Why you should check our comparison for Chicago online sports betting
Sports betting in Chicago is only getting started and the chances are that you won’t know which sportsbook is right for you. This is why we’ve set up an awesome comparison of the best sports betting sites Chicago has to offer. As a result, you can simply use this comparison to find a fully regulated sportsbook that can offer you seriously competitive odds.
You might be a casual fan of the Chicago Bears who’s looking to take their first football bet. Or you might even be a hardcore Blackhawks fan who wants to put down a tasty parlay bet. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it in our comparison of the best sports betting sites Chicago has at the moment.
Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets If You Win
+10
- 20+ sports available for wagering
- Pre-match and in-play betting
- Unique features like live streaming and boosted odds
up to 100€ Bet Credits
Find out more on bet365's website
- Over 20 sports
- Extensive betting markets
- Live betting feature
New Users – Bet $5 Get $150 If Your Bet Wins!
+8
- Deep market coverage across major U.S. sports and leagues
- Same Game Parlay builder is fast and easy to use
- Live betting interface updates quickly with real-time odds
Things to check for the safest online sports betting Chicago has to offer
As long as you’re located within the Illinois state borders and are over the age of 21, you should be able to enjoy sports betting without a problem. However, we still think that there are few things to be careful of. So here are the five main trust factors we look for in all of the best sports betting sites Chicago has to offer:
IGB regulation
Sports betting in Illinois is regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board. This means that if you want to enjoy online sports betting in Chicago, you should only use those sportsbooks who are regulated by the IGB. Such regulation ultimately means that the sportsbook will operate in coordination with the gambling laws of Illinois to give you a safe and fair way to play.
SSL encryption
You will have to provide a sportsbook with some fairly personal information when you sign up to their sites to enjoy sports betting in Chicago. As such, you’ll want to be able to trust that sportsbook with your data. We always check that the betting site has a minimum 128-bit encryption to keep your data safe.
Payment methods
You’ll have to make real money deposits to enjoy some Chicago online sports betting. This means that each sportsbook will have to feature reputable payment providers for making secure and efficient deposits and withdrawals. We look for payment brands like Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, PayNearMe and so on.
Customer support
All good sportsbooks will provide plenty of customer support so that you can enjoy some stress-free Chicago online sports betting. It should usually be something as simple as using live chat, email or telephone to get help from a sportsbook. If a sportsbook doesn’t offer any customer support, then it’s probably best worth avoiding.
Terms and conditions
You should see a page of terms and conditions at all of the best sports betting sites Chicago has to offer. This describes what you can and can’t do at the sportsbook and it should ensure that you get a fair way to play. The terms and conditions will also dictate everything from how you use bonuses to how you make withdrawals. Incredibly important for knowing where you stand with the sportsbook.
The best of the best sports betting sites Chicago has right now
FanDuel offers you a great way to get started in enjoying online sports betting in Chicago. You’ll probably know that FanDuel was one of the key reasons why fantasy sports betting was big news a few years ago. But we’ve found that FanDuel has emerged to become a seriously credible sportsbook in its own right.
The brand has its headquarters in Collinsville, IL but once you’ve signed up you can enjoy betting on a massive range of odds anywhere in the Prairie State. We found that FanDuel offers awesome football odds which is great news for all Bears fans, and you’ll find no shortage of bets for basketball, hockey, baseball, golf, soccer and more.
FanDuel’s got all of its regulation in place from the Illinois Gaming Board, and we were glad to see that it only accepts the safest payment methods like Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Play+ and PayPal. Plus with an awesome no sweat first bet bonus to get you started, there’s never been a better time to sign up at FanDuel.
Check out these top US betting sites
Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets If You Win
+10
- 20+ sports available for wagering
- Pre-match and in-play betting
- Unique features like live streaming and boosted odds
up to 100€ Bet Credits
Find out more on bet365's website
- Over 20 sports
- Extensive betting markets
- Live betting feature
New Users – Bet $5 Get $150 If Your Bet Wins!
+8
- Deep market coverage across major U.S. sports and leagues
- Same Game Parlay builder is fast and easy to use
- Live betting interface updates quickly with real-time odds
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5+ Get $100 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
+8
- Bet on 40+ different sports
- Dynamic odds on live, in-play fixtures
- Deposit and bet $5 to receive up to $300 in bonus bets
Bet $1 and get double the winnings up to $25 for your next 10 bets
+8
- 100% match on your first bet up to $250
- Bet on the official website or native mobile app
- Explore thousands of daily betting markets with competitive odds
How we test all of the sports betting sites Chicago has at the moment
We believe that sports betting should be fun and stress free. This is why we always take care to personally test each sportsbook we come across so that you can enjoy sports betting in the Windy City. Here are the key criteria we use for testing online sportsbooks in Chicago:
- Bonuses: It’s always nice to get a welcome bonus when you sign up to a sportsbook. We’ll let you know what you get in terms of sign up offers at all good Chicago sportsbooks.
- Site design: We have no time for badly designed sports betting sites. Our reviews will let you know exactly how easy it is to use a sportsbook’s betting website and apps.
- Customer care: Our reviews will examine the best ways of getting in touch with a sportsbook. You’ll also see exactly how professional the customer service teams are.
- Payment options: Each review will describe how you can make deposits at the sportsbook from Chicago. We’ll also outline what the process is for withdrawing your winnings.
- Licensing and security: We’ll make sure that each Chicago sportsbook is regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board. You’ll also get to see how the sportsbook looks after your personal data.
- Reward programs: Here you’ll see whether there is any kind of loyalty scheme in place at the sportsbook. Such reward programs can be a great way of getting bet credit.
- Betting markets: You’ll learn how many different ways you can bet on football, hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, boxing, MMA fighting, golf and any other sport.
- Odds: We’ll carry out odds comparison tests between all sportsbooks operating in Chicago. Perfect for seeing who has the best odds for the Cubs, Bears, White Sox, Blackhawks and Bulls.
- Live betting: All decent sportsbooks let you bet live on sport. Our reviews will highlight what kinds of live bets the sportsbook has and you’ll learn whether there’s any live streaming.
- Betting limits: Nobody wants to find that their bets or winnings have limits, so our reviews will reveal which Chicago sportsbooks are more generous than most.
Finding you the perfect site for sports betting in Chicago
There’s never been a better time to get started in betting on sport in Chicago. After all, legal sports betting has just opened up and there are some awesome sportsbooks waiting to give you competitive odds for your favorite sport.
Admittedly, things have taken a little while to get going with legal sports betting in Illinois, but there are now a decent number of online sportsbooks to choose from. You can simply take an overview of all of the sportsbooks who are regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board in our operator comparison. Each of these sportsbooks has been checked to make sure that they offer a legal, safe and fair betting service.
You can also check out our reviews to see how each Chicago betting site works. Our reviews will examine everything from the sportsbook’s betting odds to its customer care facilities. All of which should give you an easy way to see whether the sportsbook is right for you.
Going beyond Chicago online sports betting
We won’t just help you find the best sportsbook in Chicago. Our whole site is devoted to all aspects of online gambling. Whether you’re looking for the best NHL odds for the Blackhawks or want to see which sportsbook features free live streaming for that Bulls NBA game, you’ll find it here. Take a look below to see what else you can find on our site:
- Odds comparison: We’ll make sure that you can easily find the sportsbook with the best odds for anything from that White Sox game to the next bout of Bears gridiron action.
- Bookmaker awards: This is where we award each sportsbook for outstanding service in anything from NFL odds to their withdrawal speed.
- Betting app: You’ll learn which sportsbooks have developed the most user-friendly betting apps. Perfect for enjoying a bet while out and about in the Windy City.
- Sportsbook reviews: This is where we carefully examine what it’s like to really use each sportsbook. The only way you’re going to know whether it’s right for your betting needs.
- Betting deals: Here’s where we rank and rate each betting bonus. It’s never been easier to find the ultimate sports betting promo in Chicago.
- Tipster: Want to know if the Chicago Bulls are looking likely to win their next NBA game? Then you’ll need to see what our tipster has to say about basketball and any other major sport.
- Betting in US states: Illinois isn’t the only state to have legal sports betting. Check out our state guides to see whether sports betting is available everywhere from Washington to Florida.
- Betting strategies: Luck can only take you so far with your sports bets. Read our strategies guide to see which tactic can work best in helping you get more from your bets on the Cubs or Bulls.
- Betting guide: We’ve prepared an awesome guide that can take the mystery out of sports betting. Perfect for seeing whether you should try a system bet or a multiple bet on that Bears game.
- Payments: Here’s where we examine whether a card, ewallet, bank transfer or a payment method like PayNearMe could work best for you.
Which kind of Chicago sportsbook do our experts use?
We’re more than happy to share our experiences of using online sportsbooks in Chicago with you. Here are a few pointers that our experts have found when picking a suitable sportsbook in the Windy City:
Sport specialization
Most sportsbooks cover major sports like NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL. However, some sportsbooks can be sketchy in their coverage of other sports like horse racing. While horse racing betting is legal in Illinois, only a few sportsbooks will have racing odds. So read our reviews to avoid disappointment.
App availability
You can legally bet on sport anywhere within the Illinois state borders. This is why our experts are keen to see which sportsbooks have developed their own iOS or Android betting apps. Perfect for enjoying a sports bet anywhere in Chicago and all over the Prairie State.
Easy registration
Illinois sports betting had some fairly complicated rules to begin with. These demanded that you have to sign up to a physical outlet that was offering sports betting. Thankfully things have eased a little since then, but our experts still like those sportsbooks who don’t require customers jump through too many hoops to start betting.
Decent reputation
Our experts always do their research before they sign up to any online sportsbook. This is important as there are lots of rogue offshore sportsbooks out there. While you might not get in trouble for using an offshore site, these sites are operating illegally. All of which means that our experts do their homework and only use those sportsbooks that are regulated in Illinois.
Conclusion - Get ready to enjoy some awesome Chicago online sports betting
We’ve reached our destination! While legal sports betting in Chicago has only been around for a couple of years, it’s already gotten pretty exciting. This is because there are a growing number of operators who can give you a safe and easy way to bet on everything from the NBA and NFL to the NHL, MLB and beyond.
However, we’ve also revealed how you can’t let your guard down when enjoying some Chicago online sports betting. But by sticking with any one of our shortlist of the best sports betting sites Chicago has to offer, you can be sure of enjoying a legal, safe and fair way to bet on sport. So sign up with one of our featured sportsbooks and enjoy the ultimate in online sports betting in Chicago!
Boost your bets with these top bonuses
Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets If You Win
+10
- 20+ sports available for wagering
- Pre-match and in-play betting
- Unique features like live streaming and boosted odds
up to 100€ Bet Credits
Find out more on bet365's website
- Over 20 sports
- Extensive betting markets
- Live betting feature
New Users – Bet $5 Get $150 If Your Bet Wins!
+8
- Deep market coverage across major U.S. sports and leagues
- Same Game Parlay builder is fast and easy to use
- Live betting interface updates quickly with real-time odds
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5+ Get $100 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
+8
- Bet on 40+ different sports
- Dynamic odds on live, in-play fixtures
- Deposit and bet $5 to receive up to $300 in bonus bets
Bet $1 and get double the winnings up to $25 for your next 10 bets
+8
- 100% match on your first bet up to $250
- Bet on the official website or native mobile app
- Explore thousands of daily betting markets with competitive odds
Chicago online sports betting FAQ
Is sports betting legal in Chicago?
Read our guide to sports betting in Chicago to see all of the legalities surrounding this activity. After all, the city’s sports betting laws had a pretty large overhaul recently, and the resulting picture is now very different to online sports betting in Texas. So check out our guide to see how old you have to be to legally bet and where you are allowed to bet from when you use Chicago sportsbooks.
Who has the best Chicago betting app?
It depends what you’re looking from in your betting app. After all, some apps might be better suited to Chicago Bears fans while others could be perfect for Blackhawks fans. So read our guide to the best sports betting sites Chicago has to offer to see which of these sites have developed their own betting apps. Perfect for seeing which operators give you a convenient way to enjoy betting on sports.
What is the sports betting Illinois age?
You will know that online sports betting in US states like Illinois requires that all participants be of a certain minimum age. However, it’s worth noting that the minimum betting age can vary significantly between states. So be sure to check out our guide to Chicago online sports betting. This will reveal what the minimum betting age is in the Windy City and the whole of the Prairie State.
Is Illinois sports betting online legal?
Sports betting in Chicago is still some ways behind Pennsylvania online sports betting, but the situation is quickly changing. So check out our guide to betting in Chicago and the whole of Illinois. This will reveal whether you can legally bet here and we’ll also look at what sort of things you should be looking for in all good online sportsbooks.
What are the Illinois sports betting locations?
Until recently, if you wanted to enjoy some Chicago online sports betting, you'd only be able to do so by registering in person at some specific physical locations. This was almost as restrictive as trying to use the best betting sites Arizona before that state opened up its online betting laws. Thankfully things have changed for the better, so read our guide to sports betting in Chicago to see how you can be much more free in how you use online sportsbooks.
