residents include the following:
- Credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express)
- Bank transfers, wire transfers, P2P transfers
- Digital wallet providers like Skrill and Neteller
- Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies
Since offshore sportsbooks are not based in the U.S., there may be additional fees or charges for sending bank transfers overseas. It can also take a bit more time to complete transactions. That’s why many gamblers have embraced cryptocurrency, which is designed to be used across national borders.
For users of crypto, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum and others, many sites offer same-day payouts.
Online Gambling Laws in Illinois
The expansion of gambling in Illinois has happened rapidly over the past three years. All forms of gambling were outlawed across the state, then became available legally in person only; a development that was complicated by the COVID-19 shutdown of most businesses. Even for people gambling online, an in-person registration at a brick-and-mortar casino was required for online casino gaming.
In 2022, the industry took a big step forward, waiving the in-person requirement and offering more than a dozen different outlets where gambling was legal, with more than a dozen more in the works for the near future.
Despite the slow development, gambling is booming in the state. Illinois just hit the billion-dollar mark in July 2022, with residents of the state gambling in the ten figures. There are some online casino options becoming available as well, but none with the reputation and longevity that offshore gambling sites have.
Advantages of Online Gambling Illinois Sites
As long as you’re of legal age for gambling and physically located in Illinois, you can take advantage of online wagering in the state. There are plenty of benefits to using offshore gambling sites in Illinois, including:
More Gambling Options
Offshore betting sites give sports fans an extensive menu of options for their betting dollar. You can bet on just about any major sporting event around the world and can place a wide variety of different types of bets, including point spreads, money lines, point totals, prop bets and live betting for in-progress events. You can also bet on racing and esports. Real-money online casino games are also available, like slot games and table games. Many offshore gambling sites also have live dealer games.
Less Hassle and More Privacy
There’s no reason to leave your home and head to local retail casinos to bet. An online betting site gives you all the benefits of in-person betting, and you can do it from your bed, your couch, your car, your office or even the beach.
Our suggestions are easy to use and completely secure. You can begin betting as soon as you log on. You can also play your favorite casino games in complete privacy.
Online Casino Bonuses
There’s fierce competition among online betting sites for new customers and for loyal big spenders. That means they’re willing to offer perks to entice you to bet with them, which lets you build your bonus bank. Among the bonuses and other promotions are:
- Welcome bonuses
- Deposit bonuses
- Reload bonuses
- Free bets
- Risk-free bets
- Rebates and cash back
- Odds boosts, profit boosts, and parlay boosts
- Reduced juice
- Loyalty programs
Illinois Online Gambling – Conclusion
Illinois has an ever-growing group of in-state gambling options, and residents can also make use of offshore sportsbooks for online gambling. Our list is made up of legitimate operators who have been offering dependable service for much longer than the newcomers to the game.
FAQs – Using Online Gambling Sites in Illinois
Is online gambling illegal in Illinois?
Online gambling is now legal on everything except games involving in-state college teams. In-person sports betting on in-state teams at the college level can be done at retail sportsbooks or commercial casinos, however.
What is the legal gambling age in Illinois?
The legal age for gambling in Illinois is 18 years old. Since March 2022, anyone 18 or older can participate in all forms of gambling in the state. This minimum betting age is fairly consistent with other places where wagers on sports can be placed legally.
Do I have to register in person to gamble online in Illinois?
Until recently there was a requirement that residents register in person to use an Illinois-based retail location, but the in-person registration requirement was waived in March 2022.
What kind of online gambling is legal in Illinois?
Residents of Illinois can bet on sports, with the exception of games involving in-state college teams (such as the University of Illinois, Loyola of Chicago and other universities) due to a provision in the sports betting law. They can also participate in online poker, daily fantasy games, online casino games and bet on racing.
What is the most legitimate online casino?
All of our top-rated online gambling sites offer safe and secure betting options, but our favorite online casino is BookMaker due to the numerous benefits that they offer to their users. BookMaker is a convenient option that offers sports fans many options for sports betting for those that want some quick online action.
