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MLB betting in Illinois

On this page, you will find a complete guide about MLB betting in Illinois. You can also find information about different kinds of wagers you can place on baseball and which sportsbooks you could join.

Table of contents

Best MLB betting sites in Illinois

1 DraftKings
(4.5) DraftKings review
$200
in Bonus Bets
GET BONUS
(+7)
21+ and present in IL. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
2 Caesars
(4.5) Caesars review
$1250
in Bet Credits
GET BONUS
(+7)
21+ and present in IL. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
3 BetRivers
(4.5) BetRivers review
$500
in Free Bets
GET BONUS
(+5)
21+ and present in IL. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
4 FanDuel
(4.5) FanDuel review
$200
in Bonus Bets
GET BONUS
(+5)
21+ and present in IL. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Sports betting is legal in Illinois and so is wagering on the MLB. The state approved sports wagering with the signing of SB 690 in June 2019. The bill made retail and online sports betting lawful within Illinois.

Different kinds of MLB betting in IL

Baseball is a popular sport that attracts bettors across Illinois. The sport is popular because of its competitiveness and the plenty of betting markets available to bettors. Below are the four most popular MLB betting markets that you can wager on in Illinois:

  • Point spreads — This is a bet on the margin of victory in a sporting game. It is the most famous bet type in baseball. The favorite (perceived stronger side) must win by a specific number of points, runs, or goals for your bet to win. On the other hand, the underdog (weaker side), will have to lose by fewer than the same number of points or win the game for you to cash your bet.
  • Futures — In its simplest terms, a future bet is a wager on an MLB event that will end in the future. This bet type is different from a bet on the outcome of a single MLB game but almost as popular. The result of a future bet is for a season or event that will be completed in the future.
  • Live betting — A live betting option allows Illinois bettors to make bets throughout an MLB game rather than only before the match starts. However, keep in mind that MLB odds change in response to what is happening during the match.
  • Moneyline — A money line is the most popular and basic wager in MLB betting. It is simply a bet on which team will win a match. There are no conditions and point spreads.

Top Illinois sportsbooks for MLB betting

Since sports betting became legal in Illinois, a good number of operators have entered the market. In this section of the page, we'll briefly look at the top IL sportsbooks for MLB betting in Illinois.

  • Barstool — When it comes to betting on MLB in Illinois, Barstool is a great site. The sportsbook officially launched in Illinois in March 2021. With the Barstool sportsbook, you can wager on MLB games. The good thing is that the bookie offers generous bonuses, reliable payouts, a large selection of markets, and competitive odds.
  • PointsBet — An Australian-based online sportsbook, PointsBet is now popular among Illinois bettors due to its great mobile app, good pricing, and stellar market coverage. The sportsbook offers a solid list of bonuses and promotions for Illinois bettors. With PointsBet's betting platform, Illinois bettors can securely wager on their favorite MLB games. One of the unique selling points of this bookie is that it does not attach playthrough requirements for its free bets.
  • BetMGM — This is an absolute must-have account for Illinois MLB bettors who want to access a wide range of betting markets in a highly functional manner. The sportsbook officially launched in Illinois on March 5, 2022. This means that anyone Illinois resident who is up to the legal gaming age can place wagers with BetMGM Sportsbook.
  • DraftKings — After much anticipation and fanfare, DraftKings became the fourth sportsbook to debut in Illinois on August 5, 2020. The sportsbook operator has successfully built a powerful betting platform that'll allow Illinois bettors to immerse themselves in MLB wagering to the fullest. All that's required is to sign up for an account, deposit, and play.

Which MLB teams around Illinois can you bet on?

Currently, Illinois state has only one MLB team. However, there are many nearby teams. We'll briefly cover the most popular ones below that you can bet on at gambling sites in Illinois.

  • Chicago White Sox (in Illinois) — Established in 1894, South Siders, also known as Chicago White Sox, is an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The team plays in the (AL) American League and has won three World Series titles. Chicago White Sox won the first and second World Series titles in the early 1900s (1906, 1917) and the last one in 2005.
  • St. Louis Cardinals — Based in St. Louis, Missouri, the Cardinals is an American professional baseball team. The team is one of the most consistently successful baseball teams and the oldest Major league team west of the Mississippi River. Furthermore, St Louis Cardinals has won 23 league pennants and 11 World Series Championships.
  • Milwaukee Brewers — Formed in 1969, Milwaukee Brewers is an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The team competes in the MLB as a member of the NL (National League) Central Division. Milwaukee Brewers had their first and only World Series appearance in 1982, and the team is among the six MLB sides with no World Series titles.
  • Cincinnati Reds — Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Reds is an American professional baseball team that plays in NL (National League). The team debuted in 1882 and won five World Series titles in 1919, 1940, 1975, 1976, and 1990. Besides the five World Series titles, Cincinnati Reds have also won nine NL pennants.

FAQ

Which MLB team is most popular to bet on in Illinois?

The most popular MLB team to wager on in Illinois is the Chicago White Sox. Illinois is home to the Chicago White Sox, meaning that IL residents can easily walk into Guaranteed Rate Field, located on Chicago's South Side, to watch the team's home games.

How old do you have to be to bet on the MLB in IL?

You must be 21 years or above before you can wager on the MLB games in Illinois. The legal minimum gambling age in Illinois is 21 years, meaning underage betting within the state is a punishable offense.

What taxes do you have to pay on MLB betting winnings in IL?

All Illinois bettors are required to pay both federal and state taxes for their MLB betting winnings. This is because all income is taxable in the state. And Illinois considers gambling winnings as an income.