BetRivers Sportsbook Illinois Promo Code

BetRivers Illinois
Second Chance BonusSecond Chance Bonus$500$500
Affiliate CodePLAYRIV

BetRivers was the first regulated online sportsbook to open in Illinois, and introduced a new welcome bonus. Create your new BetRivers Illinois sportsbook account, enter the BetRivers Illinois code PLAYRIV and get a second chance bet worth up to $500

BetRivers has become a leader in the growing online sportsbook scene, and it’s not hard to see why. The 1x clearing requirement makes the welcome bonus unusually easy to earn and accordingly one of the most attractive welcome offers in the state. Of course BetRivers has all the betting markets you would expect from any leading sportsbook and a wide range of ongoing promotions. Plus you can earn iRush rewards, which is the proprietary BetRivers loyalty program.

This BetRivers Illinois online sportsbook review provides you with details on how to download the app, how to sign up and the promotions available for new players and veterans alike. We’ll cover the best features and suggest areas that could use improvement, and discuss how BetRivers stack up against other Illinois sportsbooks.

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Why Choose BetRivers Sportsbook Illinois?
  • Welcome Bonus: Get a second-chance bet credit of up to $500.
  • Wide variety of sports betting markets.
  • Worthwhile iRush Rewards program.
  • Easy-to-navigate website.
BetRivers Online Sportsbook Rating
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BetRivers Illinois

The BetRivers Affiliate Code for Illinois is PLAYRIV

BetRivers’ welcome bonus is almost unbeatable as far as we’re concerned. The sportsbook is offering all new Illinois customers a second chance bet worth up to $500, simply for registering. If your first bet loses, you’ll be refunded with a BetRivers Illinois bet credit.

Online Sportsbook BetRivers Sportsbook Illinois
BetRivers Illinois Affiliate PLAYRIV
Sign-Up Bonus Second chance bet for up to $500
Minimum Deposit $10
Retail Sportsbook BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, IL
Last Updated May 2023

How do I claim the BetRivers Sportsbook welcome bonus in Illinois?

Activating the BetRivers welcome offer is simple:

  • Use the affiliate code PLAYRIV to register for your BetRivers Illinois account.
  • Enter the BetRivers deposit code SPORTS when you make your first deposit.
  • Make your first bet
  • Should your bet sadly not succeed, don’t worry. BetRivers Illinois offers you a second shot at victory by refunding your losses, up to $500, in the form of a bet credit.

There are a few more terms you should be aware of when using this offer:

  • Keep in mind, this promotion is exclusively for new players.
  • The credit from your bet will appear in your account within 24 hours after your bet has been settled.
  • That credit must be used within 30 days.
  • When signing up, make sure to use the BetRivers Illinois affiliate code PLAYRIV, and when depositing, use the BetRivers deposit code SPORTS.

Other BetRivers promotions and bonus offers

Once you’ve played through your first lot of bonus cash, the likelihood is that you’ll be on the hunt for more great offers. BetRivers Illinois has a “Promotions” section where you can keep track of all available offers. The site offers good daily odds boosts, varying from moneylines to props and parlays.

iRush Rewards

BetRivers compensates its most-loyal players through its rewards program, iRush. Every time you place a bet, you’ll earn Loyalty Level Points (LLP) that contribute toward a tiered system, and Bonus Store Points (BSP) that you can use to purchase rewards in the the BetRivers Bonus Store.

Collect LLP points to climb the loyalty ladder and receive better rewards. In the bonus store, you’ll be able to redeem for BetRivers Sportsbook bet credits and the chance to spin a prize wheel using your BSP.

We like that this is a multi-part rewards program, keeping it interesting and fun to watch your points total grow as you bet.

Is BetRivers legal in Illinois?

Yes, not only is BetRivers Sportsbook legal in Illinois, but it was the first online sportsbook to launch in the Land of Lincoln.

Sports betting became legal in Illinois thanks to the Sports Wagering Act, which became law in June 2019 when Gov. JB Pritzker signed it. On March 9, 2020, BetRivers accepted the first sports bets in the state. On June 18, 2020, BetRivers went live with its online sportsbook in the Prairie State.

One final note on sports betting law in Illinois: Betting on Illinois college teams is not allowed.

Signing up for BetRivers Sportsbook in Illinois

To sign up for a new BetRivers Illinois sportsbook account, you must follow a few steps:

  • Click on this link to visit BetRivers Illinois and secure your qualification for the second chance bet sign-up bonus.
  • Click the yellow “Join Now” button located at the top right side of the page.
  • Set up a screen name and password, and input your email address.
  • Input the BetRivers Illinois sportsbook promo code PLAYRIV into the “Affiliate Code” box.
  • Please specify if you want to register using your Rush Rewards or Play4Fun account, then click on “Continue.”
  • Please input your personal details when prompted. These will include your name, birth date, address, contact number, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
  • Establish two security questions to safeguard your account.
  • You can proceed to deposit and avail of the welcome bonus offer after that.

BetRivers.com sports betting site review

BetRivers utilizes simple but effective software that makes sports betting easy for every user. The site is split into three neat sections, making it easy on the eye and not as cluttered as other online sportsbooks out there.

On the left-hand side of the screen, you’ll find the sports and bets menu as well as your personal betting history. This displays all the popular betting markets and BetRivers promotions for the day. To find an A-Z list of all the sports BetRivers offers, scroll down.

Click on a sport and all the games and markets for it will appear in the middle section of the site. The panel on the far right-hand side of the page is dedicated to the BetRivers newsfeed. This shows the number of bets being won by users in real-time. It’s probably unnecessary for the home page, but interesting nonetheless.

Your bet slip will pop up from the bottom of the screen whenever you select a bet. To navigate to the BetRivers casino, promotions, or help pages, use the bar at the top of the screen.

BetRivers recommends using Google Chrome when placing bets, but the site also works very well on Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer.

Download the BetRivers Sportsbook app in Illinois

Customers in Illinois can also access the sportsbook by mobile. The BetRivers mobile app is responsive and easy to navigate, with access to most of the same features as the desktop site.

What’s disappointing, however, is that the app is currently only available to Android users. There’s a small workaround to access the site on your Apple device that we’ll tell you about below. Here’s how to use BetRivers on your mobile.

How to download the BetRivers app for Android

The Google Play Store doesn’t list gambling apps, so you’ll need to visit the BetRivers IL site to get your hands on the Android app. Here’s how to do it:

  • Use this link on your Android device to visit BetRivers and download their Android app. This will ensure that you can take advantage of the sportsbook’s attractive welcome offer.
  • Navigate to the bottom of the site and click on the button labeled “Download the BetRivers App”.
  • You need to go to your device settings and enable installations from “unknown sources” since the app isn’t available on the Play Store.
  • To install the app, click on the downloaded file in your notifications drop-down bar.
  • Register for an account with our unique promo code, or log in if you already possess an account.

How to use the BetRivers app on an Apple device

You can find the BetRivers sportsbook app in the Apple App Store and on the BetRivers website.

  • This link allows you to visit BetRivers and place bets on your iPhone / iPad, thus enabling you to avail the welcome offer.
  • Navigate to the site’s bottom and click on the button labeled “Download the BetRivers App”.
  • To install the app, click on the downloaded file in your notifications drop-down bar.
  • Register for an account with our exclusive promo code, or sign in if you’re already an account holder.

BetRivers Sportsbook app review

The BetRivers sportsbook app is a breeze to use. With clear navigation menus, large action buttons, and a clean aesthetic, customers are able to place wagers in a matter of minutes. The BetRivers app also gives users access to statistics in order to make the most educated bets possible.

Through the sports betting app, you’re able to claim the welcome bonus, watch games live, and place wagers. It’s designed to be a scaled-down version of the desktop site, so you’ll have no problems making your way around it.

Best features of the BetRivers Sportsbook app

While almost all online sportsbooks in Illinois offer an array of sports to bet on as well as a varied selection of bets to make, we wanted to tell you about three of the best features that BetRivers Sportsbook has to offer.

  • Once you become a member of BetRivers, you’re automatically enrolled in the iRush Rewards Program. This loyalty scheme rewards every sports bet you place, and lets you achieve either Gold Card, Platinum Card, or Black Card status. You accumulate points with each wager you make, which can then be converted into bet credits or comps. When you place parlays bets, you can gain more iRush points for less money. For instance, while a $6 straight wager earns you one point, a mere $0.50 bet on parlays of 10 legs or more will also earn you one iRush point.
  • Retail Locations: We appreciate the presence of a BetRivers retail sportsbook in Illinois. Visit Rivers Casino Des Plaines where you can continue your betting in person and experience all the benefits of a physical sportsbook.
  • Bonus Store: We appreciate the existence of a loyalty program at BetRivers Sportsbook Illinois, but what stands out for us is their bonus store. This allows you to exchange your iRush Rewards points for rewards. You can accumulate these points and then trade them for different dollar amounts of bet credits, or use them to increase your profits by up to 25%, among other benefits. We love how the bonus store gives players the liberty to choose how they want to use their rewards points, which we believe is a fantastic feature.

How could BetRivers Sportsbook improve?

Up until now, we have detailed a lot of the top features and best aspects of BetRivers online sportsbook, but we’d be remiss if we did not also offer up some of our critiques of the Illinois sportsbook. So here we have detailed three aspects that could do with some improvement.

  • This critique is specifically for the BetRivers Sportsbook website. Generally, the website’s look and feel mirror the Apple and Android app versions, except for the newsfeed feature. On their website, the newsfeed continuously shows recent wins from different bettors. It displays notifications such as Player X’s significant win or Player Y’s consecutive five wins. We believe that this feature is not only irrelevant to most users, but it’s also highly distracting. Fortunately, this feature is absent from the BetRivers app. Therefore, we suggest that BetRivers consider removing the newsfeed from their website.
  • Stop automatic marketing sign-ups: Often, when creating a sportsbook or social media account, you’re asked if you’re interested in receiving various marketing materials from the company. Usually, opting out is as simple as clicking ‘no’ or unchecking a box. However, this isn’t the case with BetRivers. Upon creating your BetRivers online sportsbook account, you’re automatically enrolled to receive marketing via email, text, calls, and even physical mail. While it’s fairly easy to go into your account and opt out, we’d rather not be automatically signed up in the first place.
  • Additional customer service options needed: Ideally, you’ll never have to reach out to the BetRivers customer support team, but should the need arise, it would be beneficial to have more contact options. Currently, when using the app, you can access a live chat feature by clicking the customer support button. If live chat isn’t your preference, you can exit and attempt to resolve your issue by using a search field. However, this is the extent of the app’s support options. The BetRivers website does provide an email link, which would be a welcomed addition to the app. Furthermore, having the ability to call or text customer support directly would be advantageous.

BetRivers sports betting options

The BetRivers IL sportsbook has a particularly decent range of betting options available. The site offers the usual moneyline and point spread betting, but makes things a little more interesting with futures, props, parlays and live betting.

The most popular betting options get the most screen time. The live betting section can be opened from the left-side menu, where you’ll be able to see all the sports currently open to bets. Clicking on a game will display live stats. You’ll always be able to find moneylines, spreads and totals when live betting, and BetRivers Sportsbook IL will occasionally offer live props.

Prop bets for all major sports, including the props on the MLBNFL and the NBA, are available.  Place bets on a number of different aspects of your favorite sports to keep betting interesting. Prop bets are also particularly handy when you’re not confident about what the result of a game is going to be.

Futures wagers are great for fans of particular sports who are ready to stick around for the long-haul. With BetRivers IL, you’ll be able to bet on the winner of the US Open, the MVP in the NBA finals, or even the winner of the Super Bowl way in advance. Odds for these bets are updated as the season plays out.

Alongside futures and props, the sportsbook also offers a few interesting options. You can find the specials menu within the left-hand panel, above the sporting list.

The sportsbook also features its “Jackpot Parlay” tool that allows you to filter sports, types of bets and timeframes to build your multi-part bet. You can put parlays together manually, too.

How to place a bet with BetRivers IL

Once you fund your account, it’s easy to go through the site and place your bets. Make sure to pay attention to the odds of each bet, as these can change quickly. BetRivers gives you the chance to choose how odds are displayed. Users can pick between American odds, decimal and fractional. Here’s how to place a bet at BetRivers Sportsbook in Illinois:

  • Choose your sport from the panel on the left side.
  • Select a game and type of bet.
  • Input the sum you wish to gamble. It will subsequently be incorporated into your betting slip.
  • Switch between singles, combos, or parlay on your betting slip.
  • After selecting all your bets, click on “Place Bet.”
  • Once each event concludes, your betting results will be shown, and if the bets are successful, your account will be credited with the winnings.

BetRivers futures betting

Let’s check out the futures market at BetRivers Sportsbook in Illinois. Here are futures bets you can make on the local pro teams from the state:

  • At BetRivers, you have the opportunity to place bets on the Bears winning the NFC North or the Super Bowl. The platform also offers odds on any team finishing the season with a perfect 16-0 record or an unfortunate 0-16. Until all teams in the league have tasted victory or defeat at least once in the season, these bets remain open. Additionally, BetRivers provides odds on individual future outcomes, such as the winner of the regular-season MVP award and the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
  • At BetRivers, you can place bets on various hockey outcomes, including the odds of the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup by the end of the season, or securing a win in the Western Conference. You also have the option to bet on any team in the league to win the Cup or their respective conference. However, BetRivers currently doesn’t offer futures odds for individual players, though they may provide one for regular season and playoff MVP during the season and playoffs, respectively.
  • As soon as the MLB playoffs conclude, BetRivers releases futures odds for the upcoming season. You have the opportunity to place bets on the Cubs or the White Sox to claim the NL and AL pennants, and even to win the World Series. BetRivers is also likely to offer futures for different individual awards such as the NL and AL MVP and the Cy Young award winners.
  • Bulls: You have the option to place bets on the Bulls, or any other NBA team, to not only win the championship but also to represent their conference in the NBA Finals. BetRivers also offers odds on which player will be the first pick in the NBA draft, before it takes place. As the regular season approaches, you should also be able to bet on who will become the MVP of that year.
  • Sky reports that BetRivers does not offer futures markets for the WNBA.
  • BetRivers is among the few sportsbooks in Illinois that offers a futures market for MLS, including Chicago Fire FC. You have the option to place bets on the Fire or any other MLS team for the victory of that season’s MLS Cup.
  • College Sports Betting: BetRivers offers futures markets for college football and men’s college basketball, but due to Illinois state laws, betting on Illinois schools is prohibited. However, at BetRivers, you can still place bets on conference winners and the overall national champion in NCAA football. In addition, they offer betting markets for conference winners, the overall national champion, and teams expected to reach the Final Four.

Sports available at BetRivers Illinois

BetRivers offers a pretty large selection of betting markets. To browse them, scroll down on the left-hand panel to find an A-Z list. The plus sign next to every sport will reveal the leagues available for that particular game. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Australian Rules: AFL
  • Basketball: NBA, NCAAB, WNBA
  • Baseball Leagues: Major League Baseball (MLB) in the US, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan, and the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in South Korea.
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Darts
  • Football: NFL, NCAAF
  • Golf: Incorporates The Masters and The Open Championship
  • Hockey: NHL
  • NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula 1: Motorsports
  • Rugby Union
  • Soccer: Includes coverage of games from 28 countries and the World Cup
  • Tennis: Grand Slam
  • UFC

More sporting events are added as they come into play throughout the year — the menu changes based on the sporting calendar and public interest.

Illinois sports teams you can bet on

There are seven professional sports teams from the Prairie State that you can wager on using the BetRivers Sportsbook app. In this section, we present to you a short overview of each franchise and the types of bets available at BetRivers.

  • The Chicago Bears franchise, originally known as the Decatur Staleys, was established in 1920 and renamed as the Chicago Bears in 1922. The team has participated in two Super Bowl games throughout their history. They triumphed over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX, with a score of 46-10, but were defeated by the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI, losing 29-17.
  • The Chicago Blackhawks franchise, although not as old as the Bears, has a rich history dating back to 1926 when the city was part of the NHL’s Original Six. The Blackhawks made their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final in 1931, with their first victory coming in 1934. Since then, they’ve claimed the Cup five additional times, with the latest championship win occurring after the 2014-15 season.
  • The White Sox and Chicago Cubs are two historic franchises in Major League Baseball. Established in 1901, the White Sox were initially known as the Chicago White Stockings before adopting their current name in 1904. The Cubs have a longer history, dating back to 1876 when they were also initially known as the White Stockings. Over the years, the team has undergone several name changes including the Chicago Colts in 1890, the Chicago Orphans in 1898, and finally becoming the Chicago Cubs in 1903. Both teams have each won three World Series titles, with the White Sox breaking their title drought in 2005, and the Cubs ending their long-standing dry spell in 2016.
  • The Chicago Bulls launched their first season in Chicago in 1966-67. However, they didn’t establish themselves as one of the NBA’s all-time greats until the 1980s and ’90s. During this period, they clinched six NBA championships in just eight seasons. This exceptional performance was spearheaded by Michael Jordan, considered by many to be the finest player in the history of basketball. Jordan was honored with the NBA Finals MVP award in each of the six seasons the Bulls won the title.
  • The Chicago Sky is the only professional team in Illinois that has not yet won a championship, despite being the most recent one established. Their inaugural season was in 2006, but they did not make it to the WNBA playoffs until 2013. The following year, they made it to the WNBA Finals, but were defeated by the Phoenix Mercury in a 3-0 series sweep.
  • Chicago Fire FC made an impressive start to their Major League Soccer (MLS) journey by winning the MLS Cup in their inaugural season of 1998. The team made it to the Cup finals again in 2000 and 2003, however, they were defeated on both occasions.

Banking options at BetRivers Sportsbook

It’s easy to deposit and withdraw money from your BetRivers Sportsbook account. The banking section is under the “Cashier button at the top, right-hand corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will then appear, displaying the amount of money in your account available for withdrawal, any active bonus money and your current balance. Below the figures, you’ll find “Deposit” and “Withdraw” buttons to begin a new transaction.

How to deposit

When you click on the “Deposit,” you’ll see several ways to add money to your account. The default is online banking, but you can change your selection using the blue menu on the left-hand side. It lists all available depositing methods:

  • Credit or debit card
  • Online banking (ACH)
  • BetRivers Play+
  • Pay with cash
  • Money at the casino cashier
  • Wire transfer

Once you’ve made a selection, enter the amount of money you’d like to deposit. You’ll get the chance to enter a promo code at this point. Enter your banking details and click “Deposit” to add the money to your account balance.

How to cash out

Click the “Withdraw” tab in the cashier menu to take winnings out of your account. The page will recommend a payment method to you, but you can change your selection using the blue menu on the left of the page. Transactions can spend up to 72 hours in the review stage. Withdrawal methods include:

  • BetRivers Play+
  • Check by mail
  • Money at the casino counter
  • Online banking (ACH)

BetRivers.com customer support

The best sportsbooks have a great customer support team behind them, and BetRivers certainly doesn’t disappoint. The “Help Center” can be accessed easily from the navigation bar at the top of the page. In there, you’ll find an extensive FAQ menu with a search tool making finding the right articles fast and easy.

If you can’t find your answer within the FAQ page, you can use the sportsbook’s live chat feature to speak to a customer support member. The team answers most requests instantly, providing you a message within the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. EST, and is friendly.

If you’d rather email customer support, there’s the option to do that too. Simply submit your request from the help center.

Where is the BetRivers Illinois retail sportsbook?

BetRivers retail sportsbook is at Rivers Casino in Des Plaines. State mitigation efforts due COVID-19 may affect when the Illinois casino is open.

It features an LED-HDTV wall with a premium setting to watch all the sports you can handle. The 26-person bar also includes tabletop video poker machines.

BetRivers Sportsbook at Rivers Casino

  • Location: 3000 S. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018
  • Phone: 888-307-0777
  • Website: riverscasino.com/desplaines/casino/sportsbook
  • Features: Wall-mounted LED high-definition TV, outdoor patio, bar seating for 26 with video poker on tabletops.
  • The hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.
  • Opened: March 9, 2020

Is BetRivers the best sportsbook in Illinois?

BetRivers is not the best sportsbook in Illinois, in our opinion. BetRivers Sportsbook still is a good option for players looking to join either their first sportsbook in the state or who are considering having more than one sportsbook account.

BetRivers does have a few things we like about it (check out our best features section below), but all in all, the sportsbook isn’t quite up to the status of PointsBet, Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM Sports, in particular.

With sports betting having only started in the state in early 2020, though, there’s no reason why BetRivers can’t climb the ranks to become the top sportsbook in the future. And no matter what happens, BetRivers Sportsbook will always have the distinction of taking the first legal sports bets in the state and opening the first online sportsbook in Illinois.

History of BetRivers Sportsbook

BetRivers is owned by the gaming company Rush Street Gaming, which is based in Chicago. Rush runs a number of casinos in the Northeast. The operator’s sportsbook launched in June 2019 when sports betting laws were changed by the US Supreme Court. The site was originally available in Pennsylvania but has since expanded to reach Indiana, Colorado and now, Illinois.

BetRivers Illinois FAQ

 

Use the BetRivers code PLAYRIV to receive a second chance bet worth up to $500. See full BetRivers Sportsbook Illinois T&Cs above.

 

Yes, you can bet on college sports in Illinois. However, if you want to bet on an in-state college team, you can only do so in person, and you can’t place any bets on individual players, only team results.

 

If you want to place a bet, you need to be in a state where BetRivers is legal, which includes Illinois.

 

At BetRivers the minimum deposit is $10.

 

Because BetRivers is fully regulated and legit in Illinois, you’re not dealing with black-market betting and you’ve got protection under state gambling laws.

 

BetRivers has multiple withdrawal methods: Play+ card, check by mail, online banking or cash at the cage at Rivers Casino Des Plaines.

 

Yes, BetRivers is legit and it was the first online sportsbook to launch in the state of Illinois.

 

Yes, the BetRivers Sportsbook promo code for Illinois is PLAYRIV.

 

Using the BetRivers affiliate code PLAYRIV will get you a second chance bet welcome bonus worth up to $500.

 

When you sign up for a new BetRivers Sportsbook account, enter the BetRivers Illinois promo code PLAYRIV. Make your first bet, if it loses you’ll be refunded for up to $500 in the form of a bet credit.