Several states have jumped at the opportunity to legalize sports betting. Illinois is no different. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law on June 5, 2019. This sports betting bill has legalized the betting of in-state college teams through retail sportsbooks. Unlike other states, Illinois does not allow online betting, but does allow mobile betting.
Illinois sports betting is available to anyone 21 and over. This is part of the larger capital bill passed by Governor J.B. Pritzker in June 2019. Illinois sports betting is now legal. However, there are still some limitations to the law. The law limits the amount of time that sportsbooks can hold bets on in-state college teams. This will allow the sportsbooks to work out the kinks and maintain a steady clientele before bigger players enter the market.
Illinois also limits mobile betting to 18 months after the retail sportsbooks launch. The law was passed to give the local sportsbooks a chance to establish themselves before bigger sportsbooks enter the market. In order to make this happen, the sportsbooks must also pay an integrity fee. The fee will be 12.5% of the gross sports wagering revenue.
There are several retail sportsbooks in Illinois that are open right now. These include Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM Sportsbook, Par-A-Dice Casino, Par-A-Dice Resort, Caesars Grand Victoria Casino, Casino Queen Sportsbook, Hawthorne Race Course, Par-A-Dice Casino, and Rivers Casino Sportsbook.
Several other sportsbooks are also available in Illinois. The BetMGM app displays the state name in the top left corner of the screen. It also features state-specific touches such as live odds and the ability to place bets on races. In addition, the app features a promo section, a section for odds boosts, and second chance bets.