Is sports betting legal in Illinois?

The short answer

Yes. The Illinois Gaming Board lists online and retail sportsbooks as the only operators authorized to conduct sports wagering activities in Illinois.

The board publishes that list, runs a self-exclusion program and names the national helpline. One rule stands out: under Section 25(d) of the Illinois Sports Wagering Act, a licensee may not accept a wager on a sports event involving an Illinois collegiate team.

Key facts from official sources

Licensed operators

The Gaming Board publishes its list of authorized operating sportsbooks, online and retail.

The online and retail sportsbooks listed below are the only operators authorized by the IGB to conduct sports wagering activities in Illinois.

Source: igb.illinois.gov

College events

No wagers on events involving an Illinois collegiate team.

Under Section 25(d) of the Illinois Sports Wagering Act, a licensee "may not accept a wager for a sports event involving an Illinois collegiate team".

Source: igb.illinois.gov

Self-exclusion

The Gaming Board runs a Self-Exclusion Program, and people on its list are barred from sports wagering.

In 2002, the IGB implemented the Self-Exclusion Program (SEP) which allows individuals who have determined they are problem gamblers to exclude themselves from all Illinois casinos.

Source: igb.illinois.gov

Help line

The board names the national helpline.

National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)

Source: igb.illinois.gov

The Illinois college rule

Illinois is one of the states that limit betting on its own colleges. The Gaming Board's FAQ quotes Section 25(d) of the Sports Wagering Act, which stops licensees from accepting a wager on a sports event involving an Illinois collegiate team. The board's FAQ also covers collegiate events that do not involve an Illinois team.

We did not read a rule on player props for college athletes, so check the board's FAQ for the current position.

Self-exclusion and sports betting

The board's Self-Exclusion Program started in 2002 for casinos, and its page says people on the list are precluded from taking part in sports wagering. If you want to stop betting, the program is one of the tools the board offers, alongside the helpline.

How to find the licensed apps in Illinois

The regulator publishes its own list: see the page for authorized operating sportsbooks. That list is the authority on which apps may take bets in Illinois, and it is more reliable than any comparison site, including this one. We do not list individual apps here because we have not verified app-level facts for this state.

Wherever betting is allowed, a bet is tied to your location when you place it. Check the state rules in the place where you are standing, and download an app only from an official app store or from the operator's own website.

What we could not verify

We state a fact only when we have read it on an official page and can show the quote. These items were left out of this page for that reason:

• The minimum age as stated on an official page we could read, because the Illinois statute pages refused our connection.
• The date Illinois sports betting began.

Laws and rules change, so the date at the top of each source matters. We read these pages on October 30, 2026.

Betting responsibly in Illinois

Sports betting is an entertainment cost, not a way to earn money or to win back a loss. Decide how much you can afford to lose before you start, set a limit in the app, and take a break if betting stops being fun. The board names the national helpline. You can also call 1-800-GAMBLER at any time, or read our responsible gambling page.

Related reading

• The state-by-state table and map.
• Neighbouring pages: Maryland, North Carolina, Indiana.
• American odds explained, before you read a price.
• The parlay calculator and what a parlay is.
• What a moneyline bet is.

Frequently asked questions