Is Online Gambling Legal in Illinois?

Online gambling in Illinois centres on legal sports betting, pari-mutuel horse racing and daily fantasy, online casino and poker aren’t legal here. This guide covers what’s legal, who’s licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board, and how to get started.

Illinois is the second-biggest sports betting market in the United States, trailing only New York. Anchored by the Chicago metro area, the state takes well over $1 billion in wagers most months and has done so for the better part of two years. It’s also become the most-watched market for tax policy: after switching to a high graduated tax in 2024 and adding a first-of-its-kind per-wager fee in 2025, Illinois is where the debate over “how much is too much” is playing out in real time. This guide explains what’s legal, how those taxes affect you as a bettor, and how to get started.

In this article 12 sections

• Is online gambling legal in Illinois?
• What you can play in Illinois
• Online gambling in Illinois by the numbers
• The Illinois tax situation, and what it means for you
• The best Illinois sportsbooks
• Popular bets and Illinois sports
• How to start betting in Illinois
• Will Illinois legalize online casino?
• Responsible gambling in Illinois
• Illinois sports betting FAQ
• Legal options in Illinois
• Online Casinos in Illinois

Is online gambling legal in Illinois?

Yes. Illinois legalized sports betting in 2019 and launched in 2020, regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB). Early on you had to register in person at a casino, but that requirement was scrapped in March 2022, opening the market to full remote sign-up. You must be 21 or older and physically located in Illinois to bet, confirmed by geolocation. Real-money online casino (iGaming) is not yet legal in Illinois, though lawmakers have discussed it.

What you can play in Illinois

• Illinois sportsbooks: mobile betting on every major sport from around ten licensed operators.
• Daily fantasy sports: legal in Illinois through DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper.
• horse racing in Illinois: pari-mutuel wagering for Illinois bettors via licensed ADW apps.
• Online casino: not yet legal in Illinois, see the outlook below.

Online gambling in Illinois by the numbers

Illinois has held the #2 spot in the US for the better part of two years, regularly sitting hundreds of millions of dollars ahead of third-place New Jersey in monthly handle and trailing only New York. That scale, built on the Chicago metro area and a deep, competitive operator field, is exactly why national books keep investing here despite some of the steepest taxes in the country.

The Illinois tax situation, and what it means for you

This is the part every Illinois bettor should understand. When betting launched in 2020, operators paid a flat 15% tax on revenue. In July 2024 the state switched to a graduated tax that scales from 20% on the first $30 million of an operator’s annual revenue up to 40% above $200 million, and the two market leaders, FanDuel and DraftKings, now pay most of their Illinois revenue at that top 40% rate.

Then, in July 2025, Illinois added a per-wager fee: 25¢ for each of an operator’s first 20 million bets in a year, rising to 50¢ after that. To offset it, FanDuel and DraftKings began charging Illinois customers a roughly 50¢ surcharge on each bet from September 2025 (DraftKings offers larger bettors a way to avoid it). The practical effect: in Illinois you may pay a small per-bet fee that bettors in most states don’t, which makes small, many-leg parlays less attractive. A 2026 bill (HB 5143) proposes repealing the per-wager fee from July 2026, so this could change, we’ll keep this page current.

The best Illinois sportsbooks

We only feature operators we work with and can verify. All four of our sportsbook partners operate in Illinois: FanDuel (best app and same-game parlays), bet365 (strong live betting and a win-or-lose welcome offer), BetRivers (Chicago-based, with iRush Rewards) and Hard Rock Bet. Because of the per-wager surcharges, check each book’s current fee policy and minimum-bet rules before you commit, the offers on this page show what’s live now.

See terms and codes on our promo codes page or the full Illinois sportsbook guide.

Popular bets and Illinois sports

Illinois bettors play the same core markets as the rest of the country: moneylines (who wins), point spreads (the margin of victory), totals (over/under on the combined score), and increasingly parlays and same-game parlays that combine several outcomes for a bigger payout. Local action is enormous, spread across the Bears in the NFL, the Cubs and White Sox in baseball, the Bulls and the Blackhawks, and strong college followings for Illinois and Northwestern. The NFL still drives the most handle by far, with March Madness and the baseball season close behind.

One Illinois-specific wrinkle: because of the per-wager surcharge, small-stake, many-leg “lottery ticket” parlays effectively cost more here than in neighbouring states, so it pays to size your bets with the fee in mind. State data showed the number of bets placed fell sharply after the surcharges arrived, even as total money wagered kept rising, a sign bettors are staking more per wager to dilute the per-bet cost.

How to start betting in Illinois

Getting started in Illinois takes minutes: confirm you are 21+ and physically in Illinois, choose a licensed Illinois app, and register with real details so identity checks clear. Claim the Illinois welcome offer, deposit, set your limits before your first Illinois wager, and withdraw once any Illinois rollover terms are met.

Will Illinois legalize online casino?

Not yet. Lawmakers discussed iGaming in 2025 but no bill passed. Given how much Illinois already leans on betting taxes, online casino, which earns far more than sports betting in states like neighbouring Michigan, is likely to keep coming up. For now, only sports betting, DFS and horse racing are legal online here.

For the full picture, see our Illinois online casino guide, which tracks whether and when real-money iGaming might reach Illinois.

Responsible gambling in Illinois

Keep Illinois betting in proportion: it is entertainment in Illinois, and your stake should be money you can afford to lose. Use the limit, time-out and self-exclusion controls every licensed Illinois app provides, and set them up front rather than mid-streak. Help for Illinois bettors is free and confidential 24/7 on 1-800-GAMBLER.

Illinois sports betting FAQ

1. Is online sports betting legal in Illinois?

Yes. Sports betting has been legal in Illinois since 2020 and fully remote (no in-person sign-up) since March 2022, regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board. You must be 21+ and physically inside Illinois.

2. Is online casino legal in Illinois?

No. Real-money online casino games are not yet legal in Illinois, only sports betting, DFS and horse racing are. iGaming has been discussed but no bill has passed.

3. Why am I being charged a fee per bet in Illinois?

Because of a state per-wager tax introduced in July 2025 (25¢ per bet, rising to 50¢). FanDuel and DraftKings pass it on as a roughly 50¢ surcharge per wager; DraftKings lets larger bettors avoid it. A 2026 bill proposes repealing the fee from July 2026.

4. Which sportsbook is best in Illinois?

FanDuel leads on app and same-game parlays, bet365 on live betting and its welcome offer, and BetRivers (Chicago-based) on rewards. Compare each book’s current per-bet fee and minimum-stake rules, since these differ in Illinois.

5. Do I have to live in Illinois to bet?

No, you just have to be physically inside Illinois when you place a bet, confirmed by geolocation. Your home address doesn’t matter.

6. Are prediction markets like Kalshi legal in Illinois?

Prediction markets like Kalshi reach Illinois because the CFTC regulates them federally as event-contract exchanges rather than Illinois-licensed sportsbooks. Their sports contracts behave enough like bets that Illinois’s legal picture stays contested, and 2026 saw a federal appeals court side with Kalshi over state regulators while the fight continues. For Illinois bettors the safe read is a separate, federally overseen category.

7. Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Illinois?

In Illinois, sweepstakes (“social”) casinos such as Chumba and Stake.us run on dual-currency mechanics that keep them outside Illinois gambling rules. The trade-off for Illinois players is fewer protections than a licensed sportsbook offers, and a status several states are now challenging, so approach them warily in Illinois.

8. Is daily fantasy sports (DFS) legal in Illinois?

DFS is available to Illinois players under its own rules, distinct from Illinois sports betting. The main names in Illinois are DraftKings and FanDuel, with PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper offering the player-pick format.

9. Can I bet on horse racing online in Illinois?

Yes, Illinois bettors can wager on horse racing via regulated ADW platforms like TVG (FanDuel Racing), TwinSpires and AmWager, a separate product from Illinois sports betting.

10. Can I deposit with a credit card in Illinois?

Increasingly no. The Illinois Gaming Board has moved to prohibit credit-card funding of betting accounts on responsible-gambling grounds, so use a debit card, bank transfer or PayPal.

11. Where can I get help for a gambling problem in Illinois?

Help in Illinois is free, confidential and available 24/7, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, or use the deposit limits, cool-off periods and self-exclusion tools in every licensed Illinois app. Nobody in Illinois has to be in crisis to reach out.

21+. Must be physically located in Illinois. Gambling problem in Illinois? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Legal options in Illinois

• Illinois sports betting
• Illinois horse betting

Online Casinos in Illinois

You can’t play real-money casino games online in Illinois yet, but there are several other options. The state of the local gambling scene has shifted tremendously over the last few years. Now, following the introduction of the Illinois Gambling Act, the Prairie State’s gambling industry is even larger and includes online sports betting. Illinois online casino gaming isn’t made legal yet, but there is movement on that front. For now, though, Illinois gambling doesn’t expand to the internet.

Online Casino Sites in Illinois

You can’t play at a real-money online casino in Illinois at this time. The state is at the beginning of a new age of gambling, but, as it stands, online casinos aren’t a feature of the state’s casinos contingent. Should the latest efforts become law, existing land-based casinos could obtain an online gaming license to run a casino website. This would allow anyone aged 21-years-old or older to play Illinois online casino games.

Illinois Sweepstakes Online Casinos 2025

If you’re looking to enjoy casino-style games from the comfort of your home in Illinois, social casinos are your best option. These platforms offer games similar to traditional online casinos, including slots, table games, and even live dealer options, but without real money wagering. Instead, players use gold coins for fun or sweeps coins to compete for prizes like gift cards and other rewards. Here’s a list of the top sweepstakes casinos accessible to Illinois residents:

• BetRivers.net
• Crown Coins Casino
• WOW Vegas Casino
• Stake.us Casino
• Chumba Casino
• NoLimit Coins Casino
• FunRize Casino
• RealPrize.com Casino
• Pulsz Casino
• New Legendz Casino
• LuckyLand Slots
• Fortune Coins Casino
• Gambino Slots
• Funzpoints Casino
• McLuck Casino

BetRivers.net

is operated by Illinois-based Rush Street Interactive, making it the hometown favorite. This platform offers slots, table games, and even virtual sports betting, providing a complete social casino experience.

Chumba Casino

is billed as America’s No. 1 social casino, offering over 100 slots, table games like blackjack and roulette, and additional games like bingo and solitaire. New players receive 3 million gold coins and 30 sweeps coins upon signing up.

McLuck Casino

features over 400 games from top developers like NetEnt and Pragmatic Play. While the focus is on slots, the variety includes Megaways and cascading reels games. New users can claim up to 107,500 gold coins and 35 sweeps coins as part of their welcome bonus. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Best Online Casino Games in Illinois

You can’t play online casino games in Illinois at this time. The best online casinos that are permitted to operate in other states have hundreds, even thousands of games available to their players. The most popular tend to be the big-hit slot games, but several innovative table games also command a vast American audience. However, while Illinois gambling still excludes online casinos, you can’t play the best games as a state resident. Based on the current laws in Illinois BetMGM, bet365, Betrivers and DraftKings are among the first casinos expected to go live in the state in 2025.

Illinois Casino Apps Expected 

• BetMGM Casino
• Betrivers Casino
• Caesars Casino
• DraftKings Casino
• FanDuel Casino
• WynnBet Casino

Best Casino Apps in Illinois

You can’t play casino games via apps in Illinois at this time. Anyone hoping that the state’s standing ban on online casinos doesn’t extend to mobile casinos will be disappointed. That said, should the state open up to the idea of an Illinois online casino, it will likely introduce casino apps, too. This is based on the fact that the region permits the release of mobile sports betting apps.

Top Land-based Casinos in Illinois

You can play at several land and water-based casinos in Illinois right now. Governed by the Illinois Gaming Board, riverboat gambling is big business in the Prairie State. While there aren’t any tribal casinos to speak of, the top-rated land and water-based casinos currently stand as Rivers Casino Des Plaines, Harrah’s Joliet Casino, Jumer’s Casino Rock Island, and Harrah’s Metropolis. Each offers an extensive range of high-quality games and a great atmosphere.

Bonuses in Illinois

You can’t claim online casino bonuses in Illinois at this time. As there isn’t an Illinois online casino, there aren’t any online casino promotions or bonuses to claim. Should this change, though, Illinois gambling fans could claim matched deposit bonuses and even some free spins. You can’t claim the top bonuses for an online casino in Illinois yet. Should we see the state of legal online casino play in Illinois change, we will update this section with the very best of all of the bonus offers that you can claim.

FAQ

Here are the answers to the questions that many Illinois gamblers seek.

Is it legal to play real-money online casino games in Illinois?

No. As it stands, online casino in Illinois is illegal, but that could change in the future.

What tax rates are my gambling winnings subject to?

Via your income tax reports, you’ll be charged flat rates of 24 percent by the IRS and 4.95 percent at state level.

Are mobile casino apps available in Illinois?

Illinois hasn’t legalized any mobile casino apps yet, but that may change under an introduced bill.

What is the Legal Gambling Age in Illinois?

You have to be 21-years-old for casino gaming, betting, and poker in Illinois. The state’s legal age for gambling varies based on the activity. To partake in casino games, poker, and betting, you have to be at least 21-years-old. For horse racing, bingo, and the lottery, you need to be 18-years-old.

Tax When Gambling in Illinois?

Your gambling winnings are subject to state and federal taxation in Illinois. As the standard across the United States, the IRS considers all of your gambling winnings to be taxable income at 24 percent. The state will also tax your winnings at a flat rate of 4.95 percent.