If you are just starting out with your online sports betting journey in Illinois, then you may be unsure about where you should kick things off. Fear not, we have got you covered with our detailed guide.
Our guide on the best Illinois sportsbooks will give a clear indication on how you can find the best sites around right now. We show you what to look out for on these platforms, where you can find the best sportsbooks and who our personal favorite online sportsbook is right now. Read on to find out more.
NOT VALID FOR ANY PARTICIPANT OF THE ILLINOIS GAMING BOARD STATEWIDE VOLUNTARY SELF-EXCLUSION PROGRAM • MUST BE 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER • IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS A GAMBLING PROBLEM, CRISIS COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICES CAN BE ACCESSED BY CALLING 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) PLAYABLE ONLY IN IL
Who is this article suitable for? – who should use this guide
As more and more states in the US begin to adapt and change to the online gambling landscapes, it can make it tricky for your average US gambling fan to stay abreast with all of these potential changes to state laws. For our Illinois readers, our guide will be of great use to you as we break down everything you can and can’t do with regard to online sports betting and more.
Whether you are brand new to the world of online sports betting, or if you are an experienced pro, our guide on the best Illinois sportsbooks is the perfect place to learn more about where you should be conducting your
Illinois sports betting
right now. Check out the rest of our guide to see how you can find the best betting sites Illinois has to offer right now.
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The legal history of sports betting in Illinois – the past to the present
Gambling in Illinois can have its history traced back to the early 1920s. As a state that has always been big on horse racing, it comes as no surprise that horse racing became one of the first legalized gambling activities in the state in 1920. Horse racing betting would continue to flourish for years to come but other forms of gambling would only arrive much later in the century.
By 1990, Illinois finally had some diversity to their gambling avenues as riverboat casinos were introduced. Essentially, the law allowed for casinos to run on riverboats on Lake Michigan. Unfortunately, this is still as close to casino gaming as you can get to in Illinois right now as online casinos still remain outlawed in the Prairie State. While you may not be able to do any online casino gaming right now, you can bet on your favorite sports at many of the
new betting sites USA
has to offer, as online sports betting became legalized in March 2020.
Sports betting has taken off like a rocket in Illinois since it was legalized and as such, there are more and more Illinois sports betting platforms for punters to choose from that can easily compete for the best
bookmaker in USA
title. That is why our guide to Illinois sports betting is here to help you navigate these different sites and choose one that is going to suit your preferences best.
Editor’s recommendation – the best sports betting operator for users in Illinois – give DraftKings a try
Like with the legalization of
sports betting Nevada, the legalization of sports betting in Illinois in 2020 introduced a big influx of online sports betting platforms to choose from. While there are plenty of promising options to choose from, not all of these sites were created equal. That is why we have decided to let you in on our personal favorite from the current Illinois sports betting platforms that are currently available.
Our pick for the best online sportsbook in Illinois right now is none other than the industry giant, DraftKings. DraftKings is one of our favorite sports betting Illinois platforms because it not only gives you access to fantastic fantasy gaming but also offers a wide range of sporting events to bet on as well. With a diverse range of sports, betting markets, and other exciting features there are few online sports betting platforms in Illinois that can match the prowess of DraftKings. You will also find tons of promotions and bonuses to claim on the site. DraftKings is one of the
best Virginia sportsbooks
and contends among the
best betting sites Iowa
has to offer, as well. If you want to sign up to one of the best betting sites in Illinois, then we highly recommend checking out DraftKings.
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Five tips for a secure and fair gambling experience in Illinois – ensuring safe online sports betting
You don’t have to go with our editor’s choice of course. If you do decide to take the plunge yourself, then it’s a good idea to consider a few important factors before you make your final decision. Here are a few things to check out about the best Illinois sportsbooks before creating your account:
Check the licensing
It’s crucial that you check who has provided these online Illinois sports betting sites with their gambling license. This information should be at the bottom of their website homepage or within their privacy policy section. Either way, check to see that these sportsbooks have been given the stamp of approval by the Illinois Gaming Board.
Reputable payment methods
You are going to be making frequent deposits into your Illinois sports betting account so it’s important to check that these sites offer reputable payment methods. Look out for well-known payment services like Visa/MasterCard, PayPal, online banking etc. If you see that these options are available to you then you can trust that your payments will be safe and secure on the site.
Professional customer support
Whether you are brand new to online gambling or are a seasoned pro, you will almost certainly need assistance from the customer support team at some point down the line. Check out the available contact methods and even test the service out yourself to make sure they are knowledgeable and professional in how they deal with your issues. A quality customer support service goes a long way to establishing trust between the player and the sportsbook.
Previous user reviews
One way to know how safe and secure an online sportsbook is to use is by checking out what other sports betting fans have said about them. Take in a few user reviews before you sign up to give yourself a more detailed picture of how well these online Illinois sports betting sites operate. If the reviews are overwhelmingly negative, then you know to give that site a miss and to keep looking for greener pastures.
Strong security measures
And finally, there is nothing more important than the protection of users on these sportsbook platforms. It’s important to check out what the sportsbook is doing to keep your sensitive data, like your banking details and login information, safe. Look out for things like 2 step authentication feature and SSL-encryption technology as this serves to fully protect users’ interests on these sites.
What do we look for when evaluating operators for Illinois residents? – our considerations
There are a couple of important aspects that we keep in mind when we conduct our reviews of the best betting sites in Illinois. Here are a few of the most important criteria that we cover in these reviews:
Bonus offers
Bonus offers are a great way to attract new players to a site which is why our reviews make sure to cover the overall quality of these bonuses, what the wagering requirements are and how much time you will have to complete them. We touch on everything you need to know about the offers on these sites.
Website functionality
There is nothing worse than signing up to a site only to find that the platform itself is a pain to use. That is why our reviews of the best betting sites Illinois have to offer always touch on how easy the site is to use, how well it has been laid out, and how quickly the web pages load as well.
Payment methods
Our reviews of online sports betting in Illinois then takes us to the deposits and withdrawal pages on these sites. We shed some light on the available methods, the processing times, and what the minimum and maximum deposit and withdrawal amounts are for each of these methods.
Customer support
And of course, our reviews of the best Illinois sportsbooks cover how you can contact the customer service on these sites, how professional they are, and how quickly they actually respond to your queries.
License and security
Our reviews make sure to cover the current licensing and security arrangements on these platforms as well. We always make sure that these sports betting sites in Illinois are safe to use for our readers.
Additional rewards
And lastly, we cover any promotions and loyalty programs that may be available on these sites too. Welcome bonuses are great, but we can’t forget about any of the additional rewards that you can cash in on these sites as well.
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Finding the right operator for you – know what you want
Here at Wetten.com, we can help all of our readers out by giving you a diverse library of reviews that cover every online sportsbook in Illinois right now. The choice can be quite baffling. We give you all the information that you need to make an informed decision before you sign up anywhere.
With that said, it is still important that you keep a few personal preferences in mind to help speed up the process. You can filter our reviews based on things that are of higher importance to you. For example, you may want a sportsbook that offers the best rewards program or that has the best sign up bonus. Whatever the case might be, it’s a good idea to think about a few things you want to see in your ideal sports betting site when you use our comparison tools and filtering system.
Conclusion to our guide on the best Illinois sportsbooks
You should now have a fairly good idea about the different ways you can approach choosing an Illinois sports betting platform. If you don’t want to go with our recommendation, all you need to do is keep our tips in mind and remember that you can always use our site to help you locate your ideal sports betting site. We have all the tools you will ever need to locate the best sports betting sites in Illinois right now. All that is left for you to do now is think of what you want to see in your perfect sports betting site and then, simply check out our comparison tool and filtering system to help you find it!
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With each state able to make its own set of gambling laws in the US, following these changes and the current state of play can be quite difficult. That is why our guide on the best betting sites in Illinois takes you through the current legal standings of online sports betting in the state right now.
👀How do I find the best betting sites Illinois has to offer?
With so many different online sportsbook options in Illinois it can be tough to know which of these sites you should play with. Our guide to the best betting sites Illinois will show you how you can get started with a platform that is going to suit all of your personal preferences.
💵What payment methods are typically available on these sites?
Deposit methods play a big role in the overall enjoyment on these Illinois sports betting sites. As such, our guide on Illinois sports betting will show you what you can expect on these platforms when it comes to the available deposit and withdrawal methods that you can choose from.
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Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
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