HomeNBA betting in Illinois

NBA betting in Illinois

If you wish to bet on the NBA in Illinois, this complete guide has got you covered. We'll go through the different types of wagers you can place and the best sportsbooks to use.

Table of contents

Best NBA 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

Besides being a star-driven sport, basketball is full of action and promises thrill from the start to the end. And it's for such reasons that it is often seen through the lens of betting, especially for player props, futures, and team performance bets.

Furthermore, a regular NBA season has 1,230 games and runs for seven months, promising many betting markets for every avid basketball bettor. Keep reading us as we dive deeper into NBA betting in Illinois.

Sports wagering in Illinois is legal, so betting on the NBA also is. The Illinois Sports Wagering Act was passed into law on June 28, 2019, and the first legal bet was placed on March 9, 2020.

Common bet types you can place on the NBA

As a high-scoring sport, basketball offers a myriad of betting options. Players can wager on bet types tied to team scores or those related to an individual player or team performance. Here's a breakdown of common NBA bet types you can place on Illinois sportsbooks:

  • Totals - Also known as over/under bets, totals are predictions of the total scores that both teams will combine to score. The bookies set various score limits, and you only need to predict whether the total scores will go over or remain under the limit.
  • Moneyline - This is a straightforward bet type whereby players only need to predict the match winner. There's no spread requirement.
  • Futures - As the name suggests, this is a wager on an award, series, or event that will finish in the future (weeks or months).
  • Prop bets - This is a short form for proposition betting, which means wagers on things that are not directly tied to a match's final score. It's mostly betting on the occurrence or non-occurrence of certain events in a match.

Which NBA teams in or around Illinois can you bet on?

The NBA league has 30 teams, each playing 82 games, meaning that Illinois players have a variety of teams and matches to choose from.

Besides, they have a home team (Chicago Bulls), and many neighboring teams that promise good betting markets. Below are descriptions of popular NBA teams in and around Illinois you can place your wagers on:

  • Chicago Bulls (in Illinois) - Mostly associated with the former shooting star, Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls are often viewed as one of the most successful NBA teams in America. They have achieved a winning record 25 times and appeared in the NBA playoffs 35 times. Besides, they still promise the best results, making them a perfect pick whenever they take part in a match.
  • Indiana Pacers - Founded on February 2, 1967, the Pacers have seen reputable successes. These include three ABA championship titles and 9 division titles and have produced 6 Hall of Fame players. Notably, the team still maintains good performance, making them a perfect betting pick for Illinois players.
  • Milwaukee Bucks - This Wisconsin-based NBA team was founded in 1968 and has two league championships, 17 division titles, and three conference titles. Their recent trophy, the 2021 Larry O'Brien trophy, is a sign that they maintain good performance and fit into the list of the best NBA teams to root for.
  • Detroit Pistons - Based in Detroit, the 'Bad Boy' team is best known for winning NBA championships back-to-back in 1989 and 1990 before winning again in 2004. Besides, it still posts reputable performances.

As a sports hotbed and home to over 12 million people, there are plenty of online Illinois sportsbooks to choose from. Below is a rundown of the best sportsbooks in Prairie State if you want to be on the NBA:

  • Barstool - This is one of the most reputable bookies offering a generous welcome bonus, user-friendly interface, and exclusive daily odds boosts. Its site and app interface is clean and well-organized, making your stay here a remarkable one. Notably, it has an NBA section on its popular sports and leagues where you can find markets for all upcoming events.
  • PointsBet - As an innovative bookie, PointsBet offers a PointsBetting feature that helps players earn the most out of their correct predictions. Besides, PoinstBet offers a modern mobile app, attractive Illinois betting bonuses, and competitive odds on basketball.
  • Caesars - Famous for great qualities like huge odds, an easy-to-use interface, and stellar market coverage, Caesars promises an exciting NBA betting experience. Here, Illinois players can also enjoy convenient payment options, a modern and cutting-edge mobile betting app, and top-notch customer support.
  • BetRivers - This is one of the bookies offering quick payouts, a great desktop site, and generous bonuses. Signing up for an account with them means you can grab the ongoing welcome offer to sweeten your NBA betting experience.

Tips when betting on the NBA in Illinois

Below is a walkthrough of our best tips when betting on the NBA in Illinois:

Current form matters

NBA teams can be streaky, and some perform better at home than on the road. Illinois sports bettors should always consider the current form of an NBA team before making a wager.

Home teams win roughly 60% of their games, and this is where an Illinois sports bettor can find value in an away team playing well against a home team with a losing home record.

Additionally, an Illinois sports bettor should consider a home underdog playing well against a team either playing the second game of a back-to-back or in a situation or when the away team is playing the final game of a three or more-game road trip.

Injuries and Players Resting

Over the past few seasons, the NBA has seen a rise in teams choosing to “rest” players, and “late scratches” are also occurring far more frequently than they used to. The Illinois sports bettor must pay attention to the NBA injury report and follow social media for any late-breaking injury news.

Novice Illinois sports bettors should consider waiting until the NBA lineups are released before making any wagers.

Pay attention to the schedule

Some NBA teams can play three games in four nights, and it would be wise for the Illinois sports bettor to pay attention to the NBA schedule.

Most NBA teams use the second night of consecutive games to rest their stars, and a situation like that is an excellent spot to search for an underdog or an undervalued team getting too many points at home.

Pace matters

Pace is a stat Illinois sports bettors should know as it measures the number of possessions per 48 minutes.

Teams with a high pace rate have more possessions, which indicates the contests have plenty of back and forth that could result in the game ending Over the oddsmakers' total. Conversely, teams with lower pace rates don’t score as much, and their contests end Under the total.

Novice Illinois sports bettors would be wise to consider the Over when two solid shooting teams with high pace rate meet and the Under when a mediocre shooting team or teams with slower pace rates square off.

Line shopping

Betting on NBA games is about finding the best betting odds at the best price. To get the best betting odds, sports bettors should have betting accounts at each of the seven online Illinois sportsbooks.

Bankroll management

There isn’t a successful professional sports bettor that doesn’t practice money or bankroll management, which is the key to an Illinois gambler's success. A solid bankroll management system would be to stake 1% of the bankroll on every wager at the same 1% until the bankroll increases by 25%.

Illinois Bettor A has a bankroll of $1000 and is interested in making a wager. 1% of $1000 is $10, which would be the unit price, and would stake $10 per bet. Bettor A would continue this pattern and should only increase or decrease the unit price after a 25% profit or loss.

FAQ

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

Chicago Bulls is the most popular NBA team to bet on in Illinois. It is popular, maintains good performance, and is rich in success history. In the 2021/22 NBA season, the Bulls recorded a total of 856,148 in total attendance for its home games.

How long have people been betting on the NBA in IL?

People have been betting on NBA in Illinois since 2020, when sports betting became legal for the first time.

What taxes are mandatory to pay on NBA betting winnings in IL?

The Federal Tax and Illinois Gambling Tax are mandatory to pay on betting winnings in Illinois, including ones from NBA. The Illinois state taxes are flat taxes calculated at 4.95% of your winnings. Meanwhile, the federal taxes run from 10% to 37% for winnings of $600 and above or at least 300 times the amount of your wager.