In the summer of 2020, the state of Illinois began taking legal sports wagering action at the onset of the NFL season. Although sports gambling is new to the state, Illinois already has a rich tradition of horse race and casino gambling. Illinois had hoped to have sports gambling open in March for the 2020 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, but COVID-19 ruined that dream. Despite that massive disappointment, sports gambling is all legal now, and plans for its growth are already underway.
Of course, Chicago, Illinois, is an iconic pro sports city, but there is also plenty of interest in college sports throughout the state and in bordering states. Chicago is one of America’s greatest and most passionate sports cities. With countless pro and college teams connecting and within the state of Illinois and with a population of 12.6 million people, the state of Illinois figures to soon be a powerhouse of the sports gambling industry.
Due to how the Illinois Gambling Act is written, it would be legal to have betting at or near some of the most iconic sports venues in America if these locations ever decided to apply for licenses to operate. Included among the possibilities are Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, United Center, and Chicagoland Speedway. There are also plans for over 2500 kiosks to be placed in retail locations to make sports gambling more accessible. Online and mobile gambling is part of the Illinois Gambling act which makes their availability inevitable as well.
When it comes to Illinois, pro sports are at the forefront with the National Football League Chicago Bears, Major League Baseball Chicago Cubs and White Sox, the National Basketball Association Chicago Bulls, and the National Hockey League Chicago Blackhawks.
Neighboring professional teams across the state line include Wisconsin’s Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA, Milwaukee Brewers of MLB, and Green Bay Packers of the NFL. From Indiana are the NBA Indiana Pacers and NFL Indianapolis Colts. From Missouri, the St. Louis Cardinals of MLB and the St. Louis Blues of the NHL get a lot of fan support. From the college ranks, there is considerable interest in the Notre Dame Fighting Irish that goes back generations due to it being near Chicago and its large Catholic population.
The Northwestern Wildcats, known as Chicago’s Big Ten Team, and Illinois Fighting Illini, also of the Big Ten, have large alumni and fan bases in the state. Other popular college programs bordering Illinois are the Wisconsin Badgers, Iowa Hawkeyes, Missouri Tigers, Indiana Hoosiers, Purdue Boilermakers, and Kentucky Wildcats.
Illinois Online Sportsbooks
Links and banners to our top five sportsbooks and links to those sportsbook reviews:
Illinois Sports Betting News
On April 9, 2021, it was announced that Illinois recorded more bets than Pennsylvania for February. However, this landmark achievement may be a temporary win as the state has returned to its original policy of in-person signups, which is feared to be a potential growth stopper.
In February 2021, the state of Illinois generated over $509 million in betting revenue. That was the third-best total of any state in the union after New Jersey and Nevada.
The erratic and oppressive Democrat Governor JB Pritzker is a big problem. Perhaps he is bipolar, as after he waived the requirement for in-person registration, he later revoked his own decision. He has been waffling back and forth through the pandemic. Pritzker’s inability to make a firm decision is a source of irritation for everyone in Illinois. When in-person registration was not required, the state enjoyed meteoric growth for sports gambling revenue.
Illinois Mobile Sports Betting and Apps
First, you must still visit a retail casino in the state of Illinois to complete the registration process for online and mobile sports betting. Once you are registered, you can gamble online or with your mobile device anywhere within the state lines. You must be age 21 at minimum to bet on sports in the state of Illinois.
It is well worth your time to shop for the latest bonuses and incentives from the different online sportsbooks. There are some terrific offers available that make you a winner before making your first bet. Compared to other states, Illinois offers some of the best bonuses and incentives found anywhere in the country.
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