Illinois is one of the biggest dual-market betting states in the country. Online horse race betting in Illinois is legal, long-established and fully mobile — few states run a bigger betting market. The Illinois Horse Racing Act has expressly authorized advance-deposit wagering since 1975, so licensed ADW racebooks take bets from anyone 18 or older, while the separate online sportsbook market, live since 2020, serves the 21-and-up crowd.

The local racing scene still has a pulse: Hawthorne Race Course near Chicago mixes Thoroughbred and harness dates, and Fairmount Park carries the downstate flag near St. Louis, though the storied Arlington Park ran its last card in 2021 after the Bears bought the property. One quirk to know — Illinois bars wagering on in-state college teams and levies one of the steepest sports-betting taxes in the country.

Note Illinois prohibits betting on in-state college teams and carries one of the highest sports-betting tax structures in the US.

Illinois (IL) Horse Race Betting Facts: Illinois is one of the biggest dual-market states going — online sports betting (live since 2020, in-person sign-up dropped in 2022) sits alongside ADW racing expressly authorized by the Illinois Horse Racing Act, legal since 1975. Racing age is 18+, sports 21+. Live cards run at Hawthorne Race Course near Chicago (Thoroughbred + harness) and Fairmount Park downstate; historic Arlington closed in 2021. Note: no in-state college betting. Top Illinois horse racing betting sites & apps (ADWs): AmWager (best), TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, DRF Bets, NYRA Bets, 1/ST BET — each with welcome offers and promo codes.

Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Illinois (2026)

All major US Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) apps operate in Illinois. Each lets you bet every Illinois track plus US, UK and international racing from one account. Minimum age 18.

1. 1
   ★ TOP PICK

   AmWager

   ★ 4.8 / 5

   Illinois racing runs at Hawthorne near Chicago (Thoroughbred and harness) and Fairmount Park downstate, and AmWager carries both alongside 250+ tracks worldwide — the Arlington era having closed after the Bears bought that track. The draw is the rebate: 6–8% back on every wager, win or lose, with HD streaming and a fast cashier.

   $50 DEPOSIT MATCH 6-8% REBATES LIVE STREAMING 250+ TRACKS
   Sign up at AmWager → Bonus: 100% deposit match up to $50
   18+. New AmWager customers only. Limit one signup bonus per person. Match applies to first deposit only, up to $50. To unlock the full bonus, deposit $50 and place qualifying wagers totaling $50 within 30 days. Cancelled or refunded bets don't count. Bonus credited in single deposit within 7 business days of meeting requirements. Bonus credits are non-withdrawable; winnings are cash and withdrawable. Unused bonus expires after 30 days. · Full AmWager review
2. 2

   TwinSpires

   ★ 4.5 / 5

   Best for: Triple Crown. Churchill Downs Inc.’s TwinSpires serves Illinois with the deepest Triple Crown and stakes coverage on the market, plus the local Hawthorne and Fairmount Park cards — a natural fit for Chicago-area bettors who follow the Derby trail.

   Bonus: $200 bonus after $500 in wagers · Min age 18
3. 3

   FanDuel Racing

   ★ 4.6 / 5

   Best for: Live streaming. FanDuel Racing — the TVG platform owned by Flutter — has a fitting Illinois tie: Fairmount Park now operates as FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing. It carries Hawthorne and Fairmount plus the national menu, with expert daily picks and a first-bet refund up to $500.

   Bonus: Up to $500 back on first wager if it loses · Min age 18
4. 4

   DRF Bets

   ★ 4.3 / 5

   Best for: Handicapping data. DRF Bets gives Illinois handicappers unlimited DRF Classic past performances and Beyer Speed Figures with a funded account, covering Hawthorne and Fairmount Park plus the national cards.

   Bonus: 100% deposit match up to $200 · Min age 18
5. 5 NYRA Bets
   $200 in cash rewards after $400 in wagers
6. 6 1/ST BET
   Choice of three options up to $500

Best Illinois Horse Race Betting Apps: Rebates & Bonuses

Illinois horseplayers are spoiled for choice, so the deciding factors are coverage, rebates and streaming. AmWager tops our list — Hawthorne and Fairmount plus 250+ tracks worldwide in HD, with 6–8% back on every wager — while TwinSpires owns the Derby trail and DRF Bets arms handicappers with past performances and Beyer figures. Each Illinois-legal racebook carries a welcome offer and promo code, from AmWager’s 100% match up to $50 to FanDuel Racing’s up-to-$500 first-bet refund, all funded and settled from your phone.

Best Sportsbook Apps in Illinois (2026)

Licensed online sportsbooks operating in Illinois, regulated by the state gaming authority. Minimum age 21.

1. 1
   ★ EDITOR'S PICK

   FanDuel Sportsbook

   ★ 5.0 / 5

   FanDuel has led Illinois since August 2020 (live via Par-A-Dice Casino) and runs the retail sportsbook at the United Center, home of the Bulls and Blackhawks. A local wrinkle: after Illinois added a graduated 20–40% tax and a per-bet fee, FanDuel began applying a small per-wager surcharge here — even so, its app and same-game parlays lead the market.

   BET $5 GET $350 SAME-GAME PARLAY LIVE STREAMING
   Sign up at FanDuel → Bet $5 for 7 days, Get $350 in Bonus Bets — Guaranteed
   21+. New customers only, 21+ (18+ in DC, KY and WY) and present in eligible states. First online real-money wager only; place a $5+ wager on each of 7 consecutive days to receive $50 in Bonus Bets per day ($350 total, guaranteed). $5 first deposit required. Bonus Bets are non-withdrawable and expire 7 days after receipt. See full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. · Full FanDuel Sportsbook review
2. 2

   DraftKings

   ★ 4.8 / 5

   Best for: Daily fantasy + sportsbook. DraftKings launched in Illinois in August 2020 via Casino Queen and is the Chicago Cubs’ partner, with a sportsbook at Wrigley Field. Like FanDuel it added a per-bet surcharge after Illinois’ 2025 transaction fee — a quirk worth knowing — but its prop depth and DFS funnel remain top-tier.

   Bonus: Bet $5, Get $200 · Min age 21
3. 3

   BetMGM

   ★ 4.6 / 5

   Best for: MGM Rewards crossover. BetMGM entered Illinois in March 2022 on one of the state’s online-only licenses. The hook is BetMGM Rewards, turning Illinois wagers into tier credits redeemable across MGM resorts in Las Vegas.

   Bonus: $1,500 first-bet offer · Min age 21
4. 4

   Caesars

   ★ 4.5 / 5

   Best for: Caesars Rewards. Caesars has run in Illinois since August 2021 via the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, and it’s the official sportsbook of the Chicago White Sox. Caesars Rewards ties Illinois bets to the same tier credits as a Las Vegas stay.

   Bonus: $1,000 first-bet · Min age 21
5. 5
   ★ BEST LOYALTY PROGRAM

   BetRivers

   ★ 4.5 / 5

   Rush Street’s BetRivers opened the Illinois market — the first retail bet on March 9, 2020 and the first online book on June 18, 2020 — anchored by Rivers Casino Des Plaines and partnered with the Chicago Bears. As a Chicago-founded company, its iRush Rewards program is among the most generous in US betting.

   UP TO $500 2ND CHANCE BET PROMO CODE USBTRV iRUSH REWARDS iCASINO LINK
   Sign up at BetRivers → 2nd Chance Bet up to $500
   21+. New customers only. $10 minimum deposit. First wager placed within 30 days qualifies; if it loses, BetRivers returns the stake up to $500 as a single Bonus Bet. Bonus Bet expires after 30 days, 1× playthrough requirement. Use promo code USBTRV at signup. 21+. T&Cs apply. · Full BetRivers review
6. 6 Fanatics Sportsbook
   Bet and Get up to $2,000
7. 7 bet365
   Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets
8. 8
   ★ BEST RETAIL TIE-IN

   Hard Rock Bet

   ★ 4.7 / 5

   Hard Rock Bet operates in Illinois under the Seminole-owned Hard Rock brand, with a loyalty program tied to Hard Rock Hotels worldwide and a no-playthrough Bonus Bet structure friendlier to new players than most.

   $150 BONUS BETS NO PLAYTHROUGH RETAIL CASINO PARTNERS
   Sign up at Hard Rock Bet → Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
   21+. New customers only. Min $5 first cash bet. Bonus paid as 10× $15 Bonus Bet tokens valid 7 days. T&Cs apply. · Full Hard Rock Bet review
9. 9 theScore Bet
   $1,000 First Bet Reset · rebranded from ESPN BET (Dec 1, 2025)

Illinois’s three racetracks — addresses & live cards

Signature stakes races at Illinois’s tracks

Beyond the everyday cards, each Illinois track hosts at least one feature stakes race that draws statewide attention — most are bettable through every ADW listed above.

How Illinois compares to neighboring states

Who regulates horse racing & sports betting in Illinois

Illinois uses two separate regulators for horse racing and sports wagering — each licenses operators independently.

Illinois horse betting — frequently asked questions

Is online horse racing betting legal in Illinois?

Yes — explicitly. Section 26(g) of the Illinois Horse Racing Act authorizes advance-deposit wagering, and licensed ADW racebooks accept Illinois bettors 18 or older from anywhere in the state.

What's the best horse racing app in Illinois?

Our editors rate AmWager the top pick — 250+ tracks, 6–8% rebates and a 100% deposit match up to $50. Sign up at AmWager. TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, DRF Bets (Hawthorne’s official ADW), NYRA Bets and 1/ST BET also serve Illinois.

Which racetracks are in Illinois?

Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney (thoroughbred and harness) and Fairmount Park near St. Louis are the two live tracks. The historic Arlington Park closed in 2021 after hosting the Arlington Million for decades.

Is sports betting legal in Illinois?

Yes — online since June 2020, with in-person registration dropped in 2022. All major apps operate, regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board. Betting on in-state college teams and college player props is prohibited, and Illinois has one of the highest sports-betting tax structures in the US. Minimum age 21.

What's the minimum age to bet in Illinois?

21 for sports betting; 18 for pari-mutuel horse racing, including online ADW.

Can I bet the Kentucky Derby from Illinois?

Yes. Every Illinois-licensed ADW carries Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup wagering, and the tracks offer simulcast Derby Day cards.

New to horse betting in Illinois? Explore our guides for clear answers to the most common questions — explained by veteran horse racing commentator Mike Brunker of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.