The sports betting industry in the United States has come a long way, with states like Delaware, New Jersey, and West Virginia, quickly accepting online sports betting as soon as it was possible for states to have the powers to regulate sports betting within their respective states.
Even with the landmark ruling of the Supreme Court on PASPA in 2018, some states are still hesitant in opening up for online sports betting within their boundaries.
On the contrary, other states like Colorado, New York, and Iowa have all joined the fray after the first wave of states that legalized and licensed sportsbooks to provide online betting services to residents of their states.
While the level of success varies from one state to another, the trend has been generally impressive. For instance, Americans wagered over $200 billion in the last five years alone, and there are projections that the figure will increase significantly in the coming years.
The state of Illinois also entered the sports sphere in March 2020, and there has been phenomenal growth of the online betting industry in Illinois.
Although at the start, the law required in-person registration that initially limited sportsbooks from expanding in the Prairie state, that has changed now with bettors able to sign up from any location within Illinois.
Since the expiration of that requirement, more sportsbooks have found their way into Illinois state lines and bettors have quite a handful of operators to choose from.
To attract more bettors and claim a sizable portion of the Illinois market, the sportsbooks have designed various nice betting offers to attract new players and even retain the existing ones.
For new customers, the bonus they typically first receive after registration on a Sportsbook is called the welcome bonus or sometimes a new player sign up bonus.
These bonuses vary from one betting site to another but they are generally good enough to attract new players. For example, Caesars Sportsbook offers new players up to a staggering $1,250 as a sign up bonus.
In terms of the bonus amount, this is the highest bonus offer for new players in the Illinois market, but certainly, there are other offers that are better when other metrics are considered.
As far as existing players are concerned there are multiple promotions on each of the betting sites for old customers. These promos enhance the betting experience of players and give them even more value on their bets.
Both the new and existing customer offer together make up sports betting promotions, and there are quite a lot of Illinois Sports betting bonuses for bettors whether new or old.
Besides betting bonuses, there are other factors in the makeup of sportsbooks, and we take a look at the top sportsbooks with these x-factors in the state of Illinois.
1. PointsBet
The Australian brand is one of the foreign brands that have a firm foothold in the American betting industry, and Illinois is one of the states where they hold sway.
PointsBet have a reputation for innovation and they were responsible for the points betting system.
Beyond their knack for innovation, they have a nice bonus offer of second-chance bets up to $500 for players in Illinois.
The bonus offer is structured such that players have up to $100 bonus bets for the first list bet on the five days of betting on the site.
It is not surprising that PointsBet is one of the sportsbooks providing high-quality online betting services to Illinois residents.
2. DraftKings
DraftKings is one of America’s indigenous sportsbooks and they have been around long before the Supreme Court ruling that ended the ban on sports betting across the United States of America.
Known for its Daily fantasies, the betting platform nicely transitioned from that to being one of the best betting sites across the United States.
For new customers, there is a Bet $5 Get $150 offer on the table as long as a qualifying bet with a $5 wager is placed.
The guarantee that comes with the bonus offer makes it a top betting destination for Illinois players.
3. Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars along with DraftKings have been at the forefront of sports betting way before the ground-shifting Supreme Court ruling.
And they haven’t lost any ground even after the industry was opened up for more players.
As of now, they offer the highest bonus amount in the market, and that makes them a top draw for bettors across the different cities in Illinois.
4. FanDuel
One of the traditional American betting sites, FanDuel has carved a niche for itself in the American market. Even more so in Illinois where bettors are guaranteed a $150 sign up bonus.
All new players have to do is place a bet with a minimum of $5.
Whether the bet wins or not, the bonus amount is guaranteed. With that, it is not surprising that Illinois residents are warming up to the Sportsbook.
Beyond the welcome offer, they also have a collection of existing customer offers for old-timers. These offers include the FanDuel Profit Boost, Refer A Friend, and many more.
5. Betrivers
Betrivers is another Sportsbook that cannot be written off. They have a solid array of sports offerings plus an extensive range of betting options.
New players who choose to sign up with Betrivers are in line to claim up to $500 on second-chance bets.
Certainly not the best in the market in terms of the bonus amount, but it is a bonus amount good enough for players to navigate their way and familiarize themselves with the Sportsbook after they sign up.
There is also a vast assortment of existing player offers for those who have been wagering on the Sportsbook for a long time, and can no longer claim the new player bonus.
Examples include the Betrivers Refer A Friend Offer, Betrivers Parlay Insurance, and many more.
6. BetMGM
BetMGM boasts the second-highest bonus amount in the Illinois market and by extension the American market.
With a bonus offer of up to $1,000 in bonus bets for new players, only Caesars surpasses their offering for new customers.
As a sweetener, players who have claimed the sign up offer for new players can move on to enjoying the groundswell of existing player offers like Refer A Friend and Odds Boost. Overall, BetMGM has complete online betting for players in the state.
