Legal Sports Betting In Illinois
The Land of Lincoln is home to some incredible talent in all of the major sports leagues, as well as in college athletics. If you have never heightened the fun of watching a game by putting some money on it, now is the time to experience it. Residents that are in the dark about Illinois sports betting options have come to the right page. Here you can learn about the legality of wagering in the state, as well as which legitimate avenues are available. We can go ahead and assure you that everyone over 21 has plenty of safe options at Illinois sports betting sites.
If you are new to the world of legal online sports betting in Illinois, you are in for a treat. While there are limited options in the state as far as land-based venues go, there are plenty of legal places to wager on the web. The next time the Bears or the Bulls play, you won’t have to go looking for a seedy bookie or an underground wagering ring. You will know exactly where to go to join in with millions of other American sports bettors that are playing the odds legally.
Illinois Sports Betting Sites
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- 100% Up To $300
Is Sports Betting Legal In Illinois?
Yes, there are places where any state resident over 21 can go to bet on sports legally. Illinois is similar to the majority of states with sports betting in our nation in that there is no language in the law that refers to sports betting directly. Every state, of course, has gambling statutes, but hardly any say peep about wagering on sports. Many people are unaware of why. The reason is, there is a federal law that decides which states can house sportsbooks, and that law makes it a moot point to for most states to even bother coming up with statutes. This federal law is called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, or PASPA.
PASPA was created by the federal government in 1996 as a way to curb unsavory sports betting practices. This new bill effectively eliminates land-based sports betting establishments from existing in most states, including Illinois. That is why there is no language in the wagering laws about sports betting. However, this does not prevent you from using a legal Illinois sports betting site, of which there are many, in any way. We can show you some of the best ones, as we have played at each of them for years.
Now you can see why there are so many confused sports fans out there. A cursory glance over the landscape of Illinois will reveal no brick and mortar betting establishments that are state sanctioned. However, most people have no idea that every individual house with an internet connection can be one of these. If you can get online, then you can wager legally in Illinois. That isn’t the best part, these sites also have the power to let you wager on your phone or other mobile device. All of this is free to sign up for and thousands of other Illinois sports fans are enjoying wagering on their favorite teams every day, so hop on board!
State Laws Regarding Legal Sports Betting In Illinois
We have already taken a cursory glance at the legal situation in the state. As you now know, there is no specific language targeting sports betting in Illinois. There are however, plenty of definitions and strictures involving wagering in general. For instance, section 720 ILCS 5/28-1 states that a person that knowingly takes part in a game of chance for potential profit is in the wrong. Now you would not be the first person to think that this disallows the use of online sportsbooks that accept Illinois residents. The great news is that thousands of players in the state use these legal sportsbooks every day, and there has never been a charge against a single one of them.
Chicago is in Illinois, and we all know the colorful history of the Windy City. This is where Al Capone made his name, and where there are still many unsavory elements about. One of the reasons that the Illinois wagering laws are harsh is because of the criminal enterprises that tend to control much of the gambling world. These laws are not out to target the average Illinois sports bettor, they are there to go after the indecent profiteers and bookies. You will be absolutely safe when you join an Illinois sports betting site.
More: Read About Federal Laws
Bovada
Does Bovada Accept Players From Illinois?
If you live in Illinois, you are lucky to have so many great sports teams to bet on. The best place to wager on your favorite teams is Bovada. It has been around longer than most other online sportsbooks and is still the best place to go to see the odds. Bovada gives you the freedom to bet on all of the best games and sports. They have a dozen different wager types to try out, everything from straights and totals to teasers and pleasers. You can even buy points, which is not something every sportsbook will let you do. When you join Bovada, you can sleep well at night because it is such a safe site.
With over a million members making bets on the regular, Bovada has many built-in security features to ensure that you will never have to worry about your account information being messed with. Any information you send is on a secure and encrypted server, which means that other people can’t read it. Since Bovada is one of the top online betting sites, they have a lot of money to spend on security and safety features. Their highly paid and well-trained tech team works tirelessly to ensure that you are protected as a valued member.
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- Accepts US Players
- Tons of Games
- Deposit/Withdraw with Bitcoin
- Massive Bonus!
- No DE, MD, NJ, NY, NV
- Higher Fees
SportsBetting
Does SportsBetting Accept Players From My State?
Hey, Chicago sports betting fans! Who are you gonna bet on this season? Daaahh Beeaaarrrssss! Where are you gonna go to bet? SportsBetting.ag! Why? Because it’s one of the best online sportsbooks in existence, that’s why. It’s a fully loaded sports betting site operating out of Panama. It’s been around since 1991, so you know it’s trustworthy and reputable. It is home to over a million satisfied customers. It doesn’t cost any money to sign up, and you’ll have access to more than a dozen great sports, plus every wager and odds type you can think of. Most importantly, it is legal and safe!
Since SportsBetting.ag is based overseas, it operates legally. The three laws that limit sports betting in America (the Wire Act, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) do not apply. Besides, you are completely within your rights as a US citizen to bet online, because there is no law that says otherwise. You only have to worry about getting in trouble if you are running an underground betting operation. In the more than two decades that SportsBetting.ag has been around, no one has ever gotten in trouble for using it. So don’t wait any longer. Sign up today and join the legions of happy Illinois sports bettors!
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- Great NFL Wagering
- Fun Props
- Live Betting
- Bitcoin Accepted
- No NJ, NV, NY
BetOnline
Will BetOnline Take Players From Illinois?
Residents of the Prairie State have a whole slew of popular teams to bet on, and their number one sportsbook is BetOnline. It’s a cutting-edge sports betting site that gives its customers the very best in sports, odds and wager types, payout and deposit methods, bonuses, and special features. All Illinois residents are welcome to sign up as long as they are 21 or older. BetOnline is a safe and legit site that is devoted to pleasing its satisfied members.
One of the best things about BetOnline is their great bonus selection. Every player who joins will automatically be eligible for the welcome bonus. It gives you 25 percent on your first deposit. The reload bonus is even better, giving you 50 percent on every deposit over $50. These bonuses do include promo codes, which must be included in an email, and rollovers, which require a player to use some of their deposit money first. This may seem like pain, but it is just to protect the site from being scammed. You can read more about the rules and regulations by visiting BetOnline.
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- Best Bonuses
- Great Lines
- Crypto-Friendly
- Mobile Betting
- No NJ, NV, NY
Latest Illinois Sports Betting News
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Illinois Sports Betting News Archive
Sports Betting FAQ’s For The State Of Illinois
List Of Popular Sports Teams In Illinois
- Chicago Bears (NFL)
- Chicago Cubs (MLB)
- Chicago White Sox (MLB)
- Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
- Chicago Bulls (NBA)
- Chicago Fire (MLS)
- Chicago Sky (WNBA)
- College Teams
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Northwestern Wildcats
- Northern Illinois Huskies
- Southern Illinois Salukis
Final Thoughts On Legal Sports Betting In Illinois
Illinois has some of the best pro teams in the world, yet there are no land-based venues where you can place a bet on a game. Still, there are plenty of options out there for players that are looking for legal Illinois sports betting opportunities. I would say that visiting any of the sites that we review would be an ideal start. Each one offers something unique, but they all have one thing in common: the sportsbook is unbeatable. Next time the White Sox hit the field, you know that you will never be far away from a place to make the game more exciting by betting on it. Whether you sign in to your account from your pc or laptop, or you are at a bar using your mobile device, sports betting in Illinois has never been easier or more fun.
Are Daily Fantasy Sports Legal In Illinois?
Yes, it is legal in the state of Illinois. Daily fantasy sports is a lucrative industry worth billions of dollars. In the last few years, it has become extremely popular, with millions and millions of people joining DFS sites. None of these many members have ever been arrested. Illinois players can take part in all kinds of legal contests and tournaments. The cool thing about daily fantasy sports is that you can pick your team anew before every game. With traditional fantasy sports, you had to stick it out with your team for the remainder of the season.
More: States With Daily Fantasy Sports
You should probably be familiar with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). This 2006 law restricts money transfers to and from online gaming sites across state lines. This law would only affect daily fantasy sports if it were considered gambling, but it is not. This is because most people consider DFS a game of skill and not a game of chance. Moreover, there is no law restricting people from playing in DFS contests.
DraftKings
Does Draftkings Accept Illinois Players?
Over the past decade, daily fantasy sports sites have become super popular. Imagine being able to pick your favorite players and combine them to create the perfect team. DFS has the edge on traditional fantasy sports because you can enter a new contest every week. DraftKings offers guaranteed tournaments, 50/50s, head-to-heads and much more. You can enter contests that cost money or you can participate in free tournaments. It’s up to you.
You have heard a lot about fantasy sports in the news recently. Some politicians are trying to brand it as gambling, but since it is technically a game of skill rather than a game of chance, it is legal in most states. It does not have to abide by any of the laws that regulate chance games. You will not get in any trouble for using DraftKings. It already has millions of members, has been sponsored by some of the major sports leagues, and has cash prizes worth millions every single week.
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- Big Tournaments
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- Free Contests
- Easy Line-Up Exports
- Confusing Rewards
- Tough Competition