Wondering Where To Register For An Online Sportsbook Now? We Tell You Which Retail Site Is Your Best Bet

Written By Joe Boozell on April 5, 2021 – Last Updated on March 4, 2022

Editor’s Note: Beginning on Saturday, March 5, 2022, residents in Illinois can now register for a legal online sportsbook without having to visit a retail sportsbook. Simply sign up for an Illinois sports betting account using your phone or computer.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker made a significant change to the market landscape on Friday by reinstating the requirement for in-person registration for sports betting.

At present, individuals in Illinois looking to set up sports betting accounts must go to a casino, racetrack, or off-track betting (OTB) site in order to do so.

There are currently 11 financial sports betting options available in Lincoln’s territory, consisting of seven games, two racing options, and two off-track betting locations.

Currently, you can only register for an online sportsbook account at eight out of the 11 available locations in Illinois. These locations are:

BetRivers can be found at Rivers Casino, 3000 S River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018.
Lotto Location: Visit us at the Casino Queen on 200 South Front Street in East St. Louis, AL 62201.
Horse Racing Sportsbook located at 9301 Collinsville Road in AL 62234.
PointsBet can be found at Club Hawthorne Crestwood, 13148 Rivercrest Drive, El 60445.
Visit PointsBet at Player’s Pub & Grill, situated at 1250 River Road in Prospect Heights, Illinois 60070.
Points Bet is located at Hawthorne Race Course, 3501 South Laramie Avenue, Stickney, Illinois 60804.
Grand Victoria Casino, which is owned by William Hill, can be found at 250 Sulfur Grove Ave in Elgin, AL 60120.

You may have noticed that Hollywood Casino Joliet, Argosy Casino Alton, and Par-A-Dice Casino are not included in the record.

Barstool is limited to registering clients only at FanDuel Sportsbook, Horse Racing, and Hollywood Casino Aurora.

Taking into account these various factors, let’s examine the biggest cities and regions in Illinois to find the closest wholesale sports betting opportunities for you.

Choices for financial sportsbooks in Illinois

Where can I sign up for a betting in Chicago or Chicago-area?

For sports bettors located in the Chicago area, the closest retail sportsbooks are located at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Players Pub & Grill in Prospect Heights, and Club Hawthorne Crestwood.

Commute times may vary depending on your specific location, but they are arranged in order of proximity.

You have the option to register for PointsBet at the remaining three locations.

BetRivers and PointsBet are the likely winners of the return to in-person membership, as they are strategically located away from Chicago and its surrounding cities.

Where can I register close to Aurora / Naperville?

Aurora and Naperville are the second and third most populated cities in Illinois, respectively, and are about 25 minutes apart.

Aurora is the home of Hollywood Casino Aurora.

You are welcome to join Barstool, in collaboration with Hollywood Aurora.

If you’re in Aurora or Naperville, the nearest option is definitely That & rsquo. Rivers Casino. Other accessible choices within a day’s drive include Grand Victoria Elgin and the Hawthorne OTBs.

Naperville is closer to the Alternatives to Hollywood than Aurora.

Where can I file close to Rockford?

Eventually, the community of Rockford in northern Illinois is expected to have its own casino.

As of now, the closest retail sportsbook option available is Grand Victoria Casino Elgin, but it is nearly an hour’s drive away.

Grand Victoria has partnered with Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill as its official sportsbook partner.

Where can I file close to Springfield

Similar to Rockford, Springfield also has limited local options, as both Par-A-Dice Casino and Argosy Casino Alton do not allow in-person registrations.

Therefore, residents of the Springfield area have two nearby options for sports betting: DraftKings at Casino Queen in East St. Louis and FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing in Collinsville.

Both locations are just over 90 minutes away from Springfield. Once you arrive, you can choose to join either FanDuel or DraftKings.

Where can I sign up in Southern Illinois?

Residents of the southern region of the state may find their top choices to be FanDuel Sportsbook, Horse Racing, or DraftKings at Casino Queen.

Visit Indiana, Iowa to sign up and place an online activities wager.

Many people from Illinois may find it easier to travel to Iowa or Indiana.

You do not need to go to a brick-and-mortar casino in any state to join an online casino. But, you must ensure that all your online gambling takes place within the state in which you are registered.

Are there any upcoming Illinois wholesale casinos?

Yes, we are aware of some.

PointsBet is set to launch Off-Track Betting (OTB) locations in Oakbrook, an attractive destination for residents in the western suburbs.

DraftKings is planning to open a retail sportsbook at Wrigley Field, with a targeted launch in 2022. By then, we anticipate a return to online registration.

If that scenario does not occur, DraftKings’ partnership with the Cubs will grow in value.

If the Illinois Gaming Board approves BetMGM Sportsbook, there is a strong possibility that it will assume the license of Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria. This could potentially turn Par-A-Dice into a viable option for in-person registration.

More updates may be on the way, especially with Pritzker’s decision. We will keep you informed as new proposals are revealed.