Illinois Sportsbook Promos: Compare Every Welcome Offer
Find every active welcome offer in one place — no fluff, just numbers.
See Ranked PromosIllinois has a healthy lineup of IGB-licensed sportsbooks, and every major operator runs a welcome promo to compete for your first deposit. This page breaks down how those offers are structured, which books are in the market, and what to check before you opt in.
Which sportsbooks are legal in Illinois right now?
Illinois legalized online sports betting in March 2020 under the Sports Wagering Act, signed in June 2019. The Illinois Gaming Board licenses and regulates every operator. Books reported live in the state include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and BetRivers (via its Rivers Casino partnership). Verify current license status on the IGB's official operator list before signing up.
You must be 21 or older to bet. Remote sign-up is fully legal — no casino visit required since 2022. That makes grabbing a welcome promo as simple as downloading an app.
What types of Illinois sportsbook promos are out there?
Every licensed book structures its welcome offer a little differently. The three formats you'll see most often:
- Bet-and-get — Place a small qualifying bet (often $5) and receive a set dollar amount in bonus bets, win or lose.
- No-sweat first bet — Your first wager is refunded as bonus bets if it loses. See our full guide on no-sweat first bet promos in Illinois for how these work in practice.
- Deposit match — The book matches a percentage of your deposit up to a cap, paid out in bonus bets after you meet a qualifying wager. Compare structures on our bonus bet vs. deposit match breakdown.
Ongoing promos — odds boosts, parlay insurance, reload offers — run on top of the welcome deal. These rotate weekly, so check the promotions tab in your app each Tuesday or Wednesday when books typically refresh them.
How do Illinois sportsbook promo bonus bets actually work?
Bonus bets are not cash. You cannot withdraw them. Only the winnings generated from a bonus bet can be cashed out — the stake itself disappears once the bet settles. Standard rollover on US sportsbook bonus bets runs 1× to 2× the bonus amount, though Illinois-specific terms vary by operator.
Expiry windows typically fall between 7 and 30 days. Miss the deadline and the credit is gone. For a full walkthrough, read how Illinois sportsbook promos work.
Side-by-side operator comparison
| Sportsbook | Promo Type | IGB Licensed | Remote Sign-Up | Full Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | Bet-and-get / bonus bets | Yes (reported) | Yes | DraftKings Illinois review |
| FanDuel | No-sweat first bet | Yes (reported) | Yes | FanDuel Illinois review |
| BetMGM | Deposit match or bonus bet | Yes (reported) | Yes | BetMGM Illinois review |
| Caesars | Bonus bet offer | Yes (reported) | Yes | Caesars Illinois review |
| BetRivers | Deposit match | Yes (Rivers Casino) | Yes | BetRivers Illinois review |
Exact bonus amounts and playthrough terms change frequently. Always confirm current T&C on each operator's Illinois promo page before depositing. Our best Illinois sportsbook promos ranked right now page tracks live offer values and is updated regularly.
Do I need a promo code to claim an Illinois sportsbook offer?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Some books apply the welcome bonus automatically when you register through a tracked link. Others require you to enter a code at sign-up or in the cashier. Our Illinois sportsbook promo codes guide lists every active code and where to enter it. Expired codes result in no bonus — double-check before submitting.
DraftKings vs. FanDuel: which Illinois promo is worth more?
These two books dominate Illinois handle, and their offers are the most compared. Bet-and-get structures (DraftKings' typical format) give you a fixed bonus regardless of outcome. No-sweat bets (FanDuel's common play) only pay out if your first wager loses, so the value depends on your betting style. We run through the math in our DraftKings vs. FanDuel Illinois promo comparison.
If you're weighing BetMGM against Caesars instead, our BetMGM vs. Caesars Illinois promo comparison breaks down those two offers side by side.
What are the tax implications of winning through a promo?
Winnings from bonus bets are taxable income, just like winnings from cash wagers. Per IRS Topic No. 419, the W-2G reporting threshold is $600 or more when the payout is at least 300× the wager, or $5,000 regardless of multiplier. Illinois taxes gambling winnings as ordinary income and does not allow state-level deductions for losses. Get the full picture on our Illinois sportsbook winnings tax page.
Red flags to avoid when hunting Illinois sportsbook promos
- Unlicensed offshore sites — They operate illegally in Illinois and offer zero consumer protection.
- Fine-print wager restrictions — Some promos require the bonus bet to be placed as a single wager at odds of −200 or longer. Missing that condition forfeits the credit.
- Geolocation blocks near borders — Disable VPNs and enable device location services. Illinois shares borders with Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan, all of which have their own legal markets, so triangulation can trip up apps near state lines.
- KYC delays — Have your government ID and proof of address ready. Unverified accounts can't process withdrawals.
Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, available 24/7. You can also enroll in Illinois's statewide self-exclusion program through the IGB, which covers all licensed sportsbooks simultaneously.
Illinois sportsbook promos are genuinely competitive — treat them as a way to stretch an entertainment budget, not a guaranteed income stream. Compare the current offers, read the T&C, and bet within your limits.