Luck was not on the side of Illinois bettors, when the launch of legal sports betting in the state coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. Only a few small physical sports books had opened the week before Governor Pritzker closed casinos statewide.

Things are starting to look up, however, since online registration has been made available to players since early June (on and off). Along with sportsbook giants FanDuel and DraftKings, bettors in the state have (or will have) access to some of the leading national online sports books including Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, and BetRivers. This page will help to clarify the current state of sports betting in Illinois, as well as some expectations for the future.