Illinois has a reputation as one of the most passionate sports states in the country. It should come as no surprise to learn that a huge number of residents here enjoy betting on their favorite sports. Our experts are here to explain how you can find the best sportsbooks in Illinois for 2022.
It’s never been easier to bet on your favorite teams and players online. Most of the sports betting sites in Illinois provide odds on both major and small fringe sports leagues 24/7.
At The Sports Geek, we ensure our recommended sites are completely safe. Our team goes through a review process that explores these sites’ payment options and customer support systems.
Lastly, we ensure that our favorite sportsbooks in Illinois have modern designs and clean user interfaces. This is expected from every betting site operating in 2022.
What Makes These Illinois Betting Sites Great?
The online sports betting industry is constantly evolving. No one should have to join a lackluster betting site. Our experts have developed a system to determine whether or not the various online sportsbooks in Illinois are worth playing at.
Secure Payment Options
Making sure that your funds are safe should be priority number one when gambling online. That is a key focus for us when forming online sportsbook reviews. We always spend time looking over each site’s payment system, checking to see how high fees are and how quickly payments are processed.
Our readers can rest assured knowing that our recommended sites provide secure payments, 24/7. The specific types of payment options these betting sites offer may vary. All of them will be quick, efficient, and simple.
Constantly Updated List of Sports Odds
All of the best betting sites will regularly update their list of odds. Players should never have to wait an extended period of time to place bets on upcoming sporting events. Many of the top Illinois online betting sites will offer odds on events that are months away from taking place.
We also tend to favor the sites that provide live betting options. These allow players to make bets on sporting events as they are taking place. It can be an excellent way to feel more involved in various matches and live odds can often be highly lucrative.
Modern Designs and Interfaces
The design of an online sportsbook is far more important than many new bettors often realize. We only recommend sites that provide clear, modern designs that even those completely new to sports betting can understand. Overly-basic or overly-complicated sites are generally best to avoid.
Our experts prefer sites that are easy to navigate through. We recommend our readers avoid any of the ones that lag or are constantly crashing. The best sports betting sites in Illinois are both modern and simple to appeal to all levels of bettors.
Excellent Promotions and Bonuses
Every online sportsbook operating today offers at least some type of bonus. These bonuses can come in all shapes and sizes, yet many are best avoided altogether. Our favorite Illinois online sports betting sites provide excellent promotions and bonuses to their new and existing members.
We always look for sites offering great welcome bonuses on their players’ first deposits. Reload bonuses, monthly tournaments, and unique crypto-deposit bonuses are often available, too. Always take a look at the rollover requirements attached to bonuses before opting into them.
You will never have to question whether the sites we recommend provide the features above. Each of our favorite sites is thoroughly reviewed to ensure these things are provided. Give them all a look today to learn more about what makes each one unique.
Is Sports Betting Online in Illinois Legal?
Yes. On the last day of the state legislature’s session in the spring of 2019, House and Senate lawmakers passed a bill expanding gambling online and at brick and mortar locations across the state. Proponents of the bill successfully pushed the argument that expanded gaming would bring in around $200 million in additional annual revenue to the state. This was a major step forward for Illinois sports betting sites.
The first retail sportsbook went live in this state in March of 2020. Three months later, the very first online sports wagering platform went live here. A huge number of land-based and online sports gambling platforms have gone live in Illinois since then.
In March of 2022, bettors here received more good news. With a green light from Governor Pritzker, sports fans here are now able to register for online sportsbooks without needing to be in person. This makes it far easier to join the best sportsbooks in Illinois.
Sports betting is hugely popular in this state. Last May, residents here wagered an incredible $764.4 million on sports. That handle resulted in $10.9 million in tax revenue for the state which helps to fund various infrastructure and social projects.
Illinois is home to one of the country’s most popular sports betting industries. This state’s regulations have helped many other states to create their own laws to monitor sports betting. Most analysts expected to see revenue figures from this industry growing over the next few decades.
Banking Options at Illinois Sports Betting Sites
A chief concern from those looking into online betting in Illinois is the financial side. How are you going to deposit money into your online sportsbook? How do you get your winnings? How long does it take to get paid? Is the banking safe? All of these are great questions we’re going to address right now.
How Can you Deposit Money at Your Online Sportsbook?
Getting money onto Illinois online betting sites is quick and easy, thanks to technology and updated banking integrations. Popular methods include:
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- E-wallets
- Cryptocurrency
- Direct bank transfers
- Money management services
How Do I Get Paid My Winnings From Illinois Sportsbooks?
Illinois betting sites pay customers through a multitude of different options. Each site will have a slightly different lineup of available banking options, but these are the most popular.
- E-wallets
- Cryptocurrency
- Direct bank transfers
- Money management services
- Credit and debit cards (in some cases)
- Checks by courier
How Long Does It Take to Get Paid Your Winnings From IL Sports Betting Sites?
Payout times will vary depending on the site you are playing through. These times will also be affected by the method of withdrawal chosen. Generally speaking, online sportsbooks in Illinois pay funds within 24 to 72 hours.
Crypto payments are usually paid out the quickest. These also come with very low fees. E-wallets also tend to come with very quick payout times. Checks by courier are often the slowest payment option and can take weeks to arrive.
Is the Banking at Illinois Sports Betting Sites Safe?
The vast majority of online sportsbooks provide their members with safe payment options. Of curse, it’s important to ensure the site you decide to join is reputable. As long as you join a reputable site with excellent reviews, you can rest assured that your money will be safe.
Our team always recommends looking at the banking options provided by various online sportsbooks. Spend time reading reviews for these websites, too. Nothing is more important than making sure your money is secure all the time.
What Sports Can I Bet on at IL Sportsbooks?
When it comes to what you can bet on at the options listed here, the list is pretty long. First, you’ll be able to wager on all of the four major sports—basketball, baseball, hockey, and football. This means the Bulls, White Sox, Cubs, Blackhawks, and Bears fans have full access to a wide array of wagering options on their favorite local teams.
For those looking to get sports betting action elsewhere, though, you’ll still be covered. These Illinois online sportsbooks offer action on many other sports, including college sports, soccer, tennis, golf, auto racing, combat sports, politics, entertainment, dog racing, horse racing, and much more. Honestly, if it’s something that can be bet on in the world, one of these online sportsbooks will offer some type of action on it.
Regarding the types of bets available, expect to see an impressive list of wager types including all popular bets and more unique wager types like parlays, in-game wagers, teasers, pleasers, and more. Those looking into online betting in Illinois will have extensive flexibility when it comes to selecting wagers.
Illinois Sports Betting News
FAQs on Sports Betting in Illinois
Yes. The vast majority of online sportsbooks in IL can be easily accessed using a mobile device. These mobile betting platforms allow players to make bets on their favorite teams and sports at anywhere, any time.
Our experts have developed a unique system to determine the safety of different online sportsbooks. The safe sites will always provide secure payment options, a solid customer support system, and a modern design.
All modern sportsbooks offer bonuses to their members. Most will provide their new members with welcome, first-deposit bonuses. The best ones also offer reload bonuses existing members can take advantage of.
Yes. Illinois is now home to a large number of popular retail sportsbooks. Many of the state’s biggest sports arenas are also running sportsbooks, allowing fans to bet on sporting events while inside the arena.
Online sportsbooks tend to pay their members very quickly. Expect to see wait times between 24-72 hours after requesting a withdrawal. Oftentimes, crypto payments are faster than traditional banking payments.
The odds offered by online sportsbooks will vary. Most sites work very hard to offer the best lines possible to their members. Each of the ones we recommend is known for providing excellent odds on a variety of sports.