NFL Betting In Illinois
NFL Betting In Illinois
Illinois, home to the Chicago Bears and in close proximity to the Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts, sees significant NFL betting activity on its online sportsbooks. The state offers NFL bettors numerous ways to place their bets and a plethora of NFL promotions, such as odds boosts, bet loss insurances, and profit bonuses.
Throughout the NFL season, each game features weekly moneylines, props, spreads, and totals to wager on. NFL live betting also takes place during ongoing games. Additionally, futures odds are available to evaluate before and after each season.
Find the latest live NFL game lines directly from top online sportsbooks in Illinois below, along with additional NFL betting information to help you get started.
Best NFL Betting Sites
Live NFL odds at Illinois online sportsbooks
Refer to the live feed below for the latest NFL point spreads, moneylines, and totals odds directly from online sportsbooks in Illinois. Additionally, you can access real-time NFL futures odds such as Super Bowl 57 futures odds, NFL MVP odds, and more. Simply click on any odds to be directed to the sportsbook, where you can open an account, claim your bonus, and secure your bets.
How to bet on the NFL in Illinois
The Illinois Legislature legalized sports betting in July 2019. Since then, various legal online sportsbooks have launched in the Prairie State. These include:
DraftKings Sportsbook
If you’ve visited East St. Louis, then you’re undoubtedly familiar with the Casino Queen. This establishment is associated with DraftKings Sportsbook in Illinois, even carrying the DraftKings name. Many Illinois residents were already acquainted with DraftKings due to their engagement in daily fantasy sports (DFS). The company aims to further extend its reach with its online sports betting offering.
FanDuel Sportsbook
The FanDuel retail sportsbook can be found at the Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria. It’s anticipated that sports bettors across the state will primarily access the FanDuel Sportsbook on their phones or computers. Similar to DraftKings, FanDuel also introduces strong marketing influence to the Prairie State.
PointsBet Sportsbook
PointsBet Sportsbook is an Australian-based company, but you can find its physical components at your closest Hawthorne Race Course. This company is renowned for its innovative betting strategy, “pointsbetting”, which allows Illinois bettors to essentially establish their own lines for events.
BetRivers Sportsbook
Working under the master license of Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, BetRivers Sportsbook is the inaugural legal physical and online sportsbook in Illinois. It has firmly established its presence in the Chicago market, indicating that it is likely to be a serious competitor for market share in the long term.
Caesars Sportsbook
This operator is a major player in the legal sports betting industry in the US. Caesars, whose facility partner is the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, includes Illinois in the extensive list of jurisdictions where it offers legal wagering through its sportsbook.
Is it legal to bet on the NFL in Illinois?
Indeed, sports betting became legal in Illinois in July 2019, with the first legitimate sportsbook launching in March 2020. Provided you are 21 years of age or older and physically present within the state borders of Illinois when placing your bet, it is completely legal. Now that online registration has been permanently reinstated, all you need to do is download a legal sports betting app to get started.
Determining if you’re using a legal sportsbook is quite straightforward. You should see a disclaimer indicating registration with the Illinois Gaming Board at the bottom of the app or website page. If this registration information is not disclosed by the sportsbook you’re using, then it’s an offshore sportsbook.
In Illinois, there are no specific regulatory or statutory limitations on NFL wagers, thereby giving sportsbooks the liberty to accept any NFL bets they deem appropriate. However, certain types of bets are more prevalent than others.
How to bet on NFL games in Illinois
The betting odds that most gamblers are acquainted with are also the ones you’ll see upon accessing the NFL section of your go-to sportsbook. Once you get the hang of the lingo, it’s quite straightforward.
Moneyline
In these markets, only two pieces of information are displayed: the teams participating in the game and the corresponding American odds. They will appear as follows:
| Indianapolis Colts +150 |
| Chicago Bears -280 |
In such markets, your wager is solely based on which team you predict will triumph in the game. The score points of the teams and the victory margin of the winning team are entirely insignificant.
Guidance on how to read NFL moneyline odds:
- The bottom always features the home team.
- The favorite will invariably have negative odds, while the underdog will consistently have positive odds.
- The more significant the difference in odds, the more confidence the sportsbook has in the favorite’s victory.
Point spread
Often known as the point spread, this kind of wager involves the sportsbook providing you with their forecast of the score difference between the victorious and defeated team in the game. The betting lines will be displayed as follows:
| Indianapolis Colts +9.5 -110 |
| Chicago Bears -9.5 -110 |
Seeing a half-point in football spreads is usual. This is referred to as a “hook,” which functions to avoid bets from resulting in a “push” (where neither the house nor the bettor wins), since scoring half a point in football is not possible.
The odds following the spread indicate your potential winnings if you succeed. It’s also usual to observe equal odds on either side of these markets.
In betting on this market, your job is to determine if you concur with the sportsbook’s evaluation. Essentially, in this scenario, the sportsbook predicts that the Chicago Bears will win this game with a minimum lead of 10 points.
If you concur, you would wager on Chicago -9.5. You would be victorious if the Bears win this match by a minimum of 10 points. However, you would lose if the Colts win by any score or if the Bears win but don’t meet the spread.
If you believe the book made a mistake, you would gamble on Colts +9.5. You would be victorious if Indianapolis triumphs by any margin or if Chicago does not cover the spread by winning by less than the set margin.
Point total
Likewise, an over/under bet is commonly known as a totals wager. This type of bet involves predicting the total cumulative score of both teams in a game.
Newcomers to betting should be aware that it’s not about how many points a single team will score, but rather the total points scored by both teams in a game. The betting markets appear as follows:
| Over 56.5 -110 |
| Under 56.5 -110 |
The first number represents the combined score the sportsbook predicts for both teams in the game. The half-point, or ‘hook’, is there to avoid a ‘push’, which means neither the book nor you win the bet. The final number indicates the payout you’ll receive if you win.
In these markets, you need to determine if the sportsbook was overly generous or insufficiently so.
If you believe the two teams will exceed the book’s predicted points, you should place a bet on the over. Conversely, if you feel the book’s total prediction is excessive, your bet should be on the under. The winner of the game or the individual scores of the teams are irrelevant in these markets.
How do prop bets work in the NFL?
Bets on various aspects of an NFL game can be made through proposition bets.
This could encompass individual or team statistics, particular occurrences during the game, or which team will first reach a specific game milestone. Some examples include:
- Will Mitch Trubisky throw for over or under 229.5 yards?
- Is it likely for the Bears to score a touchdown either through defensive or special teams? Yes/No
- Is the game’s first score going to be a field goal? Yes/No
How does live betting work in the NFL?
This betting style is commonly known as in-game betting, as the odds fluctuate throughout the game. Typical live bets for NFL games consist of:
- What is the number of points a team will score in a specific quarter?
- Which team will accumulate more offensive yards in a half?
- Who will be the next player to score a touchdown for the Bears?
As technology continues to advance, there will be an increase in the frequency, diversity, and amount of these bets. Eventually, it may even be possible to legally bet on the outcome of each play in an NFL game.
How does betting on NFL futures work?
The NFL futures market offers betting enthusiasts the opportunity to remain engaged with their favorite game throughout the year. Futures are bets placed on results that won’t be determined until a later time, sometimes even months in the future.
These bets necessitate a long-term outlook, but when correctly predicted, they can yield significant profits. Futures odds are accessible during the NFL offseason.
The largest markets will be revealed as soon as this year’s Super Bowl concludes, with others interspersed between that time and the beginning of training camp. Below are some of the most popular NFL futures bets for you to select from:
- Wagering on the Super Bowl champion
- Division and conference winners
- Teams that will either make or miss the playoffs
- Team regular-season win totals
- Awards for individuals – such as NFL MVP, Rookie of the Year, and so on.
- Player props for the entire season — touchdowns, yards, sacks, and so on.
Typically, NFL futures odds are listed in descending order, with favorites at the top, long-shots at the bottom, and other options in between. The goal is to identify the selections you’re interested in at the most favorable price.
For certain gamblers, this implies placing wagers shortly after the odds are announced and patiently awaiting the season’s end. Conversely, other bettors maintain a more dynamic strategy, continuously monitoring futures in search of the most favorable prices and opportunities.
The futures market can also be a useful research tool as you prepare for another NFL season. Regular season win totals can provide a good snapshot of what to anticipate in the upcoming campaign, a detail that can be beneficial for handicapping the early part of the season.
NFL schedule explained
Beginning in 2021, each NFL team is scheduled to play three preseason games and 17 regular-season games, marking a decrease by one in preseason games and an increase by one in regular season games compared to previous years. The season typically extends from August to early January.
Typically, regular-season games are held on Thursdays, Sundays, and Mondays. Each team participates in a game every week, excluding one, throughout the 18-week regular season. This excluded week is known as the bye week, which happens at some point during the season.
The playoffs qualifiers include the winners of the eight NFL divisions, as well as the three teams in each conference with the highest winning percentages that did not win their division.
Each year, they compete in a single-elimination tournament that concludes with the Super Bowl on the second Sunday in February.
How to stream or watch NFL games live
Many broadcast channels and streaming platforms air NFL games as they are some of the most crucial live sporting events for advertising purposes.
You can refer to your channel guide for NFL games if you possess a cable, satellite, or livestreaming subscription. Make sure to check during the right times.
- You can view “Thursday Night Football” (TNF) on Amazon Prime Video.
- CBS and FOX hold the rights to the majority of regular-season Sunday daytime games. FOX owns the rights to most of the games where an NFC team is home, making it particularly relevant for Bears fans. AT&T possesses the streaming rights for out-of-market games, which are accessible with a DirecTV Sunday Ticket package.
- “Football Night in America,” also known as Sunday Night Football, is produced by NBC. No matter your location, you can tune into your local NBC affiliate to watch the game. If you prefer to stream the game, you can do so through the NBC app using your TV provider login details.
- Monday Night Football is broadcasted by ESPN. Those with an ESPN+ subscription through a TV provider can stream the games via the ESPN app.
Playoffs games and the Super Bowl
ABC joins the wild card round, with the other three wild card games being broadcast on CBS, FOX, and NBC. CBS airs all games from both the AFC divisional and conference championship rounds. Meanwhile, FOX is the broadcaster for all NFC divisional and conference championship rounds.
The broadcasting of the Super Bowl switches each year among the previously mentioned networks. FOX will air the Super Bowl LVII in February 2023. If you don’t subscribe to any streaming or TV services, you may still be able to watch games on broadcast channels such as ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. In Illinois, these channels include:
ABC
- WICD 15 in Champaign – Semi-satellite of WICS
- Chicago – WLS-TV 7
- WSIL-TV 3, Harrisburg (Paducah, Kentucky)
- WQAD-TV 8 – Moline (Davenport, IA) (Quad Cities)
- Peoria – WEEK-DT2 25.2
- Rockford – WTVO 17
- Springfield – WICS 20
CBS
- Champaign – WCIA 3
- Chicago – WBBM-TV 2
- WMEU-CD 48.3 in Chicago – Simulcast of WBBM-TV
- Peoria – WMBD-TV 31
- WHBF-TV 4 – Rock Island (Quad Cities)
- Rockford – WIFR-LD 23
- WCIX 49.2 in Springfield – Simulcast of WCIA
FOX
- WYZZ-TV 43 – Bloomington (Peoria)
- Chicago – WFLD 32
- Quincy – WGEM-DT3 10.3
- Rockford – WQRF-TV 39
- Springfield – WRSP-TV 55
- WCCU 27 Urbana (Champaign) – A satellite of WRSP-TV.
NBC
- Chicago – WMAQ-TV 5
- WAND 17 – Decatur (Springfield)
- Peoria – WEEK-TV 25
- Quincy – WGEM-TV 10
- Rockford – WREX 13
Which NFL team is most popular in Illinois?
The Chicago Bears, one of the oldest teams in the NFL with roots dating back to its early days, call Illinois their home. Known as the “Monsters of the Midway”, they enjoy the support of fervent and faithful fans not only across Illinois but also nationally. Here are some interesting statistics about the Chicago Bears:
- Established: 1920
- One Super Bowl win: Super Bowl XX in 1985.
- Appearances in the Super Bowl: Two, with the most recent being in 2006.
- The NFL team has won eight championships, with the most recent one being in 1963.
- Championships Won in Conferences: Two, with the most recent one in 2006.
- The team has won 19 division titles, with the most recent one being in 2018.
- The team has made 26 playoff appearances, with the most recent one being in 2018.
- Numbers Retired: 14, the highest in NFL
- 30 primary players and nine others who had stints with the Bears make up the Hall-of-Famers.
A list of some of the greatest players in NFL history, including names like Walter Payton, Gale Sayers, and Dick Butkus, have played for the Bears.
Although the club only boasts a single crown in the Super Bowl era, the Bears clinically clinched nine NFL championships before the AFL-NFL merger.
In 2020, despite experiencing a six-game losing streak in the regular season, the team managed to secure a playoff spot with an 8-8 record. Regrettably, their dreams of the Big Game were shattered following their loss to the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Round. For information on where to watch the Bears live, read on:
- Stadium: Soldier Field
- Location: 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
- Capacity: 61,500
- Opened: 1924
- Renovated: 2002-03
Chicago Bears’ biggest rivals
The Bears reside in the NFC North division, also known as the “Black and Blue” division, along with:
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
The Bears have three major rival clubs. Each club competes against the others in two matches per season, one on their home field and one on the rival’s field.
This means there will be six divisional games throughout the 17-game NFL regular season, which will feature some of the Bears’ season’s major highlights. Historically, here’s the record of the Bears’ performance against these three teams up to the 2020 season:
- Lions: 102-75-5
- Packers: 95-101-6
- Vikings: 57-61-2
The Bears and Packers are considered to have one of the greatest rivalries in the NFL. This is also the most frequently played matchup in the history of the league.
After the merger of the AFL and NFL, the teams were allocated to the division known as the NFC Central. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers became part of the group in the 1970s as a new team. In 2002, the league was restructured to its present configuration, and the divisional structure has stayed the same since then.
Here’s an examination of the teams that have accumulated the most NFC North titles during that period.
- Four Bears, the most recent in 2018.
- Lions: Zero
- Packers last scored 11 in 2020.
- Four Vikings, the most recent in 2017.
Five of the top players to come from IL
Selecting the top five players from the hundreds of NFL players born in Illinois is quite challenging. Nonetheless, here are our picks for some of the most outstanding NFL players hailing from Illinois.
John Lynch, S
- Career: 1993-2008
- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl XXXVII against the Oakland Raiders in 2002, making them 1x Super Bowl champion.
- 2x first-team All-Pro
- Inductee in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ and Denver Broncos’ rings of honor
- 26 career interceptions
Rodney Harrison, S
- Career: 1994-2008
- The New England Patriots, a 2x Super Bowl champion, triumphed over the Carolina Panthers in 2003, Super Bowl XXXVIII, and over the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004, Super Bowl XXXIX.
- 3x first-team All-Pro
- Member of the 50th anniversary teams for the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots
- 34 career interceptions
Charles Tillman, CB
- Career: 2003-15
- 1x first-team All-Pro
- 2013 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
- Named as one of the top 100 greatest Chicago Bears in history.
- 38 career interceptions
Donovan McNabb, QB
- Career: 1999-2011
- 1999 NFL draft’s second overall pick
- 6x Pro Bowl selection
- Philadelphia Eagles Retired Number
- 234 career passing TDs
Simeon Rice, DE
- Career: 1996-2007
- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers triumphed over the Oakland Raiders to become 1x Super Bowl Champions in XXXVII, 2002.
- 1x first-team All-Pro
- 1996 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
- 122 career sacks
Tips for betting on the NFL
Betting on NFL games shares many similarities with wagering on other sports events. One key thing to understand is that the sportsbook incorporates its “juice” (its stake in providing the market) into the odds. These odds are determined based on decades of data and proven algorithms utilized by the operators.
However, it’s not impossible to win. As the old saying goes, games are played for this very reason.
- Responsible Gambling: Ensure You Bet Within Your Limits: Those who gamble responsibly are aware of their betting limits even before placing any wagers. Only bet an amount that you can afford to lose without difficulties. If you find yourself gambling with money meant for bills or using gambling to pay your bills, it’s advisable to seek help for potential compulsive gambling problems.
- Avoid Betting on the Bears Solely Due to Fandom: Gambling should be a form of entertainment and you should only stake money you can afford to lose, yet it’s undeniable that winning is more enjoyable than losing. If you are planning to wager on the Bears’ victory, for instance, it should be because your analysis indicates that they are likely to win. Emotional connections to a player or team can often cloud our judgement when assessing a sports event. Many successful bettors specifically avoid betting on games that involve their favourite teams to prevent this kind of bias.
- Concentrate Your Research: Numerous statistics may appear attractive and provide good discussion topics. However, many of them are not particularly significant. When tackling NFL handicapping, contemplate what influences a game and its result. Factors to consider include teams’ ability to advance the ball or halt opponents, line play, and turnovers.
- Understand When to Hold Back: Throughout the NFL regular season, as many as 16 games can take place in a single week. Although it’s possible to place bets on all of them, keep in mind this straightforward piece of advice: doing so is not necessary. By focusing your attention on a select few games that intrigue you the most and disregarding the others, you might discover a much clearer perspective.
- Ignore the Distractions: Given its status as the most favored sport in the US, the NFL garners substantial coverage. There is a plethora of significant news, but also much unnecessary chatter. Learn to distinguish between “hot takes” and genuine analysis. The latter can assist in your betting strategy, while the former usually just serves as discussion fodder.
Final thoughts on betting in Illinois
Sportsbooks don’t arbitrarily set odds without any reasoning. Their goal is to retain your funds. If your intention is to win the book’s money, it’s crucial to make knowledgeable choices. Prior to betting on a Bears game, at the very least, you should be able to answer these questions for yourself:
- How do the outcomes of the last 10 matches between these two teams appear?
- How have these two teams recently performed in the suitable venue?
- What will the weather be if the venue is open-air?
- Does either team have any injuries?
- Is any of the teams on a winning or losing streak?
NFL betting FAQ
The operator partially determines this, but none will permit betting on credit. Besides this limitation, online sportsbooks will generally accept most of the following:
- Checking accounts
- Debit cards
- PayPal
- Prepaid debit cards
- Savings accounts
Naturally, retail sportsbooks will accept cash. You can also use many of the same payment methods to withdraw your winnings.
The straightforward response to this question is that there isn’t one; it relies on numerous factors. You may have come across stories of individuals who wagered $2 on an 11-leg parlay and earned thousands of dollars.
This does occur, but the chances of pulling it off are exceptionally high. That’s due to the fact that every additional leg doesn’t merely increase your risk, it amplifies it. Often, you’d be more advantaged by placing a bet on each leg individually.
When considering a parlay, a good guideline is to estimate your possible winnings if you were to place the same amount on each prospective bet individually. If combining them into a parlay doesn’t offer a significantly better potential payout, it might not be a smart decision.
American odds indicate the profit you would make if you win a bet.
The two elements consist of a plus or minus sign and a three-digit number. When the odds begin with a plus sign, such as +150, it indicates the potential profit from a $100 bet.
When you see odds beginning with a minus, such as -110, at IL sportsbooks, it indicates the amount you need to stake to make a $100 profit from your bet. This type of odds is commonly seen in most instances.