Licensed Illinois Sportsbooks

Legal sports betting came to Illinois in two phases over the first half of 2020.

First was the launch of retail sportsbooks at casinos in March and second was the launch of mobile sportsbooks in June. All Illinois sportsbooks are required to hold licenses from the state gaming board, promote responsible gambling and ensure customers are paid promptly.

Remote Registration for IL Online Sports Betting

The opening of the first Illinois sportsbooks was timed to coincide with the start of the 2020 March Madness college basketball tournament, but it ended up being an ill-timed launch as the tournament was cancelled at the last minute and casinos were ordered to close indefinitely over coronavirus concerns.

The closure of the state’s casinos put sports betting on hold, but it also prompted Governor J.B. Pritzker to issue an executive order temporarily waiving in-person registration requirements for mobile sportsbooks in Illinois. That order has since expired, and now bettors must register sports betting accounts in-person at casinos.

However, state was law written to end in-person registration permanently on March 5th, 2022. From that date on, bettors may register online sports betting accounts from anywhere in Illinois.

Mobile Sportsbooks in Illinois

State law allows land-based casinos, race tracks and up to three online-only operators to launch betting sites and mobile applications for customers located within state lines.

The three online-only applications are set to become available 18 months after the start of IL sports betting. Operators who go this route do not need to partner with local casinos. Every other mobile app will be tied to a land-based licensee.

Numerous sportsbook companies have received Management Services Provider licenses to date that allow them to offer mobile betting on behalf of a racetrack, casino or stadium:

  • Bet365
  • BetMGM
  • BetRivers Sportsbook
  • Caesars Sportsbook
  • Circa Sports
  • DraftKings
  • ESPN BET Sportsbook
  • Fanatics Sportsbook
  • FanDuel Sportsbook
  • Hard Rock Bet

Bettors can view the status of any sports betting license and view a full list of approved mobile sportsbooks on this page at the IGB website.

BetMGM Illinois

BetMGM is likely to enter the Illinois market soon despite the company’s reticence to comment on its plans. A BetMGM launch here seems likely because Illinois is an attractive market, and BetMGM has been aggressive in entering new states across the country following the passage of legislation to legalize online sports betting.

BetRivers Illinois

Chicago’s Rush Street Gaming was the first to market in Illinois with the launch of a retail sportsbook at Rivers Casino Des Plaines and mobile betting under the BetRivers brand.

Desktop and mobile betting for iOS and Android devices are supported. Android users can visit the BetRivers website to download the standalone mobile app, while iOS and desktop users can visit the website to bet online without downloading. A standalone iOS app is under development.

DraftKings Illinois

DraftKings applied for a Management Services Provider license in April 2020 and later confirmed it would partner with Casino Queen in East St. Louis to offer statewide mobile betting. In July 2020, the Gaming Board upgraded DraftKings’ licensing status to “temporary operating permit,” and DraftKings officially launched online betting the following month.

Fanatics Sportsbook Illinois

Fanatics Sportsbook offers statewide online sports betting in Illinois and operates four retail sportsbooks in partnership with Hawthorne Race Course.

FanDuel Illinois

FanDuel Sportsbook officially commenced online betting in Illinois in August 2020. Illinois residents and visitors may now visit the FanDuel website to sign up for an account and download mobile apps for iOS or Android devices. In Illinois, FanDuel operates in partnership with Par-A-Dice Casino and is approved by the Illinois Gaming board.

Caesars Sportsbook Illinois

Caesars Entertainment is active in the US market, with retail sportsbooks and mobile betting in place across the country. The company is partnered with Grand Victoria Casino for mobile betting and to operate a retail sportsbook.

Retail Sportsbooks in Illinois

Under state law, each of Illinois’ ten land-based casinos, seven of its major stadiums, and three race tracks (including their off-track betting facilities) are permitted to apply for licenses to operate on-property sportsbooks.

Only one retail sportsbook was able to get up and running prior to the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in casinos across the country closing, but additional sportsbooks have launched since then as COVID-19 restrictions have eased.

Rivers Casino Des Plaines opened BetRivers Sportsbook in March 2020 to become the first casino in Illinois to offer legal sports betting.

BetRivers Sportsbooks features numerous monitors, a 47-food HD video wall and stadium seating. Rivers Casino completed the construction of a nearly 5,000 square foot “BetRivers SportsBar” in December 2019 and converted it into a full-fledged sportsbook after regulators gave the final OK for operations to go live.

Address:

3000 S. River Road
Des Plaines, IL 60018

The Argosy Casino Alton sportsbook opened in March 2020. The retail sportsbook features 36 HD TVs, betting windows and self-service kiosks along with a loyalty rewards program.

Address:

1 Piasa Street
Alton, IL 62002

Grand Victoria Casino offers a selection of Caesars Sportsbook kiosks.

Address:

250 S Grove Ave
Elgin, IL 60120

DraftKings Sportsbook at Casino Queen opened in August 2020 as the state’s fourth retail sportsbook. Casino Queen agreed to rebrand itself as DraftKings at Casino Queen in order to help DraftKings avoid the 18-month penalty box designed for online-only operators.

Address:

200 South Front Street
East St. Louis, Illinois 62201

Customers can find the sportsbook inside 99 Hops House.

Address:

777 Hollywood Blvd
Joliet, IL 60436

The Penalty Box Sportsbook and Grill at Hollywood Casino Aurora opened in August 2020 in line with its sister property at Hollywood Casino Joliet.

Address:

1 W New York St
Aurora, IL 60506

FanDuel operates the retail sportsbook at Par-A-Dice Casino, which opened in August 2020.

The launch of the sportsbook is just one of several projects the casino has in place over 2020, with the others being major upgrades to the steakhouse, deli, and hotel rooms.

Address:

21 Blackjack Boulevard
East Peoria, IL 61611

PointsBet manages the retail sportsbook at Hawthorne Race Course. The Hawthorne-PointsBet relationship covers statewide mobile betting, the sportsbook at Hawthorne plus three more locations at Hawthorne-associated off-track betting locations (OTBs).

Address:

3501 S Laramie Avenue
Cicero, IL 60804

The Sportsbook at Club Hawthorne in Crestwood opened in January 2021 as the state’s first retail sportsbook at an OTB. The sportsbook is located due south of Hawthorne Race Course, about 35 minutes southeast of downtown Chicago by car.

Fanatics Sportsbook at Club Hawthorne Crestwood is a full-service operation with six self-serve betting kiosks, five staffed teller windows, massive LED video wall, and two dozen 75-inch TVs. The sportsbook is open seven days a week and can fit 500 guests at max capacity.

Address:

13148 Rivercrest Drive
Crestwood, IL 60445

Fairmount Park reached a deal with the FanDuel Group in late 2020 to rebrand and revitalize the track. As per the agreement, the FanDuel Group invested millions into upgrading the facility, improving horse racing purses, and constructing a retail sportsbook.

The deal also led to Fairmount Park rebranding as FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing. The retail sportsbook opened in March 2021 as FanDuel’s second in-person betting location.

Address:

9301 Collinsville Road
Collinsville, IL 62234

Other casinos that have not yet detailed their plans for sports betting include:

  • Jumer’s Casino in Rock Island
  • Harrah’s Joliet Chicago Hotel & Casino
  • Harrah’s Metropolis